EU leaders in crunch talks on €210bn frozen Russian assets for Ukraine
EU leaders are meeting in Brussels for high stakes talks on whether to channel around €210bn in frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine’s war effort against Russia. Most of the money is held at Belgian based clearing house Euroclear, where interest and other proceeds from the immobilised funds have been accruing since sanctions were imposed in 2022. The funds are seen as vital to Ukraine’s ability to keep fighting, with officials warning that Kyiv could face bankruptcy in early 2026 without fresh external support. A financial collapse would leave the government unable to pay soldiers, police, civil servants or purchase weapons and ammunition. Leaders are debating proposals to use the frozen Russian assets as collateral to raise long term loans for Ukraine on capital markets, leaving the principal untouched for now. Under the plan, Ukraine might not have to repay […]