The summit concluded shortly after 10:30 p.m., and leaders are now briefing the journalists who have been at the European Council for more than 12 hours. Once again, discussions were dominated by Ukraine and Russia, with Belgium playing hardball on the EU’s plan to use frozen Russian assets for a €140 billion loan for Ukraine.
Ultimately, the leaders agreed on wording that postponed the decision—an example of typical EU tactics. Here are the main points from today:
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After extended and complex talks, Belgium’s leader, Bart De Wever, agreed to language that defers the issue to December.
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Belgium, which holds most of the assets, is concerned about legal and financial retaliation from Moscow and seeks risk-sharing with others.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told leaders that Kyiv would prioritize spending the loan money on domestic and European industry, but insisted on the ability to buy American if necessary.
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Leaders concluded their debate on climate and competitiveness without any major issues, resulting in sighs of relief all around.
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