The EU today decides the fate of 210 billion euros for Ukraine: what leaders will choose.

According to ТСН: Today, a meeting of EU leaders will take place in Brussels, where they will try to agree on the allocation of 210 billion euros to support Ukraine in its war against Russia. This money comes from Russian assets that were frozen after the full-scale invasion began in 2022, and is mainly held in the Belgian clearing house Euroclear.

Financial Support for Ukraine

This funding is crucial for Ukraine, as without additional international assistance, the country could find itself on the brink of bankruptcy by early 2026. In such a case, Kyiv would not be able to pay salaries to the military, police, and civil servants, nor purchase weapons for defense.

“The result that Europe delivers must make Russia feel that its desire to continue the war next year is pointless, as Ukraine will have support. This entirely depends on Europe,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The Position of Belgium and Challenges for the EU

Belgium, fearing possible legal actions from Russia, has blocked this move so far. The EU is looking for solutions, including the adoption of a bill on a state of emergency that enshrines sanctions against Russia indefinitely and protects member states with close ties to Moscow.

The country is also seeking guarantees regarding the distribution of financial costs related to Russia’s actions against the EU.

Previously, the European Union only transferred Ukraine a fraction of the frozen assets due to concerns that access to the assets themselves could destabilize the eurozone economy. But circumstances have changed: Ukraine's need has increased, and concerns about Russia's imperialistic ambitions have intensified.

“This unlocking of confiscated Russian assets is also seen as a way for Brussels to gain more leverage in peace negotiations and reduce Kyiv's dependence on Washington,” emphasizes Sky News.

Prospects and Consequences

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that “Europe could suffer serious damage for years” if the vote does not take place, and that “this move is aimed not at prolonging the war but at ending it as soon as possible.”

U.S. President Donald Trump also suggested investing this money in American funds, but the EU rejected this idea. The European Union sees this meeting as an opportunity to demonstrate its strength and unity.

Sky News emphasizes that technically the EU could adopt this policy by a majority vote, but responsible officials are not eager to do so in order not to alienate Belgium and avoid a diplomatic rift in the alliance.

“Much depends on the meeting. If the EU does not hold a vote, its credibility will suffer a serious blow. It will likely become even less relevant in peace negotiations, and Vladimir Putin may seek to exploit a divided Europe,” sums up the publication.

Thus, Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that a key move for the EU to end the war in Ukraine is to utilize frozen Russian state assets, which are estimated to be around 90 billion euros to support the Ukrainian army.

At the same time, China has reacted strongly to the EU's initiatives regarding Russian assets, noting that such actions could complicate the international situation and calling for adherence to the position of rejecting unilateral sanctions imposed without a decision from the UN Security Council.