Politics Russian money: Merz seeks solution with Belgium
Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) is seeking a solution with Belgium on the issue of the provision of fixed Russian funds to support Ukraine. Following consultations with the prime ministers in Berlin, Merz said that he was taking the Belgian government's concerns seriously. "The points are important and we need to talk about them and I will try to resolve them." A common position of the heads of state and government in the European Union must be reached and, in particular, agreement must be reached with Belgium.
04.12.2025, 21:40
04.12.2025, 21:41
SDA
Merz is traveling to Belgium on Friday evening to hold private talks with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. With regard to the Belgian head of government, the Chancellor said: "I don't want to persuade him. I want to convince him that the path we are proposing here is the right one. And if we take this path, then we will take it in order to help Ukraine." Merz had postponed a trip to Norway because of the meeting in Belgium.
Russian assets amounting to 185 billion euros
The Russian central bank assets managed by the Belgian financial institution Euroclear are estimated at around 185 billion euros. The Belgian government has repeatedly called for the involvement of other EU states in order to reduce the risk of Belgium becoming the sole target of possible retaliatory measures.
Merz said that Germany would be one of the possible "guarantor states" for safeguarding the assets in the Belgian capital.
According to EU officials, a proposal presented by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for a so-called reparations loan of up to 210 billion euros envisages Germany and several other states, as well as Belgium, providing Russian funds to support Ukraine.
Belgium's Prime Minister De Wever once again made it clear in the evening that Belgium would "not burden itself with irresponsible risks". This includes the danger of Moscow expropriating European private individuals and companies in Russia.
