"No one vetoed anything": EU explains situation on frozen Russian assets for Ukraine

The European Union has stated that the issue of using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine remains on the agenda, with a final decision expected in December.

Source: European Pravda correspondent, citing European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa after the EU leaders' summit on 23 October in Brussels

Details: The EU has not removed the matter of using Russian assets for Ukraine from discussion, and different options are being prepared.

"First of all, no one vetoed anything today," Costa said.

The president of the European Council added that the matter of using Russian assets in Ukraine's interest was also discussed during a working dinner with Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank.

"We and various [EU] leaders raised technical issues that need to be resolved, and that is why we asked the Commission to continue working on solutions and return to this issue at the European Council meeting in December to adopt a final decision," he explained.

Costa emphasised that "all technical issues can be resolved – which means the decision is feasible".

"There are aspects that require clarification, deeper analysis and further work. In other words, we have agreed on the substance – that is, a loan backed by reparations – and now we need to develop the mechanism: how to implement it and which option would be best for moving forward," von der Leyen added.

She noted that the issue of using frozen Russian assets is "certainly not trivial – it is extremely complex".

"If you look at the conclusions, they contain strong language regarding our commitment to meeting Ukraine's needs, including its defence and security needs. So, the European Council has clearly expressed its commitment on this issue," the Commission president said.

Background:

• As previously reported by European Pravda, on 23 October the European Council adopted conclusions on Ukraine which no longer included a direct reference to the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.
• Belgium had pushed for changes to the wording of the conclusions regarding the use of frozen Russian assets.
• Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán refused to sign the European Council's conclusions on Ukraine dated 23 October, so the document was adopted by 26 EU member states instead of 27, separately from the main text.

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