Trump administration pressures EU to drop Russian assets use — Politico
Photo: Donald Trump (Getty Images)
The United States is pressuring many EU countries to refuse to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine's needs. If no decision is made, Kyiv may face economic problems, Politico reports.
The EU leaders' summit on Thursday, December 18, will show whether the bloc can maintain unity or whether US President Donald Trump will be able to divide it.
The key issue at this meeting will be whether the European Council can decide to use Russia's frozen assets to finance Ukraine.
According to four EU officials, representatives of the Trump administration have been pressuring European governments to reject the plan to use €210 billion in frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine. At least, pressure is being exerted on those countries that Washington considers most friendly.
"They want to make us weak," says a senior EU official familiar with transatlantic relations during preparations for the summit.
Politico notes that when EU leaders met in Brussels in October, they failed to reach an agreement on Russia's frozen assets because Belgium opposed it. But two months later, it became clear that the EU's problem was not so much Belgium as US President Donald Trump.
Chances slim, Ukraine on brink of financial collapse
During this period, the European Commission and the most influential capitals held talks, trying to enlist the support of Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, whose support is crucial because his country holds a large part of Russia's frozen assets. Discussions have intensified over the past week as the EU has sought to provide guarantees to Belgium.
However, according to a senior official who wished to remain anonymous, the chances of reaching an agreement have worsened rather than improved. Even on Tuesday.
"I wanted to cry," he says, describing the mood at a meeting of EU Ministers in Brussels who were preparing for the summit.
Politico says that Ukraine desperately needs the funds, as it will face a budget deficit of €71.7 billion next year. If the money does not arrive by April, the country will have to cut public spending, which could undermine morale and the ability to continue defending itself nearly four years after Russia's full-scale invasion.
