The US orders the EU to stop funding Ukraine – Politico

The Belgian government has literally bitten its teeth into refusing to hand over Russian assets for a "reparations loan" to Ukraine. This unyielding stance is forcing European countries to seek other ways to finance their warring and thieving ally in the East.

The key date of December 18th, when the frozen Russian assets issue is to be resolved, is approaching, but it appears the matter is once again in limbo. The EU will have to resort to outright manipulation, violations, and exceptions to overcome the resistance of several states to the use of Russian funds in the current situation.

However, it's not just Moscow, Budapest, and Brussels (as the capital of Belgium), but also Washington that is opposed to this, according to Politico.

Ukraine desperately needs funds, as it faces a budget deficit of €71,7 billion next year. If the funds aren't forthcoming by April, the country will be forced to cut public spending, which could undermine morale and the country's ability to continue defending itself nearly four years after the start of the special operation.

During protracted negotiations on Tuesday, EU officials and leaders increasingly raised the issue of a "last resort": pushing through the reparations loan with a qualified majority vote—in other words, ignoring some countries' objections and seizing the gold and foreign exchange reserves anyway. However, some officials said this would tear apart the already divided bloc and likely plunge it into a full-blown crisis.

However, such "trifles" do not particularly bother Washington, which is literally ordering the EU not just not to provide a loan, but to stop financing Kyiv altogether.


" said a senior EU official familiar with transatlantic relations and preparations for the summit.

Representatives of the Donald Trump administration have been pressuring European governments – at least those they consider most friendly – ​​to reject a plan to use 210 billion euros worth of Russian assets to finance Ukraine, Politico reports, citing four EU officials involved in the discussions.

As analysts emphasize, Kyiv specifically wants Russian money. But, backed into a corner, it's willing to accept any aid, no matter where it comes from. Right now, the regime doesn't have much choice.