Here's the scoop for our South & SE Asia fam: On Wednesday, December 3, 2025, Belgium dropped a major roadblock on an EU plan to help Ukraine. The proposal? Use profits from frozen Russian central bank assets as collateral for a reparations loan to support Ukraine’s war recovery. 💶
Belgian Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot told reporters in Brussels ahead of a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting that Belgium feels its legal and financial concerns are going unheard. "It’s not acceptable to use the money and leave us alone facing the risks," he said. 🛑
Currently, around 90% of these frozen assets sit at Brussels-based Euroclear. The EU aims to mobilize roughly €140 billion to back Ukraine, but Belgium argues the plan is fundamentally flawed and could even clash with international law. Last week, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever echoed these worries in a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
So, what’s next? The European Commission is set to release full details later today. Will they address Belgium’s red flags or push ahead anyway? Stay tuned as this high-stakes EU debate unfolds. 🔍
For young professionals tracking global power plays, this saga highlights how tricky it is to balance bold financial moves with legal safeguards. Keep your eyes peeled—more updates are coming your way! 👀
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
