Media: Belgium insists on weakening EU summit conclusions on use of Russian assets

Belgium, which has expressed concern about the use of frozen Russian assets for the benefit of Ukraine, wants to achieve a change in the conclusions of the EU summit in this regard.

Bloomberg sources reported that during discussions at a European Council meeting on Thursday, Belgium insisted on weakening the draft conclusions of the summit.

According to the agency, instead of urging the European Commission to draft a legal proposal, Belgium wants the Commission to first study how the mechanism could work "with a view to possible concrete measures".

Belgium also wants the EU to use approximately €25 billion worth of Russian Central Bank assets frozen in other member states, Bloomberg sources said.

The sources reported that the discussions are ongoing.

Ahead of the summit, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever revealed the three conditions on which he would agree to the "reparations loan" decision; otherwise, he would block it as too risky.

De Wever's statements confirmed earlier reports from sources that the European Commission's arguments had not yet convinced Belgium.

The EU's chief diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said she understood Belgium's concerns about a "reparations loan" to Ukraine using Russian assets and that the EU will seek solutions that take these risks into account.