The most serious risk, however, is that Russia has gained a new negotiating "card" as a result of this prolonged process. It is entirely plausible that, in a few years, the same Kirill Dmitriev could approach the EU with a proposal to "repay" this loan directly in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.
23 December 2025 —
Ivan Horodysky, Serhiy Verlanov, For European Pravda