Ultimatum? "You will end up like Hungary"

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever is currently blocking the initiative, requesting additional guarantees due to the risk of potential legal disputes over the rights to use frozen Russian assets, mostly held in the Euroclear financial depository in Brussels, reports Politico Brussels.

Belgium has submitted a list of amendments to ensure it does not bear sole responsibility for repaying Moscow if sanctions are lifted.

European diplomats say that if De Wever continues to refuse support, Belgium could find itself in a “special position,” potentially losing influence within the EU, similar to Hungary’s treatment due to democratic backsliding and non-compliance with sanctions against Russia.

At the same time, the EU is considering alternative options for financing Ukraine, including joint debt backed by the EU’s seven-year budget.

However, formal unanimity among member states is required, and countries like Hungary are already rejecting additional debt, while Germany and the Nordic states are exploring financial support from their own budgets.

Diplomats warn that forcing individual member states to bear the cost of supporting Ukraine alone could seriously undermine EU solidarity, but they emphasize that compromises and room for maneuver are still being sought.

An EU leaders’ meeting is scheduled for December 18, aiming to reach an agreement on the loan before Ukraine is forced to cut public spending in April due to a budget deficit of €71.7 billion.

• “The risk of Putin’s retaliation is too great – the answer is no, not today, not tomorrow, never”

According to Politico, U.S. President Donald Trump has once again distanced himself from providing American support.