Published
Video length: 2 min
War in Ukraine: will Europe use Russian assets?
War in Ukraine: will Europe use Russian assets?
(franceinfo)
The Europeans are looking for funds to arm Ukraine. They have been meeting since Thursday to discuss possible sources of financing. Some want to use Russian assets frozen since the start of the war.
Emmanuel Macron and his counterparts met at a summit in Brussels (Belgium) on Thursday March 21, in order to find funding to deliver more shells, tanks and missiles to Ukraine. Among the leads are Russian assets frozen as part of the sanctions.
While Brussels has confiscated 200 billion euros placed in Europe by the Russian Central Bank, there are plans to use the 3 billion euros in profits generated to finance Ukrainian defense. Moscow immediately protested, threatening Europe with reprisals.
Another option: a heavy loan
The Europeans claim that the operation is legal, as long as the assets themselves are not used. However, certain countries attached to their neutrality, such as Austria, are hesitant.
The second avenue turns towards a European loan which would make it possible to release up to 100 billion euros. Germany and the Netherlands oppose it. Another solution envisaged would be to call on the European Investment Bank.
