EU acknowledges Belgium’s concerns over Ukraine reparations loan: Foreign policy chief

ISTANBUL

The EU foreign policy chief said on Monday that the bloc is acknowledging Belgium’s concerns over the proposed Ukraine reparations loan and signaled broad willingness among member states to share the legal and financial burden.

Speaking after the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, Kaja Kallas said Belgium’s worries are clearly heard around the table, stressing that the responsibility should not rest with a single country hosting frozen Russian assets.

“Everybody around the table understands Belgium’s worries and is willing to share those burdens,” Kallas said.

She described the reparations loan as the most viable option currently available to support Ukraine, based on the principle that the aggressor should pay for the damage caused.

EU leaders are expected to decide on Ukraine’s funding for 2026–2027 at a European Council meeting later this week.

Kallas said supporting Ukraine entails costs but warned that allowing Ukraine to fall would be far more expensive for Europe.

She also underlined that pressure must be directed at Russia, not Ukraine, claiming that Moscow continues to reject peace efforts.

EU steps up action against Russia’s shadow fleet

Alongside funding discussions, ministers agreed to intensify pressure on Russia by expanding sanctions targeting its so-called shadow fleet, which Kallas described as a key source of revenue for financing the war.

The EU added around 40 vessels to its sanctions list, along with individuals and entities linked to Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil, as well as shipping firms involved in sanctions circumvention.

Kallas said the bloc will now impose sanctions on shadow fleet vessels on a rolling, monthly basis, rather than waiting for large packages, to respond more quickly to Russia’s evolving tactics.

“When we targeted the shadow fleet before, it had a significant impact on oil revenues,” she said, adding that Russia’s increasing use of hybrid methods requires faster and more agile EU action.

Ministers also agreed on additional sanctions targeting individuals involved in Russian hybrid activities against EU countries, Kallas added.

Syria

Regarding the Middle East, Kallas said Syria is a key focus of discussions, one year after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Despite the regime’s collapse, she said Syria still faces serious challenges, including sectarian violence, weak institutions, lack of inclusivity and rule of law, as well as persistent security threats.

Kallas recalled that the EU was the first to lift sanctions to help Syria rebuild but stressed that sanctions relief alone is insufficient to ensure stability and economic recovery.

“Investors need to trust the legal system and be confident the situation will not spiral out of control,” she said, noting that the EU is adjusting its Syria sanctions regime as conditions evolve.

Ministers agreed to move forward with a new EU–Syria political partnership, with Kallas warning that if the EU does not step up its engagement, “others, including Russia, will fill the vacuum.”