EU foreign policy seeks Belgium’s backing on reparations loan for Ukraine

ISTANBUL

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Monday reiterated the need for Belgium’s backing as the bloc heads into a meeting to decide whether to use frozen Russian state assets for Ukraine, saying they would not leave without getting a result.

"We will not leave the meeting (on Thursday) before we get results, before we get the decision on the funding for Ukraine. The most credible option is the reparations loan, and this is what we are working on," Kallas told reporters as the EU foreign ministers gathered in Brussels.

She said the reparations loan measure sends a “clear signal” that anyone who causes such damage to another country must pay for the reparations.

"Without Belgium, (...) it wouldn't be very easy, because they have the majority of the assets, and I think it's important that they are on board," Kallas stressed.

As discussions on a potential ceasefire and peace framework continue, Kallas underlined the need for "tangible" security guarantees for Ukraine.

"They can't be papers or promises. They have to be real troops, real capabilities so that Ukraine is able to defend itself," she said.

Referring to Russia's demand for Ukraine's withdrawal from the Donbas region as part of ceasefire negotiations, Kallas underscored that the region is not Moscow's "end game."

"If it gets Donbas, then the fortress is down, and then they definitely move on with taking the whole of Ukraine," she noted.

Kallas also called for a lasting and sustainable peace, while emphasizing that there shouldn't be "any appeasement of the aggressor."

"If aggression is rewarded, we will see more of it. We have seen this in history, and that is extremely important, and there has to be accountability for the crimes committed," she added.

Amid EU plans to use frozen Russian state assets to fund a loan to Ukraine, several member states such as Hungary, the Czech Republic and Italy, along with primarily Belgium, have raised legal concerns, noting that most assets are held at Euroclear in Brussels.

Russia's central bank called the plan illegal and reserved the right to take any measures necessary to protect its interests.

On Friday, the bloc moved to "indefinitely immobilize" Russian assets, while EU leaders are set to decide on allocating the funds to Ukraine at a Brussels summit on Dec. 18-19.