The Belgian government has stated it remains opposed to using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine, despite pressure from other nations.

The Belgian government has firmly rejected the proposal to transfer frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken stated that the issue is not open for discussion and that the country's position remains unchanged.

Diplomatic Tensions Over Assets

Francken noted that Belgium's stance has caused dissatisfaction among other nations, specifically identifying the Baltic states for their continued advocacy of the plan. He suggested that Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia should be more cautious about pressuring Belgium, noting that these countries receive significant support from the Belgian government.

Calls for Asset Utilization

While Belgium maintains its opposition, other European nations are pushing for action. The Financial Times reported that Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain, and Poland have sent a letter to the European Commission requesting the resumption of work on a mechanism to utilize frozen Russian sovereign assets. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has also urged a return to these discussions.

Concerns Over Legal Liability

During an August 18 visit to Kyiv, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot emphasized that Belgium requires guarantees that it would not be held solely responsible for costs if Russia were to successfully challenge the asset transfer in court.