The message that European leaders gathered at the informal summit on their determination to move on to specific moves to support the Russian are clear and pushing to put an end to Russian aggression and the war itself.
At this meeting, EU leaders may not be able to end up, both in terms of the “loan” to Ukraine with frozen Russian funds or in specific steps to develop the wall against drones in the eastern EU and NATO wing or in the effort to change the terms of the European Union. freezes the integration of Ukraine or Moldova- but the debate on all these issues was detailed and exhaustive.
Regarding the issue of the “megadian” to Ukraine with frozen Russian funds of 140 billion euros, the main reaction from Belgium and Prime Minister Bart De Wever. Belgium is the headquarters of Euroclear, the central securities repository that holds the largest part of the Central Bank of Russia’s assets, which are also frozen in the early days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
De Wever said in his position that “I do not think this is an irrational position, but I need the maximum legal certainty.” As he argued: “I want solidarity. And I want transparency about the situation in other countries. ” As he characteristically stated: “The question now is: Can we eat the chicken? The first problem, in this is that you lose the golden eggs if you eat the chicken. You have to take this into account this. If you put the chicken on the table and eating it, then you lose a golden egg. “
More rationalized a corresponding position, focusing on the legal implications of the movement, both French President Emmanuel Macron and Luxembourg Prime Minister Lick Frieden received.
After the end of the war and the payment of post -war compensation from Russia, with the EU then recovering the funds through Euroclear.
If Russia refuses to pay compensation, it will lose its right to assets.
This debate, however, appears to have been particularly concerned with the Russian leadership, with Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zaharova responding that Russia wants to remind the European Union governments, especially in Belgian, where most of them are reserved.
“According to the principle of reciprocity, any EU attack on our property will be addressed with a very harsh response. They know that themselves, “Zaharova told reporters, adding that:” Russia has an adequate arsenal of countermeasures and opportunities for an appropriate political and economic response. “
As he later said, commenting on the plan as a whole, “I don’t even want to discuss this idea, it is an illusion. But the word compensation caught my attention … What kind of payments by Ursula von der Laien (President of the European Commission) speaks? “, While stressing that Russia is winning the war and its compensation is being paid by the losers.
For his part, however, German Chancellor Friedrich Mertz said he found an important agreement between European leaders on the use of Russian assets for help in Ukraine, adding that he was expecting a specific decision on the subject within three weeks. As he added: “Russian President Vladimir Putin should not underestimate our determination.”
The issue was also commented on by Victor Orban, whose veto does not appear to be overwhelmed by France, the Netherlands and Greece, which has not been overwhelmed by European media – claiming that Europeans have decided to go to war with Russia. As he said: “They have a war plan. They have a plan on how to beat the Russians. Many of these countries have never been occupied by the Russians, so they do not have a physical experience of what it means to have war with Russia. We know what is at stake, but those who were never under the rule of Russians want to defeat the Russians at the forefront. We know what the Russian war machine looks like. We don’t like the idea. So we have a peace plan, but others have a war plan. ” Orban was also very critical of the idea of using frozen Russian assets to fund further aid to Ukraine.
Concerning which this was discussed negative, the French government again appeared with Emmanuel Macron arguing: “I am skeptical of these terms. Things are a little more complicated. In fact, we need advanced warning systems to better predict threats, we must prevent European high-ranking fire potential and we must have more soil-to-air defense systems. “
However, other issues were discussed at the meeting, such as Europe’s practical support in Ukraine, with Volodimir Zelenski in a joint press interview with Danish Prime Minister Methe Fredericksen to make clear that they will work together to increase the production of equipment needed by Kiev. In this context, it is also important to develop – and from Moscow – that, but also provide the appropriate information on long -range missiles in Russian territory.
Washington exchanges information with Kiev for a long time, but the Wall Street Journal has revealed that new data will make it easier for Ukraine to hit infrastructure such as refineries, pipelines and energy stations aimed at depriving the Kremlin revenue and oil.
Responding to reports on Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “the supply and use of the entire NATO and the United States infrastructure to collect and transfer information to the Ukrainians is obvious”. As he pointed out, of course, this is nothing new. Concerning the reports of Tomahawk supply, however, Peskov said: “If this happens, it will be a new round of tension that will require a similar response from the Russian side. On the other hand, it is also obvious, of course, that there is no magic pill, a magic weapon for the Kiev regime, no weapon that can radically change the course of events. “
In this context, however, of particular interest is Sakharova’s statements about the conflict over the nature of the conflict with the “West”. As the Russian Foreign Ministry’s representative said in response to a question about the drone wall and if this is a new iron curtain: “I disagree with comparison with the Cold War. We are already in another form of conflict. There has been no cold here for a long time. There is already fire here. “
In addition to the European categories of invasion of NATO airspace, but also reports on Russian slaughter companies, he said that “unfounded accusations show that”.
“All their statements show – first, that they are preparing a chain of challenges. Secondly, they must justify their military budgets, “Zaharova said.
