Four European Union states have voiced opposition to utilizing frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.
Hvylya reports that the development was announced by Politico on Friday, December 12.
Italy, Bulgaria, and Malta have joined Belgium, which had previously expressed its objections.
In a joint statement, these countries urged the EU leadership and the European Commission to abandon the scheme of repatriation lending financed by blocked Russian funds. Instead, they propose searching for alternative avenues for financial assistance to Kyiv.
Representatives of the four states insist on considering alternative options that would comply with European law and international norms, have clear parameters, and mitigate potential risks. This refers to the so-called "Plan B"—issuing common EU debt to finance Ukraine in the coming years.
However, this option presents its own complexities. First, it could lead to an increase in the national debt of Italy and France. Second, its implementation requires the unanimous support of all EU members, which would allow individual countries, notably Hungary with its pro-Russian sentiment, to block any decision.
The open criticism from Belgium, Italy, Malta, and Bulgaria complicates the European Commission's task of securing a political agreement at the upcoming summit.
Even if Hungary and Slovakia were to join this quartet, they would still remain a minority. Nevertheless, the public resistance from these states significantly reduces the likelihood that the European Commission will be able to achieve a political consensus at the summit scheduled for next week.