Belgium’s prime minister Bart De Wever has called for Russian assets frozen since the outbreak of conflict in Ukraine to remain in the Euroclear securities depository in Belgium.
De Wever made the call on Tuesday, cautioning that seizing them to aid Ukraine would present major legal hurdles in future.
G7 nations have immobilized around $300 billion in Russian sovereign assets since Moscow’s 2022 invasion. The European Union estimates that €210 billion ($246 billion) of this sum is held within the bloc, largely in government bonds at Euroclear.
“A significant share of these funds is blocked in Brussels at Euroclear. I am aware that some governments are seeking to confiscate the money. But I would warn that this is not straightforward from a legal standpoint,” he told reporters at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin.
De Wever noted that the assets include Russian central bank reserves, which enjoy legal immunity. He warned that any attempt to seize them by political decree could trigger serious repercussions.
“Other states would also withdraw their sovereign funds. This could have systemic consequences and poses grave legal risks. I believe these state funds should remain immobilised,” he said.
He added that using profits generated by the assets to support Ukraine was acceptable, but stressed that the principal should remain untouched.
“It is like a goose that lays golden eggs. We must preserve the goose. Ultimately, when a peace treaty is discussed, then the goose can be placed on the table … Until that moment, it is prudent to maintain the current position,” he remarked.
U.S. President Donald Trump has been spearheading a renewed drive to bring the three-and-a-half-year conflict to an end.
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Street clashes broke out for a second night in the Tunisian city of Kairouan after a man died following a police pursuit, raising fears of wider unrest as the country nears the anniversary of the 2011 revolution.
U.S. stock markets closed lower at the end of the week, as investors continued to rotate out of technology shares, putting pressure on major indices.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned that without concrete concessions from Russia, such as limiting its military forces or curbing its defence budget, new conflicts could erupt elsewhere, even if Ukraine receives security guarantees.
The latest round of clashes between Thailand and Cambodia has left 15 Thai soldiers dead and 270 others injured, Thailand’s Ministry of Defence spokesman Surasant Kongsiri said at a press conference on Saturday.
The Oligarch’s Design is an investigative documentary exploring how financial power, political influence and carefully constructed narratives can shape conflict and public perception.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated his offer to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Ankara, at his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The talks took place on the sidelines of the international Forum for Peace and Trust in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on Friday (12 December).
Iranian authorities have seized a foreign tanker carrying more than 6 million litres of smuggled fuel in the Sea of Oman, detaining all 18 crew members on board.
Russian forces struck Ukraine’s southern port city of Odesa for a second consecutive day on Saturday (13 December), deploying Kinzhal hypersonic missiles for the first time in the conflict, Ukrainian authorities said.
The latest round of clashes between Thailand and Cambodia has left 15 Thai soldiers dead and 270 others injured, Thailand’s Ministry of Defence spokesman Surasant Kongsiri said at a press conference on Saturday.
Police in Australia have confirmed 10 people including one of the alleged shooter in the incident in Bondi Beach have died while another perpetrator is in a serious condition.
Police in Berlin dispersed a protest on Saturday evening after around one thousand demonstrators gathered against alleged police violence.
Street clashes broke out for a second night in the Tunisian city of Kairouan after a man died following a police pursuit, raising fears of wider unrest as the country nears the anniversary of the 2011 revolution.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says international cooperation is essential for Syria’s recovery as investment slowly begins to return despite the scale of destruction after years of conflict.
Thailand’s caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Saturday (13 December) that Thai forces would continue military action along the Cambodia border until Bangkok believes there is no longer a threat to Thai territory or civilians.
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