German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday (4 December) firmly rejected U.S. proposals to use Russian assets frozen in the European Union for the benefit of the United States, emphasising that these funds should be directed to support Ukraine.
Speaking in Berlin, Merz described the issue as a "European matter" and stated that there is no way to economically transfer these mobilised funds to the U.S.
"This money must go to Ukraine," Merz told reporters. "The American government knows this, and it is the consensus at the European level. There are no differences whatsoever on this issue."
The U.S. has expressed its desire to use some of the frozen Russian assets for Ukraine's defence and reconstruction. However, as part of the peace plan it suggests using the funds in a way that would see the United States profit from an investment vehicle - a move that is contentious with European allies.
Merz said that while the United States might have legitimate interests in such a proposal, it is not the aim of the operation Europe intends to launch.
"The Americans partly agree with this," he acknowledged, "but it is not the aim of the operation that we want to launch together in Europe in the next few days."
The European Commission, the European Union's executive body, has proposed a "reparations loan" using Russian state assets frozen in the EU following Russia’s invasion. However, Belgium, which holds the majority of the assets, has raised various legal concerns and remains unconvinced by the plan.
Merz, who has voiced support for the plan but also said the risks should be borne by all EU countries - not just Belgium, will be in Brussels on Friday to discuss the issue.
"I hope it will be a fruitful conversation and that we will find a solution that we can then present to Europe over the next two weeks," Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever told local media outlets.
Merz’s strong stance is in line with the German government's negotiating position, which insists that the money mobilised from these assets should flow directly to Ukraine to aid in its ongoing recovery and defence amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Moscow has described the use of its frozen assets as "theft" and argue's that the EU has no legal grounds.
On Friday (5 December), Merz is set to meet with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever to persuade him to abandon his opposition to using the frozen Russian assets to secure a €165 billion loan for Ukraine. This decision is expected to be a key topic of discussion at an upcoming European Union summit in Brussels, where leaders from the 27 EU member states will meet 18 - 19 December to finalise their stance on the issue.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is heading to Beijing on for his first official visit as chancellor, aiming to strengthen political and economic dial...
Newcastle United secured a 3–2 victory over Qarabağ FK in the return leg of the UEFA Champions League play-offs at St James’ Park....
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has suggested that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán should block financial support to Russia rather than...
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, has called for an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine, describing t...
Laurence des Cars, director of the Louvre Museum, has resigned months after a $102 million daylight heist at the museum, which prompted a parliamentar...
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is heading to Beijing on for his first official visit as chancellor, aiming to strengthen political and economic dialogue with China before tackling pressing international crises.
Despite its economic might, the European Union is often labelled a “geopolitical dwarf.” The only region where it acts as an indisputable player, able to assert its will with relative ease, is the Western Balkans, along with parts of Eastern Europe.
“Real security guarantees are needed before the war ends,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday (14 February), warning that Russian aggression shows no sign of relenting.
Europe needs to develop global partnerships with key nations to tackle global problems together, chancellor tells Munich Security Conference
Further Iran-U.S. nuclear talks are scheduled in Geneva on Thursday (26 February) as diplomacy resumes over Tehran’s nuclear programme following earlier mediation efforts. But will the talks move Iran-U.S. negotiations closer to a deal, and what should be expected from the meeting?
The European Parliament’s trade chief has urged a temporary suspension of the EU–U.S. trade agreement approval, citing “tariff chaos” following President Donald Trump’s new 15% tariffs and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling invalidating his previous global tariff programme.
Iran has signed a secret €500 million arms deal with Russia to rebuild air defences, weakened during last year’s war with Israel, the Financial Times has reported. The agreement, signed in December in Moscow, will see Russia deliver 500 Verba launch units and 2,500 9M336 missiles over three years.
A British national was among at least 19 people killed when a passenger bus plunged off a mountain highway into the Trishuli river in Nepal before dawn on Monday (23 February), authorities said. A New Zealander and a Chinese national were among those injured.
Seven people were killed after gunmen ambushed a police patrol in Kohat, a district in Pakistan’s north-west near the Afghan border, on Tuesday, in an attack that comes amid rising militant violence and heightened tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is heading to Beijing on for his first official visit as chancellor, aiming to strengthen political and economic dialogue with China before tackling pressing international crises.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has suggested that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán should block financial support to Russia rather than Ukraine, as Budapest opposes the European Union’s 20th sanctions package against Moscow.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, has called for an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine, describing the conflict as “a stain on our collective conscience”.
Newcastle United secured a 3–2 victory over Qarabağ FK in the return leg of the UEFA Champions League play-offs at St James’ Park.
Laurence des Cars, director of the Louvre Museum, has resigned months after a $102 million daylight heist at the museum, which prompted a parliamentary inquiry.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment