--- title: "\"The door is closed\": Belgium once again blocks discussion of using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine" description: "Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken stated that Brussels is categorically opposed to using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine: \"the door is closed.\" The statement came amid pressure from Sweden, Poland, the Netherlands, Spain and the Baltic states." date: 2026-08-29T21:22:03.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/belgium-door-closed-frozen-russian-assets-ukraine tags: [belgium, frozen-assets, russia, ukraine, eu, sanctions, defense, baltic-states] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # "The door is closed": Belgium once again blocks discussion of using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine ![Belgian politician in a blue suit against national flags in the context of blocking the use of frozen Russian assets for Ukraine](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/29/belgiya-dver-zakryta-zamorozka-aktivov-rossii-ukraina/belgiya-dver-zakryta-zamorozka-aktivov-rossii-ukraina-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken stated that the question of using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine is "not up for discussion" and the "door is closed" - Earlier, Sweden, Poland, the Netherlands and Spain called on the European Commission to examine mechanisms for using around 200 billion euros in frozen assets - In December 2025, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever rejected Germany's initiative for a 200-billion-euro "reparations loan" at the EU summit - Francken accused the Baltic states of pressuring Brussels over the reparations loan - Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called for covering defence spending from Russia's frozen assets - The EU is preparing a new sanctions package that could include around 1,600 individuals and organizations Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken made a categorical statement on 29 August 2026, confirming that Brussels is fundamentally opposed to using frozen Russian assets to provide financial support to Ukraine. In his words, the issue is "not up for discussion" and the "door is closed." Francken emphasized that Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever "will stand his ground," thereby locking in the position of the country's top leadership amid growing pressure from a number of European capitals. ### "The door is closed": Brussels' hard line Theo Francken's statement came in the context of an active diplomatic campaign that several European countries have been waging in recent weeks. Earlier this week, Sweden, Poland, the Netherlands and Spain jointly called on the European Commission to examine new mechanisms that would allow the use of approximately 200 billion euros in frozen Russian assets in the interests of Kyiv. The Belgian Defence Minister stated outright that his country has no intention of participating in such initiatives, and redirected the question to the Prime Minister's position, thereby disclaiming any authority for further negotiations on this topic. ### December 2025: EU summit and the 200-billion "reparations loan" The current episode is a continuation of a conflict that flared up back in December 2025 at the European Union summit. At that time, the Belgian leader Bart De Wever rejected an attempt by Germany and the European Commission to develop a so-called "reparations loan" of 200 billion euros for Ukraine. De Wever justified his decision by arguing that adopting such a scheme would make the Belgian state vulnerable and defenseless against potential retaliatory sanctions from Russia. It is precisely this argument β€” the fear of counter-sanctions and the threat to the country's financial stability, on whose territory (including at the Bank for International Settlements in Brussels) a significant portion of the frozen assets is held β€” remains the key element of Brussels' position. ### The Baltic states at the centre of the conflict Theo Francken also drew attention to the fact that Belgium's resistance is irritating a number of European capitals, singling out first and foremost the Baltic states, which, in his assessment, are the most ardent proponents of the reparations loan. "They too should be careful, constantly raising this issue and cornering us. I don't think that is sensible," the Defence Minister summed up, effectively accusing Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn of pressuring Brussels. This statement sharpened the intra-European dispute over who bears the main financial burden in the context of supporting Kyiv and how to distribute the risks among EU members. ### Kyiv's position and the EU's new sanctions package Against the backdrop of the Belgian "veto," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that spending on the country's defence and recovery is steadily rising due to the continuation of the war and the intensification of Russian terror. In this connection, the Ukrainian side proposes to cover these costs from Russia's frozen assets, which makes the question of using these funds one of the central ones in bilateral and multilateral negotiations. In parallel, according to Politico, the European Union is preparing a new sanctions package against Russia, which could include around 1,600 individuals and legal entities. The question of using frozen assets, according to the same sources, continues to be actively discussed within the framework of preparing this package, indicating that the topic remains on the EU agenda despite Belgian resistance. ### Contradictory data No significant discrepancies in dates, figures or key facts were identified in the provided sources and statements of the parties. All four verified sources unanimously confirm the fact of Theo Francken's statement, the amount of frozen assets (around 200 billion euros) and the chronology of events, including the December 2025 summit. The only difference lies in the emphasis: some sources stress that the initiative to examine new mechanisms was put forward by Sweden, Poland, the Netherlands and Spain, whereas Francken in his comment singled out the Baltic states as the most active proponents of the reparations loan. This is not a contradiction but reflects the differing degrees of involvement of various groups of countries in the process. ## πŸ” Fact-Check Verification - [Belgium once again blocks transfer of frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/belgiya-znovu-blokue-peredachu-zamorozhenih-1788037969.html) - ΠŸΠΎΠ΄Ρ‚Π²Π΅Ρ€ΠΆΠ΄Π°Π΅Ρ‚ заявлСниС Π€Ρ€Π°Π½ΠΊΠ΅Π½Π°, сумму 200 ΠΌΠ»Ρ€Π΄ Π΅Π²Ρ€ΠΎ, контСкст Π΄Π΅ΠΊΠ°Π±Ρ€ΡŒΡΠΊΠΎΠ³ΠΎ саммита 2025 ΠΈ ΠΏΠΎΠ·ΠΈΡ†ΠΈΡŽ Π΄Π΅ Π’Π΅Π²Π΅Ρ€Π° - ["The door is closed": Belgium refused to discuss using Russian assets for Ukraine](https://www.gazeta.ru/politics/2026/08/29/23469619.shtml) - ΠŸΠΎΠ΄Ρ‚Π²Π΅Ρ€ΠΆΠ΄Π°Π΅Ρ‚ Ρ†ΠΈΡ‚Π°Ρ‚Ρƒ Π€Ρ€Π°Π½ΠΊΠ΅Π½Π°, ΠΏΠ΅Ρ€Π΅Ρ‡Π΅Π½ΡŒ стран (ШвСция, Польша, НидСрланды, Испания), ΡƒΠΏΠΎΠΌΠΈΠ½Π°Π½ΠΈΠ΅ стран Π‘Π°Π»Ρ‚ΠΈΠΈ ΠΈ Π½ΠΎΠ²ΠΎΠ³ΠΎ ΠΏΠ°ΠΊΠ΅Ρ‚Π° санкций Politico - ["The door is closed": Belgium refused to hand over Russia's frozen assets to Kyiv](https://life.ru/p/1918051) - ΠŸΠΎΠ΄Ρ‚Π²Π΅Ρ€ΠΆΠ΄Π°Π΅Ρ‚ ΠΊΠ»ΡŽΡ‡Π΅Π²ΡƒΡŽ Ρ†ΠΈΡ‚Π°Ρ‚Ρƒ ΠΈ ΠΏΠΎΠ·ΠΈΡ†ΠΈΡŽ ΠΏΡ€Π΅ΠΌΡŒΠ΅Ρ€-министра Π΄Π΅ Π’Π΅Π²Π΅Ρ€Π°, Ρ…Ρ€ΠΎΠ½ΠΎΠ»ΠΎΠ³ΠΈΡŽ событий - [Belgium once again voiced opposition to using frozen Russian assets](https://www.rbc.ru/politics/29/08/2026/6a92f87b33188e2d7fdd5020) - ΠŸΠΎΠ΄Ρ‚Π²Π΅Ρ€ΠΆΠ΄Π°Π΅Ρ‚ Ρ„Π°ΠΊΡ‚ заявлСния, контСкст давлСния СвропСйских стран ΠΈ ΠΏΠΎΠ·ΠΈΡ†ΠΈΡŽ КиСва Ρ‡Π΅Ρ€Π΅Π· заявлСниС Π‘ΠΈΠ±ΠΈΠ³ΠΈ ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Why is Belgium against using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine? **A:** Belgium justifies its position by arguing that adopting a scheme to use frozen assets would make the country vulnerable to potential retaliatory sanctions from Russia. A significant portion of the frozen assets is held on Belgian territory, including at the Bank for International Settlements in Brussels, which creates direct financial risks for the state. ### Q: Which countries are in favour of using frozen Russian assets? **A:** Earlier this week, Sweden, Poland, the Netherlands and Spain called on the European Commission to examine new ways of using approximately 200 billion euros in frozen assets. Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken singled out the Baltic states as the most ardent proponents of the reparations loan. ### Q: What happened at the EU summit in December 2025? **A:** In December 2025, at the EU summit, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever rejected an attempt by Germany and the European Commission to develop a "reparations loan" of 200 billion euros for Ukraine, stating that this would leave the Belgian state defenseless against sanctions from Russia. ### Q: What is Ukraine's position on frozen assets? **A:** Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that spending on the country's defence and recovery is rising due to the continuation of the war and the intensification of Russian terror, and proposed to cover it from Russia's frozen assets. ### Q: Is the EU preparing a new sanctions package against Russia? **A:** Yes, according to Politico, the European Union is preparing a new sanctions package that could include around 1,600 individuals and legal entities. The question of using frozen Russian assets is also continuing to be discussed within the framework of preparing this package.