Italy, Bulgaria, and Malta supported Belgium in demanding to seek an alternative to a "reparations loan" to Ukraine using Russian assets
Italy's support — the third most populous and influential country in the EU — undermines the European Commission's hopes of reaching an agreement on this issue at the December 18-19 summit.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Photo: Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images
Three countries — Italy, Bulgaria, and Malta — have joined Belgium's calls to seek an alternative to the scheme of lending Ukraine 210 billion euros using frozen Russian assets, "Meduza" writes.
A joint statement by the countries says that they support the indefinite freezing of Russian assets (a decision the European Union made recently), but this step should not "pre-determine" the possible use of funds to support Kyiv's military efforts.
The four countries called on the European Commission and the Council of the EU to "continue to explore and discuss alternative options in accordance with EU law and international law; with predictable parameters and substantially lower risks, to meet Ukraine's financial needs on the basis of an EU credit line or temporary solutions."
Italy's support — the third most populous and influential country in the EU — undermines the European Commission's hopes of reaching an agreement on this issue at the December 18-19 summit.