Belgium's foreign minister rejects use of Russian frozen assets plan

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(3 Dec 2025) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Brussels, Belgium - 3 December 2025 1. Wide of Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot arriving 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Maxime Prévot, Belgian Foreign Minister: "It is of course essential to address Ukraine's financial needs. There should be no mistake. Belgium fully supports this. There is no place for any doubt. But there are different options to do so. We have repeatedly said that we consider the option of the reparations loan the worst of all. As it is risky, it has never been done before. Everyone can see how difficult it has been for months to find a robust solution to the proposed option. This explains why we keep on pleading for an alternative, namely the EU borrowing the amounts needed on the markets. It is a well known, a robust and a well-established option with predictable parameters. The reparation loans scheme entails consequential economic, financial and legal risks." 3. Close of cameras 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Maxime Prévot, Belgian Foreign Minister: "These are legitimate and reasonable concerns. Our door has always remained opened and still is. However, we have the frustrating feeling of not having been heard. Our concerns are being downplayed. The text the Commission will table today do not address our concerns in a satisfactory manner. It is not acceptable to use the money and leave us alone facing the risks. The proposed reparations loan is clearly not our preferred choice. In the event member states wish to go in that direction we demand that the risks Belgium is facing as a result of this scheme are fully covered. This is no unreasonable request. This is simply fairness. Any member state would ask for the same in our situation. We are not seeking to antagonize our partners or Ukraine. We are simply seeking to avoid potentially disastrous consequences for a member state that is being asked to show solidarity without being offered the same solidarity in return." 5. Wide of Prévot walking 6. Mid of German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul with Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski and Norway Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide 7. SOUNDBITE (German) Johann Wadephul, German Foreign Affairs Minister: "The German government is working towards reaching a decision in the European Council that will allow us to utilize frozen Russian assets. This must be done on a secure legal basis. The Commission is working on this and will now present its proposals. We support this and, of course, we take Belgium's concerns seriously. They are justified, but the issue can be resolved. It can be resolved if we are prepared to take responsibility together. Germany is ready to do so and encourages all member states to do the same. I am very confident that the Chancellor's proposal will ultimately prevail." 8. Wide of flags 9. SOUNDBITE (English) David van Weel, Dutch Foreign Minister: "These funds are really, really important, we need to support the Ukrainian economy, otherwise they will have a very tough time next year. These assets are crucial, and we understand the Belgian concerns, and we are willing to at least make sure that they are not alone in this, should this come sour, and should there be any financial consequences." 10. Close of camera 11. SOUNDBITE (English) Elina Valtonen, Finnish Foreign Minister: "It is very important that we find a solution to making use of the frozen assets, for the victim of this war and at the end of the day for the victory of humanity." 12. Wide of arrivals area STORYLINE: Prévot said Belgium feels that its concerns are not being heard by its EU partners. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/8eb81df756304a5981c2839997a52c6c