On December 18, 2025, EU leaders met in Brussels for a marathon 15-hour session but failed to agree on using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. The deadlock was seen as a victory for Hungary and Belgium.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán called the proposal “stupid” and warned it was a “march toward war.” Belgium, hosting most of the frozen Russian assets under Euroclear, sought to avoid legal repercussions. Prime Minister Bart De Wever demanded written guarantees to share potential economic fallout.
Despite efforts by Germany and Poland, Orbán and De Wever blocked the move. EU leaders instead opted to lend Kyiv $90 billion, a plan rejected by Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Orbán labeled the loan “catastrophic” and “lost money.”
Western media highlighted the split: Wall Street Journal said Europeans revealed their fears, while Bloomberg described the solution as highly complex. French President Emmanuel Macron urged direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Sources - Agencies
