{"id":7284,"date":"2025-11-09T02:45:25","date_gmt":"2025-11-09T03:45:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.globaltalenthq.com\/?p=7284"},"modified":"2025-11-10T18:37:34","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T18:37:34","slug":"eu-cant-cover-ukraine-costs-without-tapping-russian-assets-ft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.globaltalenthq.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/09\/eu-cant-cover-ukraine-costs-without-tapping-russian-assets-ft\/","title":{"rendered":"EU can\u2019t cover Ukraine costs without tapping Russian assets \u2013 FT"},"content":{"rendered":"
The European Commission has given members a choice between the economic and legal consequences of funding Kiev, the newspaper has reported<\/strong><\/p>\n EU member states will face ballooning deficits and debt unless they agree to use frozen Russian assets as collateral to fund Ukraine, the European Commission has warned in a document seen by the Financial Times. <\/p>\n The paper was circulated to EU capitals following last month’s failure to reach a consensus on a ‘reparations loan’ of around €140 billion ($160 billion), the FT reported on Friday.<\/p>\n Without tapping the frozen Russian central bank reserves, the EU would need to either authorize joint borrowing or issue direct grants – both of which would “directly affect”<\/em> national budgets and increase public debt, the commission warned. It remains unclear whether the option of not bankrolling Kiev was even considered.<\/p>\n The potential cost to EU economies is substantial, as servicing a collective loan of that size could result in up to €5.6 billion in annual interest payments. The commission cautioned that borrowing on this scale could also raise general EU borrowing costs and undermine other financial instruments.<\/p>\n \n Read more<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Kiev expects its Western backers to cover a deficit of nearly $50 billion next year, with its 2026 draft budget projecting around $114 billion in spending and only $68 billion in revenue – nearly all of which is earmarked for military purposes. Most non-military government expenses, including salaries, pensions, healthcare, and education, will rely entirely on foreign aid.<\/p>\n Belgium continues to oppose the use of Russian assets as loan collateral, citing serious financial and reputational risks. The frozen funds, totaling around $300 billion globally, with roughly $200 billion held at Belgium’s Euroclear, are technically not confiscated and could be reclaimed by Russia if EU sanctions are not continually renewed.<\/p>\n The EU has already stretched legal definitions by classifying the interest generated on the frozen funds as windfall profits not belonging to Russia, and using them to arm Kiev.<\/p>\n