EU leaders meet in Brussels to discuss €90 billion Ukraine aid

WISE NEWS PRESS / BRUSSELS, BELGIUM — DECEMBER 18, 2025

The 27 leaders of the European Union are convening in Brussels today to determine how to raise at least €90 billion to meet Ukraine's financial and military requirements through 2026 and 2027.

As the United States pushes for a swift settlement between Ukraine and Russia, officials view this summit as a defining moment for Europe to demonstrate its collective strategic influence. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that the decision is about strengthening Ukraine’s ability to secure a "just and lasting peace". The two primary options under consideration are converting frozen Russian Central Bank assets into a zero-interest "compensation loan" or issuing joint debt through the financial markets.

Funding mechanisms and the unanimity hurdle

The compensation loan is a groundbreaking proposal that would use Russian assets as collateral and can be approved by a qualified majority. In contrast, the joint borrowing option requires a unanimous change to EU budget rules—a scenario considered nearly impossible due to steadfast opposition from Hungary.

Belgium’s concerns over Russian retaliation

Belgium, which hosts €185 billion in Russian assets, has emerged as a major critic of the compensation loan due to fears of unlimited legal and financial retaliation from Moscow. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever described the proposal as "fundamentally wrong," while Belgian diplomats are demanding open-ended guarantees to cover all potential risks. While other nations like Italy and the Czech Republic have expressed reservations, EU Council President Antonio Costa assured that Belgium’s concerns would be addressed to ensure a unified European response. With Kyiv requiring new aid by April, the stakes for reaching a swift agreement remain exceptionally high.

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