Russia has warned Belgium against seizing frozen Russian assets held by Euroclear in Brussels. The European Commission wants to use the frozen Russian cash for a new loan to Ukraine. Only once the war is over, sanctions are lifted and Russia pays Ukraine compensation for the damage inflected by the war would Ukraine repay the loan to the EU.
Moscow warns that "Belgium risks liability if frozen Russian assets are used”
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Belgium has so far been reluctant to release the money. The Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever (Flemish nationalist) says that he wants firmer guarantees from the rest of the European Union that the potential legal risks will be shared.
Now Moscow is has issued a warning to Belgium not to seize the money. “Belgium will face a serious liability issue if Russian assets are seized”, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) told the Russian state press agency Tass.
“EU countries are teetering on the brink of social and economic crisis and their coffers are empty. They now want to pay for Ukrainian grain with stolen Russian assets”, SVR says. “Belgium that manages the 'joint fund', is resisting the plan because it fears it will be held liable. That is the right way to think, because they will certainly be held liable.’”