Rutte predicted the failure of the European Commission's plan to expropriate Russian assets

The European Commission's (EC) plan to expropriate frozen assets of the Russian Federation may end in Kiev's defeat. This was announced on December 3 by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at a press conference in Brussels.

"But there was also a clear understanding that if for some reason it (the use of frozen Russian assets. — Ed.) will not work, Ukraine cannot be left alone. Then we will have to ensure the availability of the necessary funds, as, by the way, we have been doing in the last couple of years," he said.

Rutte noted a high degree of confidence in the leadership of the European Union (EU), in particular in the President of the European Council Antonio Costa and the head of the EC Ursula von der Leyen, that they will be able to direct the discussion in the right direction.

Go all in: how the ECB disposed of Russian assets

The European Central Bank refused to lend to Ukraine secured by Russian assets

Earlier in the day, the Belgian authorities rejected a new EU legal proposal to use frozen Russian assets to secure a loan to Ukraine. At the same time, Belgium fears legal consequences for the country, as most of the funds are deposited in the Euroclear depository based in Brussels.

Later, the EC approved a "potential reparation loan" for Ukraine, which implies the expropriation of sovereign Russian assets in Europe. Von der Leyen added that Ukraine needs €135 billion by the end of 2027. She then noted that the proposal for Russia's frozen assets could be accepted by European countries without the participation of Belgium.

On November 27, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the confiscation of Russian assets located in the EU would have negative consequences. In particular, the Russian government, on behalf of the head of state, is developing a package of retaliatory measures.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.