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European Union heads of state have gathered in the Belgian capital for end-of-year discussions with a key choice regarding the use of immobilized Russian funds to boost the Ukrainian defence in the war against Moscow.

“We have a simple option: either funds today, or else bloodshed in the future,” warned Poland’s leader Donald Tusk. “This isn't just about Ukraine only, I’m talking about the entire continent.”

The 27-member bloc is scrambling to strengthen Kyiv’s hand while former U.S. President Donald Trump pushes for a rapid deal to halt the conflict as the war continues towards the fourth mark.

The Financial Crisis and the Controversial Solution

European officials calculate the nation requires an additional €135bn ($159bn) to remain solvent during the 2026 and 2027, with the cash crunch set to start in the spring. To plug this gap, the European Commission has put forward a scheme to access approximately €210bn of Moscow's state assets frozen in the European Union.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the proposal was critical to increase the pressure on Vladimir Putin and send “a strong message to Russia.”

A Split Bloc: Opposition and Juridical Doubts

However, a notable opposition bloc, led by Belgium—where the headquarters of Euroclear, which holds most the Russian assets—has been raising concerns about potential juridical challenges. Nations including Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Italy, Malta, and Slovakia have also registered reservations.

From a procedural standpoint, this group is not enough to block the proposal if a vote gets called under qualified majority voting rules. But politically, it makes the process very awkward for all parties concerned.

But there is no sign of a middle ground, as the only other pathway—relying on EU debt—would require unanimity, and would likely be blocked by Hungary, which flatly denies providing any additional help for Ukraine.

Leaders’ Comments Before the Negotiations

EU officials have stated emphatically that the Brussels talks will continue as long as it takes to reach an agreement, cautioning that the future of Ukraine and Europe’s credibility are on the line.

• Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, declared she would not depart from the meeting until an agreement is concluded.
• In contrast, Slovak leader Robert Fico reportedly joked that they can keep him there until the new year, and he would not back it.
• Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to join the summit in a final attempt to persuade the skeptical nations.

Firm Resistance from Hungary

The Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán was uncompromising, calling the proposition of using seized assets “foolish” and amounting to “marching into the conflict.” He voiced agreement for Belgium’s cautious stance.

Calls for Consensus and a Resolution

Several other EU heads of state stressed the critical need for a resolution.

• António Costa, President of the European Council, vowed: “Negotiations will continue on this today, and if needed tomorrow, but we will not depart from the Council without a conclusive agreement.”
• Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, commented that efforts to allay Belgium’s concerns and distribute the risk equally were ongoing. She estimated the odds of a successful outcome at “50/50.”
• Micheál Martin, Ireland’s Taoiseach, said his country was “very much in support” of using the frozen funds.

The scene is prepared for a possibly protracted and strained bargaining session in Brussels, with the fate of significant monetary support for a nation at war hanging in the balance.