“Reparation credit”: The US is putting a lot of pressure on the EU

The EU leaders' summit on December 18 will show whether the bloc can maintain unity or whether US President Donald Trump will be able to divide it, Politico reports.

The key issue at this meeting will be whether the European Council can decide to use Russia's frozen assets to finance Ukraine.

According to four EU officials, representatives of the Trump administration have been putting pressure on European governments to reject the plan to use €210 billion in frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine. The pressure is being exerted on countries that Washington considers most friendly.

“They want to weaken us,” said a senior EU official familiar with transatlantic relations in preparation for the summit.

When EU leaders met in Brussels in October, they failed to reach a deal on Russia's frozen assets because Belgium opposed it. But two months later, it became clear that the EU's problem was not so much Belgium as Trump.

During this period, the European Commission and the most influential capitals held talks in an attempt to secure the support of Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, whose backing is crucial as his country holds most of Russia's frozen assets. Discussions intensified last week as the EU sought to provide Belgium with guarantees.

According to a senior official who wished to remain anonymous, the chances of reaching an agreement have worsened rather than improved. Even during Tuesday.

“I wanted to cry,” he said, describing the mood at a meeting of EU ministers in Brussels who were preparing for the summit.

Ukraine desperately needs the funds, as it faces a budget deficit of €71.7 billion next year. If the money does not arrive by April, the country will have to cut public spending, which could undermine morale and the ability to continue defending itself nearly four years after Russia's full-scale invasion.

Photo: Channel 24.