Europe’s plan to use the Russian sovereign assets to support a loan for Ukraine ran into fierce opposition at a summit last month from Bart De Wever, prime minister of Belgium, where the money is held.
“I cannot see any scenario in which European taxpayers alone pay the bill,” von der Leyen said.
The Commission president doubled down on the fact that Ukraine and EU countries need to sit at the table for any future decisions on the implementation of a peace treaty. “Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, nothing about Europe without Europe, nothing about NATO without NATO,” she said.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also addressed the Ukraine peace plan talks in a speech in the Bundestag on Wednesday morning, saying: “We want this war to end as quickly as possible. However, an agreement negotiated between major powers without the consent of Ukraine and without the consent of Europeans will not provide a basis for genuine lasting peace in Ukraine.”
Merz said he welcomed “the continued American commitment to resolving this conflict, and I said exactly that to President Trump in a phone call last Friday. But at this fateful moment for Ukraine, for Europe, and for our alliance with America, I also want to make it clear that decisions on European affairs can only be made in agreement with Europe. Europe is not a pawn, but a sovereign actor pursuing its own interests and values.”
This article has been updated with comments from Friedrich Merz.
