Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever expressed doubts about the likelihood of Russia losing the war against Ukraine and the possibility of it paying reparations for the damages caused. He stated this during an interview with the editor-in-chief of La Libre, Dorian de Meuse.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Arguments Against Asset Confiscation
In the conversation, the Prime Minister emphasized that during wartime, sovereign assets are frozen, and after the war ends, the losing state must relinquish part of its assets to compensate the winner for their losses. However, according to De Wever, he does not believe in Russia’s defeat in Ukraine and considers the assumption that Putin would agree to the confiscation of Russian assets an illusion.
“During a war, sovereign assets are frozen. And after the war ends, the losing side must relinquish all or part of these assets to compensate the winners for their losses. But who truly believes that Russia will lose in Ukraine? That is a fairy tale, a complete illusion. It is even undesirable for it to lose, as instability could arise in a country that possesses nuclear weapons. And who believes that Putin will calmly agree to the confiscation of Russian assets?” said De Wever in an interview released on December 3.
He also added that Belgium has received signals from Moscow about potential risks associated with the possibility of seizing frozen Russian assets in this country. According to De Wever, the Russian side warned that in the event of confiscation, Belgium and the Prime Minister himself would “feel this forever.”
Furthermore, the Prime Minister pointed out that Russia could resort to mirror actions and confiscate Western assets, especially considering that assets worth approximately 16 billion euros belonging to the Belgian depository Euroclear are located in Russia.
Belgium’s Government Position on Reparations Loan
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot criticized the legal framework prepared by the European Commission for a reparations loan to Ukraine, which is to be secured by frozen Russian assets. He emphasized that Belgium does not support a scenario where the country would be left alone with the risks of such a decision.
According to Prévot, even if other EU member states support the idea of a reparations loan, Belgium demands full coverage of potential risks, as the largest portion of frozen Russian assets is located on its territory.