VIENNA (dpa-AFX) – Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is fundamentally open to making Russian state assets frozen in Germany available for a reparations fund for Ukraine. However, corresponding proposals from the EU Commission must first be examined, said the CDU politician before the start of the annual meeting of foreign ministers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna.
“This is of course new legal territory,” said Wadephul, but added: “But the federal government is pursuing the clear political goal of making these assets usable,” because Ukraine needs the financial support and Russia will have to answer for its war that violates international law. “That’s why we are now in intensive consultations with all member states, always with the aim of reaching a fruitful result at the European Council before Christmas.”
Plan from EU Commission President Von der Leyen
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen plans to have Germany and several other states, like Belgium, provide committed Russian funds to support Ukraine, according to EU officials. A reparations loan worth up to 210 billion euros is being discussed. Von der Leyen hopes EU leaders will approve her plan at their December summit in two weeks.
The federal government has so far kept secret how much Russian central bank money is in Germany. All that was recently communicated was that assets totaling around 3.5 billion euros were frozen or immobilized in connection with the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.
The Russian central bank assets managed by the Belgian financial institution Euroclear are estimated at around 185 billion euros. The Belgian government has repeatedly called for the involvement of other EU states in order to reduce the risk of Belgium becoming the sole target of possible retaliation./bk/al/DP/men