Name: Von der Leyen lays out alternatives to reparations loan for Ukraine
Uploaded: 2025-11-13T16:48:12.006Z
Duration: 1 min 21 s
Description: Ursula von der Leyen has outlined a plan B to fund Ukraine should the reparations loan pegged to the Russian assets fail. The loan is still seen as the best option to keep the financing going even if Belgium plays hardball.

Ursula von der Leyen has outlined a plan B to fund Ukraine should the reparations loan pegged to the Russian assets fail. The loan is still seen as the best option to keep the financing going even if Belgium plays hardball.

Kyiv

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine from land, air and sea with strikes causing widespread damage. Global leaders have condemned the move and imposed sanctions.

Ukraine Invasion

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has presented multiple options to provide financial support to Ukraine. These include using the European budget's flexibility to raise funds, allowing member states to raise capital individually, and a reparations loan based on immobilised Russian assets.

The reparations loan proposal would involve a 140 billion euro loan using funds held by Euroclear, with repayment contingent on Russia paying reparations. The plan seeks to avoid new debt for EU member states but requires addressing Belgian legal concerns, as Ukraine is expected to need new funding in the first half of the coming year.

Von der Leyen lays out alternatives to reparations loan for Ukraine

The European Commission is proposing alternative solutions to provide financial support to Ukraine. The president of the institution presented several options on Thursday. One is to use the European budget's room for manoeuvre to raise funds on markets. Another possibility would be to let member states raise the necessary capital themselves. But Ursula von der Leyen is also proposing a third option. Option three is to have a reparations loan. This is based on immobilised Russian assets. So this would mean take the cash balances from the immobilised Russian assets, hand them as a loan to Ukraine, and Ukraine has to pay back this loan if Russia pays back reparations. This is the most effective way to sustain Ukraine's defence and its economy. This 140 billion euros loan would allow member states to avoid issuing new debt. It would involve using funds held by the Brussels-based company Euroclear. But to do so, Belgian fears must be assuaged. Brussels does not want to be left unprotected in the event of legal challenges once the war ends. Time is running out, however, as Ukraine will need fresh money in the first half of next year.

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Von der Leyen lays out alternatives to reparations loan for Ukraine

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