PM Luc Frieden backed Belgium's call to share legal risks as EU leaders debated using frozen Russian state assets more directly for Ukraine, while emphasising that Luxembourg holds no significant amounts of such state funds.

At the EU summit in Brussels, Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden said he supports Belgium's demand to mutualise legal risks as the EU moves toward more direct use of frozen Russian state assets for Ukraine. He added that Luxembourg does not hold a large sum of such Russian state funds and stressed the discussion concerns state assets, not private holdings frozen under sanctions.

EU leaders met in Brussels on Thursday to take a political decision on financing support for Ukraine for the next two years, European Council President Antonio Costa said on arrival with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky reiterated Ukraine's openness to talks on the condition they are "fair".

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever backed the expanded use of frozen assets but sought guarantees that Belgium will not be left to shoulder the burden alone. He noted that the "gigantic" sum of €180 billion in Russian state funds is held at Euroclear and called for other EU states with Russian assets to channel the interest as Belgium already does. He urged that exposure to possible Russian legal reprisals be shared across the bloc and said that if repayment were ever required, all EU countries should contribute.

The EU said it welcomes US President Trump's efforts for peace but views US sanctions on major Russian energy firms as further evidence that President Vladimir Putin is isolated and not interested in a ceasefire or peace talks.

Frieden said he understands public fatigue with the war but sees no signal from Russia to negotiate.

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© SIP / Frédéric Sierakowski

On the issue of maintaining ambitious climate targets,he welcomed adherence to the goals while calling for pragmatic, flexible implementation so the economy functions. He regretted that the European Parliament rejected parts of an administrative simplification package on Wednesday, arguing Europe has become "over-regulated" – a sentiment also expressed by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

On competitiveness, Merz asked MEPs to reconsider their vote against simplification, calling the decision a "fatal mistake" and warning about risks to European, especially German, industry.

Frieden echoed the concern, saying only a strong, fast-producing economy can finance the welfare state and the green and digital transitions.

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© SIP / Frédéric Sierakowski