Merz estimated the chances of reaching an agreement on Russian assets at 50%

The chances of the European Union (EU) making a decision on the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine are 50%. This was announced on December 16 by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

"Based on the current situation, I would say that the chance that we will cope is 50-50," he said on the ZDF TV channel.

According to him, concerns about the decision to use Russian assets exist throughout Europe. In addition, he added that Kiev has financing for the first quarter, but then the situation may become "critical."

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On December 3, the European Commission approved a "potential reparation loan" for Ukraine, which implies the expropriation of sovereign Russian assets in Europe. Later, on December 12, the Politico newspaper reported that Italy, Belgium, Bulgaria, Malta opposed the EU proposal to transfer frozen assets of the Russian Federation to Ukraine, which amount to about €210 billion.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on November 27 that the confiscation of Russian assets located in the European Union would have negative consequences. In turn, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov added on December 15 that the situation with frozen Russian assets shows that "theft is in the blood of Europeans."

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