
How about them assets — making Russia pay for Ukraine
POLITICO - Friday, October 24, 2025Politics
Defense
War in Ukraine
Competitiveness
Far right
Foreign Affairs
Sanctions
Migration
European Green Deal
EU Confidential
2040 climate target
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The EU wants to lend €140 billion in cash from frozen Russian funds to Ukraine; Belgium is afraid it will be the one on the hook for paying it back. That’s just one of the tough topics EU leaders discussed as they gathered in Brussels at a meeting devoted to fighting the external threat from Russian President Vladimir Putin — and the internal threat from the far right.
POLITICO’s Gregorio Sorgi breaks down why lending Russian frozen assets is so tricky, while host Sarah Wheaton catches up with colleagues Zia Weise, Gabriel Gavin, Nick Vinocur and Tim Ross on the ground at the European Council summit to get a handle on how debates over climate, sanctions and deregulation played out.