German Chancellor Friedrich Merz supported the idea of using frozen Russian assets exclusively to finance military aid for Ukraine.
Source: Bukvy
In his column for the Financial Times, he expressed support for European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s proposal of a €140 billion loan backed by Russian assets. Under the plan, Ukraine would begin repayment only after Moscow pays reparations.
Merz acknowledged that Berlin remains cautious about direct confiscation due to international law and the role of the euro as a reserve currency. However, he emphasized that these legal constraints can be bypassed without violating property rights.
“I advocate mobilizing resources on a scale that will ensure Ukraine’s military resilience for several years,” the chancellor wrote.
He stressed that the funds should go specifically to defense needs, not general expenditures, and allowed for the possibility of the plan being adopted by a majority of EU countries if consensus cannot be reached.
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