Germany has signaled for the first time that it is ready to support the European Commission's plan to use frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine. This concerns 172 billion euros, which are stored in the Brussels-based Euroclear depository.
According to Politico, Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s European affairs adviser, Michael Klaus, said that Berlin was “open to new, legally sound solutions” regarding the funds. This is a significant reversal in German policy, which has previously blocked any unconventional ideas.
The European Commission proposes replacing frozen assets with EU-guaranteed debt obligations. Such a mechanism would avoid accusations of illegal confiscation while opening the way to financing Ukraine's military needs.
According to the publication, Berlin is even putting pressure on other EU countries to support the plan. It will be discussed at an informal leaders' meeting in Copenhagen next week.
"Ukrainians need money to purchase weapons, and there are not many options," Klaus emphasized.
At the same time, Politico's sources clarify: Germany advocates using the "reparations loan" specifically for military support, and not for infrastructure restoration.
Moscow, in turn, threatens to prosecute any states that dare to use its frozen funds.
