Belgium has forcefully pushed back against a new attempt to tap into the Russian Central Bank's immobilised assets to provide additional support to Ukraine.
The European Union holds €210 billion in these assets, the bulk of which is kept at Euroclear, a depository in central Brussels.
The hot-button topic was discussed at an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers on Tuesday, with Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain and Poland leading the push following their joint letter sent last week. The Baltic countries also voiced support.
But according to Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot, the debate "generated little enthusiasm or appetite among colleagues".
"I made sure to reiterate Belgium's position, which has remained unchanged for a year. The reasons behind our opposition have not magically disappeared in the meantime," Prévot said in comments shared with Euronews at the end of talks in Ireland.
