Portugal supports using frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine but understands Belgium's demand for EU-wide guarantees against potential financial risks.
That is according to Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel, Ukrinform reports, citing Reuters.
Most of the roughly EUR 200 billion ($232.54 billion) in frozen Russian assets held in Europe are kept at Brussels-based clearing house Euroclear, placing Belgium at the center of the debate over whether the funds should be used to support Ukraine.
The European Commission last year proposed using the assets to back a loan for Ukraine. But Belgium rejected the plan, saying it lacked guarantees against potential lawsuits and Russian compensation claims, insisting the risks be shared across the European Union.
"Portugal is favorable and will never be an obstacle to the use of those EUR 200 billion," Rangel told a parliamentary committee late on Thursday, adding that if a European consensus emerged in favor of using them, Portugal would align itself with that position.
