
How about them assets — making Russia pay for Ukraine
POLITICO - Friday, October 24, 2025European Green Deal
Defense
Foreign Affairs
Politics
War in Ukraine
Far right
Migration
EU Confidential
Competitiveness
2040 climate target
Sanctions
Listen on
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.