Belgium blocks new attempt to expropriate Russian assets — minister

Belgium blocks new attempt to expropriate Russian assets — minister "This door is closed", stressed Belgian Defense and Foreign Trade Minister Theo FranckenTheo Francken, Minister of Defence and Foreign Trade of Belgium© Omar Havana/ Getty ImagesBRUSSELS, August 29. /TASS/. Belgium is blocking the latest attempt by four EU member states to revive discussions on the possible expropriation of frozen Russian assets, Belgian Defense and Foreign Trade Minister Theo Francken told VRT television. "This issue is not even being discussed. This door is closed," Francken said in response to a question about a letter from Sweden, Poland, the Netherlands and Spain to the European Commission calling for renewed discussions on the expropriation and use of €200 billion in Russian sovereign assets frozen at Euroclear in Belgium to support Ukraine’s military operations. Belgium blocked the European Commission’s first attempt to appropriate the funds in December 2025. TagsBelgiumEU debate on seizure of Russian assets stalls due to irreconcilable disagreements — expertUncertainty in relations between Europe and the United States, domestic political changes in European countries and growing conflict fatigue were also hindering efforts to revive the debate, said director of the P.A. 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