German Chancellor Friedrich Merz states that the EU will be discredited for a long time if it does not reach an agreement on the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized the importance of reaching an agreement within the European Union regarding the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. In a speech during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Berlin, Merz warned that, in the absence of this agreement, the EU's capacity for action will be severely affected in the long term. Zelensky called for the use of these assets to finance Ukraine's defense, considering it a just decision. Negotiations among the 27 EU member states are difficult, and the use of the assets could allow for a loan of 90 billion euros for Ukraine, without costing European taxpayers. However, the European Central Bank is concerned about adverse market reactions, and Belgium, which holds the majority of the assets, is worried about the legal implications of such a measure.