• The EU has approximately €210 billion in Russian assets frozen due to the Ukraine conflict.
• Kaja Kallas stated Russia will not regain assets unless it compensates Ukraine for war damages.
• Belgium opposes the confiscation or risky investments of the frozen assets.
• There is significant pressure from some EU nations to utilize these funds for Ukraine's reconstruction.
• Discussions are ongoing about potential exit strategies for using the frozen assets post-war.

The European Union, under the guidance of Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas, is exploring options to utilize approximately €210 billion ($245.85 billion) of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine's defense and reconstruction after the ongoing war. Kallas emphasized that "it's unthinkable that Russia will ever see this money again unless it fully compensates Ukraine" for the damages incurred during the conflict, highlighting the need for an exit strategy when the war concludes, according to TRT Global and Reuters.

While there are calls from Ukraine and several EU nations, including Estonia and Poland, to confiscate these assets for immediate use, major EU member states such as France, Germany, and Belgium have expressed legal concerns and resistance to such actions. Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot emphasized the risks of confiscating these assets, labeling any seizure as "out of the question" at this time. He cautioned that these assets are "solidly protected under international law," according to South China Morning Post and Reuters.

Kallas noted that while opposition exists, the EU must address Ukraine’s significant funding gap, which has intensified in light of war recovery needs. The focus may now turn to how the profits generated from these assets can be utilized to assist Ukraine without incurring further risks to the euro or facing legal consequences, reflecting the cautious stance of several EU countries, particularly Belgium, concerning the management of these funds, as reported by TRT Global and South China Morning Post.