Italian PM Giorgia Meloni says using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine must have a solid legal basis, as EU leaders face a deadlock over the plan.
ROME: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said an EU plan to finance Ukraine using frozen Russian assets “cannot be forced”.
Meloni told parliament the principle that Russia should pay for reconstruction is “sacrosanct”.
She insisted the result must be achieved on a “solid legal basis”.
The comments come ahead of a Brussels summit expected to focus on the issue.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen is pushing a plan to use frozen Russian central bank assets for a EUR 90 billion loan to Kyiv.
The move faces fierce opposition from Belgium, which hosts most of the funds.
Belgium fears the scheme could open it up to Russian reprisals and is demanding guarantees from other EU countries.
Attempts to reassure the Belgian government have so far failed to break the deadlock.
This sets up a potentially marathon round of wrangling at the summit.
Meloni said Italy had given its support for the plan “even though we do not agree with the method used”.
She called for clarity on risks to reputation, retaliation, or national budgets.
Russia fired a warning shot last week.
Its central bank announced it was suing the Belgium-based Euroclear financial group, which holds the frozen assets.
Meloni warned it would be “short-sighted” to focus only on Belgium.
She noted other partner nations also hold frozen Russian assets in their financial systems.
