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{{quotebox-float|[[Germany]] has been, and remains, cautious on the issue of confiscating the Russian central bank's assets that are frozen in [[Europe]], and with good reason. There are not only questions of [[international law]] to consider, but also fundamental issues concerning the [[euro]]'s role as a global [[reserve currency]]. But this must not hold us back: we must consider how, by circumventing these problems, we can make these funds available for the defence of Ukraine.

{{quotebox-float|[[Germany]] has been, and remains, cautious on the issue of confiscating the Russian central bank's assets that are frozen in [[Europe]], and with good reason. There are not only questions of [[international law]] to consider, but also fundamental issues concerning the [[euro]]'s role as a global [[reserve currency]]. But this must not hold us back: we must consider how, by circumventing these problems, we can make these funds available for the defence of Ukraine.

In my view a viable solution should now be developed whereby — without intervening in property rights — we can make available to Ukraine an interest-free loan of almost €140 billion in total. That loan would only be repaid once Russia has compensated Ukraine for the damage it has caused during this war. Until then, the Russian assets will remain frozen, as decided by the European Council.

In my view a viable solution should now be developed whereby — without intervening in [[property rights]] — we can make available to Ukraine an [[interest]]-free loan of almost €140 billion in total. That loan would only be repaid once Russia has compensated Ukraine for the damage it has caused during this war. Until then, the Russian assets will remain frozen, as decided by the [[European Council]].

Such extensive assistance will require budgetary guarantees from member states. Those bilateral guarantees should, as soon as the next Multiannual Financial Framework is in place in 2028, be replaced by collateralisation under the EU’s long-term budget."}}

Such extensive assistance will require budgetary guarantees from member states. Those [[bilateral]] guarantees should, as soon as the next Multiannual Financial Framework is in place in 2028, be replaced by collateralisation under the EU's long-term budget."}}

What sounds like [[AI]] slop is not Merz' own idea but a plan that had been proffered earlier by the [[EU Commission]]. {{quotebox-float|Frustration has been building in EU capitals around the lack of details surrounding the so-called [[reparations]] [[loan]], which Commission President [[Ursula von der Leyen]] first pitched in her State of the European Union speech Sept. 10 [2025].

What sounds like [[AI]] slop is not Merz' own idea but a plan that had been proffered earlier by the [[EU Commission]]. {{quotebox-float|Frustration has been building in EU capitals around the lack of details surrounding the so-called [[reparations]] [[loan]], which Commission President [[Ursula von der Leyen]] first pitched in her State of the European Union speech Sept. 10 [2025].