00:00In a response to Belgium's Prime Minister Bart Deweyver, EU High Representative Kaya Kalas said approving a reparations loan for Ukraine gives the European Union greater leverage at the negotiating table to end Russia's war.
00:16Deweyver had previously warned that the proposal risked derailing the diplomatic process.
00:21Kalas, however, insisted that the approval of the reparations loan sends three messages to Ukraine.
00:27She argued it would show them that the EU is there to help defend themselves.
00:31Secondly, it would send a message to Moscow that they can't outlast the EU.
00:35And finally, it would prove to the US that the EU is taking strong and credible steps.
00:41Under the scheme, the bloc would channel the frozen Russian assets to Ukraine.
00:46Kiev would only be asked to repay the loan if Moscow agreed to compensate for the damages.
00:51However, Belgium's Prime Minister Bart Deweyver has repeatedly opposed the proposal.
00:57He claims it could pose a risk to Belgium where the assets are stored.
01:01He also said it could act as an obstacle to the White House trying to reach a deal between Ukraine and Russia.
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