The EU spends more on imports from Russia than on supporting war-torn Ukraine – this remark by Sweden’s foreign minister echoed widely across European media today.
Trouble over the €140 billion decision
Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Maria Malmer Stenergard, took aim at the EU’s policy towards Moscow during a meeting in Brussels. According to the figures she presented, since the beginning of the Russian invasion, EU member states have provided Ukraine with €187 billion while simultaneously importing Russian oil, gas, and goods worth as much as €311 billion. The difference – €124 billion – works in Russia’s favour.
Stenergard argued this cannot be justified:
“The truth is that the EU’s support for Ukraine is not large enough, and the support for Russia is too large,”
the minister said in Brussels.
The Swedish politician stressed that without a real increase in assistance, “there will be no meaningful peace talks.” She also addressed the issue of frozen Russian assets. In her view, using them “to Ukraine’s benefit” would be “a very good start.” The obstacle, however, is Belgium’s opposition. It is there, in the Euroclear system, that most of the Russian central bank’s funds are held. Prime Minister Bart De Wever fears that if Belgium lost future court disputes, the country could be forced to return massive sums to Moscow.
As a result, the European Commission has postponed a decision on the matter until December.