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EU nations want to extend freeze on Russian possessions to secure G7 loan to Ukraine

European Union member states talked about choices for extending the renewal period of sanctions on Russian reserve bank properties to protect a significant Group of Seven loan to Ukraine, an EU draft file showed and diplomats said on Wednesday.

Leaders of the Group of 7 significant democracies and the EU concurred in June to use the interest on frozen Russian possessions to underpin a $50 billion loan for Ukraine to assist it defend itself versus Moscow's intrusion.

The bulk of the some $300 billion in assets is held in EU financial institutions, primarily in Belgium. According to EU policies, the sanctions program on Russia requires the unanimous approval of EU mentions to be renewed every six months.

Some of the G7 members including the United States stress that there may come a time when unanimity in the 27-nation EU is not reached, jeopardising the entire loan, EU diplomats stated.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has closer ties to Russia than other nationwide leaders in the EU, and has consistently held up moves to enforce brand-new constraints and financial support to Ukraine.

The European Commission, the EU's executive, and its foreign service arm sent a non-paper - a file type utilized in EU circles to float ideas - for the countries to talk about.

The choices are restricted to the immobilisation of CBR ( Reserve Bank of Russia) properties, would need unanimity by the Council and comply with the temporary and reversible nature of sanctions, a spokesperson for the Commission said.

It is now for member states to discuss these alternatives. Topic to the outcome of the discussion, the HR (chief. diplomat) and Commission stand ready to table propositions.

EU ambassadors went over two options on Wednesday aimed at. alleviating the concerns of G7 members. One would be an. open-ended extension of the sanctions program that immobilised. Russia's reserve bank properties.

This shall be evaluated by the Council at routine periods. ( e.g. 12 months) on the basis of clear predefined criteria (i.e. completion of the war of aggression and assurances of. non-repetition, the payment of compensation by Russia, etc),. the file stated.

The other option would be to extend the renewal duration to up. to three years. Unanimity amongst EU member states would still be. required in either case and these extensions would apply only to. Russian reserve bank possessions.

The file said the two choices aim to boost legal. certainty and predictability for G7 partners for the. extraordinary profits streams, which shall be offered to. Ukraine to service and repay additional bilateral loans by the. EU and G7 partners.

EU diplomats said the conversations were at an early phase but. countries hinted at their preliminary preferences.

Baltic and eastern European states were among those that. favoured the open-ended version while France and Germany were. looking more positively upon a longer however still limited renewal. period. The European Commission will provide a formal proposition. towards completion of August or early September, diplomats stated.

Belgium had cautioned that the Commission should bear in. mind lawsuits threats and monetary market stability.

(source: Reuters)