PM meets Belgian leader for talks on unlocking Russian assets for Ukraine The Prime Minister hosted Bart De Wever at Downing Street meeting on Friday. Evening Standard · Dec 12, 2025
UK politics: Trump talks ‘complete nonsense’ about crime in London, says Met police commissioner – as it happened Mark Rowley says capital is a safe city, and claims of no-go areas are ‘completely false’ The Guardian - UK · Dec 12, 2025
Belgian PM meets Starmer in London as debate continues on using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine – as it happened Bart De Wever will also discuss migration, security and economy ahead of coalition of the willing meeting and EU summit next week The Guardian - UK · Dec 12, 2025
Reparations loan for Ukraine is 'very fragile' and risks investor exodus, Euroclear warns Euroclear, the custodian of the immobilised Russian assets, has criticised the reparations loan for Ukraine as fragile, unpredictable and risky. In Brussels, the German chancellor holds a crisis meeting with the Belgian prime minister to find a compromise and break the deadlock on the proposal. Euronews · Dec 5, 2025
Why the EU could not agree on using £80bn of frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s war effort Disagreements within the bloc prevented a deal being struck to use the assets The Independent UK · Dec 5, 2025
Unpacking Ursula von der Leyen's reparations loan to support Ukraine Liquidity guarantees, legal protection, anti-corruption safeguards, 'Made in Europe' criteria: here's how Ursula von der Leyen intends to overcome the Belgian resistance and approve the reparations loan for Ukraine. Euronews · Dec 4, 2025
EU weighs Plan B for Ukraine as Belgium raises bar to unblock reparations loan Belgian Prime Minister De Wever lashed out at plans for a reparations loan in a strongly worded letter to Ursula von der Leyen, calling it dangerous and wrong. European officials are seriously considering a bridge loan as clock ticks for the December summit. Belgian resistance is seen as entrenched. Euronews · Nov 29, 2025
'Fundamentally wrong': Belgian prime minister doubles down on opposition to reparations loan Hopes to secure a reparations loan for Ukraine have been dashed after the Belgian prime minister blasted the proposal as "fundamentally wrong" and called on the EU to raise fresh debt instead of touching the Russian assets. Euronews · Nov 28, 2025
US peace plan throws reparations loan for Ukraine into disarray The new peace plan promoted by the United States has added fresh complications for the EU's unprecedented proposal to issue a reparations loan for Ukraine pegged to Russia's frozen assets. Leaked documents show the funds would be released and invested. Euronews · Nov 21, 2025
What we learned from Ursula von der Leyen's options paper to support Ukraine The options paper sent by Ursula von der Leyen to EU leaders presents a binary choice: fresh debt or tap the Russian assets. Euronews breaks down the key elements of her long-awaited document. Euronews · Nov 18, 2025
Belgium to strengthen airspace security following multiple drones incursions The country's defence minister said the National Airspace Security Centre aims to be made operational from 1 January 2026. Euronews · Nov 7, 2025
Latest drone sightings force flight cancellations at Belgium's main airport The airport operator said that about 400-500 travellers spent the night there after 41 flights were cancelled and 24 diverted to other airports. Euronews · Nov 5, 2025
What if there's no reparations loan for Ukraine? EU weighs alternative plans After an inconclusive summit, EU leaders instructed the European Commission to explore "options" to meet Ukraine's financial and military needs for next year and 2027. What could these options look like? Euronews · Nov 1, 2025
What is the reparations loan for Ukraine and why is the EU stuck with the plan? An audacious plan to use Russia's immobilised assets to issue a €140-billion loan to Ukraine is held up by EU leaders. Here's why. Euronews · Oct 25, 2025
Euronews · Oct 23, 2025 Belgian resistance holds up €140 billion loan for Ukraine at EU summit After a summit of EU leaders, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever complained he had not received answers to all his concerns about a groundbreaking plan to issue a €140 billion loan to Ukraine.
The Independent UK · Oct 23, 2025 Belgium demands change in plan to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine The European Union’s executive branch has been developing a plan to use Russia’s frozen assets as collateral to drum up funds
Euronews · Oct 11, 2025 Dutch far-right Geert Wilders suspends campaigning after report of Belgian terror cell threat Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders said that authorities had confirmed to him he was among the alleged targets of a suspected terror cell in Belgium that was dismantled on Thursday.
The Independent UK · Oct 9, 2025 Belgian police detain 3 over a suspected plot to attack politicians with a drone Belgian prosecutors say police have detained three people over a suspected plot to attack the country's politicians using a drone carrying explosives
Euronews · Oct 9, 2025 Suspected terror cell dismantled in Belgium thought to be planning attack on PM Bart De Wever Local media reported that investigators discovered a homemade explosive which the suspects were reportedly planning to attach to a drone to carry out the attack.
The Independent UK · Sep 10, 2025 US homeland security chief to meet Belgian prime minister to tackle drug smuggling U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem plans to meet Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever in Antwerp to discuss efforts to combat transnational drug smuggling
The Independent UK · Jun 20, 2025 More Schengen limits introduced as Belgium announces border checks Belgium is part of the open-border Schengen area which guarantees free travel between its 29 member states
Evening Standard · May 13, 2025 Three Belgian soldiers hurt in ‘shooting incident’ during exercise in Scotland About a dozen soldiers also suffered hearing damage as a result of the incident.
Evening Standard · May 13, 2025 Three Belgian soldiers injured in training exercise in Scotland Prime minister Bart De Wever offered his condolences to the injured soldiers and their families.
Euronews · Mar 18, 2025 Billions on ice: What to do with Russia's frozen central bank money? With US support for Ukraine in doubt, Kyiv's European allies are weighing whether to seize $300bn (€274bn) in frozen Russian assets.
Top News · Feb 3, 2025 Belgium's New Prime Minister Focuses On National Unity Belgium's new PM Bart De Wever leads a diverse coalition government focusing on economic reforms and unity.