Europe Today Tense summit underway in Brussels, but Luxembourg PM says he cannot be nervous
Dec 18, 2025
Luc Frieden, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg and a seasoned EU policymaker, shares insights on the high-stakes summit in Brussels. He discusses the urgency of securing sustainable financial support for Ukraine and the potential use of frozen Russian assets for funding. Frieden emphasizes the importance of unity among EU leaders to safeguard Europe's security and highlights the significance of the Mercosur trade deal for market growth. He approaches leadership with a calm focus, disregarding nerves in favor of strategic decision-making.
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Frozen Assets As Strategic Leverage
- EU leaders treat frozen Russian state assets as critical leverage to fund Ukraine's defence for the next two years.
- Leaders see using those assets as essential to show Europe has skin in the game and deter further Russian aggression.
Zelensky Seeks Multi-Front Guarantees
- Volodymyr Zelensky demands financial, security and political measures so Russia finds further aggression pointless.
- Kyiv needs concrete multi-year support to ensure Russia cannot sustain its offensive next year.
Prioritise Sustainable Support For Ukraine
- Stay focused on providing Ukraine with sustainable financial means rather than succumbing to nerves, Luc Frieden urges.
- Explore options that preserve rule of law and eurozone stability while ensuring continued support.