EU Summit Stalls on Russian Assets as Lithuanian Airspace Violation Heightens Tensions
Key Facts
- EU summit in Brussels ended without agreement on how to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine’s military defense.
- Lithuania accused Russian warplanes of violating its airspace, prompting NATO jets to scramble
- Moscow denied the claim.
- Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever blocked a consensus on releasing asset profits, warning of Russian retaliation, drawing comparisons to Hungary’s Viktor Orbán.
- Russia and Ukraine conducted a rare humanitarian exchange of fallen soldiers’ remains amid ongoing conflict.
by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
BRUSSELS/VILNIUS/MOSCOW/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – The European Union summit in Brussels ended early Friday without a political agreement on how to use Russia’s frozen assets to support Ukraine in its military battle against Moscow, while tensions rose after EU member state Lithuania accused Russian warplanes of violating its airspace — a claim Moscow firmly denied.
The Russian Defense Ministry rejected Lithuania’s accusation that Russian fighter jets breached its airspace, insisting the reported aircraft — two Sukhoi SU-30s — were conducting a training flight over the Kaliningrad region, a Russian enclave between Lithuania and Poland.
Lithuanian officials said earlier that two Russian military planes briefly entered their airspace near the Baltic Sea, prompting NATO military alliance aircraft to scramble. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda condemned the incident as “a blatant breach of international law and the territorial integrity of Lithuania.” He added, “Once again, it confirms the importance of strengthening European air-defence readiness.”
The alleged violation occurred as EU leaders met in Brussels to discuss regional security, defence cooperation, and mounting hybrid threats — including cyber-attacks and airspace incursions — that several EU and NATO members attribute to Russia and Belarus.
After nearly eleven hours of negotiations, EU leaders failed to reach a consensus on using profits from Russia’s frozen central-bank assets to fund Ukraine’s war effort. The EU Council’s final communiqué reaffirmed that the assets will remain blocked “as long as Russia continues its aggression,” while committing the bloc to “address Ukraine’s urgent financial needs” through 2026 and 2027.
BELGIUM’S ORBÁN
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever stood firm against a rushed decision, warning that his country — home to the clearinghouse Euroclear, where much of the frozen money is held — could face retaliation from Moscow. “If we want to give them to Ukraine, we have to do it all together,” he said. “Otherwise, Belgium will be the only target of Russian counter-sanctions.”
European Council President António Costa offered a carefully worded reassurance after the talks, saying on social media: “Today, the #EUCO delivered an important message: The EU is committed to addressing Ukraine’s pressing financial needs for the next two years, including support for its military and defence efforts. Russia must stop the war immediately.”
De Wever’s obstruction drew comparisons to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, often accused by Brussels of stalling EU unity. Analysts called the Belgian leader’s stance “a test” of his European credentials, warning he risks isolation if perceived as blocking aid to Ukraine.
Other leaders privately acknowledged De Wever’s demand for guarantees against Russian retaliation, but his refusal to join a political consensus reportedly frustrated several EU delegations.
“Bart De Wever is no longer ‘the funny guy,’ but now he’s the talk of the town,” one Brussels observer quipped.
FALLEN SOLDIERS
Amid continued fighting, Russia transferred the remains of 1,000 fallen Ukrainian soldiers to Kyiv in exchange for the bodies of 31 Russian troops, both governments confirmed.
Since the beginning of this year, Russia has returned more than 14,000 Ukrainian soldiers’ bodies, while Ukraine has repatriated several hundred Russian remains.
The body exchange — one of the few ongoing channels of communication between Moscow and Kyiv — was seen by observers as a rare humanitarian gesture in an otherwise deepening and brutal conflict that is believed to have killed and injured more than a million people.
The stalled EU decision on Russia’s frozen assets and the airspace dispute over Lithuania highlight Europe’s fragile unity as it faces escalating pressure from Moscow.
The incidents have reportedly reinforced calls from several eastern EU states for stronger collective air-defence systems and a firmer commitment to sustaining Ukraine’s war effort amid fears that Western support could erode without clear political resolve.
Hungary has made it clear, however, that it opposes further military support for Ukraine, with its Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán,calling for peace talks. Yet a planned peace summit between US President Donald J. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin was called off amid concerns that Moscow won’t agree to freeze current front lines as it seeks to build on recent military gains.
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