UK and Belgium discuss Ukraine funds, migration
On 12 December 2025, Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever to Downing Street. The UK government’s readout says the conversation focused on migration, security and growth, with Ukraine central to the discussion.
As the leaders reviewed the state of diplomacy on Ukraine, they described this as a pivotal moment and backed keeping economic pressure on Russia so Kyiv is in the strongest position for peace. When you see the phrase “immobilised Russian sovereign assets”, it refers to state funds-such as central bank reserves-frozen in Europe under sanctions. The Council of the EU has already authorised using the net windfall profits these holdings generate to support Ukraine’s defence and reconstruction; think interest earnings, not the principal.
In parallel, the Council of the EU has temporarily prohibited any transfer of these immobilised Central Bank of Russia assets back to Russia, using emergency economic powers, which keeps the freeze in place for the foreseeable future. Around €210 billion is immobilised across the bloc, according to EU officials and reporting. Immobilised means the money is frozen-unusable by Russia-while profits may be directed via EU mechanisms agreed by member states.
On migration, the UK welcomed Belgium’s agreement to step up joint work. The government uses the term “illegal migration”; in plain language, that means people arriving without permission. “Returns” are when a country sends someone who has no right to stay back to their country of origin; “readmission” is when another state agrees to accept a person back if they travelled through or have ties there. We often use “irregular migration” when talking about people, to keep the focus on legal status rather than identity.
What this means: financing Ukraine via the “proceeds” of immobilised assets avoids outright seizure and tests a new model already set in EU law. The legal and political debate is active; Russia’s central bank has sued Euroclear in Moscow over the freeze and potential use of related proceeds, underscoring the contested terrain ahead.
A quick media‑literacy check. When officials promise a “just and lasting peace”, ask what conditions would make an outcome just and how durability will be judged. When statements highlight “returns and readmissions”, look for the procedures, safeguards and accountability. The UK government readout is intentionally brief, so it signals direction rather than detailed policy.
Both leaders said they would speak again soon. At EU level, expect further debate through December on loans backed by proceeds from immobilised assets and how that support is structured.
If you are teaching this, keep two threads in view. One is European finance for Ukraine that uses profits from frozen Russian state funds. The other is practical UK–Belgium co‑operation on returning people who do not have the right to stay, alongside stronger law‑enforcement work. Keep tracking how each side defines success and measures outcomes.