Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said he will oppose any EU scheme, including the use of frozen Russian assets, that could further escalate the Ukraine war, ahead of a high stakes European Council meeting. He rejected a proposed 140 billion dollar reparations loan for Kyiv, saying the EU lacks a clear solution and that countries willing to fund Ukraine should do so individually. Fico also criticised German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for comparing Vladimir Putin to Adolf Hitler, calling it very unfortunate. Several EU states share concerns over legal risks, investor confidence and majority vote tactics, while Russia has condemned the plan as outright robbery.
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