A Euronews podcast explained that the EU holds about €210 billion in frozen Russian sovereign assets—€185 billion at Euroclear in Brussels and €25 billion in private banks—and that those totals and the Commission's proposal will dominate the European Council meeting on Thursday and Friday.The podcast and Commission documents set out two options to raise at least €90 billion for Ukraine over two years: a zero-interest reparations loan using immobilized Russian assets or joint borrowing, but unanimity and legal risks, especially Belgium's fear of compensation claims, threaten any deal.Ursula von der Leyen framed the choices as vital to Europe's strategic autonomy, leaders including Ulf Kristersson and Giorgia Meloni confront divided positions from Belgium, Hungary, Malta, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Italy, and officials warn funding could run out early next year without a compromise.