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Dutch parliament in sitting to discuss government-forming process
The new Dutch parliament is now in sitting.
New lawmakers were formally sworn in last night, and they are back this morning to discuss the next steps in the government-forming process.
Speaker Martin Bosma is opening the sitting, and we’re going to hear from all the party leaders, including the likely next prime minister Rob Jetten.
Reparation loan on Russian frozen assets 'important instrument in bringing peace,' Zelenskyy says
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy also commented on the issue of Russian frozen assets this morning, telling EU leaders it would be “a big-big loss” for Russia “if we can get this money in any way, be it a loan insured by other countries or any other way.”
“If we can have these 140-160bn, this will be a big loss for Putin and his circle of people. You know that it’s their money. And that’s why, for them, it’s really destabilising the system, their clique,” he said.
He also said Kyiv would use the money “not only for weapons,” but also to produce other equipment.
“This [would] be an important signal for Russia: look, if you continue, you will lose from 35 to 80 billion next year on energy trade (depending on how sanctions will work), and plus 140 in frozen assets. This is an important instrument in bringing peace,” he stressed.
'Important we keep supporting Ukraine,' Dutch finance minister says
Separately, Dutch finance minister Eelco Heinen said the EU needed to listen to Belgium’s concerns about using Russian frozen assets to help Ukraine, but insisted it was important the bloc continued its support for Kyiv.
“I think it’s important that we keep supporting Ukraine. So that’s what I’m fighting for here, that we have to keep the money going through Ukraine so it can be stay afloat – the economy and also their military – in order to fight the aggression that Russia is putting on Ukraine,” he said.
Asked about the corruption scandal, he said:
“Fighting corruption is a continuous effort that Ukraine has to do, and I’m keep having this dialogue with them as well, that they have to fight corruption, and it’s also part of the conditionality we put on packages we design for Ukraine.”
Morning opening: How to fund Ukraine next?
Jakub Krupa
EU finance ministers are meeting in Brussels this morning to discuss economic and financial agenda of the bloc, including the increasingly urgent question of funding for Ukraine.
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with Bloomberg, published this morning ($), that the country’s survival relied on getting more funds from allies.
“I hope, God bless, we will get this decision,” he told Bloomberg Television. If not, “We will have to find an alternative, it’s a question of our surviving. That’s why we need it very much. And I count on partners.”
The European Commission still hopes to convince the member states – and Belgium, in particular, as it continues to bloc the proposal amid legal fears – to go ahead with a €140bn reparations loan based on frozen Russian assets.
Commission president Ursula von der Leyen insisted this morning that it would be “the most effective way to sustain Ukraine’s defence and its economy.”
A final decision on the issue has been postponed until the EU leaders’s summit in December, with the funding needed early next year.
But the talks come at a tricky moment for Kyiv, as Zelenskyy had to move to contain growing public outrage in Ukraine over a corruption scandal in the energy sector, firing two ministers who are accused of involvement in a large-scale bribery scheme.
Danish economic affairs minister Stephanie Lose was asked about her reaction to the scandal, and insisted that there was determination to continue supporting Ukraine.
“Of course, Ukraine will have to continuously work with reforms, strengthening all parts of their society [and] that also applies to anti-corruption … but there shouldn’t be any doubt that there’s a strong European support behind Ukraine,” she said.
Let’s see what comes out of today’s meeting.
Separately, I will be keeping an eye on the Netherlands where the parliament meets to discuss potential ways ahead in the government formation process, the Italy-Albania consultations in Rome giving us the latest chance to enjoy the brilliant Meloni-Rama dynamics, and a number of high-level meetings across Europe, including Nato’s Mark Rutte’s visit to a German airbase.
Lots for us to cover.
It’s Thursday, 13 November 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
