"Caretaker PM of the Netherlands Dick Schoof said he was 'still convinced' by the EU's plan to use Russian frozen assets for Ukraine - but admitted 'we really need to meet the Belgians halfway' - as he arrived for the European Council in Brussels on Thursday. European leaders are set to debate the European Commission's plan to use frozen Russian assets for a $140bn 'reparations loan' for Ukraine, amid huge divisions within the bloc. Belgium - where the assets are held - and others have warned of the impact on investor confidence, the need for 'risk-sharing' and questioned the legality. Italy, Belgium, Malta and Bulgaria called for alternatives to be explored. Others like Hungary and Slovakia have highlighted the need to end the Ukraine conflict - rather than fund more weapons- as well as ongoing corruption scandals in Ukraine. On Wednesday, Hungary's Vitkor Orban claimed 'victory', saying the loan plan was 'off the table'. Russia has called the move 'illegal' and 'theft'."