"Hungary's Viktor Orban described EU plans for a 'reparations loan' for Ukraine as a 'dead issue' - saying 'it's killed, it's finished' - 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, Orban also claimed 'victory', saying the loan plan was 'off the table'. Russia has called the move 'illegal' and 'theft'."