Belgium on Wednesday rejected a plan to use frozen Russian assets to help prop up Ukraine’s economy and war effort over the next two years, saying that the scheme poses major financial and legal risks.

Recent strikes are hitting at the core of Russia’s economy, but they are risky, and their ultimate impact is uncertain.

The European Union proposed two options to refill Ukraine’s war-strained budget, suggesting either a loan backed by frozen Russian assets or one backed by the bloc’s own budget.

Yuri Ushakov said the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Steve Witkoff was "very useful, constructive, and highly substantive."

By Julia Payne, Lili Bayer and Andrew Gray BRUSSELS, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Belgium criticised a European Union proposal to use Russian frozen assets, held in a Belgian financial institution, to channel 140 billion euros to Ukraine - even before the blueprint was unveiled on Wednesday.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman has condemned Ukrainian drone attacks on two Russian “shadow fleet” oil tankers in the Black Sea

Russian drone and missile attacks in and around Kyiv have killed at least three people.

Military commanders told President Vladimir Putin in comments reported on Monday that Russian forces had captured the frontline Ukrainian towns of Pokrovsk and Vovchansk and were advancing elsewhere,