Germany is open to taking further steps to utilise interest generated from frozen Russian assets for the benefit of Ukraine, Finance Minister Christian Lindner said on Friday.
However, this should not have any "legally disadvantageous or economically risky consequences," Lindner told a meeting in northern Italy of finance ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized democracies.
There was a shared openness on the part of European G7 members to scrutinize a corresponding US proposal to this effect, he said.
But negotiations were still a long way off because many unresolved issues remain, according to the minister.
EU member states previously decided to use interest from assets of the Russian central bank that are frozen inside the bloc to finance military aid for Ukraine.
The US considers this approach to be too hesitant and instead wants the G7 to give Ukraine a large loan secured by the interest income. This could total significantly more than the €3 billion ($3.2 billion) envisaged by the EU.
At the same time, Lindner said it was unclear who would have to provide which guarantees and bear which risks. There is still a long way to go to clarify these points, he added.
It is reportedly hoped to reach an agreement at the mid-June meeting of the G7 heads of state and government in Apulia in southern Italy.
