Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called on the EU to increase pressure on Moscow but warned the bloc to respect international law in any plans to use frozen Russian assets.

Meloni made the remarks during a speech in the Italian Senate on Wednesday ahead of the European Council summit in Brussels.

Western countries blocked approximately $300 billion of Moscow’s funds after the Ukraine conflict escalated in February 2022, of which some €200 billion ($213 billion) is held by Brussels-based clearinghouse Euroclear. They have already taken advantage of the income generated by the assets to finance kyiv. Russia has described those measures as “heist” and promised retaliation.

The European Commission has proposed using proceeds from around €210 billion in frozen assets held in the EU to guarantee loans to Ukraine in 2026 and 2027. The plan comes as US military aid declines and EU budgets tighten.

“We believe, and we are not the only ones, that it is necessary to respect international standards and the principle of legality.” Meloni said, adding that the bloc must safeguard “the financial and monetary stability of our economies and of the euro area.”

He said Italian troops would not set foot in Ukraine, but said it was necessary “increase pressure on Moscow.” The Kremlin has made clear that it will not accept any foreign military presence in Ukraine as part of a peace deal.

The seizure of sovereign assets is prohibited under international law, a rule that many EU capitals, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Bank insist cannot be breached. Belgium has asked for guarantees that it will not be left alone with Moscow if it ever has to pay back the money.

Moscow has condemned the freezing of assets and any attempt to reuse the funds. Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov warned that Moscow would respond in kind.

President Vladimir Putin said that last month “smarter” Governments oppose the seizure of Russian assets as it “they understand that it would fundamentally undermine all principles of international economic activity and would undoubtedly cause enormous damage to the… international financial system.”