Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told European leaders that they must keep supporting his country and show Russia that continuing the war makes no sense. In an evening address before a key EU summit, he said the bloc should use the hundreds of billions of dollars in Russian assets that have been frozen in Europe to help pay for Ukraine’s defence and recovery.
Zelenskiy said around $250 billion in Russian state assets are currently frozen, most of it held in Belgium. He argued that using this money for loans to Ukraine would send a clear message to Moscow. Some European governments oppose the idea because they fear legal challenges, but Ukraine’s leader urged them to “have the courage to see the truth” and act anyway.
The war, which began when Russia invaded in 2022, continues to devastate Ukraine. Zelenskiy warned that Moscow intends to keep fighting next year unless it faces strong and united opposition. He called on Europe to show Russia that its appetite for war will not be rewarded.
For more background on Zelenskiy’s appeal, read the original report from Reuters.
