The President of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelenski, has called on the leaders of the European Union, during the European Council held on December 18 in Brussels, to adopt a firm decision on the full use of frozen Russian assets for the defense of Ukraine and the reconstruction of the country, emphasizing that this is a “moral, correct, and legal” measure.
In his speech, Zelenski thanked European leaders for their support of Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion, stating that European solidarity has contributed to saving thousands of lives and maintaining Ukraine’s resilience in the face of Russian aggression.
According to him, Europe has demonstrated that it can make correct strategic decisions – from reducing energy dependence on Russia to strengthening the European defense industry.
“Europe has achieved a lot. Russia has failed to destroy Ukraine and weaken Europe,” Zelenski declared, adding that Moscow “has lost in all its attempts to blackmail or destabilize the continent.”
The Ukrainian president argued that the use of frozen Russian assets – estimated at about 200 billion euros – is essential both for the continuation of Ukraine’s defense and for sending a clear signal that aggression does not go unpunished. He compared this measure to the confiscation of goods derived from criminal activities, stating that Russia must bear the costs of the destruction it has caused.
Zelenski warned that, in the absence of a quick diplomatic solution, Ukraine will be forced to direct a large part of these funds towards the acquisition of weapons, including from Europe and the United States, to face Russian attacks.
At the same time, he clarified that, if Russia takes real steps towards ending the war, the frozen assets should be used for post-war reconstruction, from which European companies would also benefit.
Another central point of the speech addressed the credibility of European security guarantees. Zelenski warned that the lack of a firm decision on Russian assets would undermine confidence in Europe’s ability to defend its values and partners.
“If Europe cannot make this decision, then all statements about solidarity, autonomy, and global justice become devoid of content”, said the Ukrainian leader.
Zelenski emphasized that economic pressure on Russia is a key tool for achieving peace and reiterated the principle that “the aggressor must pay for what it has done”.
The European Council is set to further analyze the European Commission’s proposal on the use of frozen Russian assets, including in the form of a loan mechanism for reparations intended to support Ukraine.
