In his opinion, the EU provided for enough support to Ukraine so that it would not lose the war, but clearly insufficient to win. The Eurodepa called it a “huge mistake.”
“There are several things that I try to promote in the European parliament. The first is more direct investments in the Ukrainian defense industry. It is very important for me because I think that this will have a significant direct effect that will significantly strengthen the position of Ukraine. And we don’t have to spend a lot of money because we can use frozen Russian assets,” the politician noted.
He said that when he was in Ukraine in April 2024, he tried to insist on the full use of all frozen Russian assets of $ 300 billion and transfer them directly to Ukraine.
“This can be a decisive factor, because it is more than everything that has been provided so far. So we are talking about direct investments in the Ukrainian defense industry. Secondly, about the seizure of Russian assets and the transfer of them to Ukraine. And thirdly-about the acceleration of acceleration [поставок Украине вооружения]because we should be faster, ”said Van Lanshot.
Context
After a full -scale invasion of the Russian Federation to Ukraine of the Western countries About $ 300 billion assets of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation were frozen. Some of them are stored in the EU countries (it is believed that approximately $ 190 billion is stored in the EuroClear depository in Belgium), and part in the USA.
For about a year, the allies of Ukraine discussed the possibility of using frozen assets to restore the country after the war. However, without coming to an agreement, the countries of the G7 agreed use interest accumulated from frozen funds (approximately $ 50 billion annually), like a loan for Ukraine.
January 14, 2025 CNN, citing unnamed officials from the administration at that time, US President Joe Biden reported that the United States Trying to convince allies to withdraw about $ 300 billion frozen Russian assets in the account of conditional storage (escrow account). Money from it can only be used when reaching a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia.
France and Germany are discussing the possibility of arrest of Russian assets in the amount of € 200 billion, If Moscow violates the planned agreement On March 3, the Financial Times wrote about the ceasefire in Ukraine.
March 21 “Radio Freedom”, citing a source in diplomatic circles, reported that the EU leaders did not abandon the idea Confiscate frozen Russian assets that are indicated in the final declaration of the Summit of diplomats.
