Ukraine’s European allies emphasized the need to quickly use frozen Russian assets to support Kyiv during discussions in London, hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and other leaders. They addressed measures such as removing Russian oil and gas from the global market and providing Ukraine with more long-range missiles. NATO chief Rutte mentioned that U. S. President Trump is still considering sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, while Dutch Prime Minister Schoof urged the EU to align with British and U. S. sanctions on Russian oil companies.
Starmer highlighted the urgency of utilizing frozen Russian assets to fund a loan for Ukraine, noting that the European Union has not yet approved this plan due to concerns from Belgium regarding Russian reserves. Zelenskiy requested long-range missiles and the use of frozen assets for more weapons from EU leaders during their meeting in Brussels. Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen stressed the importance of finding a solution before Christmas to ensure ongoing financial support for Ukraine.
Starmer welcomed the EU’s new sanctions against Russia but underscored the need for rapid progress on frozen assets. Zelenskiy also appreciated Trump’s recent sanctions on Russia’s top oil firms, despite Trump’s reluctance to provide long-range missiles. Moscow has threatened a “painful response” if assets are seized and dismissed U. S. sanctions as ineffective on the Russian economy. Zelenskiy met King Charles during his visit to Britain, receiving ongoing support for Ukraine.
With information from Reuters