In an interview with Bloomberg Television late Wednesday evening in Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the European Union to overcome differences regarding the use of frozen Russian assets.

Source: European Pravda, citing Zelenskyy's interview

Details: According to Zelenskyy, this funding is crucial for Ukraine's war-torn economy to continue resisting Moscow. "I hope, God bless, we will get this decision," Zelenskyy said.

Otherwise, he noted, "we will have to find an alternative, it's a question of our survival."

"That's why we need it very much. And I count on our partners," Zelenskyy added.

Zelenskyy stressed that "Russia has to pay for this war," and that money from frozen assets would help Ukraine acquire more air defence systems from the United States and Europe and finance drone production to strike Russian targets.

"We don't have additional money and this is the way – and this is fair," Zelenskyy said.

He also suggested that US President Donald Trump could send a good signal to European leaders by taking action to use billions in Russian assets frozen in the United States.

Trump has "more than five billion [dollars] of assets, maybe he will decide to spend this money – it'll help." Past US actions, such as energy sanctions, had spurred "European partners also to some strong decisions," he said.

Background:

• A technical meeting between representatives of the European Commission and Belgium on 7 November did not result in a breakthrough on how to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.
• The European Commission proposed a plan that would allow EU governments to use up to €185 billion — most of Russia's sovereign assets currently frozen in Europe — to support Ukraine, without formally confiscating them.
• However, approval of the plan has stalled due to Belgium's concerns, as most of these assets are held on its territory.
• The EU stated earlier that the issue of using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine remains on the agenda, and a final decision will be made in December 2025.

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