Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has stressed the importance of the EU taking a decision this week to provide Ukraine with a reparations loan using frozen Russian assets.

Source: Sybiha on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: According to Sybiha, the time has now come to allow the full use of Russia's frozen assets to support Ukraine.

He said there are at least five reasons why this step must be taken now.

In particular, Sybiha noted that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin "believes that Europe is divided and weak".

"He expects European support for Ukraine to gradually wane. Instead, this step will thwart his plans and force him to recalculate," Sybiha added.

In addition, he is convinced that "this decision will strengthen Europe's sovereignty, self-reliance, and unity as a powerful geopolitical force".

"It will demonstrate to everyone that threatening Europe's long-term peace and security by attacking a sovereign European country comes at a cost," the Ukrainian foreign minister said.

Sybiha also stressed that this step would allow Europe to ensure long-term support for Ukraine, increase Ukraine's self-reliance, and boost the morale of the Ukrainian people at a moment when it is most needed.

"Fourth, this is a matter of justice: it is first and foremost the aggressor who must pay for the damage it has caused, not European taxpayers. Nothing is more fair than that. This step will also serve as a lesson to all potential aggressors around the world: aggression does not result in rewards; instead, you will pay for your actions," he said.

Finally, Sybiha emphasised that a decision to fully use Russia's frozen assets would not hinder the peace process. On the contrary, it would strengthen Ukraine's position at the negotiating table and encourage the peace process by increasing pressure on Russia and changing Moscow's calculations.

Background :

• The EU has said it does not plan to take such a decision without Belgium's consent, even though a qualified majority of member states would be sufficient.
• On 12 December, EU ambassadors decided to freeze Russian assets held in Europe for an indefinite period in order to prevent their unfreezing in the future due to vetoes by countries such as Hungary.
• Russia, for its part, has stepped up additional "intimidation" of Belgium and is demanding nearly US$230 billion from the Belgium-based Euroclear company in a Russian court.

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