Zelenskiy: Russian assets must be directed to Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is calling on Western countries to exert even stronger pressure on the Kremlin. This was reported by Zamin.uz.

According to him, unless a firm decision is made regarding the use of Russia's frozen assets, Vladimir Putin will not sit at the peace negotiation table. Zelenskiy expressed this opinion in an interview with journalists ahead of the European Union summit held in Brussels on December 18.

The President emphasized that the lack of financial and military assistance to Ukraine weakens the country's position. The Ukrainian leader called the redirection of Russia's frozen assets to Ukraine the main political weapon.

According to him, Putin is not yet ready for dialogue because he is trying to weaken Ukraine militarily and economically. Zelenskiy noted that he is using all opportunities to end the war diplomatically and stressed that financial aid and weapons for defense are vital.

At the summit, several important issues regarding the use of Russia's frozen assets were discussed. These include a complex credit scheme for directing assets to Ukraine, a ban on returning funds until the war ends, and the introduction of a permanent sanctions system.

European countries plan to extend the freezing period of Russian assets indefinitely. Additionally, Zelenskiy confirmed that important negotiations between the US and Ukrainian delegations will take place in Florida on December 19–20.

These talks are expected to cover the US peace plan, security guarantees for Ukraine, and post-war reconstruction projects. Meanwhile, as Russia files legal claims against European Union systems, European countries are ready to continue the process of freezing Russian assets to provide stable loans to Ukraine.