EU leaders, in principle, agreed to transfer to Ukraine a significant part of the profit received from frozen Russian assets. This was stated by the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Lyeen following the results of the first day of the EU leaders summit in Brussels.
According to her, the leaders considered it appropriate to the proposal of the EU Supreme EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of Josep Bo -Boorer regarding the transfer of income from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine.
“This will ensure the financing of military equipment for Ukraine. It is about 3 billion euros for 2024, and we can expect that similar amounts will be collected in the coming years,” she said.
“I told the leaders that if we quickly finalize the offer, we will be able to pay the first billion on July 1. So it all depends on us,” said von der Lyain, adding that specific steps will be taken in the summer months.
Ursula von der Layen also announced the preparation of a proposal for raising tariffs for Russian and Belarusian grain, Shrovetide crops and their processing products. Entering the EU market. This will not allow Russian grain to destabilize the EU market, as well as use income from the export of these products, ”she said.
Meanwhile, the final declaration of the summit, in the section regarding Ukraine, notes that Ukraine is in dire need of air defense systems, ammunition and missiles, and it also emphasizes that the EU and its member countries will accelerate all the necessary military assistance.
In turn, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, addressing the EU leaders in video conferencing mode, emphasized the need to provide greater military support and called the current situation “humiliating” for Europe.
Zelensky called on the EU to accelerate defense production as soon as possible, and also noted that income from frozen Russian assets should be used to restore Ukraine. In addition, the Ukrainian leader announced the need to start negotiations on Ukraine’s entry into the EU as soon as possible.