Income from frozen Russian assets would be better spent on weapons for Ukraine than rebuilding it – Poland's foreign minister

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has stated that Russian money in the EU would be better spent on defending Ukraine than rebuilding it.

Source: Sikorski following a meeting of the EU Council in Brussels, as reported by European Pravda with reference to RMF FM

Quote: "We have obtained a political decision, though not a legal one yet, that the interest from the capital [Russian capital frozen by EU countries – ed.] will be used to benefit Ukraine."

"Personally I would like to go further. I believe that the aggressor must pay for the consequences of their aggression. Since we already know that Russia will not receive this money until it pays reparations to Ukraine, it would be better spent on preventing the consequences of the aggression, on the defence of Ukraine, not just its reconstruction," Sikorski stressed.

He also welcomed the EU’s decision to allocate an additional €5 billion for military support to Ukraine under the European Peace Facility.

"This means that whatever countries give Ukraine will be refunded, and those who do not provide aid for Ukraine will make contributions [to the European Peace Facility]. So every European country except one [Hungary] will be involved in the scheme," Sikorski explained.  

Earlier, it was reported that the European Commission wanted to fast-track the approval of a mechanism allowing the use of income from frozen Russian sovereign assets so that Ukraine could receive the first tranche of €2-3 billion in July.

US President Joe Biden reportedly wants the G7 countries to make progress on plans to use seized Russian assets to benefit Ukraine before their summit in June 2024.

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