"Fair and logical": Sybiha thanks ministers for initiative on using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has thanked the foreign ministers of Sweden, Poland, the Netherlands and Spain for their letter to the European Commission regarding the use of frozen Russian assets for the benefit of Ukraine.

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

Details: The minister emphasised that Russia is refusing to stop the war and is, on the contrary, intensifying its terror. Ukraine, meanwhile, needs to cover the shortfall associated with rising defence expenditure and reconstruction costs.

"It is only fair and logical to use Russian assets, rather than only European taxpayers' money, to cover the additional costs of defending Ukraine and the rest of Europe from the Russian threat. This discussion needs to be rational, not emotional," Sybiha said.

He expressed confidence that through professional discussion and expert analysis, realistic solutions can be developed that comply with European norms, international law and the principle of the rule of law, and that risks can be collectively minimised and distributed evenly without placing an unfair burden on individual member states.

"I look forward to our discussions with EU colleagues next week to examine paths forward," Sybiha added.

Background:

• The Financial Times previously reported that Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain and Poland had prepared a letter to the European Commission calling for work to resume on a mechanism for using frozen Russian sovereign assets to finance Ukraine.
• During a visit to Kyiv on 18 August, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said Belgium needs guarantees that it would not be left to bear the costs alone should Russia successfully challenge this decision in court.
• Sybiha, meanwhile, said that now is the time to resume active discussions on frozen Russian assets and how they can be used to support Ukraine.

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