The EU directs revenues from "frozen" Russian assets for the purchase of weapons for Ukraine - von der Lyen

According to the President of the EC Ursula von Der Lyen, funding for assistance to Ukraine at the expense of immovable assets of the Russian Federation will almost double the production of ammunition in Europe by the end of 2025. The European Union directs revenues from Russian financial assets in European banking institutions to collective purchase of weapons for Ukraine. This was stated by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Lyen on February 28 in Strasbourg.

During the hearing in the European Parliament, it called on EU members to pursue a more coordinated policy for joint ordering weapons and ammunition. "It's time to discuss the use of profit from" frozen "Russian assets for joint purchase of military equipment for Ukraine. There can be no more powerful symbol or more appropriate use of this money," von Der Lyen said.

According to the President, the European Defense Fund is investing in the development of modern defense capabilities in key areas: naval and terrestrial spheres, air battles and early space prevention systems, development of cyber defense opportunities, etc. "The European Peace Fund has already mobilized 6. 1 billion euros to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including the supply of lethal and non -lethal military equipment and equipment . . .

It is important that we have taken a big step to increase our capabilities in defense production. Next week we will announce a decision on reward in The ASAP program (EU program for promoting ammunition. - Ed. After the Russian military aggression against Ukraine, the European Union and its countries - members provided Ukraine with financial, economic humanitarian and military assistance for about 90 billion euros.

At the same time, the EU has discovered weaknesses in its own defense and security system, as well as in the capabilities of the European Defense Industry. On Tuesday, February 27, the head of the US Ministry of Finance Janet Ellen called on to find a way to pass "frozen" assets of the Russian Federation to Ukraine. According to her, "there are strong international legal, economic and moral grounds.

" The American Minister of Finance noted that the developed economies of the world should find a way to "unlock the value of" immobilized Russian assets to help strengthen Ukraine's protection from Russia's invasion and for long -term reconstruction after the war. In addition, Ellen said that the EU, G7 and Australia have frozen about $ 282 billion in Russian assets in the form of securities and cash.

At the same time, she emphasized, more than two -thirds of these funds are concentrated in the EU. We will remind, on February 21 the Bloomberg agency reported that a group of experts on international law approved the arrest of "frozen" Russian assets.