Four former senior politicians from the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Canada have urged the European Union to take control of frozen Russian sovereign assets and use them to finance Ukraine’s defence.
In an article published in the British newspaper The Times, the authors warn that Kyiv is facing a difficult winter amid continued Russian bombardments and a funding shortfall of €70 billion. Without additional support, they argue, Ukraine’s ability to defend itself will be significantly weakened.
The former politicians argue that using approximately €210 billion in frozen Russian assets would enable Ukraine to finance its defence through to 2029. This would make Kyiv less dependent on political decisions by EU member states and the United States.
According to the authors, taking control of these assets would also serve as a means of pressure on the Kremlin, forcing Moscow to take peace negotiations more seriously.
The appeal comes at a time when financial and military support for Ukraine remains essential to sustaining its resistance against Russian aggression.
