Ukraine pushes EU to use frozen Russian assets for defense boost

ISTANBUL

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Thursday that he held talks with EU Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius, focusing on military cooperation and Ukraine’s demand for confiscating frozen Russian assets.

In a statement on X, Shmyhal said the discussions addressed Ukraine’s defense needs, possibilities for expanding military-industrial cooperation, and efforts to enhance Kyiv’s defense capabilities.

“We are grateful to the EU for its important military support,” Shmyhal said, stressing that frozen Russian assets should be used to “strengthen our state.”

He added that Ukraine and the EU also discussed “concrete steps to force Russia to pay,” referring to damages from the ongoing war.

The European Commission has repeatedly expressed support for using profits from immobilized Russian central bank assets to aid Ukraine, but a full confiscation remains under legal and political debate among EU members.