Ukraine should use Russian frozen assets for domestic weapons production, Zelenskiy says

Reuters. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday (October 23) that Ukraine should be able to use Russia’s frozen assets for domestic weapons production and to purchase European and U.S. weapons.

The president’s comments came as European Union leaders gathered at a summit in Brussels are set to agree in principle to finance Ukraine for the next two years, despite a Belgian threat to block its plan to use Russian frozen assets to aid Kyiv.

Speaking during a press conference, Zelenskiy, a guest at the EU summit, said Ukraine needs funds from Russian frozen assets at the start of next year and that the day’s dialogue on the matter had not been simple.

He also said that land swaps with Russia were “not acceptable” and reiterated his position that a ceasefire should precede any talks on a potential solution to end the war.