Name: Ukraine’s war effort hangs on EU vote to use frozen Russian assets
Uploaded: 2025-12-18T09:43:23.495Z
Duration: 2 min 10 s
Description: European leaders meet to decide whether to use tens of billions of dollars in frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.

European leaders meet to decide whether to use tens of billions of dollars in frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.

Brussels

Ukraine is facing severe challenges in maintaining its military operations nearly four years into Russia's full-scale invasion. With the abrupt halt of U.S. support, Ukrainian officials are looking to European leaders in Brussels to approve the use of frozen Russian government assets, mainly held in Belgium, to back a loan exceeding $150 billion.

This financial support is considered critical for Ukraine's defense, payment of military personnel, and economic stability, especially as significant budget gaps are forecast for the coming year. The outcome of the EU vote is seen as potentially decisive for Ukraine's ability to continue resisting the invasion, with some communities already experiencing the effects of financial shortfalls.

Ukraine’s war effort hangs on EU vote to use frozen Russian assets

Almost four years into Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine is struggling to sustain its military. We need to produce a very large amount of very cheap and very successful Ukrainian weapons. These include drones, guided missiles and artillery shells that cost Ukraine millions of dollars each day, as well as air defense systems to ensure the safety of civilians far from the war's front lines. Russian government bank accounts, mostly in Belgium, could be used to back a loan of more than $150 billion for Ukraine. A make-or-break lifeline after U.S. support stopped suddenly this year. But European leaders in Brussels need to approve it first. And their vote could be among the most important moments in the war, says National Security Researcher Gleb Volosky. It really might mean the difference between Ukrainian defeat and much more favorable outcomes of the negotiations. So if Ukraine doesn't receive these frozen Russian assets, what happens then? It will be an extremely hard year for Ukraine military-wise. This financing could prove crucial to defending Ukraine's front lines and paying its military personnel. With significant gaps already forecast for next year's budget, it could also support pensioners and bolster Ukraine's economy. The thing is that we need money. We need finances to run the country. We think that the best source is Russian frozen assets, because they should pay for what they did. The consequences of earlier European indecision are visible across Ukraine. The stakes now could be higher than ever. If there will be no decision about any financial support to Ukraine, that means that the country is in collapse. For some Ukrainian communities, that is already a reality. Audrey McAlpine, Al Jazeera, Kyiv.

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