Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky believes that Western nations need to exert stronger pressure on the Kremlin to force it into peace negotiations. Speaking in an interview with journalists on December 18, while heading to the European Union summit in Brussels, Zelensky warned that if Ukraine is not financially supported, it will become diplomatically weaker.
Frozen assets — a key political weapon
The Ukrainian leader emphasized that without a final decision at the summit to use Russia's frozen funds for Ukraine's needs, Vladimir Putin will not come to the negotiating table.
"He does not want a clear diplomatic path. He is not interested in any dialogue. Putin's desire to conquer us grows stronger because we are in a vulnerable state, lacking money for survival and weapons," Zelensky said.
What does Ukraine need?
Zelensky noted that Ukraine is doing everything possible to end the war through diplomatic means, but financial aid and weapons are critically necessary for defense. According to him, Ukraine expects funds from Europe to support its army and maintain its defense industry, while the United States is expected to provide air defense missiles.
The main issues being discussed at the summit include:
- "Reparations credit": A complex credit scheme based on frozen Russian assets and guarantees from EU states.
- Ban on asset returns: Temporarily halting the return of Russian funds until the war ends.
- Permanent sanctions: Introducing a system to avoid re-voting on freezing funds every 6 months.
New talks in Florida
Zelensky also confirmed that an important meeting between Ukrainian and U.S. delegations will take place in Florida on December 19–20. The main topics of the talks include:
1. The U.S.-proposed peace plan.
2. Security guarantees for Ukraine.
3. Reconstruction projects for the country after the war.
Legal battles and restrictions
While the EU Council has temporarily banned the return of Russian assets, the Russian Central Bank has filed a lawsuit against the Euroclear system in a Moscow court. Meanwhile, Germany and other leading EU nations have decided to extend the asset freeze indefinitely, which will help ensure the stability of loans provided to Ukraine.
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