Zelenskyy on possible unfreezing of Russian assets for negotiations: Issue under Europe's control

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has mentioned that European allies are opposed to lifting sanctions against Russia. He has expressed gratitude towards his European partners, stating that they have shown unity in supporting Ukraine during multiple meetings, both publicly and privately. Zelenskyy believes that no one in Europe supports the recent "diesel deal" - a controversial agreement between Russia and Ukraine.

He emphasized that sanctions must remain in place until Russian President Vladimir Putin ceases the ongoing violence. On the contrary, everyone is reportedly working on a new sanctions package against Russia, according to Zelenskyy. He discussed the U.S. proposal to unfreeze a portion of Russian assets for peace talks, but acknowledged that this is currently under control and safe for now, as it is fully managed by Europe.

Zelenskyy also spoke about the need for budgetary support amounting to EUR 70 billion, highlighting the challenges faced and expressing gratitude to the Europeans for their unwavering support. He called on Europe to ensure the protection of the entire amount of frozen Russian assets and suggested a mechanism for using them to aid Ukraine, warning that if left unchecked, Russia could potentially gain access to these funds and utilize them to finance the war.