Russian Asset Must Be Used To Defend Against Russian Aggression, Rebuild What Was Destroyed—Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has renewed his call for the confiscation of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine’s defense and post-war reconstruction, framing the proposal as a moral, legal, and equitable response to Russia’s ongoing invasion.

Speaking at a meeting of the European Union Council, Zelensky argued that funds linked to the Russian state should be redirected toward repairing the extensive damage caused by Russian military actions.

In a statement shared on his verified social media account, the Ukrainian leader drew a direct comparison between the seizure of Russian assets and established international practices used to combat organized crime and terrorism.

He noted that authorities routinely confiscate money from drug traffickers and seize weapons from terrorist groups, asserting that similar logic should apply to assets belonging to a state accused of waging an aggressive war. According to Zelensky, using these resources to defend Ukraine and rebuild destroyed infrastructure would be both justified and consistent with legal norms.

Zelensky’s remarks come amid ongoing debates within the European Union and among G7 countries over how to handle hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of Russian central bank and sovereign assets frozen since the start of the war. While some governments support the idea of channeling profits generated from these assets to Ukraine, others remain cautious, citing concerns over legal precedents, financial stability, and potential retaliation.

The Ukrainian president emphasized that beyond legal considerations, the issue carries a strong ethical dimension. He argued that allowing Russia’s frozen wealth to remain untouched while Ukrainian cities, energy facilities, and public institutions struggle to recover would be fundamentally unjust. In his view, the assets should serve as a form of accountability, ensuring that the aggressor contributes directly to remedying the consequences of its actions.

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