Four EU countries seek to reopen debate on Russian frozen assets for Ukraine

The Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden called on Thursday for the European Union to reopen discussion next week on using Russia's frozen assets for Ukraine as Moscow shows no signs of wanting to end its war there.



In a letter seen by Reuters, foreign ministers of the four countries argue that, while the EU agreed last December on a 90 billion euro ($104.86 billion) loan for Kyiv for 2026 and 2027, this will not be enough.



"Ukraine needs more financial support in both the short and long term," said the letter, addressed to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Helen McEntee, the foreign minister of Ireland, which holds the EU's rotating presidency.



"We believe now is the time to revert to the issue of how we can make further use of Russia’s immobilised assets for the benefit of Ukraine," the ministers wrote. They want the issue to be discussed at the next EU foreign ministers meeting on Sept 1-2 in Ireland.