Danish PM says Ukraine needs frozen Russian assets as it is running out of money

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said Ukraine needs funding to continue fighting Russia and that frozen Russian assets are the most obvious source of additional EU support.

"Waging war is expensive… And Ukraine is now running out of money. This has already happened. They cannot buy what they need. They cannot produce what they need," Frederiksen said ahead of the second day of the European Council meeting in Brussels.

Frederiksen noted that Russia's attacks on Ukrainians have become even more intense than they were "until quite recently".

"So we have an urgent problem in finding funding for 2026 at the European level. We must ensure there will be enough funds at the European level for the war effort in 2027. This is what I will raise at the meeting," the Danish prime minister stressed.

She pledged that Denmark "will continue to provide whatever assistance we can".

Asked where additional funding for Ukraine could come from, Frederiksen stressed that "frozen assets are the most obvious source to turn to".

"Not only would this help finance Europe's defence, but it would also mean that Russia, which is currently causing so much damage to Ukraine and Europe, would have to pay for everything it is doing… I still believe this is one of the best solutions we have right in front of us," she added.

The EU's support for Ukraine is to be discussed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in attendance at the EU leaders' summit in Brussels. EU leaders have publicly assured Zelenskyy that sanctions against Russia will under no circumstances be eased.

Meanwhile, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has firmly opposed discussing the idea of using frozen Russian Central Bank assets to benefit Ukraine.

European Pravda previously reported that the EU leaders' summit on 15-16 October would not produce decisions on funding for Ukraine or Russian assets because no agreement has been reached on the issue.