Zelenskiy tells Europe: Use frozen assets to end Russias appetite for war

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addresses the House of Representatives, as he visits The Hague for a conference to discuss compensation for Ukraine for the consequences of Russian aggression, Netherlands December 16,2025. ROBIN VAN LONKHUIJSEN/Pool via REUTERS

KYIV, Dec 17 - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on Ukraines allies on Wednesday to secure support for Kyiv and show Russia that continuing its war is pointless, ahead of ‍a ​crucial European Union summit on Moscows frozen ‍assets.

The outcome of these meetings – the outcome for Europe – must be such that Russia feels ​that its ​desire to continue fighting next year will be pointless, because Ukraine will have support, Zelenskiy said in his evening address.

He called on Ukraines partners ‍to take a decision on using the nearly $250 billion of frozen Russian sovereign ​assets in the European Union, ⁠most of it held in Belgiums Euroclear, to support a loan for Ukraine.

EU governments agreed last week to freeze the assets for as long as needed instead of voting every ​six months on extending this status. Some European leaders have opposed the plan as they fear ‌it opens them up to legal ​risk.

We need all our partners to have the courage to see the truth, acknowledge the truth and act accordingly, Zelenskiy said. He added that Russia was showing with its actions it intended to continue fighting next year.

Allies in the United States often say that Russia seems to want to