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Copyright © 2024 CGTN. 京ICP备20000184号
Disinformation report hotline: 010-85061466
European Council President Charles Michel gestures as he speaks during a European Council meeting at the European headquarters in Brussels, February 1, 2024. /CFP
European Union leaders arrived at a summit on Thursday to discuss whether to use billions of euros in profits from frozen Russian financial assets to buy arms for Ukraine.
The European Commission, the EU's executive body, this week proposed taking profits from Russian assets frozen in Europe after Moscow's invasion and transferring 90 percent to an EU-run fund used to finance arms for Kyiv.
The Commission estimated the profits on the assets – various Russian central bank securities and cash – could be between 2.5 billion euros ($2.73 billion) and 3 billion euros per year.
Russia on Wednesday described the EU plan as banditism and theft.
The idea of using the proceeds to benefit Ukraine enjoys broad support among EU governments, diplomats say. However, using the money to buy weapons is more problematic for some countries.
The proposal raises questions, particularly for neutral or militarily non-aligned countries such as Malta, Austria and Ireland.
"For us neutrals, it must be ensured that money, for which we give our approval, is not spent on weapons and ammunition," Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said.
No final decision is expected at the summit. But leaders will indicate how the EU should proceed with the proposal.
At the two-day summit in Brussels, the EU leaders will also tackle topics as diverse as the war in Gaza, the prospect of opening membership talks with Bosnia and farmers' protests. But Ukraine will top the agenda, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joining the leaders via video link.
(With input from Reuters)