A clear, political and moral appeal. From the European Union summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked European leaders to make a historic decision: to use frozen Russian assets to defend Ukraine from Moscow’s aggression and to rebuild what the war has destroyed. Zelensky compared this choice to practices already consolidated in the fight against organized crime and terrorism.
“Just as the authorities confiscate money from drug traffickers and take away weapons from terrorists, Russia’s assets must be used to defend itself from Russian aggression,” he declared, underlining that this solution is not only necessary, but also “moral, just and legal”, according to the opinion of numerous experts.
The Ukrainian president reiterated that the decision must arise within Europe, without external pressure and without downward compromises with the Kremlin. “Europe must make this decision, not someone out there trying once again to sell out European interests to Moscow,” he said. According to Zelensky, if and when the EU decides to fully use Russian assets, over time it will become clear to everyone that it was the right choice, capable of strengthening Europe as a whole. In his speech, Zelensky also rejected the idea of a fragile or declining Europe. “If we have achieved so much, how can the European Union collapse now?” he asked the leaders gathered in Brussels.
In his opinion, Russian President Vladimir Putin failed on several fronts: he did not destroy Ukraine and failed to turn Europe into a loser. Indeed, according to Zelensky, Europe has demonstrated its ability to react effectively. “On every important issue where Europe has stepped up to protect itself, its way of life and Ukraine, Europe has been right and has delivered concrete results,” he said. Among these achievements, he cited the end of energy dependence on Russian gas: «Europe has demilitarized the Russian gas weapon. The continent no longer allows Moscow to manipulate it with energy. It is a historic result, which only a few years ago seemed almost impossible.”
Zelensky then recalled how the Kremlin’s expectations proved unfounded on other levels too. Russia hoped for the collapse of European support for Ukraine and the failure of the growth of the European defense industry, as well as a political crisis in the EU after the change of administration in the United States. “But, once again, Russia has failed,” he said, praising the European and national leadership for protecting the Union’s interests and for learning to neutralize the “toxic political forces” financed by Moscow to divide and weaken Europe.
In the final step, the Ukrainian president issued a clear warning: without a concrete decision now, the words about European solidarity and strategic autonomy risk becoming empty of meaning. «If there is no European decision, the Russians – and not only them – will feel that Europe can be defeated. This is not what Europeans need,” he warned.
The issue goes beyond the present, concluded Zelensky, touching on the future credibility of the Union. “How can one really believe in future security guarantees if Europe cannot make a decision on the financial security guarantee for Ukraine in a morally crystal-clear and completely just situation?” A question that weighs as a political and historical challenge for the EU.