Frozen Russian assets worldwide, amounting to approximately $300 billion, cover less than half of Ukraine's losses from Russian aggression. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky during a press conference in Budapest.
Ukraine's total losses from the war have reached around $800 billion. Additionally, Ukraine is considering the option of purchasing weapons abroad with the funds from frozen Russian assets.
"Right now, there are $300 billion of frozen Russian assets. Russia has destroyed Ukraine, according to international institutions, by about $800 billion. Everyone asks what we will do if Trump doesn't support us financially, where will we get weapons from? My answer is — we can take that $300 billion, which belongs to us, support our people, and buy weapons in all countries with that money," Zelensky said.
He also emphasized the need for these funds to provide housing for those who lost their homes due to the war. Zelensky pointed out the inadequacy of sanctions, particularly against Russian businesses worldwide.
"When we talk about sanctions — have they fully worked on the banking system? No, because not all Russian banks have been sanctioned. Have sanctions worked on Russian energy resources? No, because not all energy resources have been sanctioned," he said.
Zelensky also noted that Russia is earning far more from using its shadow fleet than the total aid Ukraine receives from all its allies.
