The EU transferred 1.5 billion euros from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine

AUTHOR: M.J.
The European Union (EU) has sent 1.5 billion euros in aid to Ukraine, financed by revenues from Russian assets frozen in the EU, which will be spent on defense and reconstruction, said the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
"There is no better symbol or use for the Kremlin's money than to make Ukraine and all of Europe a safer place to live," Von der Leyen said on the X social network.
Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmykhal welcomed the first EU transfer.
He stated on the X network that this is a significant contribution to the defense and reconstruction of Ukraine, reports Radio Free Europe.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia "will carefully consider how to respond."
EU foreign ministers approved the payments at the end of June.
The aid is financed by income from assets such as interest, but not by the underlying assets themselves, which remain frozen.
About 260 billion euros worth of Russian assets, such as Central Bank reserves, have been frozen as part of sanctions imposed on Russia over the war in Ukraine.
Group of Seven leaders agreed at a June summit in Italy to use interest from Russian assets frozen in the West to secure a $50 billion loan to Ukraine.