Macron: EU to finalise Ukraine financing with frozen Russian assets

France together with other European Union countries says it will finalise a solution for providing financial support to Ukraine using frozen Russian assets, President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday.

Macron, speaking after a virtual meeting of the so-called "Coalition of the Willing", said Ukraine needed a peace agreement that was "serious" and "respectful of international law".

The Coalition says it will launch a working group, led by France and Britain, with close involvement from Türkiye and, for the first time, the United States. The group will focus on security guarantees for Ukraine once a peace deal is reached. 

"Over the next few days, we will finalise each party's contributions and finalise these security guarantees. This is essential for the Ukrainians, it is essential for negotiating a credible peace and for maintaining pressure on Russia," Macron said.

Ukraine signalled support on Tuesday for the framework of a peace deal with Russia but stressed that sensitive issues must be addressed in an meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Regarding frozen Russian assets, Macron said, "We will finalise this in the coming days, in coordination with all the European countries most concerned and, of course, with the European Union and the European Commission, a solution that will secure funding, give Ukraine visibility and maintain this pressure."

However Moscow has previously said that the use of its frozen assets for Ukraine is a "theft" and a violation of international law.

Copied