Frozen Russian assets, US military aid for Kyiv, and Europe’s rearmament in response to Ukraine war

The United States has announced a significant military aid package of $275 million (€253m) for Ukraine as the country continues to fend off Russia’s ongoing offensive in the east. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that this assistance is crucial in helping Ukraine repel Russia’s assault near Kharkiv.

The aid package includes high-mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS), munitions, artillery rounds, Javelin and AT-4 antitank systems, antitank mines, tactical vehicles, small arms, and ammunition. This latest assistance brings the total military aid provided by Washington to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022 to almost $51 billion (€47bn).

In addition to the US aid, the G7 nations – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States – are exploring ways to utilize frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the G7 froze approximately $300 billion (€276bn) of Russian assets. Financial chiefs from the G7 countries are working on strategies to redirect these assets to benefit Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Poland’s foreign minister, Radosław Sikorski, has called on Europe to bolster its defenses in the face of Russian aggression. Sikorski proposed the creation of a 5,000-strong EU brigade of troops and suggested measures to incentivize Ukrainian draft dodgers to return home and serve in the military. He also expressed support for Ukrainian strikes on military targets inside Russia, advocating for a stronger stance from the West in support of Kyiv.

As tensions continue to escalate in the region, the international community is closely monitoring the situation and exploring various avenues to support Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression.