news

[Global Times Special Correspondent Liu Yupeng and Wang Yi] According to the Russian newspaper Viewpoint on the 26th, European Commission President von der Leyen said on the same day: "The EU supports Ukraine. Today, we will remit 1.5 billion euros of proceeds from Russia's frozen assets to Ukraine's defense and reconstruction." In response, Russian President's Press Secretary Peskov said that Russia will not ignore the European Commission's decision to provide Ukraine with proceeds from Russia's frozen assets. Russia's response measures will be carefully considered and in line with Russia's interests.

Peskov, file photo, source: Russian News Agency

Russia's Sputnik News Agency said on the 26th that after Russia took special military action against Ukraine in February 2022, unfriendly countries imposed sanctions on Russia, resulting in the freezing of Russian sovereign assets and private investors' funds. About 300 billion euros of Russia's foreign exchange reserves were frozen. About 200 billion euros of them were in the European Union. The Kremlin said earlier that the relevant resolution was another example of violating all rules and norms of international law. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that freezing Russian assets in Europe was an act of theft.

Belgian European News Network said on the 26th that von der Leyen's statement means that the income from Russian assets has been transferred for the first time under the new EU plan. This unprecedented plan has been brewing for several months, and it was not until May this year that EU member states reached an agreement.

According to a report by RIA Novosti on the 26th, Podolak, an adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office, said in an interview on the 25th that a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine is inappropriate because it will only suspend the conflict and allow Russia to accumulate strength. Russia's Izvestia reported on the 26th that on the 25th, in response to whether Moscow had received specific signals from any Ukrainian political forces willing to compromise, Peskov said: "There is nothing concrete and substantive about the negotiations. There are some vague signals, but we don't know how realistic they are."