Ukraine’s FM: Russia’s war budget makes the case for using frozen assets now

Europe can no longer remain immobilized on Russian assets. Now is the time to use them for Ukraine’s defense and recovery. This decision, which is long overdue, would be a game changer that could shift the balance in Ukraine’s favor — particularly if taken alongside strong sanctions pressure. But to achieve this, we have to be faster and more decisive than Russia. According to the latest reports, Russia plans to spend a record €180 billion on its military in 2027 — more than 40% above its 2026 defense allocation. And that is only part of the picture. The country’s draft federal budget allocates a combined €669 billion to defense and security for the 2027–2029 period. These figures make clear Russia wants war.