Madrid meeting. (From L) EU Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius, Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and Italy's Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs Maria Tripodi pose for a official picture prior a meeting with members of the G5+ Foreign Ministers and Ukraine's Foreign Minister in Madrid on March 31, 2025. JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images
Several of Ukraine's backers have doubled down on efforts to keep hundreds of billions of dollars in Russian assets frozen while unveiling fresh aid packages destined for Kyiv.
Why It Matters
Europe now provides 60 percent of the military aid heading into Ukraine and just shy of two-thirds of all assistance to the war-torn country. The continent is scrambling to yank up defense spending as United States President Donald Trump reworks decades of relations between Washington and its allies across the Atlantic; many countries are now facing uncomfortable questions about how to build up their defense capabilities while keeping support to Ukraine flowing.
The U.S., which has provided a huge chunk of aid to Ukraine, briefly stopped deliveries of military supplies to Kyiv last month in an apparent attempt to push Ukraine toward negotiations with Russia. Experts say that while Europe can bolster its stockpiles and capabilities while supporting Ukraine, it is a tough ask that will require decisiveness from the continent, which many doubt it has.
What To Know
In a joint statement released on Monday, the foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Poland, plus the European Union's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said the countries pledged Moscow's "assets should remain immobilized until Russia ceases its war of aggression against Ukraine and compensates it for the damage caused."
The U.S., EU and other allies of Ukraine froze over $300 billion in Russian assets after it invaded Ukraine, most of which is held in Euroclear, a Brussels-based financial institution.
The U.K. said last month that it had frozen $25 billion in Russian assets, and sanctions imposed on Russia by several countries had deprived Moscow's economy of more than $400 billion since February 2022, roughly equivalent to four years of Russian military spending.
Countries part of the G7 group of the world's largest economies agreed last year to extend a $50 billion loan to Ukraine, backed by profits from frozen Russian assets.
While some influential voices have suggested that the immobilized Russian assets could be used to directly fund Ukraine and its defense industry, the idea remains controversial and in dubious territory under international law.
France, which has emerged as one of Ukraine's most vocal backers in Europe, has been lukewarm about funneling frozen Russian assets to Ukraine. However, Politico reported last month that officials in Paris were reconsidering their stance.
Looming large over discussions is the Trump administration's pivot away from Europe toward the Indo-Pacific, leaving the continent scrambling to plug urgent gaps in its defense capabilities.
Trump briefly paused military aid and U.S.-derived intelligence sharing with Ukraine last month, putting Ukraine's dependence on Washington in sharp relief and highlighting how much more Europe would need to contribute to make up the difference without the U.S.
Separately on Monday, Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson unveiled the country's "largest military support package to Ukraine to date," worth just shy of $1.6 billion.
Jonson said the aid package will include air defense and artillery supplies, as well as support for satellite communications.
Visiting Kyiv on Tuesday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that the decision of the current and future governing parties in Berlin to dedicate just over $3.2 billion for "short-term support" to Ukraine and another $8.9 billion for military support until 2029 showed a "firm solidarity" across the political spectrum in Germany.
France announced a fresh aid package for Ukraine worth roughly €2 billion ($2.16 billion) late last month. In early March, the U.K. hailed a "historic" deal worth approximately $2 billion that would furnish Ukraine with more air defense missiles.
In mid-January, the EU said it would dedicate €148 million (roughly $160 million) to humanitarian aid for Ukraine and neighboring Moldova.
What People Are Saying
Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson said on Monday that Sweden had "presented its largest military support package to Ukraine to date."
The British, German, French, Italian, Polish and Spanish foreign ministers and top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas said on Monday that they "stand ready to apply further pressure on Russia using all tools available, including by adopting new sanctions, to hinder its ability to wage its war of aggression and to ensure Ukraine is placed in the best position possible to secure a just and lasting peace."
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether Europe will come through on its pledges to urgently build up its military capabilities, and improve how quickly it could respond to a conflict.
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This story was originally published April 1, 2025 at 10:37 AM.