Russian invasion

Sanctions
EU wants to give 170 billion in Russian assets to Ukraine

Brussels is working out how to reallocate 170 billion euros in frozen Russian assets to Ukraine, five people with knowledge of the matter told the Financial Times.

The plans include moving the assets to Ukraine without technically seizing them. One proposal is that the assets in sanctioned Russian banks should be used to buy EU bonds with zero interest.

Another proposal is to use a so-called special purpose vehicle, SPV, to arrange the investments. It would also open up the possibility for countries outside the EU to participate.

Resolving the issue is of utmost importance to Kyiv, which is counting on around 50 billion dollars in budget support next year, most of which must be shouldered by the EU because the US has refused more support.

“They need the money and there are not many options,” an anonymous official told the newspaper.

The world's response
Danish message: Procuring long-range weapons

Denmark is strengthening its defense, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced at a press conference. She said that for the first time, Denmark will acquire long-range weapons that will be able to hit targets from a distance and shoot down missiles.

She emphasized that the new weapons will not be used in war but will have a deterrent effect. According to Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, they could include both missiles and drones.

- It is important for us to emphasize that there is no concrete threat of a military attack on Denmark, says Frederiksen according to Ekstrabladet.

The Danish government points to the threat from Russia as a reason for the armament.