EU already sends EUR 400 mln from frozen Russian assets to purchase Ukrainian weapons – Ambassador Mathernová
The EU has already sent EUR 400 million from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets to help the Ukrainian defense industry, and this support will be continued, Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová has said.
"What is the huge novelty is that EUR 400 million has been given directly to the Ukrainian industry because of the lack of capacity that you mentioned. And this is to use the Ukrainian defense industry, which produces faster and cheaper. And you cut the logistics and transport channels. And it supports the Ukrainian economy," the ambassador said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
She recalled that the leader in this process was Denmark, for which the said funds were sent to the Ukrainian defense industry.
"Denmark was the first. That’s why we turned to them to help us with the channeling of the frozen asset proceeds money. And we provided EUR 400 million for the purchase of Ukraine-sourced weaponry. And there will be more," the ambassador noted.
Mathernová added that she cannot yet say how much the allocation of funds for the Ukrainian defense industry will increase, since the decision has not yet been finalized, but she assured that "it's going to be more than the current amount."
"And of the 18 Bohdana [wheeled self-propelled howitzers] that they have purchased, ⅔ were financed by the EU from the proceeds of the Russian assets," Mathernová said.
She also expressed hope that other countries will follow suit and "will use the incredible innovation that's happening in Ukraine, in this area, as a platform for financing."
Separately in this context, the ambassador noted the importance of the fact that on September 17, the President of the European Commission nominated Lithuanian Andrius Kubilius for the post of European Commissioner for Defense Industry. This position is new in the EC, and Kubilius, as Mathernová added, is "a very great friend of Ukraine."
"He will be able to connect the dots and try to stimulate better cooperation between Ukraine and the European defense industry," the ambassador noted.
