Czechs Will Buy Ammunition For Ukraine From Russian Asset Interest Frozen By The European Union

UNSPLASH/R M ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - The Czech Republic will use some of the flowers obtained from frozen Russian assets in the European Union (EU) to buy more large-caliber ammunition for Ukraine.

The Czech Ministry of Defense said some of the funds would be used for the efforts it has made, namely buying artillery ammunition for Ukraine around the world, funded by Western partners.

In June, Ukraine received its first shipments based on this initiative and deliveries continue every month, Czech officials said.

"This is a unique opportunity to support Ukraine quickly and effectively," the Czech Ministry of Defense said.

The Kremlin calls the planned use of frozen Russian assets to fund military aid to Ukraine a "stealing".

Russia said it would take legal action against anyone involved in the decision.

Western countries blocked Russian assets worth about 300 billion US dollars after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

EU countries took interest from the assets including bonds and other securities purchased by Russia's central bank and put them in EU funds to help Ukraine fight the Russian invasion.

The European Union government in June agreed to use a profit of 1.4 billion euros (US $ 1.5 billion) generated from the asset to buy weapons and provide other support to Ukraine.