EU leaders discuss plan to use profits from Russian assets

Billions from assets frozen in Europe could be used to buy arms for Ukraine

BRUSSELS - European Union leaders began discussions on March 21 on a plan to use billions of euros in profits from frozen Russian financial assets to buy arms for Ukraine, as they try to bolster Kyiv in its fight against Moscow's invasion.

The bloc's 27 national leaders are also set to debate how Europe can do more to defend itself and boost its arms industry, reflecting fears that Russia may not stop at Ukraine, and the US may not be such a staunch protector of Europe in the future.

During the two-day summit in Brussels, they will also tackle topics as diverse as the war in Gaza, the prospect of opening EU membership talks with Bosnia and farmers' protests.

But Ukraine will top the agenda, with President Volodymyr Zelensky joining the leaders via video link.

EU leaders have voiced increasing alarm about the state of the war in recent weeks, with ammunition starved Ukrainian forces struggling to hold back Russian troops and a US$60 billion (S$80.4 billion) military aid package for Kyiv stuck in the US Congress.