No consensus in EU on giving Ukraine frozen Russian funds - Tusk

This was stated by the head of the Polish government, Donald Tusk, during a press conference for Polish media after a Sunday meeting in London of the leaders of several EU countries, the UK, Norway, Canada, and the head of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

According to Tusk, there is no unity of views among European leaders on the issue of transferring frozen Russian funds to Ukraine.

“Everyone understands it would be best to transfer these funds for the purpose of defense and reconstruction of Ukraine. However, there are fears of negative consequences for the euro and the banking system,” Tusk noted.

He added that Poland is convincing partners of the need to transfer funds to Ukraine, but Warsaw's vote will not be decisive, since Poland is not a member of the eurozone.

At the same time, the Polish prime minister assured that interest from frozen Russian funds is working for Ukraine.

On the other hand, Tusk drew attention to the fact that now partners need to focus on ensuring that sanctions on freezing Russian assets in the EU are extended for the next period in June. He expressed concern that Hungary would express opposition on the issue, and that its position may also be influenced by Washington.

"We need to focus on extending the sanctions, because they are working," Tusk stressed, adding that their effect is Russia's financial and economic weakness.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Tusk previously stated that as close as possible relations with the United States are in the interest of both Ukraine and Europe, and that emotions cannot be allowed to divide Europe and the United States.