05:38EU Foreign Affairs chief Josep Borrell told reporters that the 'decision is clear' on the bloc's use of revenues from frozen Russian assets, as representatives gathered for the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday.
"Russian frozen assets will be used to increase our military support to Ukraine," he told them. "We are going to approve the method in order to use this money. The money is already here. We decided to take this money. We are not going to reconsider the decision that has already been taken. Now we have to implement this decision. The money will come next week."
He added that 'next week one part' of the planned 2.5 billion euros would arrive while the other would come 'some weeks later'. The diplomat did admit that some nations could challenge the decision but that there was a 'solution'.
"As you know, we still have six legal decisions that cannot be implemented due to a member refusing it," he explained. "We have to avoid that this may happen also for the Russian revenues and we have a solution. We put it in the table today."
Borrell also claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin was 'clearly preparing for the long war'.
"After the [Ukraine peace] summit in Switzerland, where a diplomatic track has been open - and the answer from Putin - travelling to North Korea, traveling everywhere where he can get arms is clearly preparing for the long war," he alleged.
While Moscow and Pyongyang signed a mutual defence agreement, the sides have denied any arms deals. Russia also rejected the legitimacy of forums held on Ukraine without its participation.
Last month, the Kremlin called the use of revenues from any frozen assets as "nothing less than expropriation" and said it was formulating a response.
Meanwhile, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom discussed the forthcoming '14th sanctions package' on Russia that the bloc has imposed following the Ukraine conflict.
"We will tackle both 'shadow fleet' of Russia, which is trying to circumvent the oil price cap set by the G7, and which is also of course a great source of income for the Russian warships," he said. "And there will also be elements tackling the LNG imports to Europe."
"We still need to do more to prevent Russia to see to it that Russia suffers a strategic defeat in the battlefield, and that will also adopt more measures in the future," he added.
The EU and other Western allies have imposed a range of sanctions on Russia following the Ukraine conflict. Moscow has repeatedly condemned the restrictions, claiming that such measures only 'boomerang' on those attempting to impose them.
On Georgia, Borrell warned that the door was currently 'open' for EU membership, but that "if the government continues on the same track, continues doing what they are doing - this door will be closed." Finland's Minister of Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen added that: "we have to think about measures on how we counter the [Georgian] government while at the same time keeping up hope for the people and there are measures."
Recently, the EU condemned the country's passing of the 'foreign agent' law, releasing a statement warning that the legislation 'is not in line with EU core norms and values' and would 'negatively impact Georgia's progress on its EU path'.
Under the legislation, those groups receiving more than 20 percent of funding from abroad would be required to register as 'foreign agents'. Critics have compared the bill to what they see as 'Russian' laws intended to stifle dissent, while the governing party claims the move is about transparency and protecting democracy from foreign interference and imposed 'pseudo-liberal values'.
Elsewhere, Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Luminita Odobescu said the country was transferring a Patriot air defence system to Ukraine, while Borrell also stated that the 'fabric of society has been destroyed in Gaza' as the delivery of humanitarian assistance had become 'impossible'.
Decision is clear, we've taken this money! - Borrell on EU's use of frozen Russian assets, says Putin 'clearly preparing for the long war'
EU Foreign Affairs chief Josep Borrell told reporters that the 'decision is clear' on the bloc's use of revenues from frozen Russian assets, as representatives gathered for the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday.
"Russian frozen assets will be used to increase our military support to Ukraine," he told them. "We are going to approve the method in order to use this money. The money is already here. We decided to take this money. We are not going to reconsider the decision that has already been taken. Now we have to implement this decision. The money will come next week."
He added that 'next week one part' of the planned 2.5 billion euros would arrive while the other would come 'some weeks later'. The diplomat did admit that some nations could challenge the decision but that there was a 'solution'.
"As you know, we still have six legal decisions that cannot be implemented due to a member refusing it," he explained. "We have to avoid that this may happen also for the Russian revenues and we have a solution. We put it in the table today."
Borrell also claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin was 'clearly preparing for the long war'.
"After the [Ukraine peace] summit in Switzerland, where a diplomatic track has been open - and the answer from Putin - travelling to North Korea, traveling everywhere where he can get arms is clearly preparing for the long war," he alleged.
While Moscow and Pyongyang signed a mutual defence agreement, the sides have denied any arms deals. Russia also rejected the legitimacy of forums held on Ukraine without its participation.
Last month, the Kremlin called the use of revenues from any frozen assets as "nothing less than expropriation" and said it was formulating a response.
Meanwhile, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom discussed the forthcoming '14th sanctions package' on Russia that the bloc has imposed following the Ukraine conflict.
"We will tackle both 'shadow fleet' of Russia, which is trying to circumvent the oil price cap set by the G7, and which is also of course a great source of income for the Russian warships," he said. "And there will also be elements tackling the LNG imports to Europe."
"We still need to do more to prevent Russia to see to it that Russia suffers a strategic defeat in the battlefield, and that will also adopt more measures in the future," he added.
The EU and other Western allies have imposed a range of sanctions on Russia following the Ukraine conflict. Moscow has repeatedly condemned the restrictions, claiming that such measures only 'boomerang' on those attempting to impose them.
On Georgia, Borrell warned that the door was currently 'open' for EU membership, but that "if the government continues on the same track, continues doing what they are doing - this door will be closed." Finland's Minister of Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen added that: "we have to think about measures on how we counter the [Georgian] government while at the same time keeping up hope for the people and there are measures."
Recently, the EU condemned the country's passing of the 'foreign agent' law, releasing a statement warning that the legislation 'is not in line with EU core norms and values' and would 'negatively impact Georgia's progress on its EU path'.
Under the legislation, those groups receiving more than 20 percent of funding from abroad would be required to register as 'foreign agents'. Critics have compared the bill to what they see as 'Russian' laws intended to stifle dissent, while the governing party claims the move is about transparency and protecting democracy from foreign interference and imposed 'pseudo-liberal values'.
Elsewhere, Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Luminita Odobescu said the country was transferring a Patriot air defence system to Ukraine, while Borrell also stated that the 'fabric of society has been destroyed in Gaza' as the delivery of humanitarian assistance had become 'impossible'.
EU Foreign Affairs chief Josep Borrell told reporters that the 'decision is clear' on the bloc's use of revenues from frozen Russian assets, as representatives gathered for the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday.
"Russian frozen assets will be used to increase our military support to Ukraine," he told them. "We are going to approve the method in order to use this money. The money is already here. We decided to take this money. We are not going to reconsider the decision that has already been taken. Now we have to implement this decision. The money will come next week."
He added that 'next week one part' of the planned 2.5 billion euros would arrive while the other would come 'some weeks later'. The diplomat did admit that some nations could challenge the decision but that there was a 'solution'.
"As you know, we still have six legal decisions that cannot be implemented due to a member refusing it," he explained. "We have to avoid that this may happen also for the Russian revenues and we have a solution. We put it in the table today."
Borrell also claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin was 'clearly preparing for the long war'.
"After the [Ukraine peace] summit in Switzerland, where a diplomatic track has been open - and the answer from Putin - travelling to North Korea, traveling everywhere where he can get arms is clearly preparing for the long war," he alleged.
While Moscow and Pyongyang signed a mutual defence agreement, the sides have denied any arms deals. Russia also rejected the legitimacy of forums held on Ukraine without its participation.
Last month, the Kremlin called the use of revenues from any frozen assets as "nothing less than expropriation" and said it was formulating a response.
Meanwhile, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom discussed the forthcoming '14th sanctions package' on Russia that the bloc has imposed following the Ukraine conflict.
"We will tackle both 'shadow fleet' of Russia, which is trying to circumvent the oil price cap set by the G7, and which is also of course a great source of income for the Russian warships," he said. "And there will also be elements tackling the LNG imports to Europe."
"We still need to do more to prevent Russia to see to it that Russia suffers a strategic defeat in the battlefield, and that will also adopt more measures in the future," he added.
The EU and other Western allies have imposed a range of sanctions on Russia following the Ukraine conflict. Moscow has repeatedly condemned the restrictions, claiming that such measures only 'boomerang' on those attempting to impose them.
On Georgia, Borrell warned that the door was currently 'open' for EU membership, but that "if the government continues on the same track, continues doing what they are doing - this door will be closed." Finland's Minister of Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen added that: "we have to think about measures on how we counter the [Georgian] government while at the same time keeping up hope for the people and there are measures."
Recently, the EU condemned the country's passing of the 'foreign agent' law, releasing a statement warning that the legislation 'is not in line with EU core norms and values' and would 'negatively impact Georgia's progress on its EU path'.
Under the legislation, those groups receiving more than 20 percent of funding from abroad would be required to register as 'foreign agents'. Critics have compared the bill to what they see as 'Russian' laws intended to stifle dissent, while the governing party claims the move is about transparency and protecting democracy from foreign interference and imposed 'pseudo-liberal values'.
Elsewhere, Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Luminita Odobescu said the country was transferring a Patriot air defence system to Ukraine, while Borrell also stated that the 'fabric of society has been destroyed in Gaza' as the delivery of humanitarian assistance had become 'impossible'.