On Friday, Belgium announced a new aid package for Ukraine worth about 100 million euros (Ksh.14 billion), paid by taxes on the interest produced by frozen Russian assets.

Belgium is home to the headquarters of the international deposit organization Euroclear. It is one of the EU countries with the most Russian assets frozen due to Moscow sanctions.

According to the Belgian prime minister's office, Russian Central Bank assets worth roughly 180 billion euros (Ksh.26 trillion) are frozen in Belgium.

According to the prime minister's office, the Belgian state has produced around 625 million euros in taxes on the interest the frozen Russian financial assets earned.


Belgian contribution brings the total amount of military and humanitarian aid delivered to Ukraine since the beginning of the invasion to 300 million euros.

According to a statement, half of the new cargo would consist of armoured vehicles, weaponry, and ammunition, with the remainder being humanitarian supplies.

"For the war to end, Ukraine's counter-offensive must be successful," Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said.

"The extra support that Belgium offers today will contribute to this."

Belgium's action comes as the EU investigates the legality of utilizing frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine's rehabilitation.


The US has stepped up its efforts, announcing on Wednesday the transfer of $5.4 million confiscated from a Russian tycoon to a fund for Ukraine reconstruction.