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Finland to use proceeds from frozen Russian assets to supply ammunition to Ukraine
Reuters ^ | May 19, 2025 12:32 PM UTC | Essi Lehto

Posted on 05/19/2025 2:05:31 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum

HELSINKI, May 19 (Reuters) - Finland will supply 90 million euros ($101.35 million) of ammunition to Ukraine by using proceeds from Russian financial assets frozen by the European Union after Moscow's full-scale invasion in 2022, the Finnish defence ministry said on Monday.

The EU has estimated that 210 billion euros of the roughly $300 billion worth of frozen Russian assets are held in the 27-nation bloc, mainly in the form of government bonds that Russia's central bank had stored as reserves.

HELSINKI, May 19 (Reuters) - Finland will supply 90 million euros ($101.35 million) of ammunition to Ukraine by using proceeds from Russian financial assets frozen by the European Union after Moscow's full-scale invasion in 2022, the Finnish defence ministry said on Monday.

The EU has estimated that 210 billion euros of the roughly $300 billion worth of frozen Russian assets are held in the 27-nation bloc, mainly in the form of government bonds that Russia's central bank had stored as reserves.

"We were able to negotiate additional funding for Finland's support for Ukraine," Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen said. "The products are purchased from Finnish industry to boost employment at home and sent to Ukraine to help its defence. I am very pleased with the outcome."

The Kremlin did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It has repeatedly said that any move to seize or sell off frozen Russian assets would be illegal; contravene property rights; set a dangerous precedent, and would be challenged in court.

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: actofwar; axisofevil; finland; killkillkill4russia; killkillkillforpeace; lovehatemaximus; mic; russianinvasion; ukraine; welfarewar; whatgoesaround; zeepersoverjoyed; zeepersthrilled; zeepwarmustcontinue
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1 posted on 05/19/2025 2:05:31 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Anyone can pirate stuff from Finland now.

Screw those weasels.


2 posted on 05/19/2025 2:06:59 PM PDT by kiryandil (No one in AZ that voted for Trump voted for Gallego )
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To: kiryandil

Amazing. Not hoo many friends these days. It’s certainly not religion.


3 posted on 05/19/2025 2:13:41 PM PDT by DIRTYSECRET
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Could end up being a mistake legally, leaving Finland on the hook for this money later. They would likely be safer using seized assets for humanitarian and rebuilding funds, and using their own money for military aid. I’m not a lawyer, but I do know this will end up in court.


4 posted on 05/19/2025 2:14:18 PM PDT by ETCM (“There is no security, no safety, in the appeasement of evil.” — Ronald Reagan)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Finland should have learned from the Winter War in WW2 and waited until winter when their troops were better at defending against the inevitable Russian invasion.


5 posted on 05/19/2025 2:15:12 PM PDT by Tell It Right (1 Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
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To: Tell It Right

“Finland should have learned from the Winter War in WW2 and waited until winter when their troops were better at defending against the inevitable Russian invasion.”

If there is another Finland/Russia war, the world will know that Russia didn’t start it.


6 posted on 05/19/2025 2:24:08 PM PDT by BobL
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To: kiryandil
Anyone can pirate stuff from Finland now.

That appears to be the precedent.

7 posted on 05/19/2025 2:24:54 PM PDT by JonPreston ( ✌ ☮️ )
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

The Finns went over to the dark side quite awhile ago.
Perhaps some day they will recover enough to feel shame.


8 posted on 05/19/2025 2:33:34 PM PDT by JayGalt (Fight! Fight! Fight!)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

“It has repeatedly said that any move to seize or sell off frozen Russian assets would be illegal; contravene property rights; set a dangerous precedent, and would be challenged in court.”

Invading sovereign countries is also illegal and sets a dangerous precedent. I can’t see a European court siding with Russia over this.


9 posted on 05/19/2025 2:34:32 PM PDT by sinsofsolarempirefan
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To: kiryandil

Don’t start wars...


10 posted on 05/19/2025 2:36:56 PM PDT by rrrod (6)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Dangerous game.


11 posted on 05/19/2025 2:38:28 PM PDT by cherry
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To: sinsofsolarempirefan

Is Ukraine legally a country?....


12 posted on 05/19/2025 2:40:20 PM PDT by cherry
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Very interesting. Finland (as well as others in the past) use frozen Russian assets to pay for Ukraine munitions. The US, idiots that we are, just gives it to them.


13 posted on 05/19/2025 2:43:49 PM PDT by redfreedom (Happiness is shopping at Walmart and not hearing Spanish once!)
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To: rrrod

puffer


14 posted on 05/19/2025 2:44:11 PM PDT by JonPreston ( ✌ ☮️ )
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To: kiryandil

Finland is increasing the size of its reserves to 1 million men to deal with any possible incursion by Russian rodents.


15 posted on 05/19/2025 2:45:37 PM PDT by pierrem15 ("Massacrez-les, car le seigneur connait les siens" )
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To: All

This is not clear.

It is described as bonds seized and “proceeds” spent.

Are they Russian bonds, held by some entity in Finland? Seizing them would then hurt the entity in Finland from whom they were grabbed.

If they are Russian bonds, and they want to seize the proceeds for ammo, why would Russia’s central bank send the interest check?

If they are Finnish bonds, held by some Russian entity in Finland, then the proceeds are interest paid to that bond by the Finland Treasury. There is no real impact on Russia if this happens. The money comes from Finland’s Treasury.

The bond may eventually have to be returned to whoever was holding it (not Russia) and he will be due back interest too.

This does not look clearly like it is money coming from Russia to buy this ammo.


16 posted on 05/19/2025 2:49:11 PM PDT by Owen
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To: BobL

There were 2 winter wars. Russia started the first one (Winter War). Finland started the second one (Continuation War). Finland lost both wars and territory both times.

Russia paid a heavy price though, especially the first war.


17 posted on 05/19/2025 2:53:15 PM PDT by packrat35 (Pureblood! No clot shot for me!)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

The war pigs sure do love the phrase “full scale invasion” ..


18 posted on 05/19/2025 3:16:15 PM PDT by A strike (ICE ICE baby !)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I find it interesting in, choosing between Finland and Russia, so many FReepers side with Russia. Curious. Very curious.


19 posted on 05/19/2025 3:33:39 PM PDT by Engraved-on-His-hands
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To: Engraved-on-His-hands

I wonder how many 155 mm artillery shells Finland could supply Ukraine with if they urgently wanted to?


20 posted on 05/19/2025 3:36:05 PM PDT by desertsolitaire (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?)
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