EU closer to using Russian asset profits for Ukraine arms

French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attend a European Union leaders summit in Brussels, Belgium March 21, 2024. REUTERS/Yves Herman

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union could use proceeds from frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine within a few months under a plan that includes buying arms for Kyiv, EU leaders said on Thursday.

Leaders of the bloc's 27 member countries agreed at a summit in Brussels to move ahead with work on the plan, presented this week by the EU's executive body, the European Commission.