London, 21 June 2023 (dpa/MIA) - A proposal for the European Union (EU) to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine will be put forward in the coming weeks, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday.

The European Commission will put forward a plan to do so before the summer break, von der Leyen said while attending a conference on Ukrainian reconstruction in London.

She said frozen Russian assets should be used "because the perpetrator has to be held accountable."

The Ukraine Recovery Conference, which is being held in London on Wednesday and Thursday, is supposed to lay the foundations for rebuilding Ukraine from the destruction of the ongoing Russian invasion.

The focus is on how private-sector companies can be encouraged to invest in Ukraine and help rebuild its economy.

The European Commission president also said that she has "no doubt" that Ukraine will one day join the EU.

"Ukrainians tell us, when they imagine their future, they see Europe's flag flying over their cities. I have no doubt that Ukraine will be part of our union," von der Leyen said in London on Wednesday at a conference on rebuilding Ukraine.

She added that Kiev has accelerated its reform agenda with "impressive speed and resolve."

At the same conference, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that the reconstruction of Ukraine must be more closely linked to the process of admission to the EU.

"Above all, however, in the long term we want to help lay the groundwork for a flourishing Ukrainian economy fit for the future via the EU accession process," Baerbock said.

In its daily update on the war in Ukraine, the British intelligence services reported that Russia has further expanded its defence installations in the occupied territories in Ukraine.

Significant efforts have been made, especially in the vicinity of the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014 in violation of international law, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in London said on Wednesday.

According to London, the sophisticated defensive positions underline Russia's assessment that Ukrainian forces are capable of attacking Crimea directly.

"Russia continues to see maintaining control of the peninsula as a top political priority," the MoD said. Fierce fighting continues on several frontline sections in southern Ukraine, it added.

Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine almost 16 months ago, the British MoD has published daily updates on the course of the war. Moscow accuses London of disinformation.

The Russian Ministry of Defence said a suspected drone attack on Moscow was thwarted early on Wednesday morning when three unmanned missiles crashed outside the city.

A total of three unmanned aircraft flew towards targets in the surrounding area in the early morning, but were then diverted from their course and crashed, the ministry said, with two of the drones hitting the ground near a military facility.

Russian authorities said no one was injured.

Moscow blamed Ukraine for the attack. The Ukrainian government in Kiev did not immediately comment on the accusation.

Photo: MIA Archive