Von der Leyen, Merz: Die Gespräche mit Belgien über die mögliche Verwendung von Milliarden eingefrorener russischer Vermögenswerte zur Finanzierung der Ukraine seien „konstruktiv“ gewesen.
https://www.politico.eu/article/ursula-von-der-leyen-friedrich-merz-talks-belgium-over-russian-assets-were-constructive/
10 Kommentare
What’s the question? Russia caused the destruction so make them pay. Take the funds and give it to them.
I feel like this is technically news but not really like, News.
> “Belgium’s particular concern about the question of how to make use of frozen Russian assets is undeniable and must be addressed in any conceivable solution in such a way that all European states bear the same risk,” [Merz] said.
I have a feeling that some European states will not agree to bear any such risk. Hungary and Slovakia in particular.
I think Ukraine should sue Russia in the ICC, let the lawyers sort it out not the politicians. This way Ukraine could be awarded a few trillions on Russia’s assets, not just the dollars they have in a bank.
I have an impression „countructive“ in politics actually means „no agreement reached“. All Trump Putin calls were constructive.
Not a popular view, but this is a distraction. Yes, if Russian assets replace the hole in US funding it would be just and helpful.
But the issue is getting real about how the world has changed. EU/remaining democracies hold their own future, and the idea of something external that will help them transfer supports to Ukraine without taking it up as their own war is just further blindness. At best, Russian assets will hold together a net of avoidance and denialism while US-Russian alignment solidifies. The notion that these funds will be used to purchase US weapons systems is fantasyland. Admit it… would you be surprised to find Hegseth is actively sharing intel with Russia on Ukrainian troops?
Why not just buy off Orban and Fico like they usually do, and take on joint EU debt? That would’ve been a power move. First, it’s enough money for Ukraine for years. Second, it would show EU unity. Third, zero legal issues, everything clean and legit.
But instead they’re all going after Belgium and cooking up some convoluted scheme that, in any normal situation, would get wrecked in court. And all that for a relatively small amount of assets for Ukraine.
Big talk followed by small actions.
Constructive is a diplomatic term for “we couldn’t agree on anything”.
This is one of the reasons I always have referred to the EU as „fair weather union“.
The EU is all roses and expediency when it comes to expansion, absorbing resources that allows the richer countries to offload work to cheaper labour, etc. When it comes to the hard work and getting cooperation on risk then it is a very slow union and a lot of compromises will be made to get anything done.
The opposite can be seen across the Atlantic, where a single individual can capture the whole government and go on a bender.
I wish the EU would find better ways to get things done, but I don’t want anything remotely close to what is unfolding over there now.