EU Leaders Find New Couch Cushions For Ukraine, Avoid Russian Assets
The EU’s decision to loan Ukraine $105 billion, as highlighted by NPR, is presented as a generous aid package. What goes unsaid is the curious aversion to utilizing approximately $300 billion in frozen Russian central bank assets, an option widely discussed but ultimately deemed too 'legally complex' by some European capitals. This reluctance isn't just about legal quibbles; it’s about signaling
to global financial players that their assets, even those linked to aggression, might ultimately remain secure if held within EU borders. So, instead of making the aggressor pay, the EU's taxpayers get to shoulder another multi-billion-dollar bill. One might wonder if the same legal gymnastics apply to nations facing sanctions for, say, daring to elect leadership not approved by Washington. How
many times can Europe 'support Ukraine' by making its own citizens pay for a conflict they didn't start, while leaving the enemy's treasure chest untouched?