TheLittleTwentieth – Renowned Papers Edition, AI Infused

Local sources from Ukraine: OBOZREVATEL українською, OBOZREVATEL українською.
UK coverage: Center for European Policy Analysis.

As the West continues to support Ukraine in its fight for freedom, a new approach is emerging – making Russia pay. A recent article has suggested that the West possesses $400 billion of Russian assets which could be used to fund Ukraine’s fight against Russia. This suggestion has been met with criticism, with some arguing that using these assets could risk sovereign immunity and the dollar’s position as a reserve currency. However, the author has dismissed these arguments, emphasizing the importance of adequately financing Ukraine to prevent its defeat and a potential populist backlash in Western countries.

In recent months, Ukraine has been making progress in its fight against Russia and its collaborators on the financial front. The State Financial Monitoring of Ukraine has reported that information about 478 traitors and collaborators has been handed over to law enforcement agencies, and 338 cases of suspected state treason are being investigated. 2492 accounts belonging to such individuals have already been blocked, and data on suspicious financial transactions amounting to more than 140.3 billion UAH has been received.

Russia’s actions have been recognized as contradicting the principles of FATF and grossly violating the organization’s standards, and as a result, Russia has been excluded from the Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL) of the Council of Europe. Russia’s membership in the Egmont Group has also been restricted, and the country has lost its observer status in the APG. Additionally, Russia has been deprived of its right to vote on any matters that are not within the statutory functions of the conference, and can only participate in conference meetings online.

In Ukraine, all assets belonging to three Russian oligarchs have been arrested by court order, totaling over 17 billion UAH. This includes a total of 20 companies and financial-credit institutions, which are directly owned by the Kremlin oligarchs or through controlled offshore companies. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has reported that these oligarchs are part of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle, and are involved in schemes of massive financing of Russia’s armed aggression.

The West must take action to prevent Russia from continuing its aggression and violating international law. By utilizing the $400 billion of Russian assets it holds, the West could help Ukraine in its fight for freedom and ensure that justice is served. Only then can the world be free from the threat of Russia’s militarized aggression.