There seems to be some excessive enthusiasm by the pro-Ukraine camp in Europe over the recent EU Commission proposals to supposedly make “Russia pay” for the damage it has done to Ukraine. The EU Commission is only proposing to invest the current frozen Russian assets by the European governments and central banks and use the proceeds to fund Ukraine, with the express and written condition that the assets will be returned to their Russian owners after the war is over.
The proposal may have been made in coordination with Spain which currently has the European Presidency and this seems to have been confirmed by Politico. However, what has not been covered about this issue is that both Germany and France are showing great reluctance to back this proposal because their diplomats say they don’t want such legal mechanisms to be applied to them in case they are engaged in war. Absurd. The Baltics approve of the proposal and it also has the backing from Washington. The European Central Bank says that it may impact the Euro.
Fundamentally, the foreign policy of Germany and France towards Ukraine is geared towards persuading Ukraine to engage in negotiations with Russia, ultimately aiming to reach a compromise on the territory that Russia has conquered. Ukraine doesn’t want this, so it is being left to fight by itself without significant backing from its supposed European allies. France and Germany’s capitulation was unnecessary considering that Ukraine had retaken territory from Russia even without air and naval superiority. What’s even more unnecessary is capitulating to Russia on the economic front, especially after Europe crushed the gas war and turned Russia’s energy brinkmanship into a joke.
Basically, France and Germany want to give Russia a victory when Europe can choose to help Ukraine win the war. Now, they are also choosing to shy away from forcing Russia to pay reparations for the war it has started. And the Russians will even get their money back too. The proposal by Spain and the EU Commission is already ridiculous as it is. Diluting further smacks of a public display of fear and humiliation.
The assets of the Russian central bank should not be returned to Russia in any circumstance, let alone the assets of Russian oligarchs. Ukraine has to be compensated for the damage done to it by Russia and Europe has to take its share for the troubles Russia caused it in its energy war. This expropriation of Russian assets should be done according to the principle of the law that an aggressor has to pay for their crimes. The fact that there is currently no existing legal mechanism to implement such measures is no excuse for us Europeans. After all, we are pioneers when it comes to legislation, so assuming ignorance in legal matters for Europeans is a stupid excuse that doesn’t merit discussion. Europeans are experts in inventing laws when there are none.
By capitulating to Russia, France, and Germany are committing the greatest strategic mistake in post-War history. They also seem to be determined to make their capitulation look even more humiliating. The consequences of these decisions will only empower and strengthen a neighboring aggressor who intends to disrupt our democracy and rule of law on an extended and long-term basis.
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