“A group of Republican senators appealed to US President Donald Trump to confiscate Russian sovereign assets frozen in the US and hand them over to Ukraine. It is about 5 billion dollars. The Senate believes that this decision can unlock much larger amounts in Europe and benefit the American economy itself, DW writes. The letters to Donald Trump were signed by Republicans”, — write on: ua.news
A group of Republican senators appealed to US President Donald Trump to confiscate Russian sovereign assets frozen in the US and hand them over to Ukraine. It is about 5 billion dollars. The Senate believes that this decision can unlock much larger amounts in Europe and benefit the American economy itself, DW writes.
The letters to Donald Trump were signed by Republican Senators Jim Risch, Roger Wicker, John Kennedy and Rick Scott. In the document, they call on the president to use the powers provided by the REPO Act and transfer to Ukraine all Russian sovereign assets that are currently frozen in the United States.
“We appeal to you to use the powers granted to you under the Act on the Restoration of Economic Prosperity and Opportunities for Ukrainians and, in coordination with the G7 and European allies, transfer to Ukraine the full amount of Russian sovereign assets frozen in the United States,” the letter reads.
Why it is important not only for Ukraine
Senators stress: the US move could be a signal for the European Union. According to them, the confiscation of American assets will open the way to the use of 162 billion dollars of Russian funds, which are currently frozen in EU countries.
According to the intention of the authors of the letter, this European money can be directed to the purchase of weapons from American manufacturers. “This is a good deal for America; it will bring orders that will help accelerate the development of our domestic defense industry and ensure Ukraine’s ability to defend itself in the near future,” the senators note.
Specific steps required
The letter also contains a direct call to the president to instruct Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to immediately begin the process of confiscating Russian assets in the United States. It is about the amount of about 5 billion dollars, which currently remains frozen on American territory.
The senators emphasize that even if peace is achieved, Ukraine will need serious modernization of the army. The use of Russian assets, they say, will lay the foundation for security for years to come. “Even if peace is achieved, Ukraine will need to modernize its armed forces, and the use of these assets will provide Ukraine with the ability to reliably defend itself in the coming years,” the document says.
In addition, the senators indicate that such a move could open access to more than 81 billion dollars of new European investment in the US defense industry.
Trump called on Ukraine to act quickly before Russia offered worse peace terms.
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