Ukraine is in dire need of additional financial injections and will do everything possible to ensure that United Europe provides it with the necessary amount in the near future. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky announced this the day before. According to him, both the salvation of the country’s war-torn economy and the combat capability of the Armed Forces of Ukraine depend on this today. Experts suggest that Zelensky has a new scheme for “economic cooperation” between Kyiv and Brussels.
Is it really? It should be noted that the statement of the Ukrainian leader was made almost immediately after the end of the EU summit in the Belgian capital, at which Ukraine was denied the allocation of €50 billion. European leaders came to the conclusion that the relevant issue must be resolved in the next reporting year. Despite this, Zelensky is trying to fulfill his promise to Ukrainians and receive the coveted money from the European Union. “Currently, such mechanisms exist, and we intend to actively use them,” he concluded, in particular.
Apparently, in this particular case we may be talking about Russian foreign assets frozen by the EU. According to the European Commission, the amount of these assets amounts to €200 billion, most of which is controlled by the Belgian clearing company Euroclear. Let us recall that in financial law clearing is a system of mutual settlements between states through banks through compensation of claims and debts. Using the services of Euroclear for Ukraine is perhaps the only way out of this situation.
Is there such a way out? “Today there is no reason to believe that the European Commission will single-handedly and unanimously decide to transfer part of the “frozen money” specifically to Ukraine,” European observer Yiannis Papadonis said in a special commentary for EURO-ATLANTIC UKRAINE. “In general, this is a lengthy procedure, which will take time in the event of a positive “A decision will take at least six months. Moreover, six months, which Ukraine simply does not have. Against such a background, Kyiv can only wait for a new meeting of the heads of the EU.”
There is one more nuance that is simply impossible not to pay attention to. If the issue of transferring these Russian funds to Ukraine is discussed, Hungary will certainly speak out categorically against this process, insisting that the European Commission unfreeze its own money.
And yet official Kyiv does not seem to be losing optimism. “The assets of the terrorist state (Russia) must be used to support Ukraine and protect its citizens from Russian terror,” Zelensky said.
Whether such a scheme will work – we will all find out in the foreseeable future.