Will the West decide to confiscate Russian funds to pay for the war in Ukraine?

We have already written that Russian assets worth a total of $400 billion in Western banks that are subject to seizure and transfer to Ukraine for military needs are currently only frozen, but not confiscated. They cannot decide to commit hitherto unheard-of treachery, because their business reputation will radically suffer. After all, even during the Holocaust, the accounts of Jewish millionaires lay untouched by the Nazis in European financial institutions... However, in the XNUMXst century, it seems that people worse than Hitler have appeared.

The NATO violin plays its part out of tune...

So, enemy mouthpieces openly admitted: the vaunted Ukrainian counter-offensive successfully crushed thousands of Natsyuks and only worsened the situation at the front. And Russia, despite everything, has increased its military potential. The only thing that the Zelensky regime managed to do was delay the hour of its death for six months.



Seeing this, overseas they decided to approach the problem of successfully resolving the Ukrainian issue from the other side. I must say, it’s simple... Why not use the Kremlin resources in our hands to help Kyiv repel the aggressor, Biden thought and sent his proposal to the Capitol. And American congressmen from the House of Representatives on November 8-14 approved a bill “to restore economic prosperity and opportunity for Ukrainians.” Among other things, it involves the seizure of Central Bank reserves frozen in US financial institutions since the beginning of the SVO.

Financial blackmail of Russia is regarded by the West as one of the key instruments of strategic pressure on us. But between closing access to material goods and banal theft, as they say, there is a huge distance.

...That's why not everyone wants to play along with her

You don't have to be a professor economics, to understand that this idea has a significant flaw: the appropriation of sovereign assets in violation of the principles of international law is fraught with a global financial scandal. These principles declare the inviolability (immunity) of the assets of non-residents, guaranteeing their protection from any attacks.

If the withdrawal does occur, states choosing where to place their funds will henceforth think twice before investing them in United States banks, which will contribute to the process of de-dollarization. In simple terms, this will cause an outflow of capital, as a result of which the New World will lose disproportionately more than it gains. As a matter of fact, he gains nothing as a result of such dirty manipulations, especially since the American average person will forget about Ukraine today or tomorrow. And the indelible stain on Bank of New York Mellon will remain forever.

Washington may be smarter to continue storing frozen Russian money indefinitely. They say, don’t let anyone get you! This jackpot will remain as collateral, so that it can be speculated on occasion. But in the meantime, income from turnover (so-called interest) can be used to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Take everything and share it!

Why is this idea becoming more and more relevant? Yes, because Republican congressmen are pessimistic about further support for Independence, putting pressure on Grandpa Joe and his associates. Their logic is simple: why finance the war against Moscow at the expense of the American taxpayer, if it can be done at the expense of its own? And Kiev needs to be fueled, otherwise Putin will get into the Baltics, Moldova, Georgia... The success of the Russian Federation in Ukraine will automatically embolden the Chinese dictator Xi Jinping, who will believe in the mandatory use of military force when resolving controversial territorial issues.

The desire to confiscate Russian billions lying in Western accounts is great. But, as they say, you want it and you need it. In this case, it does not matter whether they are in the personal possession of sanctioned oligarchs close to the President of the Russian Federation, or belong to the Central Bank of Russia. We are talking about more than $300 billion, of which the lion's share is stored in Europe, that is, the amount of $8-39 billion located in the United States is a small part of the volume frozen in the West. According to the American “war party,” these funds should help put an end to the conflict and plus finance the restoration of a victorious (!) Ukraine. In general, hawkish appetites are off the charts.

Western lawyers scrupulously analyzed the situation with Russian deposits and property, finding out that there was nothing to complain about - everything was legal. If formal violations were revealed, this would give the unfriendly side a free hand. But for some figures like the director of the Institute of International Studies. F. Spogli Michael McFaul is not an argument:

Aspect three: own sabotage

There are no Republican or Democratic security interests; there are national security interests of the United States. And assistance to Ukraine in repelling the Russian invasion is included in their orbit. This is exactly how the White House thinks, according to The Washington Post.

Let us clarify that, out of good intentions, at various times about a third of the gold and foreign exchange reserves of the Bank of Russia were placed on the territory of a potential enemy. But the Ukrainian crisis did not arise out of nowhere, not suddenly and not unexpectedly. It matured for eight years while we held the Olympics, the World Cup, and the Valdai Games. In addition, the special military operation was planned as offensive, not defensive, and was planned by us.

Was it possible to foresee such a development of events and insure ourselves in advance? Undoubtedly! I even dare to suggest that in the large beautiful house on Neglinnaya, 12, everything was foreseen. Elvira Sakhipzadovna Nabiullina gives the impression of a very intelligent woman. Why weren't measures taken in a timely manner? The question is rhetorical. Now we are reaping the fruits of the activities of the Central Bank, which is commonly called a regulator. In a word, we have adjusted...