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This is not rhetoric; it is the logic of deterrence. Discussing the use of Russian assets is not an ideological crusade. It is a rational choice and a matter of preventive security.
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Some will point to corruption in Ukraine, a criticism revived by the recent revelations in the energy sector. Yet this scandal shows the opposite of what critics claim.
It was uncovered by Ukraine’s own oversight bodies. Investigations began immediately. And Ukraine’s civil society, one of the strongest in Europe, continues to scrutinise every euro, every contract, every decision.
A sick democracy hides its scandals. A functioning democracy exposes them and acts on them. Ukrainians are defending European values not only on the battlefield, but also through watchdog institutions, investigative bodies and rigorous public accountability.
This is exactly why funds directed to Ukraine today have a genuine chance of being monitored, audited and used properly.
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The option now being discussed in Brussels and across the EU is not a “donation” to Ukraine. It is a European reparation loan mechanism supported by the immobilised Russian assets.
Under this approach, Ukraine receives the funds it needs today. Repayment would take place once Russia pays the reparations it is legally obliged to provide. And until that happens, the interest generated by the frozen assets would cover the costs.
This fully aligns with international law: the aggressor pays, the victim survives.
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The corruption is very real, as is the fight against it.
What I would also like to point out is if not for the russian invasion, we would have had another election 1.5 years ago. So every corrupted politician that has kept their seat in parliament until now can thank putin personally.
It would be the first time in history where the losers set the conditions for the winners. Sometimes i think journalists in europe are moved by crack and opium
That should make you doubt your assessment of who the losers and winners are.
Russian losses in the war with Ukraine - (archived version)
Mediazona, working with the BBC’s Russian service and a team of volunteers, has been compiling and maintaining a named list of the Russian military dead. The list is built from publicly available, verifiable sources, such as social media posts by relatives, reports in local media, and statements from regional authorities. Of course, this list is not exhaustive, as not every death is publicly reported.
Addition:
The invisible army. Russian courts recognise nearly 90,000 missing soldiers as wartime claims surge
Russian courts have now received almost 90,000 claims to declare missing servicemen dead or missing, a dramatic rise that began only in mid-2024 and continues to accelerate. Courts are processing such cases far faster than we can confirm individual deaths, revealing the scale of losses the state has never publicly acknowledged.
