US President Donald Trump can force the aggressor country, Russia, to pay for the restoration of Ukraine by using the $300B in frozen Russian assets. Scholars from the Hoover Institution and the American Enterprise Institute believe that the time has come for this and give five arguments in favor of this taking place:
- The first is that Donald Trump has returned to the White House. Trump knows how to use pressure. The Europeans realize that if they do not act, “he will tighten the screws.”
- The second factor is that the assets have changed – securities have turned into cash. This allows Washington and London to act independently of other nations.
- The third factor assumes that the reserves are able to be mobilized under international law.
- The fourth factor is reducing Russia’s ability to retaliate economically.
- The fifth factor is that many European governments have finally come around to this idea – Europe understands that Ukraine needs a source of long-term funding.
“Both sides of the Atlantic stand to benefit from Putin’s money being transferred to the victims of his aggression – the sooner the better,” analysts said.