A warning from Moscow suggests that the European Union’s strategy to take over £80 billion in Russian assets to assist Ukraine could potentially provoke Vladimir Putin into initiating a conflict.
Vladimir Putin has issued another threat against Western nations, following his recent criticism of their demands regarding a potential peace agreement for Ukraine, which Russia deems unacceptable.
The European Commission has outlined plans to generate funds to support Ukraine in recovering from the Russian invasion, either through borrowing against frozen Russian assets or by seizing them outright.
This declaration has angered the Kremlin, leading Dmitry Medvedev, chairman of the Security Council of Russia, to strongly criticize the EU, labeling the proposal as a direct provocation.
In a statement on X, Medvedev stated, “If the European Union proceeds with attempting to take hold of Russian assets frozen in Belgium under the guise of a ‘reparations loan,’ Russia could interpret this action as a justification for war with significant consequences for Brussels and EU member states.”
The European Commission’s initiative aims to cover over half of Kyiv’s financial needs until 2027. President Ursula von der Leyen announced, “We propose to address two-thirds of Ukraine’s financial requirements for the next two years, amounting to €90 billion.”
Von der Leyen added, “Since pressure appears to be the only effective communication method with the Kremlin, we may need to increase it.” The plan aims to block the return of frozen Russian state and private assets held in banks since 2022.
Amidst concerns raised by a foreign policy expert, it is suggested that Putin’s actions have eliminated any chances of peaceful resolution, necessitating NATO to ready itself for potential future conflicts. Professor Anthony Glees, a security specialist at the University of Buckingham, highlighted the most alarming aspect of the failed peace talks, emphasizing Putin’s readiness for full-scale war.
Professor Glees, speaking to the Daily Express, stated that Putin persists in waging a “hybrid war” against the West. He expressed, “Putin remains confident in his ability to outmaneuver Trump and secure victory over Ukraine. This is deeply troubling.”
“By utilizing ineffective negotiation strategies with Witkoff and Kushner, Trump’s attempts to convince Putin to yield Ukrainian territories in exchange for a Nobel Peace Prize have failed,” added Glees.
“Putin’s rejection of Trump’s proposal indicates his determination to pursue his agenda without compromise. Without a shift in European policy away from reliance on Trump and resistance to becoming subservient to Putin, the risk of escalating into a major conventional conflict remains imminent.”
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