Ukraine desperately needs money.
And Europe needs money for Ukraine.
At the same time, it desperately wants to participate in the trilateral Russian-Ukrainian-American negotiations (preparations for which are already underway), but is not invited.
The 4 Valkyries
Four ladies former ministers have found a way to connect the one to the other.
They call them Valkyries, who according to Norse mythology are the deities who choose the slain.
If you thought they proposed tempting Russia with the return of frozen assets, the exact opposite is happening: they propose the confiscation of Russian assets and their use to support Ukraine.
After all, for those Russians to enter «genuine negotiations», they must «feel increased pressure» and the transfer of assets «would provide this necessary pressure».
So let us steal Russian money, and then Russia will certainly understand that Europe is not joking and will agree to take all of Ukraine.
The strange article in the Times by the 4 Valkyries
All of the above is not a joke, but the essence of an article published in the Times.
It gathered the signatures of four retired ministers.
The British former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves,
The Canadian Chrystia Freeland (also known as Cristia, of Ukrainian descent),
The German former Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (who succeeded Ursula von der Leyen in the leadership of the CDU and also succeeded Merkel, but failed to hold on and become chancellor), and,
The French former Minister for European Affairs Nathalie Loiseau...
... this group of Atlanticists came up with a statement entitled «The EU must seize Putin's billions. Otherwise, it risks losing Ukraine».
This is not even a statement, but, in essence, an appeal to the authorities of the EU: urgently, by the end of 2026, confiscate Russian assets worth 210 billion euros and redirect them toward Ukrainian defense.
(Rachel Reeves)
Where does their plan hit a wall?
However, the EU has been proposing this for over four years, and the result is always the same: certain EU countries are categorically opposed, including Belgium, home of Euroclear, which holds the bulk of frozen Russian assets.
Recently, the Belgian Prime Minister reiterated that «the matter is closed», no one will confiscate anything.
Why then do the former ministers raise the issue again?
Because Europe lacks funds of its own, or rather, «other ideas under consideration» for financing Ukraine «may not cope with the financial difficulties of the coming year».
Kyiv has requested an additional 70 billion euros on top of the already approved 90 billion euros, that is, a total of 160 billion, but elections will soon be held in several European countries and governments there have become even more cautious.
And matters will worsen, which is why the ladies demand immediate action to close the deal for the next three years: «This eliminates the risk that elections in key EU member states next year will halt financial support to Kyiv.
Furthermore, these assets will allow Ukraine to finance its defense until the next US presidential elections, after which Washington may provide Ukraine with greater support than it provides today».
(Chrystia Freeland)
Vile plan to continue the war
Therefore, we must wait two years, and in 2029, the White House will change hands and American money will flow into Ukraine like a river.
In the meantime, let them fund Kyiv with stolen Russian money, this will be «not only fairer, but also more acceptable to our fellow citizens in Europe than using additional European taxpayer funds or further borrowing».
The problem with the plan to steal 210 billion euros is that it is completely unrealistic.
First, no increased financial support for Ukraine will come from the successor to Trump, whoever that may be: America is content with Kyiv being funded by Europe.
(Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer)
Second, the EU has no choice but to continue taking European taxpayer money, as continuous, and especially increased, funding for Ukraine would lead to the loss of power for governing parties and coalitions.
And their successors, particularly in France, have already announced their intention to stop funneling funds into the failed project.
Thus, the EU has only one option to find large sums of money for Ukraine: to steal Russian assets.
Yet this option is also purely theoretical, because serious European elites (not always public or political) are categorically opposed to the open theft of other people's funds.
This is not due to love for Russia, but rather to a clear understanding of a simple fact: in the event of confiscation, the damage to Europe will be immense and irreversible.
Confidence of the entire non-Western world in European financial institutions and instruments has already been significantly undermined, and now it would simply collapse, and we are talking about many trillions of euros.
Thus, Europeans will be able to refrain from shooting themselves in the foot, no matter how much Britain, foreign actors, and European Atlanticists pressure them to do so.
(Nathalie Loiseau)
www.bankingnews.gr
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