At the Ukraine recovery conference, the use of billions in frozen Russian assets is politically popular, but poses thorny legal and moral questions
The big question facing delegates at the Ukraine recovery conference, hosted by the UK and Ukrainian governments this week, is who will pay the estimated $400bn (£310bn) bill for Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction.
The obvious answer is: Russia and its oligarchs. About $400bn of frozen Russian assets currently sit on western shores, the result of sanctions measures levied since the beginning of the war. This tempting pot includes immobilised assets of Russia’s central bank, and frozen assets owned by oligarchs and other Kremlin associates. Many have suggested this money could be transferred to Ukraine, where it conveniently matches the cost of needed reconstruction funds.
