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[deleted] t1_iych91g wrote

Or they could just give ukraine that $330B

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N01773H t1_iyckb0p wrote

Sure. But this way Ukraine gets money and the EU still has a carrot to hold over Russia to encourage them to come to the table. Without the potential to recover the frozen assets there is less pressure from the owners of said assets on the Russian government.

On the other hand, the Russian government just introduces a few oligarchs to their favourite windows if they step out of line, so the political pressure isn't that great.

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PsychYYZ t1_iyevzyf wrote

> there is less pressure from the owners of said assets on the Russian government

Oh, I'd think if I lost a billion dollars in assets (much less 330 of them) I'd be hiring an army of thugs to be crawling up the ass of my local government officials until some changes were made.

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N01773H t1_iyezws7 wrote

If the assets are in Ukraine though, wouldn't you send said army to go retrieve your assets from Ukraine instead?

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kirlandwater t1_iyf2ve0 wrote

Ukraine is not a part of the EU so the EU would have no authority to freeze/seize assets there. This appears to just be funds that are owned by the Russian Central bank, housed within EU borders.

They’ve also seized/frozen ~$15b of Russian oligarch money but this money isn’t currently being reinvested.

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activator t1_iycpcfh wrote

Giving a lump sum of billions of dollars is just an open invitation for embezzlement

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SCarolinaSoccerNut t1_iyedf8y wrote

  1. If Ukraine suddenly becomes cash rich, then suppliers could start upcharging them for supplies. Not good for anyone except defense contractors.
  2. If the EU does this gradually, then they could use this as a bargaining chip against Russia. Think "we are going to liquidate $1b worth of your assets and transfer the proceeds to Ukraine each day until you withdraw from Ukraine and agree to respect their 1991 boundaries" kind of a deal. If Russian oligarchs know that there's a possibility to get their fortunes back if Russia ends the invasion, they might keep up the pressure on Putin to call it off.
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[deleted] t1_iydafun wrote

[removed]

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sanels t1_iydlip4 wrote

Russia already nationalized billions worth of airplanes at the very start of the conflict, i'm really not worried about any russian assets being seized by whomever provided they are given to ukraine for recovery efforts.

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TheRC135 t1_iydqa0n wrote

People keep making this argument, but I don't see it.

Nobody is talking about arbitrary seizure of Russian money, they're talking about seizure of Russian money in response to blatant, unjustified aggression and war crimes, for the purpose of aiding the victims of Russia's atrocities. As a foreign investor that wouldn't bother me, because I don't have ties to a criminal autocracy.

Its not like every single Russian in the EU has had their assets seized... sanctions and freezes have targeted oligarchs and other individuals and companies with direct connections to Putin and the Russian government. These are the people who should pay for the war.

Beyond that, the argument that investors from other countries would be scared to invest in the EU if Russian assets are seized is nonsense. People who don't have ties to Putin aren't under any threat. The only people would would be scared away by the seizure of the assets of sanctioned Russians are others who want all the benefits of living in the civilized world while continuing to profit from corruption, exploitation, violence, and autocracy at home.

The threat of asset seizure means one of two things for such people: a) that they have a strong incentive to curtail the worst impulses of their home governments, or b) they should stay the fuck home. Either way, that's a win for the EU.

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[deleted] t1_iyde27u wrote

[removed]

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sanels t1_iydlrp9 wrote

at the very start russia literally stole billions worth of airplanes from the eu and investment by the west into their oil projects. there shouldn't be a care in the world for any russian assets being seized abroad, take it all and use it to reinforce and rebuild ukraine

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KerbalFrog t1_iydmljg wrote

The difference here is I expect my country to uphold the law and hold my governament to high standadrds then the russias. I dont like this because it erodes MY freedon and security if MY governament can go around ignoring due process and law. I dont belive on stealing from thiefs ... because I dont belive in stealing.

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sanels t1_iydo9t1 wrote

If you allow others to steal from you at will and do nothing to retaliate you are just a fool then. It's the same kind of shit china does where they expect to be treated fairly abroad but at home everything has to be done through a chinese proxy and foreign companies are extremely disadvantaged and more often than not just screwed. Due process and law do not apply outside a countries own borders and for their own people, shit most of the time it doesn't even apply internally. There isn't a single country/govt that actually has a good and fair legal system there is soo much bullshittery going on everywhere it's not even funny so posing like their on some moral highground is just straight bullshit.

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TurboNinjaFin t1_iye9rs6 wrote

Retaliation can be dine other ways than lowering ourselves to same level with putin and steal. I think it is someways pretty European way to take the money invest it and make profit from it just to remind putler he cant do that no more

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