AndIt is now clear that Donald Trump administration will issue Ukraine in their fight to resist Russian aggression. I trump alone or is a victim of misinformation or is a willing participant in an effort to deceive Americans about the causes and consequences of the war.
Trump lies include an assertion that Ukraine is equally guilty of war; Yes Volodymyr Zelensky does not “have cards” to end the conflict on favorable conditions; And that Ukraine could not be defended without American aid. Nevertheless, the whole world knows that Russia has launched a remarked invasion, when Ukrainians were defended by 1,800 miles of the front, all before the system of Western artillery, armored vehicles and the system of cooperatives and air defense systems.
Scene power in oval office 28. February marked Trump hostility towards Zelensky and the affection of Vladimir Putin. Is that just that Trump loves authoritarian figures that have fulfilled their own ambitions? Or is that Putin has compromise On Trump (as was widely suspected during his first term)?
Whatever, Trump rejects the idea of the rule of law, because it subordinates it in political interest: the law should be used when serving presidential interests and ignore when it is not. Agreements between countries (even those who signed) can be broken at will. The United States, with Even of Britain and Russia, promised to defend Ukrainian territorial integrity 30 years ago under Budapest Memorandumsigned in December 1994. years. In exchange, Ukraine agreed to renounce the world’s third largest nuclear arsenal, inherited from the Soviet Union. Russia violated the agreement when in 2014. attacked and illegally enclosed by Crimea, and now Ukraine issued two parties to the contract.
Trump’s rejection of honor of American words is embarrassing. Ukrainians supported their end of negotiations and expected to do the same now. These issues have deadly consequences, not just for Ukraine. The decades relied on Europe in Europe in Europe Article 5 of the NATO Contract, according to which attack on one article is attacking at all. However, it is now obvious that the US will only defend Europe if done, and Trump believes that his interests are. International law and obligations contract know nothing to him, just as they don’t mean anything for Putin.
Europeans come for a term with this sharp realities. The most incorrect tasks are to create self-sufficient defensive force and decide what to do with $ 220 billion (£ 170) in Russian sovereign property (of $ 300 billion in 2022) is now held in European jurisdictions. In June 2024. year, G7 agreed to use interest (50 billion) from this property to ensure the financial assistance of Ukraine, and the European Commission brought the first payment $ 3bn In January. But with the USA, it is likely to complete their own financial assistance, this half is no longer enough. Europe must go further by subtracting all Russian funds under its control.
We are earlier claimed That the property should be used to finance the renovation of Ukraine, because damage caused by Russian aggression far exceeds $ 220 billion. But money is still needed immediately now. The country that is still under attacks and partial occupation cannot be renewed. Justice and common sense dictates that these resources go to the defense of Ukraine. Europe can use any legal maneuver. What is important is that Ukraine receives money immediately, so it can buy military equipment and fix the infrastructure that Russia is constantly destroying.
There may be no questions of responsibility. Russia must not be allowed to claim that the property is legally protected by the time when the rule of law is sown and freely wasted by Western property in its jurisdiction. Moreover, making funds immediately available Ukraine would be in their own interest in Europe. Whatever Ukraine implements in its defense industry eventually strengthen its own defense capacity in Europe and encourage its collapse economy.
There is no time to lose. Using the funds as a pledge for the future Commission for International Receivables, as proposed, would cause an unacceptable delay. The tide of authoritarianism is on the rise, and Europe became the world partition against him. European values - and the defense of civil freedoms, democracies and human rights globally – are on the line.
As Emmanuel Macron recently put it: “Europe should reveal the taste of risk, ambition and power.” If he and other European leaders want to follow the oval office after rhetorical support in Ukraine, they must take advantage of the moment, which means taking Russian property. Ukraine defends all of Europe. Europe must not be hidden behind legographic excuses.
Joseph e Stiglitz is Nobel Laureate in the economy, a university professor at Columbia’s University and the Former Chief Economist of the World Bank
2025-03-06 06:00:00
