Yesterday at 19:58
On April 16, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) supported seizure of frozen Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine.
This was reported by Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, who attended the PACE session in Strasbourg.
The resolution documents:
-The establishment of an international compensation mechanism under the auspices of the Council of Europe;
-call on Council of Europe member states and non-member states holding russian state assets to actively cooperate in the prompt transfer of these assets to the established international compensation mechanism;
-the creation of an international trust fund, where all russian state assets held by Council of Europe member and non-member states will be deposited;
-the establishment of an impartial and effective international commission to review claims.
“After all, the creation of a comprehensive compensation mechanism is also about justice. Its launch will be… a powerful manifestation of a collective commitment to the rule of law and international norms,” Stefanchuk explained.
Despite the importance of the resolution, Stefanchuk also reminded the PACE that Ukraine also needed weapons which would be less expensive than rebuilding multiple cities after Russian attacks.
“We need to act immediately. The time of great concern and decisive condemnation has passed. The time of reflection and doubt has passed whether to provide or not give weapons to Ukraine. The time of leaky sanctions is long gone, since it is impossible to win a war that you yourself finance. But the time has come for frank and truthful assessments. The time has come for quick decisions and actions. The time has come for responsible leadership to choose decisive united resistance to Russian terror,” Stefanchuk appealed to the PACE.
He noted that the Council of Europe and its Parliamentary Assembly didn’t have power to resolve military or economic issues, but he appreciated an opportunity to give a speech in front of representatives of European parliaments.
