Kaja Kallas: Russia Must Pay for Ukraine War Damages Using Frozen Assets

Scale of Destruction and Human Cost

• 💡 The vast destruction in Ukraine includes over 200,000 damaged or destroyed buildings and 2.5 million uninhabitable homes.
• 💔 Beyond property, the impact involves unimaginable human suffering, such as the killing of family members, deportation of children, and severe personal injuries.

International Claims Commission for Ukraine

• ✅ The International Claims Commission has been formally adopted to address the damages resulting from Russia's war in Ukraine.
• 💰 The European Union will contribute up to €1 million to support the preparatory work for this ambitious commission.
• ⚖️ The commission will process claims for property damage, human suffering, and grave violations of international law.

Funding Challenges and Precedents

• ⚠️ A major challenge for the Claims Commission is securing sufficient funding to pay out compensation to victims.
• 📚 Historical examples, such as the UN Compensation Commission after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait which utilized oil revenues, provide inspiration for funding mechanisms.

Russia's Unwillingness to Pay

• 🚫 Russia is expected to never voluntarily pay for the damage it has caused, with attempts to exclude reparations from potential peace agreements.
• 🤝 The international community bears a significant responsibility to ensure justice and accountability for the victims of this brutal war of aggression.

Utilizing Frozen Russian Assets

• 💡 Frozen Russian sovereign assets, estimated between 260 and 280 billion euro, are identified as the most obvious basis for a compensation fund.
• 🌍 Utilizing these assets is seen as fundamental for achieving accountability, durable peace, and security in Ukraine and across Europe.