Russia has to pay for reconstruction of Ukraine – Josep Borrell

At the meeting of the 29th OSCE Ministerial Council, options for the transfer of blocked and confiscated funds of the Russian Federation for the reconstruction of Ukraine will be considered.

This was reported by the High Representative of the EU for Foreign and Security Policy Josep Borrell before the two-day OSCE meeting in the Polish city of Lodz.

Borrel said that Russia is not capable of conquering Ukraine, so it systematically destroys its territory:

"Their purpose is to put the Ukrainian people into the darkness and the cold in the winter. It is weaponising the winter. This is a war crime," he said.

Borrell noted that the way to a new security order will be discussed at the upcoming OSCE meeting "after Russia has broken completely the one that we had.."

According to Josep Borrell, the work of the meeting will take place in three directions.

First, support for the International Criminal Court, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General, and the creation of a special tribunal.

Secondly, attracting blocked and confiscated Russian funds for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

Thirdly, communication with the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia to achieve a sustainable peace to this conflict in the South Caucasus.

"In this meeting, I will be presenting our support – the European Union’s support – to the OSCE and to Ukraine. I will announce an additional contribution of more than €1 million for demining operations in Ukraine through the OSCE," the EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy emphasized.

Josep Borrell is also assured that the Russian Federation should pay for the restoration of Ukraine:

"We have seized almost €20 billion [from] oligarchs and people supporting Russia. And also, we have control of about €300 billion of financial resources of the Russian Central Bank. This amount of money has to be used for the reconstruction of Ukraine. So, I will meet with my colleagues Foreign Ministers - today with many more than the Ministers of the European Union. We will explore all legal possibilities to make sure that Russia will pay for the destruction it is causing in Ukraine," the EU’s top diplomat said.