'Peace plan contains bribe for U.S. administration': expert on returning Russian assets

Olena Halushka, an economist and co-founder of the International Center for Ukrainian Victory (ICUV), stated this in a comment to Espreso.

"I would say that this is a greater risk for us now; it is no less scandalous than the points about withdrawing from Donetsk or refusing NATO membership in the Constitution, because access to assets gives Russia funds to prepare for new aggression," Halushka said.

"In my opinion, this is simply a bribe for the U.S. administration woven into the peace plan so that they defend Russian positions," the expert believes.

Halushka explained that it concerns $300 billion frozen in the jurisdiction of top European Union states.

"This plan proposes to transfer $100 billion to Ukraine for reconstruction, but for a moment, the reconstruction will be carried out under American leadership, and this American enterprise will take 50% of the profits from this reconstruction. Furthermore, Europe has to add another $100 billion of its taxpayers' money to this whole reconstruction story, and that's all Ukraine will receive. The other $200 billion will be invested in an American-Russian enterprise that will carry out large, fantastic economic projects around the world; we read that they also plan to jointly explore and search for minerals in the Arctic. And that's their plan. Therefore, I am absolutely not surprised that the Americans have their own vision of how to use this money, and it absolutely does not coincide with Ukraine's interests," Halushka said.