President Donald Trump has a golden alternative to place America first and clear up former President Joe Biden’s Ukraine mess.
After Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the G7 froze $300 billion in Russian state belongings.
These funds are nonetheless locked up in Western banks, together with in america.
However the Biden administration fumbled the prospect to behave on a transparent, bipartisan inexperienced gentle to grab frozen Russian state belongings and use them to fund Ukraine’s protection and rebuilding.
By passing the REPO Act in April 2024, Congress handed the then-president the facility to grab at the very least $5 billion in frozen Russian belongings sitting in US banks.
Biden refused to behave, as a substitute prioritizing European approval over American management.
In the meantime, European governments proceed to sit down on an estimated $200 billion of frozen Russian state belongings, delaying decisive motion.
This failure has caught US taxpayers with the invoice of supporting Ukraine — when the associated fee can as a substitute be placed on Russia itself.
Sufficient is sufficient. The Trump administration has an opportunity to wash up this mess and get deal for Individuals.
By instantly seizing Russian state belongings — and forcing Europe to observe go well with — Trump can be sure that America advantages first.
These funds can be utilized to purchase American weapons, which is able to enhance our protection trade, create tens of 1000’s of jobs and strengthen our navy readiness.
With threats from China looming, revitalizing our navy provide chain isn’t simply good — it’s important.
This isn’t about overseas support or charity; it’s about defending the US economic system and navy.
Utilizing these frozen belongings means extra American manufacturing, stronger provide chains and a protection sector that stays forward of world threats.
It might probably additionally profit US corporations that wish to make investments and work in Ukraine over the long run on broader reconstruction points, profiting from the real innovation displayed by Ukrainians.
No new taxpayer burden, simply good coverage that places American pursuits first.
And let’s not neglect: The REPO Act wasn’t some partisan stunt — it had huge bipartisan help within the Home of Representatives, with 186 Republicans and 174 Democrats backing it.
As Speaker Mike Johnson put it, forcing the Russians to pay for Ukraine support can be “pure poetry.”
The one factor that was lacking? A president with the spine to make it occur.
Biden’s failure to behave wasn’t simply weak — it was harmful. If these frozen funds are returned to Russia, it could be nothing in need of an American bailout for Putin.
Slicing a deal that unfreezes these belongings can be a shame, forcing Individuals to eat the associated fee whereas Putin retools his conflict machine.
He’d use the cash to rebuild the Russian economic system, repay conflict money owed and re-arm for one more conflict.
Worse, if these belongings are unfrozen, the $50 billion mortgage issued to Ukraine by the US and its allies — meant to be repaid with earnings on the frozen belongings — falls aside.
With out that cash, US taxpayers are on the hook to cowl the shortfall. We wouldn’t simply be enabling Russia’s conflict — we’d be paying for it.
Europe wants a wake-up name, too. Huge speak is reasonable, however relating to placing their cash the place their mouths are, European leaders have been dragging their toes.
The US ought to set an instance and seize these belongings, then push Europe to do the identical.
If America leads, Europe will observe.
Biden had his likelihood and failed. President Trump should waste no time in securing these belongings for America’s profit — permitting Ukraine to put money into our protection, our employees and our future.
Each greenback left untouched is a greenback that might be used to make America robust, and we will’t afford to sit down again whereas our adversaries regroup.
Yuliya Ziskina is the senior authorized fellow for Razom for Ukraine, a US-based nonprofit humanitarian support and advocacy group.
