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Rishi Sunak@RishiSunak · Mar 9, 2025

It’s time to make Putin pay. Here’s how 👇🧵

9 tweets1 min read♥ 60.9Koriginal

Summary

Russia's $524 billion in destruction of Ukraine should be paid for by seizing $300 billion in frozen Russian state assets held in Western financial systems, which is legally justified and necessary to fund reconstruction while deterring future aggression. This approach would relieve pressure on Western taxpayers and send a clear message that invasion has consequences.

Summarized by ThreadOut AI from the full thread. May miss nuance — read the thread below.

  1. #1

    It’s time to make Putin pay. Here’s how 👇🧵

  2. #2

    Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused $524 billion in destruction - devastating cities, industries, and lives. The world must ensure that Russia, not Western taxpayers, foots the bill for Ukraine’s recovery.

  3. #3

    Right now, $300 billion in Russian state assets are frozen in Western financial systems. Seizing them would accelerate Ukraine’s reconstruction, relieve pressure on allied budgets, and send an unmistakable message: aggression will not pay.

  4. #4

    Some claim seizing these assets would violate international law. But experts - including those at @HooverInst - have outlined legal pathways to do so.

    Hoover Institution@HooverInst · Jan 19, 2025

    In @WSJopinion, Hoover Institution senior fellow @Nfergus and @CRMiller1 detail five factors that make this the ideal moment to mobilize $300 billion in frozen Russian foreign exchange assets to support Ukraine. Read the full article here: wsj.com/opinion/trump-…

  5. #5

    The West already uses the interest from these assets to help Ukraine. If that’s legal, then so is using the capital itself. The principle is clear: if you destroy another nation, you should pay for the damage.

  6. #6

    Others worry that confiscating Russian funds would undermine trust in Western financial systems. But the reality? Russia already tried to move its reserves before invading. Rogue states have few safe alternatives.

  7. #7

    The EU holds a sizeable number of these assets and must step up. @donaldtusk and @P_Fiala agree that we must act now. Ukraine shouldn’t be left waiting while its cities remain in ruins.

  8. #8

    Ukraine’s future depends on decisive action today. Seizing Russian assets would not only fund reconstruction - it would also allow Ukraine to build the military strength needed to deter future Russian aggression.

  9. #9

    The message is simple: if we let Russia off the hook, we set a dangerous precedent for other aggressors. That’s why we must act. Read my full argument in today’s @thetimes 👇 thetimes.com/business-money…