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Russian President Vladimir Putin’s efforts to conquer Ukraine are a clear violation of the international order established with the creation of the United Nations in 1945.
The brutality and viciousness of Russia’s attacks amount to serious violations of international law. Russian forces are raping and slaughtering civilians, kidnapping children, and indiscriminately bombing non-combatants.
President Putin’s persecution, imprisonment, and poisoning of political opponents in Russia and around the world further reveal how his dictatorial regime operates outside the bounds of civilized behavior.
No matter how you look at it, Russian President Vladimir Putin is a war criminal. (Mikhail Metzel/Sputnik, Kremlin pool photo, via AP)
Even by any plausible standard, Putin is a war criminal.
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There is a clear nonviolent response to Russian aggression that would weaken Putin and strengthen Ukraine at no cost to American taxpayers.
It is currently estimated that $300 billion in Russian assets frozen to accounts all over the world. With effective sanctions and an intense US diplomatic campaign, that $300 billion could be transferred to Ukraine.
In effect, Russia could pay money and provide economic and humanitarian aid to Ukraine to rebuild the cities and towns it attacked.
This is why one of us and Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) has proposed H.R. 4175, a bill that would seize Russian assets and convert them into aid to Ukraine, restoring economic prosperity and opportunity for Ukrainians. This is the reason why we have supported the construction method (REPO). Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) has introduced a similar bill, S. 2003, in the Senate.
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These two bills could become law if President Biden only supports the efforts. In fact, this law could be passed with astonishing speed and by a large majority. The House bill passed in committee on a 40-2 vote. The Senate bill passed in committee by a 20-1 vote.
The Wall Street Journal has strongly supported converting Russian assets into aid for Ukraine. On February 21, the paper’s editorial board wrote:
“Biden and the West Reluctant to confiscate $300 billion That amount is included in Russia’s reserves held in Western financial institutions. It was frozen when the Russians invaded, but two years later it’s been sitting there collecting dust and interest. It is as if Mr. Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz imagine that this money will be an inducement for President Vladimir Putin to negotiate a peace deal and return to the civilized world.
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“However, there is no sign that Mr. Putin will settle for peace before Ukraine surrenders…”
“There is clear precedent for this financial strategy of exploiting the aggressor’s resources. The United States seized resources from Iraq in 1992 and from the Afghan government in 2022. The precedent is clear.”
Interest in this plan is growing. A group of experts, including Democratic attorney Lawrence Tribe, recently wrote a 199-page legal analysis supporting this. The $300 billion in frozen assets reportedly consists of 200 billion euros, $67 billion and 37 billion pounds sterling. The funds represent about half of Russia’s available foreign exchange reserves.
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The Biden administration is also beginning to come to this idea. “It is necessary and urgent for our Union to find ways to unlock the value of these locked-in assets,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said at the G20 Summit in São Paulo, Brazil. Yellen said the money could be used for reconstruction and resistance to Putin’s efforts.
Ilan Berman of the American Foreign Policy Council recently argued that Congress should give the government the powers it needs to seize sovereign assets (financial and real estate). The REPO Act does just that. If the United States leads this effort, its European allies could quickly follow suit, greatly boosting Ukraine’s morale and efficiency.
We agree with Mr. Berman that confiscation of Russian funds would be beneficial. But, as he wrote, “In the end, there is no substitute for a strong military and economic aid package from the United States to ensure victory in Kiev.”
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Redirecting billions of dollars in Russian funds to Ukraine could dramatically increase U.S. aid. This would meet many of Ukraine’s economic needs at no cost to American taxpayers.
The United States cannot wait for G7 approval to lead or act. Congress should immediately pass the REPO Act and President Biden should sign it into effect immediately.
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Newt Gingrich served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999 and was the 2012 Republican presidential candidate.he is the chairman Gingrich 360.
