MOSCOW.- The Russian President, Vladimir Putinexplained that Russia will achieve your goals “Special military operation” be it through diplomatic or military means, just as the leaders of the European Union (EU) are preparing for it a decisive summit and potentially risky to decide How to finance Ukraine?.
Putin stated that while Russia would prefer to resolve the root causes of the conflict through diplomacy, if the opposing party and its “Foreign sponsors” Refusal to engage in “substantive discussions” will reach Moscow Liberation of their “historic land” – which is now part of Ukraine – using military means.
In addition, he pointed out that the task of creating and expanding one “Safety Zone”.
These comments from the Russian leader are in the context of war Russia currently controls Crimea, around 90% of the Donbass region and 75% of Kherson and Zaporizhia. in addition to owning part of the territory in the neighboring regions of Kharkiv, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk and Mikoláiv.
Analysts interpret Putin’s words as an attempt to do so We continue to gain ground on some of these fronts.
Although Putin assured that Russia was making progress on all fronts, Its Defense Minister Andrei Belousov acknowledged that Ukrainian forces are trying to regain control of the northeastern city of Kupiansk.
However, Belousov explained that these efforts have not been successful so far Ukraine claims to have captured 90% of the city.
While the war is at a crucial point, Putin also attacked European leadersThey accused them of fomenting hysteria and deliberately instilling fear in the population of a conflict with Russia.
“I have said repeatedly: This is a lie, nonsense, pure nonsense about an imaginary Russian threat to European countries.”he explained.
Even though Putin said so Russia does not seek war with Europe, He warned that his country was ready if Europe decided to do so.
European leaders are preparing for something unprecedented: Use part of Russia’s 210 billion euros ($246 billion) in frozen assets to secure a 90 billion euros ($105 billion) “reparations loan” to Ukraine.
Most of these assets belong to the Central Bank of Russia and are deposited with the financial clearinghouse Euroclear based in Brussels.
Exactly, last week The Russian central bank has filed a lawsuit against Euroclear in a Moscow court.
Although the chances of success in this case are limited, this lawsuit increases pressure on all parties in the run-up to the summit.
Belgium, where Euroclear operates, is particularly fearful Russian retaliationwhich could be done through the courts or through more “nefarious” methods.
This Belgian concern adds to the warning from the European Central Bank (ECB), which fears this International trust in the euro will be damaged if European leaders are perceived to be confiscating assets.
The EU is under pressure Ukraine is on the verge of bankruptcy and you have to get money for spring, An estimated €137 billion ($160 billion) will be needed between 2026 and 2027 alone.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has emphasized that this is essential “Make the decision in this European Council to finance Ukraine for the next two years.”
Plan A, the reparations loan secured by Russian assets, is controversial and would require one Majority of around two-thirds of member states, which protects it from Hungary’s veto.
The Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest ally in EuropeHe refuses to finance Ukraine and sees himself as a peacemaker.
Other countries, such as Slovakia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Italy and Malta, They also need to be convinced.
The fact that the repayment of this loan to Ukraine is heavily conditional – only if Russia ends the war and pays hundreds of billions of euros in damages – underlines this There is great skepticism among many Europeans about the likelihood that Putin will meet such conditions.
On the eve of the summit, the legal and political situation of Plan A remains unclear.
Meanwhile, the EU faces the challenge of reaching an agreement without undermining trust at home as Putin reiterates that, with or without European support for Kiev, Russia will continue its war aims.
AP and Reuters agencies
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