Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

US Senate panel backs 'big hammer' plan to seize Russian assets to help Ukraine
Reuters ^ | January 24, 2024 | Patricia Zengerle

Posted on 01/26/2024 2:26:53 PM PST by UMCRevMom@aol.com

A U.S. Senate committee approved legislation on Wednesday that would help set the stage for the United States to confiscate Russian assets and hand them over to Ukraine for rebuilding after the destruction of the nearly two-year-long war.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 20 to 1 in favor of the unprecedented "Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity (REPO) for Ukrainians Act."

If it were to pass the full Senate and House of Representatives and be signed into law by President Joe Biden, as expected, the act would pave the way for Washington's first-ever seizure of central bank assets from a country with which it is not at war.

Senator Ben Cardin, the Democratic foreign relations committee chairman, was optimistic about the bill becoming law, noting that it has broad support, from both Democrats and Republicans in the Senate and House, as well as from Biden's administration.

"Ukraine is on the verge of being overrun by Russia if we do not give them the help that they need... and we all know that it will not end with Ukraine," he said, before the committee voted. The House Foreign Affairs Committee has passed a similar bill, also with overwhelming bipartisan support. Cardin said he expected the Democratic-majority Senate and Republican-majority House would be able to resolve the differences between the two bills.

The EU, United States, Japan and Canada froze some $300 billion of Russian central bank assets in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine. Only about $5 billion to $6 billion are in the United States, with most held in Europe, and most of those in Belgium's Euroclear central securities depositary.

"This is intended to be a big hammer. It's intended to be a very new way of attacking a country that does not behave itself," Republican Senator Jim Risch said.

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Government
KEYWORDS: 10percent4thebigguy; 1918springoffensive; bencardin; bighammerplan; bigrinoplan; bigtheftplan; billhagerty; chriscoons; chrismurphy; corybooker; foreignagents; gottahaveawar; homofascism; jimrisch; johnbarrasso; justice; lesspropaganda; marcorubio; mittromney; neoconsvotedbiden; patriciazengerle; peaceinourtime; petericketts; putin; reparations; rinos4ukraine; robertmenendez; ruzzia; ruzzians; seizure; tammyduckworth; tedcruz; timkaine; timscott; toddyoung; ukrainecorruption; ukrainelobbyists; ukrainemoneylaundry; ukrainepropaganda; ukraineslushfund; ukraineuberalles; umcneoconmomaolcom; umcrinomomaolcom; umcukrainepropagada; wwiii; zeeperhomeworld; zeeperpr0n; zeepers; zeepersjustwannazeep; zeeperslovevindman; zeepperpr0n; zelenskyworshippers
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 141-149 next last
To: buwaya; dforest

>“You need to go to a democrat site from here on out since you support Biden policy”

This is absurd thinking.
The US government has a vast number of policies, some new and most ancient. Every US government inherits it all, most of which they carry on.

This demand of yours is akin to a demand to stop receiving Social Security or Medicare benefits, as these are also “Biden” policies.<

What’s absurd thinking is someone who is not even an American Citizen or ever wanted to be an American Citizen, commenting on American policies and issues.

Quote from buwaya 1/21/24 “Well, I am NOT American.
I COULD have been American, anytime in the last 40 years, but I chose not to be.”

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/4211814/posts?page=33#33


61 posted on 01/26/2024 4:16:25 PM PST by bimboeruption (“Less propaganda would be appreciated.” JimRob 12-2-2023)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: Seruzawa

“You spread nothing but propaganda from your bunker in Kiev (safely far from the front).”

Your to two false statements:

1. You spread nothing but propaganda
2. I am a U.S. citizen living in the U.S.


62 posted on 01/26/2024 4:16:57 PM PST by UMCRevMom@aol.com (Pray for God's intervention to stop Putin's invasion of Ukraine 🇺🇸 )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: roving

>Everything comes out of Russia is propaganda too. Russia isn’t the saint that you think it is.<

I’m fully aware of that.


63 posted on 01/26/2024 4:18:43 PM PST by bimboeruption (“Less propaganda would be appreciated.” JimRob 12-2-2023)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: bimboeruption

I too am affected by US government policies. I pay US taxes and I receive US benefits. And my family lives mostly in the US, they are Americans.

Its a complicated world, and we are complicated people. Deal.


64 posted on 01/26/2024 4:21:04 PM PST by buwaya (Strategic imperatives )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: bimboeruption

Seems like a great deal to me. Russia has accumulated vast reparations liabilities, which it will not be able to avoid. Better they pay for the mess they are making.


65 posted on 01/26/2024 4:23:35 PM PST by buwaya (Strategic imperatives )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: canuck_conservative; dforest
>If the Putin Groupies are upset, it must be the right move<

Here's another one who isn't an American Citizen sticking his schnoz in our business when he's got no skin in the game.

"Putin Groupie"...I don't think so. The only person in current-day politics whom I may be considered a groupie of is President Trump.

And no, we're not "upset", we're having fun!

image host

66 posted on 01/26/2024 4:30:47 PM PST by bimboeruption (“Less propaganda would be appreciated.” JimRob 12-2-2023)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: Karl Spooner

>I am happy to see that this misguided individual is on the radar screen with the management.<

Me too.


67 posted on 01/26/2024 4:33:11 PM PST by bimboeruption (“Less propaganda would be appreciated.” JimRob 12-2-2023)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: bimboeruption

Wow, look at all the upset Russia cheerleaders

and the keyboard abuse ... damn, this asset seizure idea has sure made them verklempt!!


68 posted on 01/26/2024 4:33:43 PM PST by canuck_conservative (NATO - now celebrating 75 successful years of keeping the Russian monsters out!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: Alberta's Child

This approach is different: more of a win-win. As these assets can be used to protect the Ukrainian nation now or later in reparations by Russia at the end of this Putin’s invasion.

The ‘BIG HAMMER’ approach to freeze assets of Russia is preferably instead of the death of ‘innocents’ Russian, Ukrainian military and civilians.

Comment #22
If Russian reserves are not given to Ukraine during the war, chances are these assets will be used as partial payment of reparations that Russia will eventually pay as part of a peace agreement.
https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/4213087/posts?page=22#22

Many policymakers, like former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and former World Trade Organization chief Robert Zoellick are in agreement that transferring the assets now makes sense as a deposit against the future reparations.


69 posted on 01/26/2024 4:35:00 PM PST by UMCRevMom@aol.com (Pray for God's intervention to stop Putin's invasion of Ukraine 🇺🇸 )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: UMCRevMom@aol.com

Mad rush to WW3. After all they have an unlimited supply of hobbits to throw into the meatgrinder, while taking 10%. Just ask Joe.


70 posted on 01/26/2024 4:36:23 PM PST by Skul
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dforest; aMorePerfectUnion
This would be a very bad mistake. Only a stupid government like ours would pull this stunt.

The government is getting more power-drunk, stupid and dangerous by the day.


71 posted on 01/26/2024 4:38:00 PM PST by Allegra (Less propaganda would be appreciated. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: UMCRevMom@aol.com

If you own US bonds, sell, sell, sell.
———
Exactly what nations around the world are doing…. The uninformed ( ignorant) cry “ destroy Russia”, but don’t see we are destroying ourselves in the lust to “punish” Russia.Do keep in mind the Fed is now having to buy unsold US Treasury notes at alarming rates, just look it up.

As I have said in numerous posts ( with links backed up by legendary financial greats), I DARE the collective West to steal Russian funds, it will be suicide in the financial global markets….and as for the Ukie cheerleaders- news- Vlad isn’t paying any reparations.

Why is Biden’s administration so intent on committing suicide? Ignorance? Incompetence? Juvenile emotions? Or an agenda to make America “ last”?


72 posted on 01/26/2024 4:39:03 PM PST by delta7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: UMCRevMom@aol.com; Seruzawa; Karl Spooner
>“You spread nothing but propaganda from your bunker in Kiev (safely far from the front).”

Your to two false statements:

1. You spread nothing but propaganda

2. I am a U.S. citizen living in the U.S.<

Guess which one of the above statements is true.

image host

73 posted on 01/26/2024 4:48:30 PM PST by bimboeruption (“Less propaganda would be appreciated.” JimRob 12-2-2023)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: bimboeruption

“Your to two false statements:”

English is hard for Eastern Europeans. How is the weather out there?


74 posted on 01/26/2024 4:51:16 PM PST by Seruzawa ("The Political left is the Garden of Eden of incompetence" - Marx the Smarter (Groucho))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 73 | View Replies]

To: bimboeruption

At some point, Russia will have to pay for all the damages it has caused with this unnecessary war

So, simply think of the asset sale as a down-payment on future Russian reparations


75 posted on 01/26/2024 4:55:08 PM PST by canuck_conservative (NATO - now celebrating 75 successful years of keeping the Russian monsters out!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 73 | View Replies]

To: UMCRevMom@aol.com

And now we need to move past sanctions and impose a NATO and EU wide trade embargo on Russia.

No trade of anything with them. Their citizens living in our countries are sent back to them. Their ships and planes banned from our waters.

No more being nice to them.


76 posted on 01/26/2024 4:59:54 PM PST by MeganC (There is nothing feminine about feminism. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Seruzawa

>“Your to two false statements:”

English is hard for Eastern Europeans. How is the weather out there?<

Makes ya wonder, huh? Something’s not right.

BTW, it’s 40 and foggy in northern Ohio. A heatwave for January.


77 posted on 01/26/2024 5:03:16 PM PST by bimboeruption (“Less propaganda would be appreciated.” JimRob 12-2-2023)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: Seruzawa

Apologize for the typo
https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/4213087/posts?page=74#74


78 posted on 01/26/2024 5:05:02 PM PST by UMCRevMom@aol.com (Pray for God's intervention to stop Putin's invasion of Ukraine 🇺🇸 )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: Allegra

LOL!! Thats image is the only thing that makes these daily B.S. Propaganda thread worthwhile.
Thanks

Mommy Bot, and her Childrenz :)


79 posted on 01/26/2024 5:13:59 PM PST by MotorCityBuck (Keep the change, you are filthy animal! )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: buwaya

Social Security and Medicare are not specifically ‘Biden Policies.’ They are US programs that have the benefit of actual statute.


80 posted on 01/26/2024 5:17:24 PM PST by Gaffer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 141-149 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson