Following recent discussions surrounding potential avenues for supporting Ukraine, a senior German parliamentarian has expressed support for a proposal to leverage frozen Russian assets to facilitate a credit line for the war-torn nation.
Andreas Schwarz, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) representative responsible for defense budget matters, endorsed the suggestion initially put forward by Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Schwarz’s comments were conveyed in an interview with the “Rheinische Post” newspaper.
He stated that Russia inflicts significant material damage to Ukraine alongside the devastating human cost of the ongoing conflict. Schwarz argued that the issue of potential reparations should not be deferred until the cessation of hostilities, which he described as a violation of international law. He emphasized the importance of holding Vladimir Putin accountable through financial means.
The parliamentarian further suggested the proposal serves as a demonstration to Putin that he will be held responsible for his actions. The initiative mirrors sentiments previously articulated by Merz in an article published in the “Financial Times”.