Preparations for reparations: How Russia can compensate Ukraine for economic damage from the war

On April 16, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a resolution calling for “frozen Russian state assets to be transferred to a new fund to reconstruct Ukraine.” The body’s 134 delegates voted unanimously in favor. Russia has repeatedly called such actions “banditry and theft.” But this has not stopped Western institutions from exploring ways to make Moscow “pay its bills” for the physical destruction its war of choice has wrought. Historical experience shows that reparations payments by the losing side of a war are rarely made voluntarily. Nevertheless, if the West demonstrates sufficient political will, there are mechanisms available that can compel Russia to compensate at least some of Ukraine’s losses, even before the fighting ends. Content What reparations are and who has already paid them A Marshall Plan for Ukraine Use of Russian POW labor? No. Seizing Russian assets? Yes. RU At the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky advised Russians to learn the words “reparations” and “compensation.” “We will rebuild every house, every street, every city. You will repay us for everything you did against Ukraine. In full,” Zelensky said. On November 14, 2022, with the support of 94 member countries,...