> RUSSIA
EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has announced that the EU could seize €300 billion (US$316 billion) of Russian Central Bank reserves and put it towards rebuilding Ukraine. Von der Leyen said in a statement, “The damage suffered by Ukraine is estimated at €600 billion (US$633 billion). Russia and its oligarchs have to compensate Ukraine for the damage and cover the costs for rebuilding the country.
“We have the means to make Russia pay. We have blocked €300 billion of the Russian Central Bank reserves and frozen €19 billion of Russian oligarchs’ money.”