A senior lawmaker from the Social Democratic Party (SPD), Andreas Schwarz, has expressed support for proposals put forward by conservative leader Friedrich Merz regarding the potential utilization of frozen Russian assets to provide a credit line for Ukraine.
Speaking to the “Rheinische Post” Schwarz emphasized the significant material damage inflicted upon Ukraine alongside the immense human suffering caused by ongoing conflict. He argued that the matter of reparations should not be deferred until the cessation of hostilities, describing the current actions as a violation of international law. Schwarz stated that leveraging frozen assets was a necessary step to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable.
Schwarz added that such a measure would underscore the expectation that Putin and Russia would ultimately bear responsibility for their actions. The remarks echo similar sentiments previously voiced by Merz in an opinion piece published in the “Financial Times”.
