$300 billion for Ukraine outweighs Putin’s threats

Momentum is building on both sides of the Atlantic to give Ukraine the approximately $300 billion in Russian state assets frozen by Western countries after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has now endorsed the idea, removing a long-standing obstacle. But another one remains: Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to retaliate by confiscating the remaining Western investment in Russia.