On October 7, the Center for Public Analytics held a discussion with Ivan Us, Chief Consultant of the Center for Foreign Policy Studies of the National Institute for Strategic Studies, on key economic topics in the international agenda. Topics included the prospect of Chinese investments in the US, the political motivations of Beijing, and fresh developments regarding the European initiative to provide significant credit to Ukraine, potentially using frozen Russian assets.
The expert emphasized that statements about Chinese investments in the US carry a political message and are intended to showcase the successes of Trump’s team on the international stage ahead of the US elections. However, the real likelihood of such investments materializing is questionable. Additionally, China's position remains ambivalent, as investing in the US could be seen as conceding to Washington and could impact Beijing’s reputation as a global economic rival.
Ivan Us also commented on the European initiative to grant Ukraine €133 billion in reparations credit. He noted that the mechanisms for obtaining and subsequently using these funds remain under discussion and are subject to the formal decisions of European institutions concerning the use of frozen Russian assets. He stressed that the total damage caused by Russia's aggression exceeds the amount of frozen assets, so additional financial sources for supporting Ukraine must be sought.
The expert highlighted the need for an active EU position, rapid legal decisions, and enhanced practices for confiscating assets connected with the Russian state. He concluded that Europe must take responsible action to ensure adequate international support for Ukraine and safeguard European values amid the current geopolitical situation.
