Kiev, Feb 23, (dpa/GNA) – Ahead of the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Kiev is insisting that Russia pay reparations for the damage caused by the war and compensation for victims.
“Peace without consequences for the aggressor is an invitation to repeat the offence in different corners of the world,” said the head of the presidential office, Kyrylo Budanov, on Monday during a speech in Kiev.
He argued that otherwise a precedent could be set for all authoritarian governments: “Invade, kill, destroy, and nothing will happen to you.”
Budanov called for the development of financial mechanisms for compensation payments.
“Any legal solution without a financial dimension will not create trust, and without trust, there will be no stability,” he said at a conference in the Ukrainian capital focused on justice and accountability.
Kiev has estimated the material damage caused so far by the war to be about $470 billion.
Budanov has been a member of the Ukrainian delegation at the three rounds of peace negotiations held so far in Abu Dhabi and Geneva.
Referring to the US-brokered peace talks, Budanov said: “It is no secret that the negotiations are not going smoothly.”
Tuesday marks the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
GNA