The Justice Department announced on Saturday that confiscated Russian funds will be transferred to Estonia to provide support to Ukraine.
According to a press release from the DOJ, they were able to secure a sum of nearly $500,000 from an illegal procurement network. This network was attempting to import a high-precision machine tool of U.S. origin into Russia. The machine tool had uses in the defense and nuclear proliferation sectors.
This marks a significant milestone as the United States will be providing financial assistance to a foreign ally, specifically Ukraine. It is noteworthy that this transfer of funds is the first of its kind, with the explicit purpose of aiding Ukraine. This move comes at a time when foreign aid for Ukraine has been facing challenges in Congress, leading to a delay in its provision.
The reason for transferring the funds to Estonia is because the current authorities do not permit a direct transfer to Ukraine. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco has stated that the funds will be utilized for a project aimed at simplifying the assessment of damages to Ukraine’s electrical transmission and distribution systems.
In her prepared remarks for the Munich Security Conference in Germany, Monaco expressed her belief that this is a crucial step towards justice and restoration and a significant move in the fight against Russia’s ongoing brutality. She emphasized the importance of this action, stating that it paves the way for a new approach to combating Russia’s behavior.
“The Ukrainian people’s ability to respond and rebuild remains a top priority for the Department of Justice. We are committed to finding innovative solutions, step by step. Every dollar counts, as we work to restore houses and revive towns. We won’t wait for Congress; instead, we will leverage our existing authorities to offer assistance to Ukraine,” Monaco stated firmly.
