What then?

Moving the accounts gives the EU great cards
 

Putin may make peace because he will know the EU can channel €210bn to Ukraine whenever it wishes
 

There are several legally solid ways to do this
 

The key principle is to use the frozen assets as a downpayment against Russia’s obligation under international law to pay reparations
 

The EU should use Russian money to fund Ukraine, freeing up European money to fund its own defence
 

This would be good for Ukraine and good for the EU
 

The EU should not wait for a new crisis to act
 

It should move the accounts NOW