In the complicated world of finance is the free flow of money, until countries object to what another country is doing. Often this is going a particular line in the sand and the ability to sanction or stop money from being moved around.

In an article by Eric Reguly of the Globe and Mail, the EU is looking at Ukraine and trying to figure how to pay for the operations of Ukraine. In early spring, at the present time, the money in the bank will run out to keep Ukraine’s budget intact and equip its armed forces.

What should the EU do? grants from countries along with euro bond offerings have been tried but the money is large. Went Russia invaded Ukraine, the EU imposed sanctions and froze Russian assets in the EU. The amount of assets is north of E$220 billion.

The problem is Belgium and Euroclear, the Brussels based bank that is the world’s biggest depository of securities, including E$ 184 billion of sovereign Russian assets are against the plan. Euroclear is against because freezing assets is okay but taking them is not unless they are ill-gotten or i.e. drug money laundering. Most of the Russian assets came from selling oil and gas to Europe. Euroclear wonders when the war ends, Russia will want its assets back, they will sue or Euroclear wants liability protections. Belgium fears Russia might nationalize European-owned businesses in Russia

The US has offered a peace plan, and the White House has floated the idea of using some of the frozen assets to help fund US-led postwar reconstruction efforts, with the US claiming half the profits. President Trump does not support using frozen Russian assets to back a Ukraine bailout.

Linking to dividend paying stocks, many issues boil down to who is paying and who gets to benefit from the actions. Fortunately, most of the time the larger company with ability to wait until they get the right deal, wins most of the time. The odds are reasonable the profit-making companies will get a better deal, because they have resources needed to have both patience and file lawsuits to win in courts. There are exceptions, but most of the time, delays help the profitable companies stay profitable.

There are more questions than answers, till the next time – to raising questions.