Russia must rebuild Ukraine, the Luxemburg agreement shows a way to do it

Putin’s invasion to Ukraine will come to its inevitable end. As his hopes for a decisive Russian victory continue to vanish, it is imperative to start the conversation about accountability and reparations. Beginning this discussion early will help expedite the rebuilding process in the future and provide greater hope to the Ukrainian people today. In addition, this will be important for ensuring future accountability. An estimated cost to rebuild Ukraine already exceeds six hundred billion dollars, and it keeps growing. Establishing clear mechanisms to secure such a large fund can define Ukraine’s future. This country must get the ability to restore and flourish following the war.

The perpetrator should always be the main party responsible for repairing damages caused by the crime. In the case of states, such accountability measures are crucial for ensuring peace and stability in the affected country and the perpetrating state alike. Contemporary history has several examples of accountability measures that were positively transformative for all parties involved. Perhaps the most prominent example is the Luxemburg Agreement (UN 2137) between Israel and the Federal Republic of Germany in 1953.

A few years following the most gruesome war in history, the Luxemburg Agreement played a key role in transforming Germany’s foreign relations. In the meantime, resources provided through this agreement greatly helped create a modern and secure state in Israel. Remarkably, the two nations and their people have enjoyed a close and friendly relationship ever since.

It may be difficult to fathom that Russia could enter such an agreement with its current leadership, and it is often challenging to hold states accountable for their actions due to a lack of enforcement mechanisms. However, international economic sanctions might present a viable approach to hold Russia accountable for the invasion and crimes in Ukraine. Thus governments must ensure that all sanctions directed at Moscow include provisions on reparations as conditions to lift sanctions, and schedules to annul sanctions should be also be directly tied to reparation payment schedules.

Focusing the discussion on accountability and reparations can have the added benefit of exerting additional pressure on the Russian leadership to abort the invasion. If the Russian government becomes convinced that further destruction will only augment the already hefty cost of reparations, more opposition to the invasion could sprout from within government ranks.

Russia taking responsibility for rebuilding Ukraine must be a key component of any accountability process. Not only to provide some justice to the people of Ukraine but also to deter Russia and other nations from attempting such unjustified actions against any sovereign and peaceful country.

Source: The U.S.- Ukraine Foundation