Explaining complex things in simple words: Rumors about Zaluzhnyi's resignation, change in Hungary'sposition, fate of frozen Russian assets

The Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security pursues efforts to provide a brief explanation to foreign audiences on the current topics of particular interest as regards Ukraine.   

RUMORS ABOUT THE RESIGNATION OF ZALUZHNYI

On January 29, anonymous Telegram channels, individual politicians, and the media reported on the possible resignation of Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

▪ Reports about the resignation of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine turned out to be untrue. The information was refuted by officials.

▪ In the matter of personnel decisions regarding senior officials of Ukraine, one should rely exclusively on official sources of information.

▪ The resonance caused by an unreliable message indicates that there are problems in the field of media hygiene and communications.

▪ Spreading rumors is a way of destroying the unity of Ukrainian society, demoralizing it and reducing the motivation to repel Russian aggression.

▪ Society and the state should draw conclusions from the current situation to enhance their resilience.

CHANGE IN HUNGARY'S POSITION

Balázs Orbán, political director of the Prime Minister of Hungary, confirmed Budapest's readiness to change its position on the use of the EU budget to provide Kyiv with EUR 50 bln under the Ukraine Facility program.

▪ Hungary is adjusting its foreign policy course regarding Ukraine and is ready for compromises on the issue of financial support from the EU.

▪ Specific steps for cooperation were discussed in Uzhhorod during the meeting of Péter Szijjártó, Hungarian Foreign Minister, with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba and Andrii Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.

▪ Before that, Ukraine also managed to enlist the support of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico during a meeting with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

▪ Ukraine expects that Hungary and Slovakia will vote for the provision of EUR 50 bln under the Ukraine Facility program at the Special EU Summit, which will be held on February 1.

▪ The 27 EU countries have repeatedly demonstrated their ability to achieve unity in solving the problems caused by Russia.

FATE OF FROZEN RUSSIAN ASSETS

On 29 January, the EU Council of Foreign Ministers agreed on a proposal to use profits from Russia's frozen assets to support Ukraine's recovery.

▪ Western sanctions have frozen about USD 300 bln of Russian assets, most of them are in EU countries.

▪ Russian aggression has caused and continues to cause significant damage to Ukraine. In addition, Russia misappropriates property in the temporarily occupied territories and assets of Western countries on its own territory.

▪ Using frozen Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine is a fair and expedient decision. The aggressor must pay for the damage caused.

▪ The EU and the United States have been looking for legal mechanisms to transfer Russian assets to Ukraine for a long time, and they also consider the economic risks of withdrawing these funds.

▪ The decision to transfer profits from the frozen assets of Russia to Ukraine is the first step towards compensation by the aggressor state for the losses caused to Ukrainians.

Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security