Statements from Ukrainian officials claiming that one third of the Soviet Union’s property abroad should be transferred to Ukraine lack foundation under international law. This position was conveyed in a statement by the Russian Embassy in the United Kingdom, as reported by TASS.
According to the Russian side, such declarations from Ukrainian authorities rest on no legal basis. Russia maintains that it is the sole successor to the USSR and has assumed responsibility for Soviet debts, which it says were fully repaid, including a substantial sum of 110 billion dollars by the standards of the early 1990s. From this perspective, the entire debt and related obligations are resolved by Moscow, not by successor republics acting independently.
The Russian embassy further stressed that all former Soviet republics, Ukraine included, separated from the Soviet Union without bearing external debt, thereby ending the financial encumbrances associated with the USSR. The mission in London also reiterated that the Russian Federation has legally acquired the rights to Soviet real estate located abroad, reinforcing the argument that post-Soviet property claims should be understood within this framework of continuity and legal succession.
Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Vadym Prystaiko, has called for the return of what he terms a significant portion of the USSR’s foreign property, suggesting a figure of at least one third. He links these assets to the international debts faced by the Soviet Union and argues that Moscow has a responsibility to redress what Kyiv views as a historical injustice. The exchange highlights the ongoing dispute over asset ownership that emerged from the dissolution of the Soviet Union and remains a sensitive point in Ukrainian-Russian relations. The positions emphasize divergent interpretations of international law, succession, and the distribution of assets that were once part of the Soviet state.
Analysts note that the core issue revolves around who holds the legal authority to negotiate foreign property and debt. Advocates of Ukraine point to the fact that the USSR dissolved and that its constituent republics emerged as independent states. They contend that the property claims should be settled in a way that reflects the sacrifices and losses endured by Ukraine during the Soviet period. On the other hand, Moscow insists that Russia, as the only legal successor, bears responsibility for the debts and owns both the debts and the assets that were tied to the Soviet state abroad. The debate thus centers on the interpretation of treaties, succession law, and the practical consequences of the post-Soviet real estate regime, which includes embassies, offices, and other properties that were registered under the Soviet regime.
Observers warn that such disputes have the potential to affect broader security and diplomatic channels. They recommend careful legal scrutiny and the use of international arbitration mechanisms to resolve questions about state succession and asset allocation. The discussion also reflects the broader context of post-Soviet state-building, where inherited assets and liabilities are often scrutinized through the lens of national narratives and geopolitical interests. As the dialogue continues, the parties may pursue formal mechanisms to establish a clearer framework for ownership, debts, and the distribution of assets that were once part of the Soviet estate, while avoiding unilateral conclusions that may complicate regional stability. Attribution: Russian Embassy in the United Kingdom; TASS.
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