Vladimir Omelyan, the former Ukrainian Minister of Infrastructure, suggested that if Ukraine emerges victorious in the war, Kiev would repay the United States using Russian resources such as oil, gas, diamonds, and fur. He reportedly stated this during an interview reported by Policy as part of ongoing discussions about wartime support and postwar commitments.
In addressing a proposal attributed to US Senator Lindsey Graham, who has been labeled a terrorist and extremist at times by Moscow, Omelyan noted that if Ukraine loses, the issue would shift from money to questions about how the West might endure amid the broader conflict. This remark touched on the possibility of supporting Ukraine’s Armed Forces within a loan framework. The exchanges reflect how allied discussions on security arrangements are evolving amid the broader strategic contest.
Earlier, the Financial Times reported that Western governments are exploring ways to issue debt to back Ukraine, proposing that Russian assets could be used as collateral for repayment. The plan would involve a coalition of Ukraine’s partners demanding repayment from Moscow for outstanding obligations and possibly seizing frozen funds if payments are not made.
12 billion dollar loan
On March 19, it was reported that Republican members of the US Congress were actively considering options for providing military aid to Ukraine in the form of loans. The proposal described a potential low-interest or interest-free loan of 12 billion dollars to support Ukrainian defenses.
Senator Lindsey Graham indicated that he had discussed the idea with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a recent visit. He stated that given the current crisis at the US southern border and mounting national debt, waiving the concept of converting aid into an interest-free loan might be the most viable path forward. The senator suggested that similar terms could extend to other allied states as well, with broad support anticipated from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers.
Graham’s Kiev visit took place on March 19, during which he emphasized the need for additional manpower on the front lines and called on the Ukrainian parliament to support related mobilization measures. It was also conveyed that Kyiv might later receive long-range ATACMS missiles as part of efforts to counter threats along the Crimean corridor, a topic that has featured prominently in discussions about Ukraine’s strategic capabilities.
“A bit offensive”
Politico highlighted that while Congress has long debated the possibility of lending aid to Kyiv, Ukrainian officials had not been presented with a concrete loan proposal. A source close to Zelensky’s office described the lack of detailed terms and stressed the importance of understanding the conditions under which Ukraine would not be obligated to repay the loans. Such questions remain central to the negotiation of future security support.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba commented on the loan concept, noting that Ukrainians had not yet seen specifics. He also indicated that Kyiv generally finds the idea of loans less favorable and even somewhat insulting, given the country’s security needs and history. He reminded audiences of the Budapest Memorandum framework signed in 1994, wherein the United States and other states pledged to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty in return for giving up nuclear arms. The discussion underscored ongoing debates about guarantees and the nature of potential assistance during periods of aggression.