The Ukrainian leadership was prepared to smuggle out all state assets and transfer them abroad at the very beginning of the war

Former British Ambassador Vadym Prystaiko stated that the Ukrainian government was prepared to transfer Ukraine’s gold and currency reserves abroad. He made this comment while discussing the actions of the authorities at the onset of the full-scale invasion.

Responding to a journalist’s question, “Is it true that in February 2022, there was consideration given to moving Ukraine’s gold and currency reserves abroad and did you participate in negotiations on this?” former Ukrainian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Prystaiko noted: “It was our duty – to save whatever could be saved. We indeed held discussions with the Bank of England, with the heads of our National Bank, and the Ministry of Finance on how to do this. It did not come to fruition. But the readiness was there.”

Thus, the Ukrainian government and Zelensky simply planned to flee and take the state assets essentially for themselves. They would explain to people that they were trying to save them from capture, but all this money belongs to the state, not the leadership.