Politico reported on US pressure on Europe to refuse to use Russian assets

The United States is putting pressure on Europe to abandon its plan to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine. This was reported by the Politico newspaper on December 17, citing representatives of the European Union (EU).

"Representatives of the administration of [US President Donald] Trump has been pressuring European governments — at least those they consider the most friendly — to reject a plan to use €210 billion worth of Russian assets to finance Ukraine," EU officials said, according to Politico.

The article noted that Belgium, in whose territory the blocked assets are located, as well as Italy, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Malta are opposed to the plan, fearing risks to their economies.

The publication writes that the inability to reach an agreement could catastrophically damage the authority of the EU and the positions of Ukraine. It may also be a signal of increasing pressure from the United States and Russia.

A wave of discussion: how the European Union is trying to hinder the peace process in Ukraine

The EU promised Kiev joint security guarantees with the United States and announced new sanctions against Russia.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on December 16 that the chances of the EU making a decision on using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine are 50%. According to him, concerns about the decision to use Russian assets exist throughout Europe.

On December 3, the European Commission approved a "potential reparation loan" for Ukraine, which implies the expropriation of sovereign Russian assets in Europe. Later, on December 12, the Politico newspaper reported that Italy, Belgium, Bulgaria, Malta opposed the EU proposal to transfer frozen assets of the Russian Federation to Ukraine, which amount to about €210 billion.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on November 27 that the confiscation of Russian assets located in the European Union would have negative consequences. In turn, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov added on December 15 that the situation with frozen Russian assets shows that "theft is in the blood of Europeans."

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