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Belgium backs the idea.
According to Politico, officials in the Trump administration signaled to the EU sanctions envoy, David O’Sullivan, over the summer that the United States wants Russian frozen assets to be returned to Moscow once a peace deal is signed. Despite this, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen continued to push ahead with plans to use the assets to fund Ukraine.
The outlet reports that European officials were outraged when they saw Trump’s 28-point plan, which included a proposal to invest USD 100 billion of Russia’s frozen assets into U.S.-led “efforts to rebuild and invest in Ukraine,” while directing the remainder to a separate U.S.-Russian fund. Europe interpreted this as an attempt by Washington to appropriate part of the money and split the rest with Russia.
Belgium, Politico notes, shares Washington’s view that confiscating the assets would hinder prospects for peace. Journalists add that Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever may find powerful allies in the Trump administration as he resists approving a “reparations loan” for Ukraine.
