Von der Leyen and Merz thought that using the Russian assets – which remain frozen – would give Europe extra leverage in the United States-led negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. The first is the peace plan, including the issue of territory; the second is the security guarantee for Ukraine; and the third is an economic recovery plan. Washington feared that Europe’s use of the Russian assets would complicate the economic recovery plan, one version of which envisaged using part of the assets for reconstruction. The White House is also interested in using the assets for a joint US-Russian investment plan. “Either a lasting peace is reached or we find ways for Europeans to re-engage in a dialogue with Russia in transparency and association with Ukraine,” Macron told reporters in Brussels.

Source: The Irish Times December 22, 2025 18:43 UTC