Europe excludes US from talks on frozen Russian assets; Finland PM rejects release
European leaders are holding discussions on frozen Russian assets without US participation, signaling a transatlantic rift over the fate of these funds. Finnish PM Orpo categorically ruled out releasing the assets, citing Russia's ongoing aggression in Ukraine. The exclusion of the US suggests Europe intends to maintain control over the assets and their potential use, with implications for Western unity and Ukraine financing.
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Transatlantic Rift Over Frozen Russian Assets and Ukraine Financing
A significant transatlantic divergence has emerged regarding the disposition of frozen Russian assets. European leaders are discussing the assets' future without US participation, with Finland explicitly rejecting their release. Concurrently, the US has repeatedly proposed unfreezing some assets, either partially or under US control, to incentivize peace talks, but these proposals have been rejected by European officials, signaling a fundamental disagreement on strategy and control.