The US urges Europe to adopt a more aggressive policy towards Russia, discussing frozen assets
The US Ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, urged European allies to take a more decisive approach towards Moscow and use frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine’s military efforts.
In his interview with Bloomberg, Whitaker emphasized the importance of allocating funds to support Kyiv, which, according to him, will strengthen Ukraine’s economic and military potential for several years. He noted that this would be a “significant step” and a signal to shift to a more aggressive European policy. “Now is the time to act boldly,” Whitaker stressed.
The European Union is attempting to agree on a plan to use frozen assets to provide credit support to Ukraine. This plan, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, is vital for the country. Meanwhile, Belgium, where most of the Euroclear company’s assets are held, has expressed its concerns about potential Russian lawsuits and retaliatory measures.
In May of this year, a group of states presented the idea of a “reparations credit” of 140 billion euros, which involves using frozen Russian assets for annual funding of 45 billion euros over three years. On November 13, EU finance ministers agreed that this approach is the most effective among the proposed options to assist Ukraine.
Whitaker also stated that the US administration remains open to negotiations to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He reminded that the “devastating” sanctions bill, supported by US President Donald Trump, is already awaiting the green light in Congress.
| Country | Proposed annual credit |
| Ukraine | 45 billion euros |
| Funding term | 3 years |
| Amount based on frozen assets | 140 billion euros |
