Kremlin denies knowledge of possible U.S. plan to unfreeze Russian assets and promises large diesel supplies

European leaders firmly rejected the notion that $227 billion in immobilized Russian assets, held within the bloc, would be handed over to the United States as a bargaining chip in peace talks. The suggestion was initially proposed by U.S. officials during a meeting with European counterparts on October 9, and reported by the New York Times the following day.

The Financial Times later revived the topic ahead of an EU leaders' summit in Brussels. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo explicitly stated that these assets, belonging to Russians who are destroying Ukraine, cannot be released. Austrian Prime Minister Christian Stöcker echoed this sentiment, expressing concerns about the volatility of U.S. policy.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that the decision on these assets lies with Europeans, underlining that the bloc will decide its course of action. The EU's draft conclusions for the summit also reiterated that the issue of financing Ukraine will be revisited in due time. Despite possible support for placing Russian assets under U.S. jurisdiction, unanimous agreement is required, which seems increasingly unlikely due to recent U.S. actions against Ukraine that have drawn strong condemnation from European leaders.