The White House faces a hurdle: any plan to use frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine requires the backing of European partners. A Washington Post column by Josh Rogin lays out the diplomatic snag and the political math behind it.
Rogin notes that only a small slice of these funds sits in the United States, with the bulk held in Europe. The majority of frozen assets are stored in Belgium and Switzerland. There is notable hesitation in Europe, particularly in Berlin, about whether such a step aligns with international law and whether it could undermine trust in the euro currency system.
On the battlefield, Ukraine’s position has shown some momentum, though official assessments stress a mixed outlook. A deputy chairman of Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada National Security, Defense and Intelligence Committee indicated that the United States had sent an aid package valued at $250 million, which Ukraine accepted with measured gratitude while continuing to push for gains on the ground.
In European circles, discussions continue about the EU’s capacity to fund Ukraine without Hungary’s approval. A German council representative suggested that, next year, Germany will pursue financial support for Kyiv within the EU-26 framework, aiming to mobilize resources without Hungary’s participation.
Across the continent there are voices expressing skepticism about whether the United States will be able to seize or repurpose Russia’s roughly $300 billion in frozen assets, highlighting the practical and legal hurdles that persist.