The United States has expressed full support for the European Union's proposal to use frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine and bring an end to the war with Russia, a U.S. source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday.
As the West intensifies its efforts to pressure Moscow, the European Commission has put forward a plan allowing EU governments to use up to 185 billion euros ($217 billion) – the majority of the 210 billion euros worth of Russian sovereign assets currently frozen in Europe – without formally confiscating them.
Washington "absolutely supports" the EU and its current steps to utilise these assets as a tool, the source said, speaking anonymously to discuss a sensitive issue.
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the United States and its allies imposed bans on transactions with Russia's central bank and finance ministry, freezing approximately $300 billion of Russian sovereign assets.
However, the European proposal is facing delays due to concerns raised by Belgium, where the majority of the frozen assets are held.
On Friday, Germany suggested that recent drone sightings over airports and military bases in Belgium could be a warning from Moscow not to touch the frozen assets. Moscow has denied any involvement in the incidents and has threatened a "painful response" if its assets are seized.
In a renewed effort to end Russia's war, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, Russia's two largest oil companies, last month. This adds to the extensive economic sanctions already in place, aimed at pressuring Moscow and its business partners.
The move underscores Washington's resolve to tighten the financial squeeze on Russia, with the goal of pushing the Kremlin toward a peace agreement in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The U.S. is closely monitoring the consequences of the Rosneft and Lukoil sanctions and "there are more actions we could take to escalate pressure," the source added.
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Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 28 September 2026. These are the top stories making headlines in technology.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has arrived in Washington for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on bilateral ties and key regional and international developments, Saudi state news agency SPA reported.
U.S. President Donald Trump has denied reports that he offered Iran sanctions relief and access to frozen funds in exchange for nuclear concessions.
The European Union's decision to simultaneously advance accession talks with Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro and Albania marks its most ambitious enlargement effort in more than two decades.
China has announced plans to complete the world's first AI-driven geological map of Mars by the end of 2028, a project that aims to reconstruct the red planet's ancient water history and introduce a Chinese framework for Martian geological time that Beijing hopes will become a new global standard.
Norway’s parliament on Wednesday began public hearings into ties between late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Norwegian diplomats and politicians, as authorities face questions over the impact of those relationships on the country’s foreign service.
New York prosecutors have reopened a criminal investigation into allegations that seven Cornell University fraternity members sexually assaulted a student in 2024. The case is set to be presented to a grand jury following renewed scrutiny.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has declared that Brexit has done more harm than good, while reaffirming support for Ukraine and NATO as he used his first Labour conference speech as leader to set out a new direction for Britain.
The arrival in South Korea of two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia has created a rare legal, diplomatic and humanitarian case, raising questions over their status, security and future.
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