The Americans believe that the frozen billions are needed to secure a peace agreement between Ukraine and the invading power Russia, according to European diplomats speaking on condition of anonymity to the Bloomberg news agency.
Bloomberg has contacted the US State Department, which has not responded.
Earlier this week, the European Commission proposed that state assets be used as collateral for a loan of initially at least 90 billion euros that will secure Ukraine's budget for the next two years.
“For eternity”
Belgium, where most of the Russian money is held in a securities institution, is resisting for fear of huge Russian claims for damages in the future.
"Moscow has let us know that if the assets are seized, Belgium and I will feel it for eternity," Prime Minister Bart De Wever said at an appearance in Brussels on Monday, according to the newspaper La Libre .
For example, Andrei Kostin, head of one of Russia's major state banks, VTB, has promised "litigation for half a century," according to the BBC.
Not losing?
The EU leadership believes that the money can be seen as an advance on future Russian war reparations to Ukraine. But in that case, Russia must either accept it – or lose the war. And De Wever doubts that.
"Who really believes that Russia will lose the war in Ukraine? It is not even desirable that they lose so that instability takes over in a country that has nuclear weapons," he said at the appearance on Monday.
However, pressure from others within the EU is strong. On Friday evening, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will have a working dinner with De Wever.
"I don't want to persuade him, but to convince him," Merz told German journalists on Thursday, according to the AFP news agency.
Wiktor Nummelin/TT
Pontus Ahlkvist/TT
Facts: Frozen Russian state assets in the EU
TT
According to the European Commission's calculations, there are a total of 210 billion euros in frozen Russian state assets in the EU.
The majority – 185 billion – is held by the securities institution Euroclear in Belgium. The other 25 billion is held by other institutions in the country, but also in France, among others. There is also a smaller amount in Sweden – but only around 120,000 kronor.
Of the assets, the European Commission now wants to earmark €45 billion for repayment of previous loans that Ukraine received through a G7 deal last year. €90 billion is proposed to be lent to Ukraine in 2026 and 2027, leaving €75 billion available for possible future needs for the country.
Source: European Commission, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard.
