Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told journalists that Russia is not stopping attempts to 'unfreeze' its own assets frozen in Europe; however, according to him, Brussels is in control of the situation. The head of the Ukrainian state emphasized that he realizes the threat of 'unfreezing' Russian assets truly exists and cannot be ignored. At the same time, he asserted, European Union countries will continue to do everything possible to prevent the realization of such plans.
Washington's Proposal: Transfer Funds Under US Control
Zelenskyy also commented on media reports that US President Donald Trump's team proposed that EU countries 'unfreeze' a portion of Russian assets to resume peace talks. According to RBC-Ukraine, it became known a few days ago that the American side put forward such a proposal to European partners. The White House reportedly proposes transferring the released funds into a mechanism controlled by Washington. American politicians claim this step would allegedly help resume peace talks.
'Fully Under Europe's Control'
Reacting to the US initiative, Zelenskyy expressed confidence that European allies understand what Moscow is truly aiming for and will not allow the Kremlin to implement its new plan. 'We discussed the details with the Europeans. Today, this is entirely under Europe's control, which means it is safe today,' the Ukrainian president stated. Thus, Kyiv, in his own words, has coordinated its position with European partners and believes that the decision on the fate of the frozen assets remains exclusively within the EU's competence.
Context: Berlin's Reaction and Next Steps
Recall that earlier RBC-Ukraine reported on German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's reaction to the idea of 'unfreezing' part of the Russian assets. Berlin's position on this issue remains one of the key factors determining the EU's ultimate stance. Should European countries decide to partially release the funds, the question of the mechanism for their use and control will become central in diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Brussels. Currently, according to Zelenskyy's statement, Europe has retained full control over the situation, and any unilateral actions without coordination with the EU are ruled out.
What's Next
The situation surrounding frozen Russian assets in Europe remains one of the most sensitive topics in relations between the US, the EU, and Ukraine. Any movement toward 'unfreezing' — even partial — will require approval at the level of all twenty-seven EU member states and could become the subject of new diplomatic negotiations. Kyiv, judging by Zelenskyy's statements, intends to continue coordination with European partners to ensure that decisions regarding the assets are not made under external pressure and do not contradict Ukraine's interests.
