USA

US floats unfreezing some Russian assets to restart Ukraine peace talks

cde.news desk 15 October 2026, 08:30 · 1 min read

epa09814691 An electronic panel displaying the dollar sign at an exchange office in Moscow, Russia, 10 March 2022. The ruble accelerated its fall against the dual-currency basket in anticipation of the announcement by Western countries of the previously announced new anti-Russian sanctions. In response to the military operation of the Russian armed forces that began in Ukraine, US authorities imposed sanctions against a number of key Russian banks. The US sanctions list includes VTB, Sberbank, Gazprombank, Sovcombank, Novikombank, Otkritie Bank, Alfa-Bank and Credit Bank of Moscow. EPA-EFE/MAXIM SHIPENKOV

The United States has proposed that European countries unfreeze ‌some Russian sovereign assets immobilised after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and transfer them to ⁠a vehicle overseen by Washington in an attempt to revive peace talks, the Financial Times reported, citing people briefed on the ‌matter.

European ⁠delegates rebuffed the plan, which was pitched by US special envoy Steve ⁠Witkoff and US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, ⁠FT said.

US floats unfreezing some Russian assets to restart Ukraine peace talks

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