US pressed Europe to unfreeze Russian assets, FT reports

US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner proposed that European countries unfreeze part of Russia's sovereign assets and transfer them to a US-controlled structure to revive peace talks with Moscow, according to the Financial Times. The proposal was made during an October 10 meeting in Miami with officials from Ukraine, France, Germany, Britain, the EU, and NATO. European delegates categorically rejected the plan, with one source saying they were told "this will never happen." Ukrainian delegates confirmed the issue had been raised previously. Belgium has previously blocked using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine, demanding guarantees, risk-sharing, and participation from all EU member states holding such assets.