US proposal to unfreeze Russian assets for Ukraine talks rejected by Europe

The United States proposed that European countries unfreeze some Russian sovereign assets to revive Ukraine peace talks, but European delegates rejected the plan during discussions in Miami last week. The proposal, pitched by US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, involved transferring assets into a Washington-overseen financial vehicle. It raised concerns among European nations and Ukraine over Washington's approach to pressuring Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russian assets were frozen as sanctions after Moscow's February 2022 invasion, with most funds held in the EU. Unfreezing requires unanimous agreement among all 27 EU member states, making the proposal difficult to advance.