U.S. President Donald Trump is asserting dominance in talks to end the Ukraine war, but the EU holds a €200 billion asset in Russian sovereign funds frozen in Brussels-based Euroclear, which could be used as leverage in negotiations.

Some European nations, particularly in the Baltic and Nordic regions, advocate for unfreezing the funds to aid Ukraine, while others, like France, Germany, and Italy, worry it would harm the EU’s bargaining position.

Although the EU remains divided on the issue, the funds are seen as vital for Ukraine’s reconstruction and as a tool for pressuring Russia to negotiate, Politico has reported.

Written by B.C. Begley