From frozen funds to energy deals – how the US wants to reintegrate Russia
11 December 21:04
The administration of US President Donald Trump has submitted plans to European governments that envisage not only a large-scale post-war recovery of Ukraine, but also the return of Russia to the global economic system. This was reported by The Wall Street Journal, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
According to the publication, the package of proposals includes ideas to involve American business in the management of frozen Russian assets worth about $200 billion, with the possibility of increasing these resources to $400 or even $800 billion through private investment.
What exactly does the Trump administration propose?
According to the WSJ, the US side has conveyed several key components of its vision to Europe:
- Use of frozen Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine – in particular, to build a large data center, which, according to the US, should be powered by electricity from the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
- Involvementof large financial corporations and billionaires to double the resources for the reconstruction of Ukraine.
- The strategy for reintegrating the Russian economy is investments by American companies in the extraction of rare earth metals and oil in the Arctic.
- Russia’s return to the European energy market – resumption of gas and oil supplies to the West.
These points actually mean a partial “thawing” of Russia’s economic isolation after the war.
Europe is reacting harshly: “Should we take this seriously?”
European officials familiar with the plan express outrage and skepticism. One WSJ source said he was not sure whether the proposals should be considered realistic at all.
The officials compared Trump’s ideas to his previous political fantasies, such as the failed Riviera project in Gaza. Another official emphasized that Russia’s return to the energy market is reminiscent of the geopolitical “delineation” of influence between the United States and the Soviet Union after World War II.
European governments fear that this approach will allow Russia to rest, regain economic power and invest again in military capabilities – increasing the risk of a new war.
Ukraine is on its own track: a response to the American peace plan
Amid discussions between the United States and Europe, Ukraine submitted to Washington on December 10 its detailed response to the latest version of the U.S. peace plan.
The document contains comments on the status of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and the temporarily occupied territories. One of the key controversies remains the option of territorial concessions proposed by the United States, especially with regard to Donbas. Ukraine refuses to consider such conditions.
At the same time, the first joint meeting between Ukraine and the United States on postwar reconstruction planning took place. The parties discussed the technical parameters of the future document online.
Difficult negotiations ahead
on December 15, the leaders of key European countries, including Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron, will meet in Germany to discuss the American peace plan. The Europeans intend to push for a tougher stance against Russia and security guarantees for Ukraine.
The US plans open up a lot of room for discussion – from the legitimacy of using frozen Russian assets to whether Russia can be allowed to return to global markets to real guarantees of peace.
