A recent report reveals a joint plan between the U.S. and Russia aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, proposing to allocate around $300 billion from Russia's frozen assets as a financial concession to the U.S. This scenario poses a significant threat to European influence and deprives Ukraine of a crucial financial source, prompting immediate urgency for Europeans to seize these assets to prevent Trump from accessing them.

According to Foreign Policy, this plan explains Trump's keen desire for a swift agreement, especially since the EU could neutralize this scenario by immediately seizing assets, thus diminishing the plan's appeal for Washington while providing urgent financial resources to Ukraine.

Ukraine faces a looming financial crisis, with the IMF warning that its budget deficit could reach $65 billion in 2026 and 2027, climbing to $155 billion when war expenses are included. Following the cessation of American aid, Kyiv is now reliant on European financial support.

The European Council was recently set to approve a plan to seize Russian assets, which would transfer these to the European Commission and issue a $161 billion loan to Ukraine, payable only if Russia compensates. However, after France and Germany's objections were lifted, Belgium halted the session due to concerns over potential legal ramifications for Euroclear, the main custodian of Russian assets in Europe.

Meanwhile, the joint U.S.-Russia plan proposes allocating $100 billion from frozen Russian assets to American companies for Ukrainian reconstruction, with the U.S. government receiving half the profits. An additional $200 billion would be invested in a shared project between Washington and Moscow.

Thus, the U.S. share of this agreement reaches $300 billion, while Europe is expected to secure an additional $100 billion for Ukraine's reconstruction.

Experts warn that this plan raises serious concerns in Europe, which holds three-quarters of the frozen assets, while the U.S. only commands 1.5%. This agreement effectively allows Washington to encroach on the EU's economic rights and exert financial pressure by threatening European banks with dollar restrictions, akin to the 2012 SWIFT sanctions against Iran.

The plan threatens Ukraine's primary financial artery and places its military budget in jeopardy. Securing a new IMF loan also hinges on U.S. support.

The crucial question now is whether the EU can rapidly seize Russian assets and issue compensatory loans to thwart Trump's plan. The focus has shifted from whether Russian assets will be seized to who will be the primary beneficiary: Europe or the U.S., with Trump insisting that any agreement must primarily benefit Washington.