Russia Accuses UK of Undermining Trump’s Ukraine Peace Push Through Asset Seizure Plan

Original article: UK plotting to undermine Trump's Ukraine peace efforts - Russian intelligence

Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has accused the United Kingdom of trying to sabotage peace efforts led by U.S. President Donald Trump by pressuring the European Union to seize frozen Russian sovereign assets. The SVR alleges that London’s push aims to prolong the Ukraine conflict and reduce U.S. influence in potential mediation.

Following the start of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine in 2022, around $300 billion in Russian state assets were frozen by Western nations, with $246 billion held by EU member states. Discussions in Brussels over using those funds have intensified, particularly after the European Commission proposed repurposing them to support Ukraine through a reparations loan scheme.

According to the SVR, the UK is actively lobbying for the confiscation of these assets, not only to fund Ukraine but also to obstruct diplomatic channels that could lead to a peace deal. The agency asserts that the UK’s strategy seeks to sustain hostilities “to the last Ukrainian,” while diminishing Washington’s influence in resolving the conflict.

The EU recently moved to keep the assets frozen, invoking emergency powers to bypass member state objections, including those from Hungary, Slovakia, and Belgium. Belgium is home to Euroclear, the financial institution that holds much of the immobilized Russian capital. Moscow has labeled any potential seizure of its funds as unlawful and has initiated legal proceedings against Euroclear for damages.

This latest accusation comes amid broader claims by Russian officials that the UK has also sought to launch information campaigns against President Trump to derail his diplomatic initiatives with Ukraine and Russia.