Vladimir Putin has proposed that the $1 billion fee for Russia’s accession to the so-called Peace Council initiated by Donald Trump be paid from Russian assets currently frozen in the US. The Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, stated on Monday that Moscow “has not yet received a response to Putin’s proposal,” reports The Moscow Times.
In total, over $5 billion from the Central Bank of the Russian Federation’s funds are currently blocked in the US.
“The subject of the Peace Council, according to the instructions of the President of Russia, is still being developed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with our allies and partners,” Peskov said.
The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, received an invitation from the United States in mid-January to join the Gaza Peace Council, announced the Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov. Moscow is currently analyzing the proposal and hopes for contacts with the American side to clarify the details of the initiative.
Putin specified that Russia is ready to contribute immediately, even before the final decision on participation in the council, with the $1 billion required for permanent membership status.
“The remaining funds from our own assets frozen in the United States could also be used to restore the territory affected by hostilities after the conclusion of a peace treaty between Russia and Ukraine,” he said. Later, Peskov clarified that for this to happen, the blocked funds must first be unfrozen.