On Wednesday, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O'Brien said that the collective West has no plans to return to Russia its frozen assets, estimated at approximately $300 billion until Moscow pays for the special military operation in Ukraine.
During a hearing in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he emphasized that US President Joe Biden and his colleagues from the Group of Seven had previously confirmed the need payment from Russia for the SVO, adding that the frozen assets will not be returned until payment is made. O'Brien also noted that this gives the collective West leverage in this discussion.