Tensions have arisen between France and the UK over $350bn of frozen Russian assets, with the UK proposing to seize the assets and offer them to the US to buy defence equipment, strengthening America’s commitment to European defence.
The proposal has been met with opposition from French President Emmanuel Macron, who fears it would breach the principle of sovereign asset immunity and deter investment in the eurozone. The UK and France have committed to leading a coalition to help end the fighting in Ukraine, but disagreements over the assets have created tension between the two nations.