Russia reiterates readiness to transfer $1 bln from its assets immobilized in U.S. to Board of Peace at Kremlin talks - Ushakov

MOSCOW. Jan 23 (Interfax) - Russia's readiness to transfer $1 billion from immobilized Russian assets to the Board of Peace budget was reiterated at Russian President Vladimir Putin's meeting with the U.S. delegation in Moscow, as the sides discussed U.S. President Donald Trump's initiative to establish this organization, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said.

"The participants in the meeting in the Kremlin also discussed Donald Trump's initiative to create the Board of Peace, as well as a whole range of regional issues and the situation around Greenland. As they exchanged views on the Board of Peace, our readiness to transfer $1 billion from Russian assets immobilized during the former U.S. administration to this organization's budget was emphasized," Ushakov told reporters after the talks in Moscow.

"And after a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine is concluded, remaining funds from our reserves immobilized in the U.S. could be spent on the restoration of territories damaged during hostilities," he said.

"This matter will continue to be discussed within the bilateral economic group," Ushakov said.

Trump, for his part, said that he would not object to Russia's contribution of $1 billion from its own funds to the Gaza Board of Peace.

"If he [Russian President Vladimir Putin] is using his money, that's great," Trump told U.S. reporters aboard Air Force One after the Davos World Economic Forum.

At the same time, Trump did not go into detail as to whether he objects to Moscow's idea that these funds should be drawn from immobilized Russian assets.

When asked by a reporter whether he knows about this proposal, Trump said that he is not aware of it, but it is "very interesting."

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russian assets immobilized in the United States total slightly less than $5 billion.

"As for the money immobilized in the United States, I won't tell you the precise amount either. I can only say that it's slightly less than $5 billion," Peskov told reporters on Friday.