General Ben Hodges, the former Commander of the U.S. Army in Europe, said this in an interview with Antin Borkovskyi, the host of Studio West program on Espreso TV."I think the focus should be on making it difficult, if not impossible, for Russia to export oil through the Baltic and Black Seas using shadow fleet vessels. If Ukraine and its allies can stop this, whether through legal measures or by targeting refineries and ports, it would create a serious problem for Russia. Without the revenue from oil exports, Russia cannot sustain its war effort at its current level," the general noted.According to him, Russia’s war economy is already being artificially supported, and even Russian officials admit its vulnerability."If Western countries, including the United States, were to use the €300 billion in frozen Russian assets to help fund Ukraine’s defense, that would also significantly shift the dynamics of the war. This is the kind of external impact I am referring to. It would send a clear message to Russia that the West is genuinely committed to supporting Ukraine. Right now, I believe Vladimir Putin still doubts that commitment, and that is why he feels he can continue as he is," Hodges commented.A group of U.S. senators from both parties has urged President Donald Trump’s administration to direct confiscated Russian assets toward aid for Ukraine.Tetiana Vysotska, an Espreso correspondent from Strasbourg, reported that Europe has given a clear signal that at the initial stages of negotiations, it will not unfreeze Russian assets, but there is a chance they could be used later after the war ends.