🔗 Share this article

The United Kingdom is prepared to move forward with employing the entire amount of seized Russian assets to aid Ukraine's war effort, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has stated.

In a collective announcement, the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, and the Federal Republic of Germany emphasized that this joint measure would escalate tension on Russia's leader Vladimir Putin and compel Russia to participate in talks.

They further noted that the initiative would be carried out in close cooperation with the America.

United Kingdom penalties have immobilized over £25bn of Russia's assets since the Russian government launched its full-scale invasion against Ukraine in 2022. Yet, until now, funds sent to Ukraine using Russian funds had only been taken from earnings and returns accrued on them.

Sir Keir informed President Volodymyr Zelensky that the UK, France, and Germany were united in their aim to advance efforts toward employing the complete amount of the immobilized Moscow's national funds to end the war.

He added that more measures over the next period would increase the strain on Russia.

This declaration comes after European representatives met in Copenhagen last week to discuss using frozen Russian holdings for a €140 billion credit to Ukraine.

In the previous month, American leader Donald Trump encouraged Group of Seven partners to seize or otherwise use frozen Russian holdings, according to news outlets.

The value of frozen Russia's holdings in the EU is calculated to be approximately €211bn.

President Zelensky encourages UK's Sir Keir Starmer to join the PURL initiative

Russia carried out widespread aerial attacks all over the Ukrainian territory on Friday, resulting in power cuts in many areas of Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, and eight other regions.

A pair of individuals were fatally injured and a minimum of 20 people were wounded in the strike, authorities in Ukraine reported.

In a post on an online platform after the incident, Zelensky stated that the premeditated assault targeted non-military and power facilities.

"The necessity is not just talk but concrete steps - from the America, EU, and the Group of Seven - in providing defense mechanisms and enforcing restrictions," he emphasized.

"All penalty impositions weakens Moscow's military apparatus," Zelensky noted, in a different message.

Additionally that day, Zelensky told reporters he would urge Sir Keir to join the weapons procurement programme, under which Nato countries buy weapons from the United States to donate to Ukraine.

While applauding the UK's consistent assistance for Ukraine, he noted it should demonstrate clearly that it would engage in the system, as well as apply further restrictions on the Russian Federation.

Large-Scale Assaults Cause Outages in Kyiv and Across Ukraine

• Ukraine War
• France
• Germany
• Russia
• Ukraine