UK Prepared to Employ Immobilized Russia's Funds to Support Ukraine's Military Campaign
The United Kingdom is prepared to move forward with using the full worth of seized Russia's assets to support the Ukrainian military campaign, PM Sir Keir Starmer has stated.
In a shared declaration, the leaders of the Britain, France, and Germany asserted that this joint measure would increase strain on Moscow's head Vladimir Putin and urge Moscow to participate in talks.
They added that the decision would be executed in strong partnership with the United States.
British sanctions have frozen in excess of £25bn of Russian funds since Russia initiated its full-scale invasion against Ukraine in 2022. But, up to this point, funds provided to the Ukrainian government using Russia's assets had solely been sourced from profits and interest earned on them.
Sir Keir assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the United Kingdom, the French Republic, and the Federal Republic of Germany were united in their goal to drive progress toward employing the complete amount of the frozen Russian sovereign holdings to halt hostilities.
He added that additional restrictions in the coming days and weeks would heighten the tension on the Russian government.
This declaration comes after EU officials gathered in Copenhagen recently to debate using seized Russia's assets for a €140 billion loan to Ukraine.
Last month, President Donald Trump urged G7 allies to seize or otherwise use immobilized Russian funds, based on media sources.
The worth of immobilized Russian funds in the Europe is assessed to be almost €211bn.
Leader Zelensky urges Britain's Sir Keir Starmer to participate in the PURL initiative
Russia executed large-scale aerial attacks throughout Ukraine on Friday, leading to blackouts in many areas of Kyiv, the city, and eight other regions.
Several persons were fatally injured and at least 20 people were wounded in the assault, the Ukrainian government reported.
In a update on social media after the attack, Zelensky commented that the premeditated assault aimed at non-military and power facilities.
"What is required is not mere statements but concrete steps - from the US, EU, and the G7 - in supplying defense mechanisms and implementing restrictions," he emphasized.
"All penalty impositions diminishes the Russian war effort," Zelensky wrote, in a different message.
Also on Friday, Zelensky stated to media outlets he would press Sir Keir to join the PURL programme, under which partner nations buy weapons from the United States to give to Ukraine.
While applauding the Britain's firm backing for Ukraine, he said it should send a clear signal that it would participate in the initiative, as well as apply additional restrictions on Moscow.
Major Russian Strikes Cause Outages in the Capital and Throughout the Nation
- War in Ukraine
- France
- Germany
- Russian Federation
- Ukraine