🔗 Share this article

The British government is prepared to move forward with utilizing the total value of immobilized Russia's assets to bolster the Ukrainian military campaign, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced.

In a shared declaration, the leaders of the Britain, the French Republic, and the Federal Republic of Germany asserted that this unified step would escalate tension on Russia's leader Vladimir Putin and compel the Russian Federation to engage in negotiations.

They clarified that the move would be executed in close cooperation with the United States.

UK penalties have blocked in excess of £25bn of Russia's funds since the Russian government launched its full-scale invasion against the Ukrainian nation in 2022. However, until now, funds provided to Ukraine using Russian holdings had exclusively been sourced from gains and dividends accrued on them.

Sir Keir informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the Britain, the French Republic, and the Federal Republic of Germany were united in their goal to drive progress toward employing the total worth of the seized Russian sovereign assets to halt hostilities.

He noted that additional restrictions in the coming days and weeks would apply more pressure on Russia.

This announcement comes after European Union representatives convened in Copenhagen previously to discuss utilizing immobilized Russia's assets for a €140 billion financial aid to Ukraine.

Last month, President Donald Trump urged G7 allies to confiscate or utilize seized Russia's holdings, based on reports.

The total of frozen Russian funds in the EU is estimated to be almost €211bn.

President Zelensky encourages Britain's Sir Keir Starmer to take part in the weapons procurement program

Russia launched extensive aerial attacks all over the Ukrainian territory on Friday, leading to power cuts in significant regions of the capital city, the city, and eight other regions.

Two people were killed and at least 20 people were wounded in the strike, Ukrainian officials reported.

In a update on an online platform subsequent to the attack, Zelensky stated that the premeditated assault aimed at non-military and power facilities.

"What's needed is not mere statements but decisive action - from the America, Europe, and the G7 - in delivering air defence systems and enforcing sanctions," he wrote.

"Each restrictive measure weakens Russia's war machine," Zelensky declared, in a different message.

Additionally that day, Zelensky stated to the press he would encourage Sir Keir to enter the Purl program, under which Nato countries acquire weapons from the United States to donate to the Ukrainian forces.

While commending the UK's strong support for the Ukrainian government, he said it should indicate firmly that it would engage in the program, as well as apply additional restrictions on the Russian Federation.

Major Russian Strikes Cause Outages in the Capital and Nationwide

• War in Ukraine
• France
• Germany
• Russia
• Ukrainian Nation