UK Prepared to Use Frozen Russia's Funds to Support the Ukrainian War Effort

The British government is ready to advance with employing the total value of immobilized Russian funds to support the Ukrainian war effort, Leader Sir Keir Starmer has declared.

In a joint statement, the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, and the Federal Republic of Germany stated that this coordinated action would heighten pressure on Russia's leader Vladimir Putin and urge the Russian Federation to participate in talks.

They further noted that the move would be implemented in close cooperation with the United States.

UK restrictions have blocked over £25bn of Russia's assets since the Russian government began its full-scale invasion against the Ukrainian nation in 2022. But, previously, funds provided to Ukraine using Russia's assets had solely been sourced from gains and dividends accrued on them.

Sir Keir assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the United Kingdom, France, and Germany were united in their desire to advance efforts toward employing the complete amount of the seized Russian sovereign assets to halt hostilities.

He noted that more restrictions in the coming days and weeks would increase the strain on the Russian government.

This announcement is subsequent to European officials gathered in Copenhagen last week to consider using seized Russian assets for a €140 billion loan to Ukraine.

In the previous month, American leader Donald Trump encouraged G7 allies to take or employ immobilized Russia's assets, as reported by news outlets.

The total of immobilized Russian holdings in the Europe is assessed to be nearly €211bn.

President Zelensky urges UK's Sir Keir Starmer to participate in the PURL programme

Russia carried out widespread missile and drone strikes all over the Ukrainian territory on Friday, leading to power cuts in many areas of Kyiv, Kyiv, and eight other regions.

A pair of individuals were fatally injured and at least 20 people were injured in the strike, authorities in Ukraine reported.

In a post on social media after the attack, Zelensky commented that the cynical and calculated attack targeted civilian and energy infrastructure.

"What is required is not empty words but concrete steps - from the America, Europe, and the G7 - in delivering anti-aircraft weapons and applying restrictions," he wrote.

"All penalty impositions weakens Russia's war machine," Zelensky noted, in a separate post.

Additionally that day, Zelensky informed reporters he would press Sir Keir to join the weapons procurement scheme, under which alliance members buy weapons from the America to provide to Ukraine.

While praising the Britain's consistent assistance for Ukraine, he noted it should demonstrate clearly that it would engage in the initiative, as well as apply more restrictions on Moscow.

Significant Attacks Cause Outages in the Capital and Nationwide

• Conflict in Ukraine
• France
• Germany
• Russian Federation
• Ukraine