The United Kingdom is ready to advance with using the entire amount of immobilized Russia's funds to bolster the Ukrainian defense operations, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has declared.
In a joint statement, the heads of state of the UK, the French Republic, and the Federal Republic of Germany asserted that this joint measure would heighten pressure on Russia's leader Vladimir Putin and persuade Moscow to engage in negotiations.
They added that the move would be implemented in tight collaboration with the United States.
British sanctions have blocked over £25bn of Russia's funds since Moscow began its widespread offensive against Ukraine in 2022. However, until now, funds provided to the Ukrainian government using Russian funds had exclusively been drawn from gains and dividends generated on them.
Sir Keir informed President Volodymyr Zelensky that the United Kingdom, France, and Germany were aligned in their desire to advance efforts toward using the total worth of the seized Russia's state assets to conclude the conflict.
He stated that additional restrictions in the coming days and weeks would apply more pressure on Russia.
This declaration comes after European Union representatives gathered in the Danish capital previously to discuss using seized Russian holdings for a €140 billion financial aid to Ukraine.
Last month, US President Donald Trump urged G7 allies to take or employ immobilized Russia's holdings, according to media sources.
The value of seized Russia's assets in the Europe is calculated to be approximately €211bn.
Leader Zelensky calls on Britain's Sir Keir Starmer to participate in the PURL programme
Russia executed extensive aerial attacks all over the Ukrainian territory on that day, resulting in electricity outages in large parts of Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, and several other zones.
Several persons were lost their lives and at least 20 people were wounded in the assault, authorities in Ukraine reported.
In a message on X after the incident, Zelensky stated that the premeditated assault aimed at civilian and energy infrastructure.
"The necessity is not mere statements but concrete steps - from the United States, Europe, and the seven nations - in providing air defence systems and enforcing sanctions," he stated.
"All penalty impositions undermines Moscow's military apparatus," Zelensky wrote, in a different message.
Also on Friday, Zelensky informed reporters he would encourage Sir Keir to participate in the PURL scheme, under which alliance members buy arms from the America to donate to the Ukrainian forces.
While commending the Britain's strong support for Kyiv, he said it should send a clear signal that it would take part in the initiative, as well as enforce more restrictions on the Russian Federation.
Major Russian Strikes Cause Outages in Kyiv and Across Ukraine
- War in Ukraine
- France
- Federal Republic of Germany
- Russia
- Ukrainian Nation
