🔗 Share this article

The British government is prepared to move forward with employing the full worth of frozen Russian holdings to aid Ukraine's war effort, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has declared.

In a joint statement, the officials of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany emphasized that this unified step would heighten pressure on Moscow's head Vladimir Putin and compel the Russian Federation to engage in negotiations.

They further noted that the move would be executed in tight collaboration with the America.

UK restrictions have frozen in excess of £25bn of Russia's resources since the Russian government launched its widespread offensive against Ukraine in 2022. But, previously, resources provided to the Ukrainian government using Russia's assets had only been taken from gains and dividends earned on them.

Sir Keir told Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky that the United Kingdom, the French Republic, and the Federal Republic of Germany were in agreement in their desire to drive progress toward utilizing the full value of the seized Russia's state assets to halt hostilities.

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

This announcement is subsequent to European Union leaders met in the Danish capital last week to debate utilizing seized Russia's assets for a €140bn financial aid to Ukraine.

In the previous month, American leader Donald Trump encouraged international partners to seize or utilize frozen Russian holdings, based on reports.

The value of frozen Russian funds in the European Union is calculated to be approximately €211bn.

President Zelensky encourages the United Kingdom's Sir Keir Starmer to participate in the PURL programme

The Russian government executed widespread aerial attacks throughout the Ukrainian territory on that day, resulting in power cuts in many areas of Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, and multiple additional areas.

Several persons were fatally injured and at least 20 people were wounded in the assault, Ukrainian officials reported.

In a post on social media after the incident, Zelensky commented that the premeditated assault targeted civilian and energy infrastructure.

"The necessity is not empty words but firm measures - from the United States, Europe, and the seven nations - in supplying defense mechanisms and applying penalties," he stated.

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

In the same period, Zelensky informed media outlets he would urge Sir Keir to enter the PURL programme, under which partner nations purchase arms from the US to provide to Ukraine.

While applauding the UK's strong support for Ukraine, he noted it should send a clear signal that it would take part in the system, as well as impose additional measures on the Russian Federation.

Major Russian Strikes Disrupt Electricity in Kyiv and Across Ukraine

• Ukraine War
• France
• Germany
• Russia
• Ukraine