Britain Set to Use Immobilized Russia's Funds to Fund the Ukrainian War Effort

The UK is ready to advance with employing the total value of seized Russia's holdings to aid the Ukrainian military campaign, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has stated.

In a shared declaration, the leaders of the UK, France, and Germany emphasized that this joint measure would escalate tension on Russia's leader Vladimir Putin and urge Russia to participate in talks.

They added that the decision would be implemented in tight collaboration with the United States.

British penalties have blocked more than £25bn of Russian funds since Russia launched its comprehensive attack against the Ukrainian nation in 2022. But, previously, funds allocated to Ukraine using Russia's assets had only been taken from gains and dividends accrued on them.

Sir Keir told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the Britain, the French Republic, and the Federal Republic of Germany were aligned in their goal to push forward toward employing the total worth of the frozen Moscow's national assets to conclude the conflict.

He noted that additional measures soon would apply more pressure on Russia.

This announcement is subsequent to European Union representatives met in Copenhagen previously to discuss using frozen Russia's funds for a €140bn credit to Ukraine.

Last month, US President Donald Trump urged Group of Seven partners to confiscate or employ seized Russian assets, according to reports.

The total of immobilized Russian funds in the European Union is assessed to be nearly €211bn.

Leader Zelensky encourages the United Kingdom's Sir Keir Starmer to join the weapons procurement initiative

The Russian government launched large-scale missile and drone strikes across Ukraine on that day, causing blackouts in large parts of Kyiv, Kyiv, and several other zones.

Two people were killed and no fewer than 20 people were hurt in the strike, Ukrainian officials reported.

In a post on X following the strike, Zelensky wrote that the premeditated assault focused on public and utility structures.

"The necessity is not just talk but decisive action - from the US, the European Union, and the seven nations - in supplying defense mechanisms and enforcing penalties," he wrote.

"Each restrictive measure weakens Russia's war machine," Zelensky wrote, in a separate post.

In the same period, Zelensky informed reporters he would press Sir Keir to join the weapons procurement scheme, under which alliance members purchase arms from the US to donate to Ukraine.

While commending the Britain's consistent assistance for Ukraine, he said it should send a clear signal that it would participate in the system, as well as enforce further restrictions on the Russian Federation.

Large-Scale Assaults Cause Outages in the Capital and Across Ukraine

• War in Ukraine
• France
• Germany
• Russian Federation
• Ukraine