🔗 Share this article

The United Kingdom is set to progress with utilizing the full worth of immobilized Russian holdings to support the Ukrainian war effort, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced.

In a shared declaration, the leaders of the United Kingdom, the French Republic, and the Federal Republic of Germany emphasized that this joint measure would heighten pressure on Russia's leader Vladimir Putin and persuade Moscow to participate in talks.

They clarified that the move would be carried out in tight collaboration with the US.

UK restrictions have immobilized in excess of £25bn of Russia's resources since the Russian government initiated its full-scale invasion against Ukraine in 2022. But, until now, money sent to Ukraine using Russian funds had only been taken from profits and interest accrued on them.

Sir Keir told President Volodymyr Zelensky that the United Kingdom, France, and the Federal Republic of Germany were aligned in their goal to advance efforts toward employing the complete amount of the frozen Russian sovereign assets to halt hostilities.

He noted that further measures in the coming days and weeks would increase the strain on Russia.

This announcement follows European Union representatives gathered in the Danish capital previously to discuss using frozen Russian funds for a 140-billion-euro financial aid to the Ukrainian nation.

In the previous month, President Donald Trump encouraged international partners to take or employ seized Russia's assets, based on media sources.

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

President Zelensky calls on Britain's Sir Keir Starmer to participate in the Purl programme

Moscow carried out extensive aerial attacks across Ukraine on Friday, causing electricity outages in many areas of Kyiv, the city, and several other zones.

A pair of individuals were killed and no fewer than 20 people were injured in the assault, Ukrainian officials reported.

In a update on an online platform following the incident, Zelensky wrote that the strategic strike targeted public and utility structures.

"The necessity is not empty words but firm measures - from the US, EU, and the G7 - in supplying anti-aircraft weapons and applying sanctions," he emphasized.

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

Additionally that day, Zelensky stated to reporters he would press Sir Keir to enter the weapons procurement programme, under which alliance members acquire arms from the US to give to the Ukrainian forces.

While commending the Britain's consistent assistance for Ukraine, he said it should send a clear signal that it would take part in the initiative, as well as apply more sanctions on Russia.

Large-Scale Assaults Disrupt Electricity in the Capital and Across Ukraine

• Conflict in Ukraine
• French Republic
• Germany
• Russian Federation
• Ukraine