The UK is “able to progress” to utilizing the complete worth of frozen Russian property to assist Ukraine’s struggle effort, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has stated.
In a press release, the leaders of the UK, France and Germany stated the joint motion would “enhance strain” on Russian President Vladimir Putin and “carry Russia to the negotiation desk”.
It added the transfer could be taken “in shut cooperation” with the US.
UK sanctions have frozen greater than £25bn of Russian property since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. However till now, funds despatched to Ukraine utilizing Russian property had solely been taken from earnings and curiosity accrued on them.
Sir Keir advised Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky that the UK, France and Germany had been “united in desirous to drive progress in the direction of utilizing the complete worth of the immobilised Russian sovereign property to finish the struggle”.
He added that extra sanctions “within the coming days and weeks” would add additional strain on Moscow.
The announcement comes after European leaders met in Copenhagen final week to debate utilizing frozen Russian property for a €140bn ($162bn; £121bn) mortgage to Ukraine.
Final month, US President Donald Trump referred to as on G7 allies to grab “or in any other case use” frozen Russian property, in response to the Monetary Instances.
The worth of frozen Russian property within the EU is estimated to be virtually €211bn (£181bn).
Russia launched extensive missile and drone strikes across Ukraine on Friday, inflicting energy cuts in massive elements of Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, and eight different areas.
Two individuals had been killed and at the least 20 individuals had been injured within the assault, Ukrainian officers stated.
In a publish on X following the assault, Zelensky wrote that the “cynical and calculated assault” focused civilian and vitality infrastructure.
“What’s wanted just isn’t empty phrases however decisive motion – from the US, Europe and the G7 – in delivering air defence methods and implementing sanctions,” he wrote.
“Each sanction resolution weakens Russia’s struggle machine,” Zelensky wrote, in a separate publish.
Additionally on Friday, Zelensky advised the BBC he would urge Sir Keir to hitch the PURL programme, beneath which Nato international locations purchase weapons from the US to present to Ukraine.
Whereas praising the UK’s robust assist for Kyiv, he stated it ought to ship a transparent sign that it might participate within the system, in addition to impose extra sanctions on Russia.
