🔗 Share this article

The British government is set to progress with utilizing the total value of frozen Russian holdings to bolster the Ukrainian military campaign, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced.

In a collective announcement, the heads of state of the Britain, the French Republic, and the Federal Republic of Germany emphasized that this coordinated action would heighten pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin and compel Russia to participate in talks.

They clarified that the decision would be carried out in close cooperation with the United States.

United Kingdom restrictions have blocked more than £25bn of Russia's assets since Moscow began its full-scale invasion against Ukraine in 2022. Yet, until now, funds provided to the Ukrainian government using Russia's holdings had exclusively been drawn from gains and dividends accrued on them.

Sir Keir informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the United Kingdom, France, and the Federal Republic of Germany were united in their goal to drive progress toward employing the full value of the immobilized Moscow's national holdings to end the war.

He noted that additional sanctions soon would apply more pressure on the Russian government.

This declaration comes after European Union representatives met in the Danish capital last week to consider using seized Russian holdings for a €140bn financial aid to the Ukrainian nation.

Last month, US President Donald Trump urged Group of Seven partners to confiscate or utilize frozen Russia's funds, as reported by reports.

The worth of frozen Russian funds in the EU is estimated to be almost €211bn.

Leader Zelensky urges UK's Sir Keir Starmer to take part in the PURL program

The Russian government executed widespread bombardments all over Ukraine on that day, resulting in electricity outages in significant regions of Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, and several other zones.

Several persons were killed and a minimum of 20 people were wounded in the strike, the Ukrainian government reported.

In a message on an online platform following the incident, Zelensky wrote that the premeditated assault focused on public and utility structures.

"What's needed is not just talk but decisive action - from the United States, the European Union, and the Group of Seven - in delivering air defence systems and enforcing sanctions," he wrote.

"Every sanction decision diminishes Moscow's military apparatus," Zelensky noted, in a separate post.

Also on Friday, Zelensky informed the press he would press Sir Keir to enter the PURL programme, under which partner nations purchase arms from the United States to donate to the Ukrainian forces.

While praising the UK's strong support for Ukraine, he said it should indicate firmly that it would participate in the initiative, as well as apply more restrictions on Moscow.

Major Russian Strikes Cut Power in the Capital and Throughout the Nation

• Ukraine War
• French Republic
• Germany
• Russia
• Ukrainian Nation