🔗 Share this article

The United Kingdom is set to progress with employing the total value of immobilized Russian funds to support the Ukrainian war effort, PM Sir Keir Starmer has declared.

In a joint statement, the leaders of the Britain, the French Republic, and the Federal Republic of Germany emphasized that this unified step would escalate tension on Moscow's head Vladimir Putin and urge the Russian Federation to come to the table.

They clarified that the move would be implemented in tight collaboration with the America.

United Kingdom sanctions have immobilized more than £25bn of Russia's resources since Russia initiated its full-scale invasion against Ukraine in 2022. However, previously, money provided to the Ukrainian government using Russia's funds had solely been sourced from earnings and returns accrued on them.

Sir Keir informed Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky that the UK, the French Republic, and Germany were united in their desire to advance efforts toward utilizing the full value of the seized Russia's state funds to end the war.

He added that additional sanctions soon would apply more pressure on Russia.

This statement follows European officials met in Copenhagen last week to discuss using frozen Russian funds for a €140 billion credit to the Ukrainian nation.

Last month, American leader Donald Trump encouraged international partners to confiscate or utilize immobilized Russian assets, based on reports.

The value of seized Russia's holdings in the European Union is assessed to be nearly €211bn.

President Zelensky urges Britain's Sir Keir Starmer to take part in the PURL programme

The Russian government executed extensive aerial attacks across the Ukrainian territory on Friday, causing blackouts in large parts of Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, and multiple additional areas.

A pair of individuals were lost their lives and no fewer than 20 people were injured in the attack, the Ukrainian government said.

In a message on an online platform after the attack, Zelensky commented that the cynical and calculated attack aimed at civilian and energy infrastructure.

"What is required is not mere statements but firm measures - from the United States, EU, and the Group of Seven - in providing anti-aircraft weapons and applying penalties," he wrote.

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

Also on Friday, Zelensky told media outlets he would encourage Sir Keir to enter the Purl programme, under which alliance members buy military equipment from the United States to give to Ukraine.

While praising the UK's firm backing for Kyiv, he said it should demonstrate clearly that it would engage in the system, as well as apply further restrictions on Russia.

Significant Attacks Disrupt Electricity in the Capital and Across Ukraine

• War in Ukraine
• French Republic
• Germany
• Russian Federation
• Ukrainian Nation