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The British government is ready to advance with utilizing the total value of immobilized Russia's holdings to bolster Ukraine's war effort, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has stated.

In a shared declaration, the leaders of the UK, France, and Germany stated that this joint measure would heighten pressure on Russia's leader Vladimir Putin and compel Moscow to come to the table.

They further noted that the decision would be carried out in tight collaboration with the United States.

United Kingdom restrictions have frozen more than £25bn of Russia's resources since Moscow began its full-scale invasion against Ukraine in 2022. Yet, previously, resources provided to the Ukrainian government using Russian funds had exclusively been sourced from earnings and returns accrued on them.

Sir Keir assured President Volodymyr Zelensky that the UK, the French Republic, and the Federal Republic of Germany were in agreement in their desire to advance efforts toward using the complete amount of the frozen Russian sovereign holdings to end the war.

He noted that additional restrictions in the coming days and weeks would heighten the tension on Russia.

This declaration is subsequent to European Union representatives convened in the Danish capital last week to consider using frozen Russia's holdings for a €140 billion loan to the Ukrainian nation.

Recently, American leader Donald Trump called on international partners to seize or employ seized Russian holdings, as reported by news outlets.

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

Leader Zelensky urges UK's Sir Keir Starmer to join the PURL initiative

The Russian government carried out extensive missile and drone strikes across Ukraine on Friday, leading to blackouts in large parts of Ukraine's capital, the city, and multiple additional areas.

Several persons were fatally injured and at least 20 people were hurt in the strike, authorities in Ukraine said.

In a message on X subsequent to the strike, Zelensky wrote that the strategic strike targeted civilian and energy infrastructure.

"What is required is not mere statements but concrete steps - from the America, EU, and the Group of Seven - in providing defense mechanisms and enforcing sanctions," he wrote.

"Each restrictive measure weakens Russia's war machine," Zelensky declared, in a different message.

Additionally that day, Zelensky informed reporters he would press Sir Keir to join the PURL program, under which alliance members buy military equipment from the US to donate to the Ukrainian forces.

While applauding the UK's consistent assistance for the Ukrainian government, he remarked it should demonstrate clearly that it would take part in the initiative, as well as impose more sanctions on Russia.

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

• Conflict in Ukraine
• France
• Germany
• Russia
• Ukraine