London: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called for Western nations to take bold steps in seizing Russian assets that were frozen during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
In an article published in the Sunday Times ahead of schedule to mark two years since the crisis began, Sunak emphasized the ongoing need for Ukraine to receive additional long-range weaponry, drones, and ammunition, among other forms of assistance.
“We must be bolder in hitting the Russian war economy… And we must be bolder in seizing the hundreds of billions of frozen Russian assets,” Sunak stated.
British Investment Minister Dominic Johnson recently met with US Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo to discuss the recovery of frozen Russian assets, stressing the importance of doing so in accordance with international laws.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the European Union, the United States, Japan, and Canada collectively froze around $300 billion of assets held by Russia’s central bank.
The Group of Seven (G7) countries has been exploring the option of asset seizures as a means of holding Russia accountable for the damage caused by its invasion of Ukraine.
Sunak also urged the United States to maintain its financial and military support for Ukraine, highlighting the significant contributions made by America to Ukrainian and Euro-Atlantic security.
“We should never underestimate what America has done for Ukraine and for Euro-Atlantic security. I urge them to continue that support, and I am confident they will,” Sunak wrote.
In a move to further assist Ukraine, Britain’s defense ministry announced £245 million ($311 million) in aid to fund Ukrainian artillery ammunition on Saturday.
