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The UK is set to progress with utilizing the full worth of frozen Russian funds to bolster Ukraine's defense operations, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced.

In a shared declaration, the heads of state of the UK, France, and Germany emphasized that this unified step would escalate tension on Moscow's head Vladimir Putin and compel Moscow to engage in negotiations.

They clarified that the decision would be executed in close cooperation with the US.

United Kingdom penalties have blocked more than £25bn of Russia's assets since Russia launched its widespread offensive against the Ukrainian nation in 2022. But, previously, funds provided to Ukraine using Russian holdings had exclusively been sourced from earnings and returns generated on them.

Sir Keir assured Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky that the Britain, the French Republic, and the Federal Republic of Germany were aligned in their goal to drive progress toward utilizing the total worth of the frozen Russian sovereign funds to halt hostilities.

He stated that further sanctions over the next period would increase the strain on Moscow.

This announcement follows European officials gathered in the Danish capital recently to discuss utilizing immobilized Russian funds for a €140 billion financial aid to the Ukrainian nation.

In the previous month, American leader Donald Trump called on Group of Seven partners to seize or utilize immobilized Russian assets, as reported by reports.

The value of seized Russian holdings in the Europe is assessed to be almost €211bn.

President Zelensky calls on the United Kingdom's Sir Keir Starmer to participate in the weapons procurement initiative

Russia executed large-scale missile and drone strikes all over the Ukrainian territory on Friday, leading to electricity outages in significant regions of the capital city, Kyiv, and multiple additional areas.

Several persons were killed and at least 20 people were hurt in the attack, authorities in Ukraine said.

In a message on an online platform subsequent to the strike, Zelensky stated that the strategic strike targeted civilian and energy infrastructure.

"What's needed is not just talk but decisive action - from the US, EU, and the G7 - in supplying anti-aircraft weapons and implementing penalties," he emphasized.

"Every sanction decision diminishes the Russian war effort," Zelensky noted, in a different message.

Also on Friday, Zelensky informed the press he would encourage Sir Keir to enter the Purl scheme, under which Nato countries acquire arms from the US to donate to Ukraine.

While applauding the United Kingdom's consistent assistance for the Ukrainian government, he noted it should indicate firmly that it would participate in the program, as well as enforce more restrictions on Moscow.

Significant Attacks Cause Outages in the Capital and Across Ukraine

• Ukraine War
• France
• Federal Republic of Germany
• Russian Federation
• Ukraine