Britain called on partners supporting Ukraine to agree on the plan to use frozen Russian assets for Kyiv, arguing it would strengthen Ukraine in any future peace talks. The appeal came as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in London on Friday to meet leaders from what Downing Street calls the Coalition of the Willing.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would also encourage countries to remove Russian oil and gas from global trade and to supply more long range missiles. His office said this is needed to increase the cost of Moscow’s ongoing invasion.
European Union leaders decided on Thursday to cover Ukraine’s most urgent financial needs over the next two years. Months of talks led to a broad agreement, according to Reuters. However EU capitals did not approve a proposal to use frozen Russian state assets to guarantee a large loan for Kyiv after concerns were raised in Belgium, where many of the funds are held.
Zelenskiy, speaking to EU leaders in Brussels, asked for long range missiles and for the frozen assets to be used to speed up weapon deliveries. He later welcomed United States sanctions on Russia’s two biggest oil companies.
Starmer said Putin continues to reject peace proposals. He stated that time after time Putin is offered a route to end the invasion and withdraw his forces but chooses instead to escalate. He added that Britain must increase pressure and build on the recent move from Washington.
The Kremlin warned that any seizure of assets would be answered in a painful way. Putin described the latest penalties on Russian oil firms as unfriendly but claimed they would not cause serious harm to the national economy.
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Meanwhile the EU agreed a nineteenth set of restrictions that includes a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas imports. European officials said the target is to reduce revenue that could support Moscow’s military efforts.
Friday’s discussions in London were planned to include leaders and senior officials in person and online. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen were all expected to join Starmer and Zelenskiy.
Zelenskiy began his visit with a meeting at Windsor Castle. King Charles has voiced support for Ukraine several times since the war began and received Zelenskiy privately earlier this year after a tense meeting the Ukrainian president had with President Trump.
Ukraine continues to seek reliable long term financial backing along with more weapons as fighting remains intense across the eastern front.