Ukrainian Member of Parliament Kira Rudyk has called on the British government to utilize billions of pounds in frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine’s war effort. In an interview with Sky News, Rudyk emphasized the need for decisive action to enable Ukraine to win the war.
Rudyk expressed gratitude for the support from allies but highlighted the necessity of transitioning from merely aiding Ukraine in its fight to providing the means for victory. She specifically urged the UK to release the frozen assets of the Russian state and oligarchs, estimated at £50 billion, to fund Ukraine’s military needs and post-war reconstruction.
“This process has been going on and on for two years and the decision has not been made,” she said. “And we are calling not to use people’s money, taxpayer money to support our fight, but actually to make Putin to pay for what he’s broke and to use his funds.”
The assets, seized following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, have been the subject of debate regarding their eventual use. Rudyk argued that utilizing these funds would not only relieve the burden on taxpayers but also hold Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable for the destruction caused by the war.
“It’s about £50bn of state assets and oligarchs’ money that are being frozen in the United Kingdom right now. So though we are extremely grateful to our allies, to all the people from the United Kingdom for the support for ongoing standing with Ukraine, we need certain decisions to be made.
And one of them is making sure this is Russian money is being used for the right cause, because we can spend them to buy ammunition, we can spend them to rebuild our country.”
