PM urges allies to ‘finish the job’ on Russian assets

Keir Starmer urged allies to “finish the job” on frozen Russian assets by using them to strengthen Ukraine’s defences as he sought to rally support for Kyiv amid stalled peace efforts.

The Prime Minister also condemned Vladimir Putin’s “ludicrous demands” for Ukrainian land as “a non-starter” as he convened a meeting of the so-called “coalition of the willing” on Friday.

Sir Keir said allies should step up the provision of weapons as winter approaches and its energy infrastructure remains under threat from attacks by Moscow.

Other measures under consideration include further efforts to cripple Russia’s economy by taking its oil and gas off the global market and seeking ways to use billions in frozen assets to fund Ukraine’s defences.

Sir Keir told a press conference at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on Friday that Ukraine’s allies would “act to take Russian oil and gas off the global market”.

He said: “Last week, the UK became the first country to sanction all of Russia’s oil majors. On Wednesday, the US acted decisively and joined us.

“Together with further sanctions from the EU, we’re choking off funding for Russia’s war machine.

“And I’m urging others to take these steps, to go further to reduce their dependence and incentivise third countries to stop buying these tainted resources.”

Sir Keir met Ukrainian President Voloydmyr Zelensky for a bilateral meeting in No 10 on Friday ahead of the two leaders joining a call along with the wider coalition of the willing – a group of more than 30 countries pledging support for Kyiv.

Mr Zelensky, Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Dutch Premier Dick Schoof and Nato secretary general Mark Rutte all visited London for the call, while about 20 other leaders dialled in to the meeting from abroad.

“We stand, as we’ve always stood, as your closest supporter and ally,” the Prime Minister told Mr Zelensky.

Speaking on the call, Sir Keir said countries must agree to “finish the job” on Russia’s sovereign assets and unlock funding to support Ukraine.

“The UK is ready to move in tandem with the EU to drive this forward as fast as possible, to get those funds flowing to Ukraine,” he said.

He has called on leaders to step up the provision of long-range weapons after a successful attack on a chemical plant in Bryansk, Russia, using British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles.

The Prime Minister also insisted work on “security guarantees” for Kyiv was ongoing following speculation that the focus of the coalition had shifted away from planning for a peacekeeping force to monitor any potential ceasefire.

“Finally, we must keep working on our security guarantees… including the multinational force for Ukraine that would be ready to uphold a future ceasefire,” he said.

He reiterated that the direction of the war in the coming months would be “pivotal” for UK and Nato security, adding: “So we are determined to act now, to dial up the pressure on Putin and finally bring him to the negotiating table in good faith.”

The Ukrainian leader warned Russia was pushing Ukraine towards “humanitarian disaster” and urged allies not to forget the issue of territorial integrity.

“We must all remember that the issues of territorial integrity as well as any alleged trade of lands must not reward the aggressor or reward any future aggression.”

He said it was important not to “give Russia any reason to think they can finish this war with any outcome that is unfair to us”.

Donald Trump has on occasion suggested Kyiv surrender land captured by Russian forces in return for peace, although Ukrainian officials have said carving up their country would be an unacceptable outcome.

“Only a strong and fair solution to end the war will really work. Please support us in this,” Mr Zelensky said.

The meeting of the coalition of the willing comes after the US president’s plans for talks with Mr Putin were put on hold and he imposed sanctions on Russia’s two biggest oil firms, Rosneft and Lukoil.

Sir Keir praised Washington’s move on Friday, saying the coalition of the willing and the White House were “more united than ever before.”

“Putin continues to meet initiatives for peace by stonewalling and playing for time… instead he’s making ludicrous demands for Ukrainian land which he could not take by force,” the Prime Minister said.

“Now, of course, that is a non-starter.”