British lawmakers have decided whether to transfer frozen Russian assets to Ukraine.

A group of British lawmakers has called for all frozen Russian assets to be transferred to Ukraine, sending a clear message to the Kremlin that "the aggressor must and will pay."

This is stated in an open letter from a group of British parliamentarians, published in The Times.

In the document, the group of British MPs and politicians from allied countries argues that the government should determine how to legally transfer $300 billion from the frozen reserves of the Central Bank of Russia to Ukraine. They add that transferring at least £25.5 billion held in accounts in the UK would send a "clear signal" of strategic resolve and help prevent future conflicts.

"Previous loans and emergency funding are insufficient—they leave Western taxpayers on the hook. Only utilizing the assets themselves ensures that Russia pays for its crimes," they write.

The letter comes ahead of parliamentary debates on Monday, January 6, regarding the seizure of frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine during the war. The G7 countries have already committed to providing Ukraine with a $50 billion loan, which is to be repaid through interest from the frozen assets.

In October, the UK announced it would provide Ukraine with a loan of £2.26 billion as part of a broader aid package from G7 countries. Ministers believe that transferring the assets themselves may pose legal challenges.

However, Mike Martin, a member of Parliament from the Liberal Democrats and a former officer leading the debates, believes there should be a way to circumvent this issue.

"There is an undeniable moral, strategic, and legal argument for using Russian state assets to support Ukraine in its military endeavors. This issue has never been as urgent as it is now, especially with the new US administration potentially halting support for Ukraine," he said.

The letter has been signed by over ten British MPs, along with eight high-ranking parliamentarians, including committee chairs from allied countries such as Germany, Poland, the Baltic states, and Finland.

They state that the frozen interest from the $50 billion in assets is an important first step, but it only provides Ukraine with emergency funding for a maximum of one year. Furthermore, should the assets be unfrozen, taxpayers in Ukraine or G7 countries would be compelled to repay the loan.

Background. Earlier, Mind reported that billions of Russian state funds frozen in the European Union should be directed to assist Ukraine. This was stated by EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell in an interview with The Guardian and four other European newspapers.