Republican senators urge Trump to confiscate frozen Russian assets for Ukraine

A group of Republican senators has urged President Donald Trump to confiscate central bank Russian assets that are frozen in the United States and redirect them to support Ukraine.

About $4 billion-$5 billion of the approximately $280 billion in frozen Russian assets are based in the U.S.

The signatories include Senators Jim Risch, Roger Wicker, John Kennedy, and Rick Scott, European Pravda reports, citing the text of the letter.

“We urge you to exercise the authorities granted to you under the REPO Act for Ukrainians and, in coordination with the G7 and European allies, transfer to Ukraine the full amount of Russian sovereign assets that are frozen or immobilized in the United States,” the letter says.

According to the lawmakers, such a move would pave the way for a decision on using $162 billion in immobilized Russian sovereign assets that are held in the European Union where the bulk is located.

Once confiscated, the senators said these European-based funds would be used to purchase weapons from U.S. manufacturers for delivery to Ukraine.

“This is a win-win for America; it will generate orders that help accelerate the growth of our domestic defense industry while ensuring Ukraine has the ability to defend itself in the near future,” the letter states.

The group of Republicans also calls on Trump to instruct Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to “take immediate action to confiscate approximately $5 billion in Russian sovereign assets currently frozen in the United States.”

“Even if peace is achieved, Ukraine will need to keep modernizing its armed forces, and using these assets would enable Ukraine to reliably defend itself in the coming years, while also unlocking access to more than $81 billion in new European investments in the U.S. defense industry,” the letter concludes.

Also read: Former UWC President Eugene Czolij: Russia’s frozen sovereign assets must be confiscated now