The UK government has been urged to publish the legal advice that is shaping ministers’ decision-making over whether to seize Russian assets to benefit Ukraine. The Liberal Democrats have written to the attorney general, Lord Hermer, as pressure mounts on the government to seize frozen Russian assets and repurpose them to fund support for Ukraine. ... Read more » The post UK government urged to publish legal advice on seizing frozen Russian assets appeared first on Politics.co.uk.
The UK government has been urged to publish the legal advice that is shaping ministers’ decision-making over whether to seize Russian assets to benefit Ukraine.
The Liberal Democrats have written to the attorney general, Lord Hermer, as pressure mounts on the government to seize frozen Russian assets and repurpose them to fund support for Ukraine.
The calls for the government to move from freezing Russian assets to seizing them have grown in recent days in light of US president Donald Trump’s decision to suspend military aid to the war-torn Eastern European country.
The Lib Dem request also comes amid suggestions that Lord Hermer is holding up a plan to seize frozen Russian assets. According to The Times newspaper, the attorney general has been criticised by some in government for warning ministers against the move.
There is a “live discussion” across Whitehall about options for using Russian assets to plug the gap left by the pause in US military assistance to Ukraine, the newspaper reports.
Rishi Sunak, the former prime minister, is among those advocating a seizure of Russian assets to fund the Ukrainian war effort and/or future re-development projects.
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Sunak told the House of Commons on Tuesday: “Events overnight [Trump’s decision to suspend military aid] make it even clearer that Europe must find considerably more resources for Ukraine.”
He added: “The chancellor has rightly continued our policy of using the interest on frozen Russian state assets to benefit Ukraine, but I believe now is the moment to go further and to actually seize those assets.
“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine violates the principle of sovereign equality providing a basis in international law for this and by acting in concert with our allies we can ensure there are no risks to financial stability.”
Responding to Sunak at commons Treasury questions, chancellor Rachel Reeves insisted that it is “incredibly complicated” to take further action in line with international law. However, she added Russia should “pay for the damage that Russia has caused”.
Reeves said: “As the prime minister said yesterday, we would look at going further but as [he] knows it is incredibly complicated to do that in line with international law, but we keep all options on the table because [he] is absolutely right, Russia should pay for the damage that Russia has caused.”
Ben Maguire, the Lib Dem shadow attorney general, has now written to his government counterpart demanding he publish the legal advice underpinning ministers’ decision-making around the potential seizure of the assets.
Commenting, Maguire has urged the government to “make his reasoning public” — calling for “proper scrutiny” of the decision as Ukraine’s military capacity to resist Putin is undermined by the White House.
Trump’s decisions to cut aid to Ukraine and ban the UK from sharing military intelligence with the besieged nation have “crippled” Zelensky’s defence effort, he added.
The Lib Dem MP said: “Zelensky’s besieged nation has been crippled by Trump’s callous approach to Ukraine’s defence. From cutting aid to banning intelligence sharing at the drop of a hat, it’s clear we need a plan B to halt Putin’s brutal invasion.
“We know that the UK holds billions in frozen Russian assets – capital that could transform Kyiv’s defence effort and counteract the reckless decisions coming from the White House. We’ve rightly seized the interest on these assets, but it’s time for Britain to go further and faster.
“That’s why I’m calling on the UK Attorney General to make his reasoning public, and publish his legal advice to the government on seizing the frozen assets in full. We need the chance to properly scrutinise the decision-making on this crucial issue, so the UK can then make the right choice for Ukraine.”
His letter to Lord Hermer adds: “Currently, the profits accruing from frozen Russian assets across the UK are being used to fund Ukraine’s resistance. This is the right thing to do.
“It is essential, however, that the UK goes further and faster. US president Trump’s decision to suspend military aid supplies and intelligence sharing with the Armed Forces of Ukraine makes it imperative that we do more, now, to contribute to Kyiv’s defence…
“As Attorney General, will you — as a matter of urgency — publish the legal advice that you have provided to the UK government in relation to the proposed seizure of frozen Russian assets?”
Foreign secretary David Lammy has agreed in principle that Europe should “move” from freezing Russian assets to seizing them.
Late last month at commons Foreign Office questions, the foreign secretary was urged to introduce legislation to “repurpose” Russian assets for the Ukrainian war effort by Lib Dem MP Alison Bennett.
Lammy insisted that this is not an issue on which any government can act alone. “We must act with European allies”, he said.
He added: “It was a topic of conversation at the G7. It was a topic of conversation at the Weimar group. And of course, Europe has to act quickly. And I believe we should move from freezing assets to seizing assets.”
Josh Self is Editor of Politics.co.uk, follow him on Bluesky here.
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Rishi Sunak: Now is the moment to seize Russian assets to help Ukraine
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