Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called on Western nations to seize $300 billion in frozen Russian state assets, insisting that Moscow must be held accountable for the devastation caused by its invasion of Ukraine, saying, “It’s time to make Putin pay.”
He argued that Western taxpayers should not bear the burden of rebuilding a country that Russia has destroyed.
“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused $524 billion in destruction – devastating cities, industries, and lives,” Sunak said. “The world must ensure that Russia, not Western taxpayers, foots the bill for Ukraine’s recovery.”
Seizing these assets, he said, would not only help rebuild Ukraine but also ease financial pressure on allied nations and send a clear message that aggression will not pay. While some claim confiscating Russian funds would violate international law, Sunak dismissed those concerns, citing legal pathways outlined by experts, including those at the Hoover Institution. He pointed out that the West already uses the interest from these assets to support Ukraine, arguing that if that is legal, so is using the capital itself. “The principle is clear: if you destroy another nation, you should pay for the damage,” he said.
Addressing concerns that such a move could undermine trust in Western financial systems, Sunak argued that Russia had already attempted to move its reserves before invading Ukraine and that rogue states have few safe alternatives. He called on the European Union, which holds a significant portion of the frozen Russian assets, to take decisive action. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala have also voiced their support for seizing the funds according to Sunak. “Ukraine shouldn’t be left waiting while its cities remain in ruins,” Sunak said.
Earlier this week, Sunak had also weighed in on the recent Oval Office meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which reportedly turned tense over a mineral deal seen as key to continued US support. Trump and his Vice President, JD Vance, accused Zelenskyy of not showing enough gratitude, leading to a heated exchange. According to BBC, Sunak condemned Trump’s treatment of the Ukrainian leader, saying, “It was very hard to watch. For him to have been treated that way was wrong.”
Reinforcing the urgency of his call, Sunak stressed that Ukraine’s future depends on decisive action. Seizing Russian assets, he said, would not only fund reconstruction but also strengthen Ukraine’s military, deterring future Russian aggression. “If we let Russia off the hook, we set a dangerous precedent for other aggressors. That’s why we must act,” he said.