Kennedy introduces resolution urging use of frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s defense

WASHINGTON - Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) today introduced a resolution urging all countries and international organizations holding frozen Russian assets to partner with the United States to seize and repurpose these funds for Ukraine's defense.

"Let me be clear: President Putin will keep committing crimes against humanity until fighting his war in Ukraine becomes more costly than stopping. This resolution tells our allies and international organizations holding frozen Russian funds to join us-seize those assets, repurpose them for Ukraine's defenses and make the calculus of aggression intolerable. Hit Putin in his wallet, and you change his behavior," said Kennedy.

"I applaud Senator Kennedy and my colleagues for working on this proposal to increase the cost to Putin for continuing the war with Ukraine. The best way to get Putin to the peace table is to hit his wallet, upping the cost of the war to him and his cronies. The $300 billion in frozen Russian assets should be used to help Ukraine deal with Putin's invasion, at no cost to the American taxpayer. I would urge other allies to partner with the United States in this effort," said Graham.

"Demanding that seized Russian assets be used to bolster Ukraine's brave fight is the critically important message of our bipartisan resolution. Hundreds of billions of dollars in frozen Russian accounts can be used by Ukraine for drones, missile defenses, long range artillery, and other arms necessary to defeat Russia's murderous slaughter. We're sending a message to Putin that we'll stand with Ukraine-and seek peace through strength,"said Blumenthal.

"Vladimir Putin and his corrupt oligarchs must pay for their murderous invasion of a peaceful neighbor, and repurposing their frozen assets for Ukraine's defense and reconstruction is a major leverage point. The Trump administration and our G7 allies should immediately begin seizing these frozen Russian assets and disbursing them to Ukraine on a regular schedule to ramp up economic pressure on Putin's floundering regime," said Whitehouse.

During its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has committed widespread crimes against humanity, including the targeting of civilians and ambulances with drones, sexual violence against civilians and prisoners of war, extrajudicial killings and the kidnapping of Ukrainian children for re-education and militarization.

In the wake of these mounting atrocities, Kennedy delivered a speech on the Senate floor this month that renewed attention to the $300 billion in unused, internationally frozen Russian assets, and outlined the framework of his resolution.

Kennedy's resolution:

• Determines that Russia is fully financially responsible for the harm it caused in Ukraine.

• Recommends that the Executive Branch conclude that Russia's actions violate international law and that seizing the frozen Russian assets is a legitimate means of supporting Ukraine's defense.

• Urges all countries holding frozen Russian assets to partner with the U.S. to seize these funds and provide them to Ukraine in monthly tranches of no less than $10 billion until no assets remain.

• Calls on the President of the United States, the U.S. Secretary of State and the U.S. Secretary of War to prioritize foreign military sales to countries that seize and repurpose these assets and deprioritize sales to countries that do not.

Full text of Kennedy's resolution is available here.