Kaine, Cornyn, Coons, & Colleagues Introduce Bill to Bolster Ukraine’s Defense Arsenal Using Seized Russian Sovereign Assets

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Chris Coons (D-DE), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the Seized Assets for Battlefield Equipment and Readiness (SABER) Act, which would amend current law to allow Ukraine to use assets confiscated from the Central Bank of the Russian Federation and other Russian sovereign assets for the purchase of military equipment to defend against Vladimir Putin's war machine.

"The resolve and resilience of Ukrainians in defending their homeland from Russian forces has been commendable, and the international community must continue to do all we can to ensure Ukraine has what it needs to be successful on the battlefield and rebuild their country," said Kaine. "That's why I'm joining my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan legislation to allow the use of Russian sovereign assets to buy defense articles that would support Ukraine's fight against Russia."

"The REPO Act laid important groundwork for seizing and repurposing billions of dollars in frozen Russian assets to help the Ukrainian people defend their own sovereignty after Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine," said Cornyn. "By extending the law's permissible use of funds to replenish Ukraine's arsenal, this legislation would go one step further to helping our ally defend against Russian aggression and force Putin to foot the bill for arming Ukraine."

"Ukraine is on the frontline of freedom in Europe, protecting the rest of the world from Putin's unprovoked aggression," said Coons. "Ukraine's army has fought courageously under incredibly difficult circumstances, and we need to ensure they have the tools and funds they need to defeat Putin on the battlefield and build back stronger once the war ends. With this bipartisan legislation, we are opening up new pathways for support so we can assure our and Ukraine's security."

"The Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for Ukrainians (REPO) Act ensured that frozen Russian assets be used to support Ukraine's fight for sovereignty. As Ukrainians continue to resist Russia's assault, they should have every means available to defend themselves. The SABER Act would build on existing law, allowing confiscated Russian sovereign assets to be used to purchase military equipment Ukraine needs to defeat Putin's war machine," said Wicker.

"Putin's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine sparked the largest land war in Europe since World War II, and the United States must do our part to stand with our Ukrainian allies. Our bipartisan legislation assists Ukraine as they continue to defend against Putin's unrelenting attacks. Importantly, this support for Ukraine comes at no cost to the American taxpayer," said Grassley.

"Seizing Russian sovereign funds so that war criminal Putin can't use them for his illegal invasion in Ukraine was the first step, and we achieved that through our bipartisan REPO law," said Whitehouse. "Hundreds of billions of dollars in frozen Russian funds should be put to good use repelling Russian invaders and supporting the brave Ukrainians fighting for freedom."

The Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for Ukrainians (REPO) Act, now law, currently permits frozen Russian sovereign assets under U.S. jurisdiction to be confiscated and transferred to Ukraine for the use of:

• Making contributions to an international body, fund, or mechanism established consistent with that is charged with determining and administering compensation or providing assistance to Ukraine.
• Supporting reconstruction, rebuilding, and recovery efforts in Ukraine.
• And providing economic and humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine.

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