Ukraine: Davey calls for emergency legislation “in next few days” to seize frozen Russian assets and "back Ukraine”

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

Lib Dem Leader Ed Davey has called for the Government to bring forward emergency legislation to seize frozen Russian assets by Monday at the latest, telling Keir Starmer that “now is the moment for the UK to lead” following President Trump’s announcement of his negotiations with Vladimir Putin over Ukraine. 

The Liberal Democrats are calling for the seized assets to be repurposed for the good of Ukraine. Emergency legislation would require Parliament to be sitting, meaning recess would have to be cancelled if needed.

Yesterday, the Liberal Democrat Leader said to the Prime Minister at PMQs that “if Ukraine is forced to surrender its sovereign territory to Russia, it will be the greatest betrayal of a European ally since Poland in 1945”. He called on Starmer to reassure the House that he would not allow President Zelensky to be “bullied by Trump and Putin into a deal that effectively hands victory to Russia”.

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:

“Trump’s actions mark the end of an era for Europe and our security. Now is the moment for the UK to lead. We have said for months: if the US won’t, Europe must.

“The Government cannot afford to sit on its hands whilst Trump’s actions threaten our economic security through tariffs and our national security through Trump’s deal with Russia.

“For too long the Conservatives sat on these seized assets. I urge the Prime Minister to act in the next few days and lay emergency legislation. That has to be the first step in standing up for Ukraine and our collective security.”

ENDS