U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., introduced legislation on the Senate floor that would seize frozen Russian assets and direct them to Ukraine.
Kennedy said the proposal would not involve U.S. taxpayer money. “Not a single taxpayer’s money from an American will be spent on this. This will all be Russian money,” he said.
He noted that the United States and its European allies froze more than $300 billion in Russian funds invested in money markets. Interest from those assets has already been sent to Ukraine, but Kennedy said the principal has remained untouched. “The time has come to seize it,” he said.
Kennedy argued that seizing the funds would increase the cost to Russia of continuing the war. He said Ukraine could use the money to purchase drones, missiles, and other weapons. “Ukraine can use that money to buy their own drones and to buy their own missiles,” Kennedy said.
The senator said sanctions remain an option, but European countries such as Hungary and Slovakia continue to buy Russian oil, delaying broader action. “It’s going to take months,” Kennedy said of attempts to restrict those imports.
Kennedy criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he has not delivered on promises made during talks with former President Donald Trump. “For eight months, President Trump has tried to talk to President Putin in Russia. And for eight months, President Putin has made all kinds of promises,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy said he hopes the Senate will pass his bill. “We’re going to move it. If you object to it, stand up in front of God and country and say so,” he said.
