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A bipartisan group of US senators introduced legislation on June 18 that would allow frozen Russian assets under US control to be used to purchase military equipment for Ukraine.
The proposed Seized Assets for Equipment and Battlefield Readiness (SABER) Act would expand existing U.S. authorities, allowing Kiev to use seized Russian assets to bolster its military capabilities as Russia's full-scale war continues.
The initiative is based on the Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for Ukrainians Act (REPO), passed by the US in April 2024. The law gave Washington the legal authority to transfer Russian sovereign assets under US jurisdiction to support Ukraine.
After the full-scale invasion of Russia in 2022, Western countries froze about $300 billion in Russian assets. Approximately $4 to $5 billion of the assets fall under US jurisdiction, KyivPost reports.
The REPO framework has been used to support a US$20 billion contribution to the wider G7 $50 billion loan for Ukraine. It is being repaid through profits generated by frozen Russian assets.
The SABER Act would expand the list of uses, allowing seized assets to fund Ukraine's purchase of defense equipment and services to respond to Russian aggression.
“The REPO Act laid a significant foundation for the seizure and reuse of billions of dollars in frozen Russian assets to help the Ukrainian people defend their sovereignty after Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. By expanding the law’s authorized use of funds to replenish Ukraine’s arsenal, this legislation would go a step further to help our ally defend itself against Russian aggression and force (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to foot the bill for arming Ukraine ,” said Republican Senator John Cornyn.
The bill was introduced by Republican Senators John Cornyn, Roger Wicker and Chuck Grassley, along with Democratic Senators Tim Kaine, Chris Coons and Sheldon Whitehouse. A companion bill in the House of Representatives is being led by Representative Joe Wilson.
The proposal comes amid ongoing debate among Western allies over how to use frozen Russian assets. While some governments have supported using the proceeds generated by the assets, outright confiscation remains controversial in some jurisdictions due to legal and financial concerns.
The Trump administration has previously argued that frozen Russian assets could play a role in a future settlement between Moscow and Kiev. A U.S.-backed peace framework envisioned that some could be directed toward a future U.S.-Russia investment mechanism.
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