Britain on Monday introduced legislation allowing it to keep sanctions against Russia in place until Moscow pays compensation to Ukraine.

The new legislation will allow the British government to maintain sanctions by amending the purposes of the Russia sanctions.

The legislation will state that sanctions can be used to promote the payment of compensation by Russia.

It said Moscow has to announce a new route to donate frozen assets to Ukraine’s reconstruction.

“Ukraine’s reconstruction needs are, and will be immense,” said British foreign minister James Cleverly.

“Through our new measures today, we’re strengthening the UK’s sanctions approach, affirming that the UK is prepared to use sanctions to ensure Russia pays to repair the country it has so recklessly attacked.”

Since the invasion of Ukraine last year, Britain has frozen over £18 billion ($23 billion) in assets and sanctioned over 1,550 Russian individuals, including Roman Abramovich, former owner of Chelsea Football Club.

The British government also said sanctioned Russians, who support Ukraine, will now have a new way to donate their frozen funds for Ukrainian reconstruction.

“This will be a voluntary process whereby sanctioned individuals may apply for funds to be released for the express purpose of supporting Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction,” the government said in a statement.

“There will be no coercion of individuals to encourage them to transfer funds, nor any offer of sanctions relief in return for making a donation.”

 (Reuters/NAN)