The UK has announced a new package of 70 sanctions aimed at starving Russian President Vladimir Putin of cash for his war against Ukraine.
The measures target the shadow fleet used to move Russian oil and gas, and the finance networks used to evade western sanctions. The actions also target three companies and 10 officers from the GRU intelligence agency suspected of involvement in covertly acquiring western technology for the Russian military.
The sanctions were announced as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met allies at the G7 summit in France.
“These sanctions target the vessels, the money and the actors propping up Russia’s war economy and, in turn, threatening European security," he said. “Working with our G7 allies, we will continue to increase the pressure in Putin and his circle of collaborators until Russia’s war machine is brought to a halt and peace returns to our continent.”
Mr Starmer is seeking to increase pressure on Russia with the measures, as its war with Ukraine rumbles on with no end in sight after more than four years of fighting.
Mr Starmer is due to hold meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mr Starmer will discuss the Ukraine conflict with G7 leaders at the summit in Evian-les-Bains.
The G7 summit is also being held after US President Donald Trump announced a deal with Iran that he says will allow oil shipments to pass freely again through the Strait of Hormuz. He said the waterway, through which two thirds of the world's oil supply normally flows, would reopen fully on Friday, when the deal is signed in Switzerland.
Shadow fleet
Mr Starmer's announcement increases the number of shadow fleet and Russian LNG vessels under sanctions to more than 600. The measures also target a network involved in covertly procuring western technology for Russia’s military, as well as third country suppliers in China, Thailand, Nigeria and Turkey helping Moscow move money internationally.
British troops seized a Russian shadow fleet vessel in the Channel for the first time at the weekend. The captain of the Smyrtos tanker, Ajay Pant, 38, has been charged with contravening sanctions by the Crown Prosecution Service and is set to appear in court on Tuesday.
“Russia’s aggression threatens not just Ukraine, but the security of all Europe," Mr Starmer said ahead of the announcement. “That is why the UK is stepping up – choking off the revenues that fuel [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s war and powering Ukraine through the winters ahead.
“We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes and this announcement reinforces that. Putin should roll back his tanks, end his barbaric strikes and come to the negotiating table.”
UK-based Urenco will also supply enriched uranium to Ukraine’s nuclear power producer, Energoatom, for two years in a deal agreed to last week, backed by £210 million ($281.7 million) of funding from UK Export Finance.
Mr Starmer has joined leaders in France to talk about global threats as pressure increases on the Prime Minister over long-term funding for the military at home.
There is also potential for friction with Mr Trump, who was pictured sitting next to Mr Starmer at a working leaders’ dinner on the first night of the summit, amid a strained relationship. Mr Starmer has announced a social media ban for under-16s after Mr Trump’s pro-tech administration warned against such a move.
Recent interventions from US Vice President JD Vance and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth linked to the murder of student Henry Nowak prompted the UK government to criticise those seeking to “interfere in our democracy”.
The Prime Minister and his wife Victoria met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the summit on Monday. Mr Starmer updated Mr Merz on his social media ban and they talked about the UK’s ambitions to move closer to the EU, a Downing Street spokeswoman said.
Mr Starmer also met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and talked about strengthening Euro-Atlantic security and innovative financing solutions for defence.
Canada is leading the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank, which aims to help member countries fund defence projects at low cost.
