The UK is set to tighten sanctions against Russian tankers
This was announced by the UK government.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to announce new sanctions against Russia during the G7 summit in France.
The new package of restrictions will target Russia’s shadow fleet, financial networks used to circumvent sanctions, and entities that help Russia obtain Western technology for military purposes.
Ships carrying LNG will be subject to sanctions
The UK plans to impose restrictions on a number of vessels transporting Russian liquefied natural gas.
It is expected that, following this, the number of shadow fleet vessels and Russian LNG carriers subject to UK sanctions will exceed 600.
What led to the decision
The British government recalled the operation to intercept the vessel SMYRTOS, which is linked to the Russian shadow fleet.
This was the first such operation carried out by the UK against a sanctioned tanker which, according to London, could have been used to circumvent restrictions and finance Russia’s war.
Agreement for Ukrainian nuclear power plants
Separately, Britain will fund the supply of nuclear fuel for Ukrainian nuclear power stations.
This involves £210 million in support from UK Export Finance. Thanks to these funds, the British company Urenco will supply enriched uranium to Ukraine’s Energoatom.
The deal is intended to secure fuel for Ukrainian nuclear power plants for the next two years.
What Starmer said
Keir Starmer stated that Russian aggression threatens not only Ukraine but also the security of the whole of Europe.
According to him, the UK is stepping up pressure on Russia by cutting off the revenue that fuels the war and helping Ukraine get through the coming winter months.
Russia is using a shadow fleet to transport energy resources in circumvention of sanctions. Such revenues help Moscow to finance the war against Ukraine.
For Ukraine, the nuclear fuel deal is also of strategic importance, as nuclear power generates more than half of the country’s electricity.
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