The UK is set to add several gas tankers carrying Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) to its sanctions list. Prime Minister Keir Starmer will announce the new sanctions against Russia on 16 June at the G7 summit in France, according to a statement on the UK government’s website.
“We will support Ukraine for as long as it takes, and this announcement reaffirms that. Putin must withdraw his tanks, stop the barbaric attacks and come to the negotiating table,” Starmer said.
The new package of sanctions is aimed at Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ and the financial networks used to circumvent Western sanctions and support military procurement, the British government noted.
The number of vessels subject to sanctions, including those in the ‘shadow fleet’ and gas carriers, is expected to rise to more than 600. The UK will thus become the first country to impose restrictions on vessels transporting LNG.
The statement also noted that Starmer has instructed that support for Ukraine be stepped up across the board to ensure that Ukraine can maintain the pace of its military operations until next winter. In particular, London will supply electricity to Ukrainian nuclear power stations over the next two years, providing £210 million, which will enable the British company Urenco to supply enriched uranium to Ukraine’s Energoatom.
At the end of May, the UK imposed sanctions on 18 individuals and organisations that are helping Russia to circumvent restrictions. Among those targeted by the restrictions was the Russian international payment system A7, which London links to schemes for circumventing sanctions via financial institutions in third countries, including Kyrgyzstan. The list also includes A7 executives Igor Gorin and Irina Akopyan.