The UK government on 20 May announced the imposition of “sweeping sanctions” against Russia over its actions against Ukraine. The government said that the measures were announced while Russia has not stopped its attacks on Ukraine and on 18 May carried out the largest drone attack since the start of the full-scale invasion.
According to the report, the sanctions concern one hundred targets and target “organisations that support the Russian war machine, energy exports and information warfare, as well as financial institutions that help finance the war against Ukraine.”
In addition, the government said the UK and its partners are also working to tighten the oil price cap, which “further restricts critical oil revenues for Putin’s war machine”.
“Today’s measures target supply chains of lethal Russian weapons systems, including Iskander missiles”. This will protect the lives of Ukrainians and our collective security by undermining Russia’s war machine,” the government said.
Also today, the European Union announced a new package of sanctions against Russia.
“The EU has approved its 17th package of sanctions against Russia, targeting nearly 200 ships of the shadow fleet,” EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas said.
Kallas specified that the new restrictions also deal with hybrid threats and human rights. According to the diplomat, the work on new restrictions against Russia continues: “the longer Russia wages war, the tougher our response will be.”
Earlier on 20 May, the head of the EU diplomatic service said that European sanctions in connection with Russia’s aggression in Ukraine would hit the Russian economy even harder in the coming months.
The day before, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who along with other European leaders was a participant in telephone talks with US President Donald Trump, said that Europe would increase sanctions pressure on Moscow.
At the same time, Trump said that tougher sanctions against Russia by the United States could damage the peace process between Ukraine and Russia, but did not rule out their introduction in the future.