Sir Keir Starmer is set to unveil a fresh package of sanctions on Russian shadow fleet vessels as part of an attempt to choke Vladimir Putin’s war effort , whilst bolstering Ukraine ’s nuclear power infrastructure with a £210m export finance package.
The prime minister, who set out the plans as he arrived in France for the G7 summit, warned that Putin’s “aggression threatens not just Ukraine, but the security of all Europe”.
It comes after the British armed forces intercepted a Russian shadow fleet vessel in the Channel early on Sunday during a six-hour operation – the first UK-led operation of its kind.
Speaking on Tuesday, Sir Keir said: “The UK is stepping up – choking off the revenues that fuel Putin's war and powering Ukraine through the winters ahead.
Sir Keir Starmer is set to unveil fresh sanctions on Russia on Tuesday (PA)
"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.”
Just last month, the prime ministerwas accused of buying “dirty Russian oil” after the UK quietly relaxed sanctions on Moscow in a move which critics warned could be a major boost to Vladimir Putin .
The government previously said it would block Russian oil refined in third countries in a bid to “further restrict the flow of funds to the Kremlin”.
But, with prices surging as a result of the Iran war, Sir Keir shifted his stance and said he will allow imports of jet fuel and diesel made from Russian oil and refined in other countries.
As part of an effort to show support for Ukraine remains steadfast, the UK will now provide £210 million of UK Export Finance to power Ukraine's nuclear plants for the next two years as part of a package which will enable UK-based Urenco to supply enriched uranium to Ukraine's nuclear power producer, Energoatom - which provides more than half of the country's electricity.
It was agreed last week at a meeting in Downing Street between Sir Keir and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. The agreement also supports UK jobs and exports, the government said, with more than a third of the uranium content originating from Urenco's processing plant in the North-West of England.
Urenco employs more than 650 people in the UK and its work at its Chester site supports more than 4,500 jobs around the UK in the wider supply chain.
The financing, backed by UKEF, comes after the conclusion of a previous two-year deal to supply nuclear fuel to Ukraine.
The sanctions package will directly target Russia ’s illicit shadow fleet and finance networks used to circumvent western sanctions and support military procurement, the government said.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomes President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky outside No 10 (PA Wire)
The package will bring the number of shadow fleet and Russian LNG vessels sanctioned by the UK to more than 600.
On Sunday, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Royal Marine commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers from the NCA boarded a sanctioned oil tanker during a six-hour operation – the first UK-led operation of its kind.
The operation was supported by aircraft from the Maritime Air Group (Chinooks, Merlin Mk4 and Wildcat), an RAF P-8 aircraft, HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury, the MoD said.
Sir Keir said in March that the UK would join northern European allies in intercepting Russia’s shadow fleet, in an attempt to “go after” the sanction-breaking ships “even harder”.
It is understood Sunday’s operation was the result of months of planning.
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