The UK and the EU went ahead with the move without waiting for Washington to join them, just a day after Trump and Putin spoke with each other by phone.
Britain and the European Union announced fresh sanctions against Russia on Tuesday.
Brussels and London made the move without waiting for Washington to join them, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Britain said the sanctions against 100 new targets follow Russian drone attacks against Ukrainian cities at the weekend.
The new measures target supply chains for Russian weapons systems including Iskander missiles, Kremlin-funded information operations, and financial institutions that help Russia evade sanctions, Britain said.
Britain also imposed new sanctions on the Russian disinformation group Social Design Agency, 46 financial institutions aiding sanctions evasion, and 18 vessels in Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, which is allegedly used to bypass oil export restrictions.
Individuals linked to the fleet, including a British national and two Russian captains, were also targeted. Britain said it is also working with partners to lower the $60-per-barrel oil price cap that limits the price Russia can charge for its oil when transported using services such as insurance and shipping from major industrial countries.
Shortly afterward, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the EU had approved sanctions against Russia’s shadow fleet, as well as 17 individuals and 58 entities “responsible for actions undermining the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.”
Kallas said the latest round of sanctions on Russia is the most wide-sweeping since the start of the war and that more sanctions could be in the pipeline.
“Together with new hybrid, human rights, and chemical weapons-related sanctions. In this 17th package, we include Surgutneftegas—a Russian oil giant—as well as almost 200 vessels in Russia’s shadow fleet,” Kallas said.
“While Putin feigns interest in peace, more sanctions are in the works. Russia’s actions and those who enable Russia face severe consequences. The longer Russia persists with its illegal and brutal war, the tougher our response will be.”
By Guy Birchall
