Britain will provide Ukraine with nuclear fuel for two years for £210 million. New sanctions will restrict the operations of more than 600 Russian ships and the shadow fleet.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is increasing pressure on Russia, announcing new sanctions and strengthening energy support for Ukraine at the G7 summit in France on Tuesday, the British government said, reports UNN.
Details
A major energy agreement will secure Ukraine's supply of British nuclear fuel for the next two years, the British government stated.
A new sanctions package, expected today, is also designed to choke Russia's military efforts on several fronts, strengthening European security, the British government added.
This comes as the G7 summit begins in Évian, France, where the first roundtable session will focus on building peace and security for Ukraine and Europe. Starmer is expected to speak at the session, telling leaders that the G7 must collectively take further steps to ensure Ukraine achieves the just and lasting peace it deserves.
He will again emphasize the need to end hostilities, establish an immediate ceasefire, and begin negotiations along the current line of contact.
In recent weeks, the Prime Minister has instructed officials to step up support for Ukraine across all fronts, from military equipment to vital energy support and pressure on Putin's war machine, to ensure Ukraine maintains its combat momentum into next winter.
This pressure includes actions against the Russian "shadow fleet," demonstrated by a major military operation to intercept the vessel "SMYRTOS" early Sunday morning.
Important lessons learned from the situation in Ukraine and how Britain can contribute to European security are also expected to be central to the Defence Investment Plan, to be published ahead of the NATO summit.
"Russia's aggression threatens not only Ukraine, but the security of the whole of Europe. That is why Britain is stepping up its efforts – cutting off the revenues that fuel Putin's war and securing Ukraine's energy for future winters. We will support Ukraine for as long as it takes, and this statement confirms that. Putin must withdraw his tanks, stop his barbaric strikes, and sit down at the negotiating table," Starmer said.
"Meanwhile, Britain will power Ukraine's nuclear power plants for the next two years, providing £210 million from the UK Export Finance fund, enabling British company Urenco to supply enriched uranium to Ukraine's nuclear energy producer Energoatom. The agreement was reached between the Prime Minister and President Zelenskyy during their meeting at Downing Street last week," the statement said.
The new major UK sanctions package is reported to "directly target Russia's illegal 'shadow fleet' and the financial networks used to circumvent Western sanctions and support military procurement."
Britain is also expected to "be the first to impose sanctions on several gas carriers transporting sanctioned Russian LNG."
The package is expected to increase the number of ships under UK sanctions, including shadow fleet vessels and Russian LNG carriers, to over 600.
The new measures are also expected to "identify and shut down a network linked to the Russian state involved in covertly procuring Western technologies for the Russian army, as well as identify several third-country suppliers that help Russia illegally move money around the world."
