UK to Intensify Sanctions Against Russia Amid Ongoing Ukraine Conflict

On Monday, London will introduce a significant new set of sanctions against Russia coinciding with the three-year anniversary of the conflict in Ukraine, as announced by U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Sunday.

«This is also the moment to intensify pressure on [Vladimir] Putin’s Russia,» Lammy stated.

«Tomorrow, I intend to unveil the largest sanctions package against Russia since the war began, aimed at dismantling their military capabilities and diminishing the financial resources that sustain the destruction in Ukraine,» he added.

The U.K. decision to enhance sanctions comes at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump has recently attempted to marginalize Kyiv and its European allies from negotiations regarding the conflict’s future.

«This moment is pivotal for Ukraine, Britain, and all of Europe… It is crucial for Europe to reaffirm its commitment to supporting Ukraine,» Lammy remarked.

As of January 2025, the U.K. has already imposed sanctions on 1,900 individuals and entities connected to Putin’s regime since the war’s inception.

These sanctions have targeted Russia’s financial, aviation, military, and energy sectors through measures such as freezing bank assets, instituting travel bans, and enforcing trade restrictions.

Last week, EU member states approved a new wave of sanctions that includes a ban on Russian aluminum imports, which will be officially enacted on Monday.

In his statement, Lammy reiterated the U.K.’s military support, which includes a commitment to provide £3 billion ($3.78 billion) annually to Kyiv and a readiness to send U.K. troops as part of peacekeeping forces if required.

«Beyond the battlefield, we will collaborate with the U.S. and European allies to foster a sustainable and equitable peace, ensuring that any developments involving Ukraine occur with Ukraine’s involvement,» Lammy stated.

On Saturday, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer engaged in separate discussions with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, echoing Lammy’s sentiments.

Starmer plans to travel to Washington on Thursday to meet with Trump, aiming to serve as a «bridge» between the U.S. and Europe to secure territorial and security assurances for Kyiv if a peace agreement is reached.

This task appears increasingly difficult following a recent public exchange between Zelensky and Trump, in which Trump labeled the Ukrainian leader a «dictator» and boasted of «good discussions» with Russia.

Trump also accused Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron of failing to take action to resolve the conflict during a Fox News interview on Friday.

European nations are concerned that if Ukraine is pressured into an unfavorable agreement by the U.S., it could allow Putin to claim victory, leaving the continent vulnerable to an empowered Moscow.