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Epoch Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
London and EU Announce Fresh Sanctions on Moscow
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. Related Stories 5/19/2025 5/16/2025 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.' The measures were announced without corresponding steps from Washington, despite intense public lobbying from leaders of European countries for the Trump administration to join them. The leaders of Britain, France, Germany, and Poland jointly traveled to Kyiv earlier this month and said they had prepared new penalties against the regime in Moscow. Europe's leaders then phoned Trump the night before his call with his Russian counterpart to urge Washington to join them in enforcing the harsher measures. The first direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv in three years were held at the end of last week, but a cease-fire agreement has not been reached. Ukraine has said it is ready for the immediate cease-fire Trump has proposed, while Russia has said it wishes to conduct talks before halting hostilities. British Foreign Secretary 'We urge him to agree a full, unconditional ceasefire right away so there can be talks on a just and lasting peace,' Lammy said. 'We have been clear that delaying peace efforts will only redouble our resolve to help Ukraine to defend itself and use our sanctions to restrict Putin's war machine.' German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Putin is 'playing for time.' 'Unfortunately, we have to say Putin is not really interested in peace,' Pistorius said. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called for 'sanctions that are truly dissuasive.' 'Let us push Vladimir Putin to put an end to his imperialist fantasy,' he said. Kallas stressed that action was still needed from Washington. 'We all agreed and said ... that if they don't agree to unconditional ceasefire, like Ukraine has agreed over 60 days ago, there will be strong action,' she said. 'And that is what we want to see from all the parties who have said that they will act in accordance.' Responding to the new sanctions, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a press briefing, 'Everybody over there should remember ... that Russia never responds to any ultimatums.' Trump Referring to his call with the Russian leader, Trump wrote in a May 19 In the post, Trump indicated that he had also spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European leaders immediately after he wrapped up his call with Putin. Trump said he informed Zelenskyy and the other European leaders that negotiations would begin immediately. In a press statement carried by Russia's state-run TASS news agency following his call with Trump, Putin said, 'Russia is ready and will continue to work with the Ukrainian side on a memorandum on a potential future peace treaty outlining a number of positions, such as settlement principles, the timeframe for signing a potential peace agreement, and so on, including a potential ceasefire for a certain period in case relevant agreements are reached.' In a May 19 'Ukraine has always been ready for peace,' Zelenskyy said. Reuters contributed to this report.
Mint
20-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
From weapons and oil to financial institutions: UK hits Russia with 100 sanctions as Trump-Putin call yields no progress
The United Kingdom has announced a sweeping package of 100 new sanctions against Russia, just a day after a high-stakes phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to produce a breakthrough on a ceasefire in Ukraine. With Moscow showing no signs of de-escalation, Britain and its European allies are ramping up economic pressure in a bid to curtail Russia The latest measures include restrictions on the supply chain of Russia's military, particularly weapons systems such as the Iskander missile, which the UK says has been used indiscriminately against civilian areas in Ukraine. The UK has also sanctioned 14 additional members of the Kremlin-linked Social Design Agency (SDA), a key player in Russian disinformation campaigns. Senior SDA figures had previously been targeted in an earlier sanctions round. In a move to further cripple Russia's economic resilience, 46 financial institutions accused of helping Moscow evade previous sanctions have been added to the blacklist. The St Petersburg Currency Exchange and the Russian Deposit Insurance Agency are among those now subject to restrictions. The UK also turned its attention to the so-called 'shadow fleet' — tankers used to bypass the G7-imposed $60 per barrel oil price cap. Eighteen more ships used to transport Russian oil covertly have been sanctioned in an effort to choke off one of the Kremlin's key revenue streams. With Washington yet to act, European leaders pressed ahead. 'We have repeatedly made it clear that we expect one thing from Russia — an immediate ceasefire without preconditions,' said German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in Brussels. As Russia rejected that demand, Wadephul warned: 'We will have to react. We also expect our U.S. allies not to tolerate this.' European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed a further sanctions package is in the works. 'It's time to intensify the pressure on Russia to bring about the ceasefire,' she posted on X. The lack of immediate US sanctions following the Trump-Putin call has irritated European allies. France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot declared: 'Let us push Vladimir Putin to put an end to his imperialist fantasy.' Trump, who has repeatedly promised to end the war in 24 hours if reelected, portrayed his two-hour call with Putin as progress, saying Russia and Ukraine are ready to negotiate. But officials in Kyiv and Brussels disagree. This new sanctions package is part of a broader effort by the UK and its allies to increase the cost of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, now in its third year. The move comes as European nations push for stronger international unity on the issue, amid frustration over the limited response so far from the United States. 'We urge [Putin] to agree a full, unconditional ceasefire right away so there can be talks on a just and lasting peace,' Britain's Foreign Minister David Lammy said, while calling the Russian leader a 'warmonger.' Russia, for its part, rejected the new wave of pressure. 'Russia will never bow to ultimatums,' Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, reiterating that Moscow is willing to continue talks based on its own terms. Russia has stated that the 'ball is in Kyiv's court,' but Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders remain wary, accusing Moscow of using diplomacy to delay while continuing its attacks.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UK extends sanctions against Russia in response to latest large-scale drone attack on Ukraine
The UK government has announced the extension of sanctions against Russia in response to the large-scale Russian UAV attack on Ukraine on the night of 17-18 May. Source: European Pravda; a statement by the UK government Details: The sanctions will affect 100 facilities in Russia's defence, energy and financial sectors, as well as those waging an information war against Ukraine. The measures target supply chains for Russian weapons systems, including Iskander ballistic missiles. The sanctions also target 14 other members of the Social Design Agency (SDA), which conducts Kremlin-funded information operations designed to undermine sovereignty, democracy and the rule of law in Ukraine and around the world. In addition, these measures will disrupt Putin's efforts to avoid sanctions and help block his failed attempts to re-establish ties with the international economy. The restrictions include 46 financial institutions that help Russia evade sanctions, as well as the St Petersburg Currency Exchange and the Russian Deposit Insurance Agency, which insures Russian banks. The sanctions will also apply to 18 shadow fleet vessels transporting Russian oil and to those who facilitate the activities of this fleet. In addition, sanctions were imposed against a British citizen, John Michael Ormerod, who purchased ships for Russia's shadow fleet, and two Russian tanker captains of the shadow fleet. "Putin's latest strikes once again show his true colours as a warmonger. We urge him to agree a full, unconditional ceasefire right away so there can be talks on a just and lasting peace," said David Lammy, UK Foreign Secretary. The UK is also working with partners on a proposal to lower the price ceiling on Russian oil. Background: On the night of 17-18 May, Russia attacked Ukraine with 273 attack drones; 88 of them were shot down, while another 128 disappeared from radar. On 20 May, the EU also approved a new package of sanctions against Russia, the 17th in a row since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The 18th package of sanctions against Russia, which the EU is already working on, may include restrictions on banks outside the European Union that support the Russian defence industry and armed forces, in addition to Russian banks. On 16 May, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the new package of EU sanctions against Russia, which is being prepared to increase pressure on Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, may include sanctions against Russian financial institutions. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UK unveils new Russia sanctions, accuses Moscow of delaying peace efforts
The British government announced 100 new sanctions against Russia on May 20, pledging to ramp up pressure as Moscow continues to reject a ceasefire in Ukraine. The new measures, announced in coordination with the EU's 17th sanctions package, target "entities supporting Russia's military machine, energy exports and information war, as well as financial institutions" supporting the Russian war effort. Even as London and Brussels unveil new economic measures, U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington does not plan to impose additional sanctions to avoid disrupting peace efforts. The U.K. stressed that the sanctions follow the largest Russian drone strike against Ukraine, involving 273 drones launched against the country overnight on May 18. The restrictions aim to disrupt Russia's supply of weaponry, namely Iskander missiles, which are often used in strikes against civilians. The sanctions further target 14 more members of the Kremlin-funded Social Design Agency (SDA), a sanctioned Russian company accused of information operations aimed at undermining democracy and the rule of law in Ukraine and abroad. The package also includes 18 shadow fleet vessels, 46 financial institutions helping Russia evade sanctions, and measures to prevent Russia from reconnecting to the global economy. The U.K. further said it is reviewing the possibility of further lowering the $60-per-barrel price cap imposed on Russian crude oil. "(Russian President Vladimir) Putin's latest strikes once again show his true colours as a warmonger," U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said in a statement. "We have been clear that delaying peace efforts will only redouble our resolve to help Ukraine to defend itself and use our sanctions to restrict Putin's war machine." European leaders have threatened Russia with additional sanctions unless Putin commits to a ceasefire and agrees to seriously engage in peace efforts. President Volodymyr Zelensky also announced that a new "strong EU sanctions package" is underway. While European leaders have proclaimed that the new sanctions are coordinated with Washington, Trump denied plans for new U.S. restrictions on the Russian economy after a phone call with Putin on May 19. Read also: EU approves 17th package of Russia sanctions, targets shadow fleet We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Evening Standard
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Evening Standard
Government targets ‘warmonger' Putin with 100 new sanctions
The sanctions also target 14 more members of the Social Design Agency (SDA), which carries out Kremlin-funded information operations that are designed to undermine sovereignty, democracy, and the rule of law in Ukraine and across the world.
