The United Kingdom is set to introduce a fresh round of sanctions against Russia on Tuesday, as part of a coordinated effort with its allies to curb what Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called “Putin’s war machine.”
According to Downing Street, the proposed sanctions—currently being finalized at the G7 summit in Alberta, Canada—are aimed at tightening economic restrictions on Russia’s military-industrial complex and cutting its energy revenues. Sir Keir emphasized that the move is intended to send a clear message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that “it is in his and Russia’s interests to demonstrate he is serious about peace.”
Despite the show of unity, cracks have emerged within the G7 over the scope and direction of the sanctions. Former U.S. President Donald Trump, attending the summit, expressed skepticism over the new measures, saying: “Sanctions are not that easy. It’s not just a one-way street. You’re talking about billions and billions of dollars.” He added that he preferred to wait and see if a peace deal could be reached between Russia and Ukraine before committing to further punitive steps.
Trump also reiterated his criticism of Russia’s removal from the G8 in 2014, calling it a “mistake” that has complicated diplomatic efforts.
Downing Street has yet to release the full details of the sanctions package. A spokesperson said it would be “premature” to comment while the summit’s discussions are ongoing.
The sanctions announcement comes as Ukraine suffers continued attacks from Russian forces. Ukrainian officials reported that 14 people were killed in Kyiv overnight following a wave of drone and missile strikes.
The UK and its G7 partners have imposed successive sanctions on Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but internal disagreements persist as the conflict continues with no clear resolution in sight.
Nzubechukwu Eze
