At the G7 summit in France, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced new sanctions targeting Russia's "shadow fleet" of oil tankers and a £210 million deal to support Ukraine's nuclear energy infrastructure. The measures aim to disrupt Putin's war funding. The announcement comes as Starmer faces domestic pressure over defense spending and as reports link a Russian sabotage campaign to arson attacks targeting him in 2025.
G7 summit Ukraine support package
- ▪UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a new support package for Ukraine at the G7 summit in Evian, France
- ▪The support package aims to disrupt Vladimir Putin’s war efforts and secure Ukraine's energy supply through the coming winters
Russia shadow fleet sanctions
- ▪The sanctions will also target a Russian state-linked network procuring western technology and suppliers helping Russia move money illegally
- ▪British armed forces recently intercepted a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker, the Smyrtos, in the English Channel
- ▪Russia's "ghost fleet" is estimated to consist of 700 vessels, carries 75% of its sanctioned oil, and poses environmental risks
- ▪The UK also announced a new sanctions package targeting Russia's illicit "shadow fleet" and financial networks
- ▪The new sanctions will expand the number of targeted vessels to over 600, including those moving Russian Liquid Natural Gas (LNG)
UK domestic political pressures
- ▪A series of arson attacks in May 2025 targeting property connected to Prime Minister Keir Starmer have been linked to a Russian sabotage campaign
- ▪Two men, Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc, were found guilty of conspiring to carry out the arson attacks after being recruited via Telegram
- ▪Keir Starmer is facing domestic pressure over defense spending following the recent resignation of Defence Secretary John Healey
Trump bilateral meeting schedule
- ▪Donald Trump is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of France, Egypt, India, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates
- ▪UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is not expected to have a bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump at the G7 summit
Anti-G7 protests Geneva
- ▪Thousands of anti-G7 protesters, including environmentalists and feminists, clashed with police in Geneva, near the summit location
- ▪During the protests in Geneva, a car was set on fire and the windows of a bank were smashed
Ukraine nuclear energy deal
- ▪Energoatom provides over 50% of Ukraine's electricity, and the deal is expected to support over 4,500 UK jobs
- ▪The agreement was arranged between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a recent meeting at Downing Street
- ▪The UK will provide a £210 million export finance deal to support Ukraine's nuclear energy infrastructure for two years
- ▪The deal enables UK-based supplier Urenco to provide enriched uranium to Energoatom, Ukraine's state nuclear power producer
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