UK hits Putin’s war machine with new sanctions

BrITAIN has unveiled new sanctions against arms suppliers in a bid to stop russia mounting another offensive against Ukraine.

In recent months Vladimir Putin has militarised russia’s economy with startling results, including a reported sevenfold increase in tank production.

Such increases in his country’s military capability could render Ukraine vulnerable to further mass assaults by Kremlin forces.

Speaking exclusively to the Mail, Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said the sanctions would break Putin’s ‘international chain of suppliers’ and punish those who are ‘illicitly funding’ russia’s war machine.

Forty-six new sanctions were unveiled yesterday, targeting manufacturers in states such as Belarus, China, Serbia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan.

The package includes 31 individuals and entities linked to the production of drones, missiles and electronic components.

By including companies operating in these states, the UK has now taken action against more than 30 third-country entities aiding russia. Britain is also targeting organisations which support the Wagner paramilitary network and russia’s so-called ‘shadow fleet’ of commercial shipping vessels.

Lord Cameron said: ‘ No matter the lengths Putin goes to fuel his illegal invasion, we will meet every desperate move with strength, resilience and unity.

‘Together with our allies, we will break his international chain of suppliers, block attempts to evade sanctions and stop those who are illicitly funding the Kremlin’s despicable actions.’

The fresh sanctions come as support for Ukraine among Western allies appears to be flagging. The UK and other states have provided weapons and equipment worth tens of billions of pounds, but after almost two years of fighting it appears Ukraine will be unable to remove the remaining russian forces from its territory.

As a result, pressure is mounting on its government to agree to peace talks.

relations between Ukraine and its allies also appear to be unravelling.

Yesterday it emerged that President Volodymyr Zelensky had called off a high-profile briefing with US lawmakers over a funding row.