The UK Russia sanctions push gained fresh momentum at the G7 summit as Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled a new round of energy measures aimed squarely at Moscow’s war machine. Meeting partners in Evian-les-Bains, France, Starmer paired the sanctions with a major deal to keep Ukraine’s nuclear plants supplied for the next two years, signaling Britain’s intent to tighten the financial screws on Russia while bolstering Kyiv’s energy resilience.

Targeting the Shadow Fleet

At the heart of the new package is an effort to crack down on Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, the network of vessels used to skirt existing sanctions and keep oil revenues flowing. The timing is notable, coming just after British forces carried out their first interception of a banned oil tanker over the weekend.

The measures are designed to hit Russia on several fronts at once:

• Targeting the illicit shadow fleet that moves sanctioned cargo
• Disrupting the finance networks used to circumvent sanctions and arm the Russian military
• Imposing an embargo on a number of vessels transporting sanctioned Russian liquefied natural gas

Together, the steps reflect a strategy aimed at cutting off the streams of money that sustain the Kremlin’s offensive.

Powering Ukraine Through the Winters Ahead

Alongside the punitive measures, Starmer highlighted a constructive one. Using £210 million in UK Export Finance, Britain will support the UK-based company Urenco in supplying enriched uranium to Energoatom, Ukraine’s nuclear power producer.

The agreement was struck between Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during their recent meeting, and it carries clear significance for a country whose energy infrastructure has been relentlessly targeted throughout the war. By securing fuel for Ukraine’s nuclear plants, the deal aims to help keep the lights on through the punishing winters to come.

Starmer framed the dual approach in stark terms, warning that Russia’s aggression threatens not only Ukraine but the security of all of Europe. He said Britain was stepping up by choking off the revenues fueling Putin’s war while powering Ukraine through the difficult months ahead.

A Summit Focused on Peace and Security

The announcements landed as the G7 opened with its first session devoted to building peace and security for Ukraine and Europe. Starmer is expected to address that session directly.

According to officials, he plans to urge fellow leaders to go further collectively, telling them the G7 should do more to ensure Ukraine secures the just and lasting peace it deserves. The message underscores Britain’s effort to keep allied resolve firm at a moment when the war’s trajectory, and the prospects for any negotiated end, remain deeply uncertain.

What It Signals

Taken together, Starmer’s moves at Evian represent a two-pronged strategy: squeezing Russia’s ability to finance and arm its military while shoring up Ukraine’s capacity to endure. As the G7 leaders continue their discussions, the pressure is on to translate such individual commitments into a broader, unified push.

This is a developing story, and the days ahead at the summit will reveal how far the G7 is willing to go in backing Ukraine and confronting Moscow.