In a bold move timed to coincide with Russia’s annual Victory Day celebrations, the British government has announced what it claims is its “largest-ever” package of sanctions against Moscow. The sweeping measures, revealed in a formal statement from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office, target the heart of Russia’s oil transportation network and attempt to slash energy revenues that continue to fund its operations in Ukraine and beyond.

The centerpiece of the package is the blacklisting of up to 100 oil tankers alleged to belong to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” – a network of older vessels that Western officials claim operates beyond the traditional maritime insurance systems dominated by Europe and the United States. According to London, these tankers have transported more than $24 billion worth of oil since the start of 2024 alone.

“The threat Russia poses to our national security cannot be underestimated. To ramp up the pressure on Putin, I’m announcing the largest package of sanctions yet,” Starmer wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

The announcement comes amid a broader geopolitical context in which Britain and its European allies are increasingly sidelined from negotiations over Ukraine’s future. US President Donald Trump has floated the possibility of partially lifting some sanctions against Moscow as part of a peace deal, and a recent high-profile Ukraine summit in London lost much of its significance after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio canceled his attendance.

Meanwhile, the EU is preparing its own 17th sanctions package against Russia, expected to target an additional 150 ships and further crack down on oil trading mechanisms. Yet, the effectiveness of these repeated waves of........

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