Media Talk Africa: Latest Headlines in Politics, Business, Sports, and More

In a significant escalation of economic pressure, the British government has unveiled its largest-ever sanctions package against Russia, aiming to disrupt the country’s oil transportation network and reduce its energy revenues. The new measures, announced to coincide with Russia’s 80th anniversary of defeating Nazi Germany, target up to 100 oil tankers that the West claims are part of a Russian “shadow fleet.” These older vessels operate outside Western insurance systems and have carried over $24 billion worth of cargo since the start of 2024, according to London.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the need for increased pressure on Russia, stating, “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.” This move is the latest in a series of sanctions imposed by the UK, which has already introduced over 2,000 restrictions against Russian individuals and entities since the Ukraine conflict escalated three years ago.

The EU and the US have also targeted Russian shipping, with a 17th European sanctions package expected to be approved later this month, blacklisting an additional 150 ships. However, Moscow has downplayed the impact of these restrictions, dismissing them as a “futile” gesture that will not harm the Russian economy. Instead, Russia argues that the sanctions will drive up energy costs and inflation across Europe. Despite this, Russia’s oil revenues have remained robust, thanks in part to non-Western buyers such as China and India.

The Russian Embassy in London has urged the British government to stop “theatrical and short-lived gestures of hostility towards Russia,” while the UK has accused the vessels of posing a threat to critical undersea infrastructure, including telecommunications cables and oil and gas pipelines. Moscow has dismissed these claims as “hastily concocted fantasy stories.”

The UK’s tough sanctions rhetoric comes as Britain, along with the EU, is being sidelined from the peace process around Ukraine. A key London meeting on the conflict was downgraded last month after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio canceled his attendance. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has floated the idea of a possible partial lifting of restrictions on Moscow as part of a possible peace settlement. As the situation continues to unfold, the international community remains watchful of the escalating tensions between Russia and the West.