The UK has announced a new aid package for Ukraine, as the world marks the grim milestone of the war’s fourth anniversary.

The UK Foreign Office said in a statement, “Today the UK has also announced over £30 million [$41m] to strengthen Ukrainian resilience after a brutal winter of Russian strikes plunging civilians into  freezing  darkness.”

According to the statement, over £25 million [$34m] will deliver repairs to damaged energy infrastructure, and support the men, women and children “whose lives continue to be uprooted by Russia’s aggression.”

It added that a further £5 million [$7m] is helping to drive justice and accountability for victims of alleged Russian war crimes.

“Every missile and drone that strikes Ukraine only strengthens our resolve. Putin thinks that he can outlast the UK and our allies, he is sorely mistaken.”
UK Foreign Office

An earlier statement from the UK Foreign Office announced £20 million of new funding for emergency energy support to protect and repair the energy grid and provide additional generation capacity – fixing the damage caused by Russia’s brutal attacks over this winter and future proofing Ukraine’s energy systems for next Winter.

This, according to the statement, brings the UK’s total support for Ukrainian energy  since the start of the war to over £490 million.

It added £5.7 million to provide humanitarian assistance to frontline communities, those who need evacuation or have been impacted by airstrikes or internal displacement.

In the statement, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, “On this grim anniversary, our message to the Ukrainian people is simple: Britain is with you, stronger than ever.”

“That is why we are announcing new support today and we will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes. For all the noise in world affairs today, this war remains the most critical issue of our age. It asks the question of whether Ukrainian and European freedom will endure. Our answer, together, is unequivocal. “
Keir Starmer

Starmer asserted that Russia is not winning this war. “They will not win this war,” he added.

“Ukraine’s courage continues to hold the line for our shared values, in the face of Putin’s aggression.We will stand by their side, until a just and lasting peace – and beyond. Slava Ukraini.”
Keir Starmer

UK Announces Landmark Sanctions Package Against Russia

Moreover, the UK  announced biggest sanctions package against Russia as it cracks down on critical Russian energy revenues, including oil exports, and key suppliers of military equipment fuelling  war efforts. 

The action  targets  one of  the world’s largest oil pipeline companies, PJSC Transneft, responsible for transporting over 80% of Russian oil exports, further hampering the Kremlin’s desperate scramble to find buyers for its sanctioned oil. 

New measures also hit Russia’s dark web of illicit oil traders, sanctioning 175 companies in the ‘2Rivers’ oil network, one of the largest shadow fleet operators globally and a major trader of Russian crude oil.

“Deterring, disrupting and degrading the Russian shadow fleet remains a priority for this government, and this latest swathe of sanctions includes 48 oil tankers transporting oil as part of the Kremlin’s desperate attempt to soften the blow of crushing sanctions. To the Kremlin and those seeking to profit from this illicit trade, the message is clear – Russian oil is off the market.”
UK Foreign Office

According to the statement, the UK has now sanctioned over 3,000 individuals, businesses  and ships under its Russia regime.

The sanction also clamps down on 49 entities and individuals involved in sustaining Russia’s war machine, including international suppliers that are providing the vital goods, components and technology in Russian drones and other weapons terrorising innocent Ukrainian civilians. 3 civil nuclear energy companies and 2 individuals involved in trying to secure contracts for new Russian nuclear installations overseas, opening up additional energy revenue streams to make up for plummeting oil revenues.

6 targets in Russia’s beleaguered Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) industry including ships, traders and Russia’s Portovaya and Vysotsk terminals responsible for exporting Russian LNG. 9 Russian banks which process cross-border payments vital to Russia’s attempts to cling on to access to international markets and help finance the Kremlin’s war effort.

It added that UK sanctions are ramping up the pressure on Putin’s economy and war machine. “Putin’s war economy is faltering, and its revenues are in freefall,” he said.