Burnham unveils ‘stinging’ sanctions on Russia at major European summit


The UK is sanctioning all 10 of Russia’s major oil producers, Andy Burnham will announce as he attends a gathering of European leaders in Ireland.
The Prime Minister will use the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Dublin to urge leaders from some 50 nations to ramp up pressure on Vladimir Putin to take peace talks seriously.
Mr Burnham said Britain has slapped a package of new sanctions on Moscow, including on shadow fleet vessels illicitly transporting Russian oil, Russian oil company Slavneft, and Rosneft’s flagship Arctic oil and gas project LLC Vostok Oil.
At the EPC, the Prime Minister will co-chair a small group meeting on Ukraine on Thursday afternoon, alongside the country’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Leaders will discuss how to build on the recent US-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi on ending the war triggered by Russia’s 2022 invasion.
Representatives from the US, Russia and Ukraine participated in the two days of negotiations, with Mr Zelensky stressing he wanted to see Europe involved.
Mr Burnham will tell leaders the UK welcomes progress in talks, but that the world must not be complacent.
He will argue that Europe should play a full part in negotiations, while putting pressure on Russia to take them seriously and ensure they boost European security.

Mr Burnham will also use the EPC summit to “drive forward the UK’s ambition for a new relationship with the European Union”, Downing Street said.
He said: “Peace talks on Ukraine have progressed but now is not the time for complacency – we must continue to ramp up pressure on Russia to agree a full and immediate ceasefire.
“That is why the UK has announced a sweep of stinging new sanctions to turn the screws on Russia’s oil revenues and drive forward an end to the Kremlin’s needless war.
“We all now need to harness the momentum on negotiations and find a way forward for our security at home, and the security of our continent.”
The Labour leader arrived in Dublin on Thursday afternoon after flying in from Turkey, where he attended the UN Cop31 climate conference.
He has recently reopened the debate about Britain’s future relationship with the bloc and is preparing for a UK-EU summit in Brussels next Friday.
At the Dublin gathering, the Prime Minister is also expected to co-chair a defence and security roundtable with Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen, in which leaders will discuss rising hybrid threats.
