Ed Miliband announces new sanctions on Russia during visit to Ukraine

The crackdown was announced as Mr Miliband and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the site of a Russian missile strike on a five-storey residential building in Pryluky in the Chernihiv region, which killed 22 civilians.There are 38 new designations, including two Russian oil companies, Zarubezhneft and INK Capital.Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, centre right, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, centre left, visited the site of a Russian missile strike in Pryluky (Stefan Rousseau/PA)PA WireUK sanctions now cover more than 90% of Russia’s total oil production capacity.Britain is also sanctioning a further 12 oil tankers operating as part of Russia’s shadow fleet, bringing the total number of sanctioned vessels to more than 600.The Government has also announced sanctions on three cyrpto exchanges and two payment platforms, including three linked to Kyrgyzstan and one linked individual. These entities are suspected of being used by Russia to circumvent financial sanctions.Finally, the package includes 17 entities and individuals involved in the supply of goods deemed by the UK, US and EU to be vital for Russia’s continued war effort, including Russia-based importers of machine tools, electronics and materials critical to the production of Russia’s ballistic missile and drone capabilities.Mr Miliband meet local residents during his visit to Pryluky (Stefan Rousseau/PA)PA WireSpeaking alongside Mr Zelensky in Pryluky, Mr Miliband said: “I’m here to say we are not just going to say words of support, we are going to offer deeds of support as well.“So today, we are announcing more sanctions on Russia, on the war machine of Putin, on the shadow fleet, on the oil companies, on the crypto, on the financing of the war.“We are here to announce more humanitarian support, we are here to announce more support for energy.“And I believe I speak on behalf of the British people that we stand with you, Mr President. We stand with you as we have stood with you since 2022 and indeed since 2014. We stand with you in this conflict.“We are your brothers and your sisters in this conflict. And we are going to be with you as long as it takes.”Read MoreThe Foreign Secretary also condemned the “appalling atrocity” of the killing of civilians, and branded Russian President Vladimir Putin’s strategy “evil”.Mr Miliband, third left, also condemned the ‘appalling atrocity’ of the killing of civilians (Stefan Rousseau/PA)PA WireHe said: “When we come to the site of this appalling atrocity, the killing of civilians, 22 civilians, five children, babies, there can be no clearer sign of Putin’s evil intent and evil strategy in this conflict.“Because I heard from the governor that the vast, vast majority of people killed in this region, affected in this region, are civilians, the buildings targeted are civilian.“And we know what international law says about this, that when you target civilians, it is war crimes, and that is the evidence that I see here.“Now, Putin once said that he was going to win on the battlefield. He’s trying to win by terrorising civilians.“I do not believe he will succeed, I do not believe he will win because the courage of your people and because I am here to say on behalf of the Government of the United Kingdom: we will be with you as long as it takes for you to prevail in this conflict.”Elsewhere, the UK’s first dedicated business centre for industry in Ukraine has now opened, offering British companies a permanent presence in Kyiv to deepen ties between the two nations.The Kyiv Business Centre (KBC) will give UK firms, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), a base from which to build relationships with Ukrainian partners, access battlefield insight and pursue co-development, co-production and investment opportunities.Defence minister Luke Pollard said: “Britain has stood firmly with Ukraine since the first days of Russia’s illegal invasion, and with the Kyiv Business Centre now open, we are helping to unlock new opportunities for investment, growth and long-term recovery.“By supporting UK companies in Kyiv, we are deepening the 100-Year Partnership and turning our shared resolve into shared innovation.”National Armaments Director Rupert Pearce said: “This new facility is not just a centre; it’s a permanent gateway transforming the UK’s ability to collaborate meaningfully with our Ukrainian partners now, and for the long-term.“Until now, the costs, security considerations and other restrictions created by Russia’s full-scale invasion have made it difficult for firms, especially smaller firms, to work in Ukraine.“Our previous trade missions successfully addressed some of those challenges – this centre breaks down those barriers, giving UK firms a permanent centre in Kyiv embedding real opportunities for innovation, investment and export.”