Relations between the UK and Russia have been tense in recent years. With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, relations between Moscow and London have become increasingly hostile. The two countries have imposed several sanctions on each other in recent years. The UK has recently announced a new wave of sanctions against a fleet of Russian oil tankers and two arms of an energy company and commodities trader. This article examines recent UK-Russia tensions.
The tension between the UK and Russia in recent years
Relations between London and Moscow have soured since 2018 following the poisoning of Russian double agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, England. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s war has strained fragile relations between Moscow and London. The war in Ukraine has added to the scope of recent UK-Russia tensions. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the UK has become an active player in this conflict. Britain has fueled tensions and conflicts by adopting anti-Russian positions, sending weapons and military equipment to Ukraine, and imposing sanctions on Russia. The UK has already sanctioned hundreds of Russian citizens and government organizations. Russia has also taken reciprocal measures against British interests in recent years.
Starmer’s attempt to put more economic pressure on Russia
The British Prime Minister pledged to ” add further pressure to Putin’s stalling war economy.” Starmer has imposed new sanctions on Russia. The sanctions are against 20 Russian oil tankers, 2Rivers DMCC, and 2Rivers PTE LTD. 2Rivers is a company that is involved in the transportation and trading of oil and other goods. The mention of DMCC and PTE LTD in the sanctions framework indicates that these entities are linked to activities related to the transport or trade of Russian oil, which has been the focus of international sanctions due to geopolitical tensions, particularly in the wake of Russia’s actions. The sanctions against 2Rivers company aim to disrupt the supply chains that support Russian oil exports. Maintaining these chains is vital for the Russian economy.
The UK’s most extensive sanctions package against Russia
Recent UK-Russia tensions are getting darker daily, with the Starmer government imposing the most extensive sanctions package against Moscow. Continuing its stance against Russia, the UK government has sanctioned dozens of ships belonging to Moscow’s “shadow fleet.” The UK Foreign Office issued a statement, a copy of which appeared on the government’s website on 25 November 2024, and wrote: “Thirty ships in Russia’s shadow fleet, responsible for transporting billions of pounds worth of oil and oil products in the last year alone, have today been sanctioned by the UK.” The statement noted that half of these ships transported more than $4.3 billion oil and oil products in the last year alone. Therefore, the sanctions imposed are the most extensive punitive package against Russia.
UK government seeks to cut Russian oil revenues.
According to the British Foreign Office, 73 tankers belonging to the Russian shadow fleet have been sanctioned so far. 46 countries, including the EU, have joined the UK’s sanctions regime against the Russian shadow fleet. According to the British Foreign Office, “the move will further constrain the Kremlin’s ability to fund their illegal war in Ukraine and their malign activity worldwide.” In the same link, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy claimed that Russian oil revenues are fueling the war and destruction in Ukraine.
Britain sanctions over 100 energy ships.
Recent UK-Russia tensions have been rising due to the imposition of reciprocal sanctions. London has said that more than 100 ships have been sanctioned for transporting Russian energy in general. Other countries have now agreed to challenge the ships in the Baltic. Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Finland, and Estonia have agreed to work alongside Britain to counter the ships.
UK aid boost for Ukraine
The British prime minister said Ukraine needed more funding and capacity as the conflict continued. Keir Starmer’s office announced £35 million in emergency aid to help Ukraine. £20 million is an increase of £35 million in cash for emergency energy needs, such as repairing infrastructure and generating electricity. A further £15 million is for humanitarian aid to Ukraine as temperatures plummet in the winter. “As Putin’s oil revenues continue to fuel the fires of his illegal war, Ukrainian families are enduring cold, dark nights, often without heating, light or electricity, targeted by Russia’s relentless missile attacks,” Starmer said. “But these systematic attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure will not grind Ukraine down. It will only deepen our resolve and support.”
Expulsion of British diplomats from Russia
Russia has repeatedly taken steps in response to British actions against its interests. In one recent move, the media reported the expulsion of six British diplomats from Russia. Moscow’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced that six British diplomats in Russia have been accused of spying, and their diplomatic credentials have been revoked. Russian state television quoted a Kremlin security agency official saying that Russia will expel them. The Kremlin’s security agency claimed to have received documents showing that a section of the British Foreign Office sent the individuals to Russia. Their main task was to inflict a strategic defeat on the Russian state. They were also involved in intelligence gathering and subversive activities.
Possible severance of Russia-UK relations
A Russian official said regarding the espionage activities of British diplomats in Russia and the possibility of severing diplomatic relations between the two countries: “A complete severance of diplomatic relations is an extreme measure. And all the pros and cons are to be weighed.” In an interview with the Solovyov Live state TV, Dmitry Polyansky said that British foreign policy has become Russophobic since the country left the European Union. British foreign policy towards Russia has been terrible for several years. The Russian diplomat believes that there are “many stages” of reducing diplomatic relations to show resentment over the other side’s actions. But, many non-political issues, such as consular ones, necessitate the presence of Russia’s embassy in the UK.
Recent UK-Russia tensions: risky but controlled
British-Russian relations have been tense in recent years. Recent UK-Russia tensions have led some to talk about the possibility of severing ties between the two countries shortly. Some experts in the field of foreign affairs assess the state of relations between the two countries as warlike. However, officials from both countries have tried to maintain diplomatic ties despite the tense relations. Russia and the UK are not seeking confrontation. They pursue their policies through sanctions but do not want to end bilateral relations. Starmer has also repeatedly stated that we are not at war with Russia. Russia has also said that despite tensions with the UK, maintaining relations is preferable to cutting ties.
