UK follows US with sanctions on Moscow stock exchange

Friday, 14 June 2024 - 7:44

UK+follows+US+with+sanctions+on+Moscow+stock+exchange
The UK announced Thursday dozens of new s new sanctions aimed at constraining Russia's war in Ukraine, including targeting Moscow's main stock exchange, a day after Washington announced similar measures.

London said the 50 new curbs - part of "co-ordinated action with G7 partners" as the Western-led bloc's leaders meet in Italy - will hit the Russian financial system and suppliers supporting its military production.

It follows Washington's unveiling of a raft of sanctions on Wednesday, including those on the Moscow exchange and several subsidiaries, which raise the stakes for foreign banks that still deal with Russia.

The major new financial punishment, set to complicate billions of dollars in transactions, prompted the exchange to halt dollar and euro trades on Thursday.

Moscow's foreign ministry has said it will respond to the "aggressive" raft of new US sanctions.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the UK "will always stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine in its fight for freedom".

"Today we are once more ramping up economic pressure through sanctions to bear down on Russia's ability to fund its war machine," he added, as G7 leaders convene for their summit in southern Italy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin "must lose, and cutting off his ability to fund a prolonged conflict is absolutely vital", Sunak said.

Among the new UK sanctions are its first sanctions on vessels in Putin's so-called shadow fleet, used by the Kremlin to circumvent Western curbs on its oil exports.

They also target suppliers of munitions, machine tools, microelectronics, and logistics to Russia's military, Sunak's Downing Street office said.

Those suppliers include entities based in China, Israel, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey, along with ships which transport military goods from North Korea to Russia.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron told reporters in London the government's use of sanctions was no longer restricted to companies and individuals operating in the UK or Europe.

"We are chasing companies across the world... we're going after the money, we're going after the oil, we're stopping the gas, we're stopping the ships. We're doing everything we can to stop the Russian war machine," he said.

Sunak's office noted it was also "working with counterparts to agree a mechanism to bring forward the extraordinary profits stemming from immobilised Russian sovereign assets to the benefit of Ukraine".

The White House has said that steps to aid Ukraine using frozen Russian assets will be announced during the G7 gathering.


SRI LANKA RUGBY NAMES NEW HEAD COACH
Saturday, 24 May 2025 - 17:45

Rodney Gibbs has been named the new head coach of the Sri Lankan rugby team ahead of the upcoming Asian Rugby Championship.Gibbs, a veteran coach and former... Read More

PRESIDENT ANURA KUMARA DISSANAYAKE EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES ON MALINI FONSEKA'S PASSING
Saturday, 24 May 2025 - 19:18

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has shared a message of condolences on his official Facebook page following the passing of veteran actress Malini Fonseka.In... Read More

7 HOSPITALISED IN BUS COLLISSION
Saturday, 24 May 2025 - 17:48

seven people were injured in a collision on the Wellawaya - Thanamalwila main road, near the Elephant Pass area.The incident occurred when a tipper truck... Read More