ritain has imposed export bans on every item Russia has used on the battlefield in a fresh round of sanctions to mark the one-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine.
The Foreign Office said on Friday the internationally coordinated sanctions and trade measures would target aircraft parts, radio equipment and electronic components used in the Russian war effort.
The sanctions also target more Russian executives including those at the nuclear power plant Rosatom and others who work at defence groups and Russian banks.
« Military intelligence has shown that a shortage of components in Russia as a result of sanctions is already likely affecting their ability to produce equipment for export, such as armoured vehicles, attack helicopters and air defence systems, » it said.
It comes as Foreign Secretary James Cleverly warned Putin could threaten to use nuclear weapons as his campaign in Ukraine falters.
“We have committed to ensure that Putin fails in his attempt to invade Ukraine and as that realisation of his failure dawns on him, he will use every trick in the book, » he told Times Radio.
“He will use cyber, he will use disinformation, he will try and call in any and every favour in the international community that he can.
“He will threaten escalation and he will probably threaten nuclear use. What we have to say to the Russian people is that there is not and has never been a threat to Russia itself.
“This is a purely defensive posture. No one else is talking about this kind of escalation and there is no threat to Russia itself.”
Rishi Sunak and wife Akshata Murthy observe a minute’s silence to mark the one year anniversary
/ REUTERSThe UK has also announced it is prepared to supply fighter jets to eastern European allies to enable them to release their Soviet-era planes to Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Western allies to provide it with modern fighter jets ahead of an expected Russian offensive in the spring.
However, Britain and other allies have been reluctant to do so, citing concerns about the length of time it would take to train soldiers to use the planes.
On Friday, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said a possible compromise could be found by supplying fighter jets to eastern European allies to enable them to release their Soviet-era planes to Ukraine.
He said this would be quicker than allowing Ukraine to directly use British Typhoon jets.
