UK Prime Minister advocates for 'maximum pain' on Russia
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated that increasing sanctions on Russia and providing more weapons to Ukraine will strengthen Kiev's position in negotiations. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Keir Starmer has called on his fellow G7 leaders to escalate sanctions against Moscow and increase military assistance to Ukraine.
During a video conference on Friday, the British Prime Minister emphasized the importance of enhancing support for Ukraine, stating that with “Russian President Vladimir Putin showing no sign of relenting, it is vital that we bolster our support to put Ukraine in the best possible position for the future,” according to a readout from his office.
The statement further indicated, “He called on fellow G7 leaders to continue maximizing Putin’s pain by increasing military support to the Ukrainians and ramping up economic pressure, including via further sanctions where possible.”
Just two days earlier, the US and UK revealed a new wave of sanctions on Moscow, which the British government identified as targeting Russia’s “illicit gold trade.” Concurrently, EU ambassadors approved a 15th set of economic penalties aimed at Russia's petroleum sector and Chinese companies allegedly involved in drone production for the Russian military.
Despite repeated sanctions, there has been criticism that such measures have not significantly impacted the Russian economy. According to US President Joe Biden’s predictions from 2022, the sanctions were expected to “crater” the Russian economy. In contrast, the Russian economy reportedly grew by 3.6% this year, whereas Britain’s economy increased by only 1.1%, based on data from the International Monetary Fund.
”We learned a lot after the sanctions started,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov shared with American journalist Tucker Carlson earlier this month. “But what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, you know. They would never kill us, so they are making us stronger.”
In the UK, which has experienced a historic decline in living standards, military aid to Ukraine has totaled £8.34 billion since February 2022, as noted by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, which monitors Western support for Kiev.
Starmer stated last month that the substantial military assistance would help Ukrainians “secure a just and lasting peace on their terms.” However, the Kremlin contends that any future peace agreements will be less favorable for Ukraine than those proposed during the Istanbul peace talks in April 2022.
At that time, Russia was willing to resolve the conflict with Ukraine agreeing to stay out of NATO and granting autonomy to the Donetsk and Lugansk regions. Lavrov informed Carlson that Kiev must now recognize the “realities on the ground,” pointing to the fact that regions such as Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye are now part of the Russian Federation and will not be returned to Ukraine.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
During a video conference on Friday, the British Prime Minister emphasized the importance of enhancing support for Ukraine, stating that with “Russian President Vladimir Putin showing no sign of relenting, it is vital that we bolster our support to put Ukraine in the best possible position for the future,” according to a readout from his office.
The statement further indicated, “He called on fellow G7 leaders to continue maximizing Putin’s pain by increasing military support to the Ukrainians and ramping up economic pressure, including via further sanctions where possible.”
Just two days earlier, the US and UK revealed a new wave of sanctions on Moscow, which the British government identified as targeting Russia’s “illicit gold trade.” Concurrently, EU ambassadors approved a 15th set of economic penalties aimed at Russia's petroleum sector and Chinese companies allegedly involved in drone production for the Russian military.
Despite repeated sanctions, there has been criticism that such measures have not significantly impacted the Russian economy. According to US President Joe Biden’s predictions from 2022, the sanctions were expected to “crater” the Russian economy. In contrast, the Russian economy reportedly grew by 3.6% this year, whereas Britain’s economy increased by only 1.1%, based on data from the International Monetary Fund.
”We learned a lot after the sanctions started,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov shared with American journalist Tucker Carlson earlier this month. “But what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, you know. They would never kill us, so they are making us stronger.”
In the UK, which has experienced a historic decline in living standards, military aid to Ukraine has totaled £8.34 billion since February 2022, as noted by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, which monitors Western support for Kiev.
Starmer stated last month that the substantial military assistance would help Ukrainians “secure a just and lasting peace on their terms.” However, the Kremlin contends that any future peace agreements will be less favorable for Ukraine than those proposed during the Istanbul peace talks in April 2022.
At that time, Russia was willing to resolve the conflict with Ukraine agreeing to stay out of NATO and granting autonomy to the Donetsk and Lugansk regions. Lavrov informed Carlson that Kiev must now recognize the “realities on the ground,” pointing to the fact that regions such as Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye are now part of the Russian Federation and will not be returned to Ukraine.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
