Keir Starmer is wasting no time. Just days into his first G7 summit as Prime Minister, he’s standing shoulder to shoulder with President Volodymyr Zelensky, and making it clear that Britain won’t sit on its hands while Russia continues its assault on Ukraine.
The two leaders met on the fringes of the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada, where they agreed to reconvene the so-called “coalition of the willing”, a group of nations prepared to go beyond diplomacy and push forward with “the next stage of military support” for Kyiv.
Downing Street confirmed the move on Tuesday, as the UK launched a fresh round of sanctions targeting Russia’s oil exports and those enabling Vladimir Putin’s war machine.
A United Front, And a Fresh Military Push
After their bilateral meeting, Number 10 issued a clear message: both leaders are determined to maintain momentum on military aid and economic pressure. “A strong Ukraine is essential to guarantee peace in the long term,” the official statement read.
Starmer also dismissed claims that the plan, spearheaded by the UK and France, to deploy peacekeeping forces to Ukraine had stalled. “Not at all,” he told reporters. “Military planning is still going on… so that when the time comes, we’re ready to act.”
The goal? To ensure any future peace deal isn’t just signed, but actually upheld, something Putin’s track record makes far from certain.
Cranking Up the Pressure on Russia
Speaking from the Canadian Rockies, Starmer urged his G7 counterparts to tighten the oil price cap on Russian crude, currently set at $60 a barrel, in a bid to choke off Kremlin revenues.
“We’ve got to put those sanctions in place,” he said. “We’re putting in extra sanctions today, including on the shadow fleet. Others will be doing similar in the coming days.”
The UK’s new sanctions include:
- Targeting 20 Russian oil tankers, key to the so-called shadow fleet used to dodge sanctions.
- Cracking down on companies managing those vessels, especially those using shell firms to hide ownership.
- Sanctioning two UK-based individuals, Vladimir Pristoupa and Olech Tkacz, accused of running a shadowy network supporting Moscow.
- Blacklisting a Russian defence ministry unit (Gugi) involved in underwater military intelligence.
Zelensky welcomed the measures, but pushed for more: “To force Russia to end this war, coordinated sanctions by all G7 countries are needed against their energy and banking sectors, shadow fleet, and military-industrial complex.”
Coalition of the Willing, Still Alive
Despite reports that the proposed peacekeeping force had fizzled, Starmer was adamant: the coalition of the willing is very much alive.
“This is about ensuring any agreement is actually enforced,” he said. “The concern has always been that deals have been reached in the past, and Putin has just broken them.”
Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, echoed that sentiment. At a separate meeting with Starmer, he said Canberra would be “willing to consider” joining the coalition, if meaningful progress towards peace is made.
Tensions Within the G7
While the UK is moving decisively, Washington is more cautious. President Trump has suggested he wants to “see whether or not a deal is done” with Russia before tightening sanctions, a move that could stall efforts to lower the oil price cap across the G7.
Meanwhile, talks to broker a ceasefire have stalled. Russia continues to launch missile and drone attacks across Ukraine, rejecting proposals for an unconditional truce.
Starmer’s Message: We’re Not Backing Down
“These sanctions strike right at the heart of Putin’s war machine,” Starmer said. “We know they’re hitting hard. And while Putin continues to show utter disregard for peace, we’ll keep tightening the screws.”
“The threat from Russia cannot be underestimated,” he added. “I’m determined to take every step necessary to protect our national security, and to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
