The Prime Minister’s Office said Keir Starmer announced new Russia sanctions and £210 million in UK Export Finance support for Ukraine at the G7 Summit in France.
The announcement was made as G7 leaders met in Evian, France, on 16 June 2026. The first roundtable session focused on building peace and security for Ukraine and Europe.
The government said the UK would support Ukraine through sanctions pressure, military and energy backing, and action against Russia’s war economy. The Prime Minister was expected to tell G7 leaders that Ukraine should secure a just and lasting peace.
UK Steps Up Ukraine Support At G7
The UK set out a combined package of pressure on Russia and support for Ukraine during the G7 Summit. Downing Street said the measures were intended to help Ukraine continue resisting Russia through the coming winter.
The Prime Minister had directed officials in recent weeks to increase support across several areas, including military equipment, energy supply and measures against Russia’s war machine. The announcement followed a meeting between Keir Starmer and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Downing Street the previous week.
- G7 setting: the announcement was made during summit talks in Evian focused on Ukraine and European security.
- Energy support: UK Export Finance backing will support a nuclear fuel supply deal for Ukraine.
- Sanctions action: new measures were expected to target Russia’s shadow fleet, finance networks and procurement routes.
G7 Talks Focus On Ukraine Security
The first G7 roundtable session centred on peace and security for Ukraine and Europe. The Prime Minister was expected to say that G7 countries should go further to help Ukraine secure the peace it deserves.
Downing Street said the UK position remained that the fighting should stop, an immediate ceasefire should be implemented and negotiations should begin from the current line of contact. The government linked that position to wider European security and Ukraine’s ability to maintain battlefield momentum.
Nuclear Fuel Deal To Power Ukraine
The UK will support Ukraine’s nuclear power plants for the next two years through a deal involving UK-based Urenco and Ukraine’s nuclear power producer, Energoatom. The arrangement is backed by £210 million of UK Export Finance support.
Energoatom provides more than 50% of Ukraine’s electricity, according to the government statement. Downing Street said the nuclear fuel supply would help Ukraine strengthen its energy resilience against Russian attacks on infrastructure.
Ukraine Energy Support Measures
| Indicator | Recent Movement | Context |
|---|---|---|
| UK Export Finance support | £210 million | Funding support announced by Downing Street for Urenco to supply enriched uranium to Energoatom. |
| Supply period | Two years | The government said the agreement would help power Ukraine’s nuclear plants through the next two years. |
| Electricity role | Over 50% | Energoatom was described by the government as providing more than half of Ukraine’s electricity. |
UK Jobs And Exports Supported
The government said the deal also supports UK jobs and exports. More than a third of the uranium content will originate from Urenco’s processing plant in the North West of England.
Urenco employs more than 650 people in the UK. The government said activity at its Capenhurst site in Cheshire supports more than 4,500 jobs across the wider supply chain.
Ministers said the agreement strengthens Ukraine’s energy security while supporting British manufacturing, exports and specialist nuclear fuel production.
Energy Security Linked To European Security
Downing Street said securing Ukraine’s energy supply would strengthen its ability to withstand Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. The government presented the deal as part of wider UK and Euro-Atlantic security interests.
The announcement forms part of wider UK support for Ukraine, including military assistance, diplomatic engagement and economic measures aimed at limiting Russia’s ability to sustain the war. The government also said lessons from Ukraine and European security would be central to the Defence Investment Plan ahead of the NATO Summit.
New Sanctions Target Russia’s War Effort
The government said a new sanctions package was expected to choke Russia’s war effort across several fronts. The measures were expected to target Russia’s shadow fleet and finance networks used to circumvent western sanctions and support military procurement.
The UK was also expected to be the first mover on sanctioning several liquefied natural gas vessels moving sanctioned Russian LNG. Downing Street said the package was expected to bring UK-sanctioned shadow fleet and Russian LNG vessels to more than 600.
Russia Sanctions Package
| Indicator | Recent Movement | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Shadow fleet and LNG vessels | More than 600 | Downing Street said the expected package would bring UK-sanctioned vessels in these categories above this level. |
| Finance networks | New targets expected | The government said the package would target networks used to move money and support Russia’s war effort. |
| Procurement activity | State-linked network targeted | The statement said measures were expected to expose and target a Russian state-linked network procuring western technology. |
Ministerial Comments
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said;
“Russia’s aggression threatens not just Ukraine, but the security of all Europe.”
“That is why the UK is stepping up – choking off the revenues that fuel Putin’s war and powering Ukraine through the winters ahead.”
“We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes and this announcement reinforces that. Putin should roll back his tanks, end his barbaric strikes, and come to the negotiating table.”
The UK announcement combined sanctions pressure on Russia with energy support for Ukraine during G7 discussions in France. The measures included UK Export Finance backing for nuclear fuel supplies, action against shadow fleet and LNG vessels, and further targeting of financial and procurement networks. Downing Street linked the package to Ukraine’s resilience, UK jobs and broader European security.
Sources: Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street; Prime Minister Keir Starmer; UK Export Finance.
Prepared by Ivan Alexander Golden, Founder of THX News, an independent news organisation delivering timely insights from global official sources. Combines AI-analysed research with human-edited accuracy and context.
