Britain to tighten restrictions on Russian gas exports – here’s why

Britain will seek to tighten restrictions on Russian gas exports next year, increasing pressure on Moscow to end its war in Ukraine.

Russia’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) will face a ban on access to the UK’s maritime services, including insurance and shipping.

The ban will stop the use of British services to export Russian LNG to third countries, with imports to the UK banned from 2023, and will be implemented throughout 2026 along with other European countries.

Foreign Affairs Minister Yvette Cooper announced the decision as she prepared to travel to the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Niagara, Canada, on Wednesday.

He also announced that the UK would provide Ukraine with a further £13 million in aid to repair energy infrastructure and support those most affected by loss of electricity as winter sets in.

Russia has repeatedly attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure throughout the war, and the State Department said Moscow was now “escalating brutal attacks on electricity and heating networks as Putin seeks to crush the Ukrainian people.”

Ms Cooper said: “Putin is trying to plunge Ukraine into darkness and cold as winter approaches.

“These cowardly attacks are not only an attack on the security of Ukraine, but also a threat to the economic security, stability and growth of the United Kingdom.”

The Foreign Secretary is expected to use the G7 meeting to push for greater support for Ukraine as the war enters its fourth winter.

Ukraine’s allies hope that additional economic sanctions, such as a ban on shipping services for Russia’s LNG, will force Moscow to come to the negotiating table.

The ban is the latest in a series of measures targeting fossil fuel exports, a key source of revenue for Russia’s war effort.

Last month, Britain imposed sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, and encouraged its allies to stop buying Russian oil.

But Russian President Vladimir Putin has so far resisted efforts to achieve negotiated peace in Ukraine.

The expected meeting between Ms Cooper and her US counterpart Marco Rubio at Wednesday’s summit may seem awkward following reports that the UK has halted intelligence sharing with the US on suspected drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean over concerns that deadly American attacks on ships violate international law.