Baku, February 23, AZERTAC

The UK will impose new sanctions on Russia to mark the third anniversary of the war in Ukraine, as tensions grow between the US and Europe over support for Ukraine, according to Anadolu Agency.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is preparing a “triple whammy” of actions to support Kyiv, including new sanctions, military aid, and a crackdown on Russian "dirty money" in the UK, The Independent reported on Sunday.

In an effort to further pressure Russia, Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced that on Monday he would unveil the most significant package of measures since the early days of the conflict.

Lammy stated that the measures are designed to target Russia’s revenues and weaken Putin’s "military machine."

The sanctions come ahead of Keir Starmer's meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington next week, as Trump has accused the UK and France of “doing nothing” to end the war in Ukraine.

Lammy noted that the UK would continue collaborating with the US and European partners to achieve a "sustainable, just peace," while reiterating the need for Ukraine’s involvement in the process.

He also highlighted the UK's commitment to providing £3 (about $3.79) billion in military support annually to Ukraine "to put Ukraine in the strongest position possible" and noted Starmer's offer to send UK troops as part of peacekeeping forces if needed.

"Off the battlefield, we will work with the US and European partners to achieve a sustainable, just peace, and in doing so, remaining clear that there can be nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.

"This is also the time to turn the screws on Putin's Russia. Tomorrow, I plan to announce the largest package of sanctions against Russia since the early days of the war—eroding their military machine and reducing revenues fueling the fires of destruction in Ukraine," Lammy added.

He stated that it was time for Europe to "double down" on its support for Ukraine and pursue "peace through strength."

According to sources speaking to The Telegraph, the Defense Ministry will unveil new details regarding military aid for Ukraine along with the sanctions, while the Home Office is set to crack down on Russian "dirty money." Whitehall officials have referred to these measures as a "full triple whammy."

Keir is also expected to announce a timeline for increasing the UK’s defense spending from 2.3% to 2.5% of GDP during his visit to Washington, along with extending an invitation to Trump for a state visit from the king.

"As we mark three years since Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we also mark three years of Britain standing united with Ukraine, supporting them through military and humanitarian aid, welcoming Ukrainian refugees to our communities, and standing firm against Putin's aggression, his imperialist aims, and his threat to our continent's security.

"This is a critical moment in the history of Ukraine, Britain, and all of Europe," Lammy added.