Britain to Impose Sanctions on Russia’s Clandestine Maritime Operations – DW – 05/09/2025

This will be the fourth parade to take place since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Officials said the events commemorating 80 years since Nazi Germany’s defeat will be the “biggest” ever.

Ukraine labeled the celebrations in Russia a “parade of cynicism” and said the safety of the world leaders attending cannot be guaranteed.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will arrive in Brussels for his second foreign trip since taking office earlier this week.

Merz will hold talks with EU and NATO officials with talks expected to focus on the war in Ukraine.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola are scheduled to meet Merz.

The new German leader will also discuss European sovereignty, considering the policies by US President Donald Trump, with Merz promising Germany’s “voice in Europe and the world” would be heard again.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to announce a series of new sanctions on Russia, targeting the country’s so-called “shadow fleet,” up to 100 vessels which have been carrying cargo in defiance of the sanctions.

The sanctions come as Starmer visits Norway for a meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), a coalition of 10 European nations, where more support for Ukraine is expected to be announced.

Starmer’s office said the sanctions will target vessels that have carried cargo worth more than $24 billion (€21.3 billion) since the beginning of last year.

Speaking about the sanctions, Starmer said Russia’s threat to the UK’s national security “cannot be underestimated,” and that his country will do “everything in our power to destroy” the shadow fleet’s operation.

Welcome to our coverage of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The UK is expected to announce a fresh set of sanctions against Russia’s so-called shadow fleet.

That’s as Moscow gets set to welcome world leaders for its parade commemorating 80 years since the end of the Second World War, most notably China’s Xi Jingping.

Follow our blog for updates and analysis on the developments involving Ukraine and Russia.