Press release

Foreign Secretary statement on international sanctions in response to Russian aggression in the Black Sea

皇冠体育app Foreign Secretary welcomes action taken by the EU, Australia, Canada and the US

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government

皇冠体育app EU, together with Australia, Canada and the US, has imposed sanctions on individuals for their role in Russia鈥檚 use of military force against 3 Ukrainian vessels and their crew in the Kerch Strait and Black Sea in November 2018.

皇冠体育app EU sanctions will prevent named individuals from travelling within the EU, and freeze any known assets linked to them in the EU.

皇冠体育app UK has consistently stood with Ukraine in opposing this attack and all instances of Russian aggression towards Ukraine, including Russia鈥檚 illegal annexation of Crimea five years ago. We will continue to do so together with our international partners.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said:

Today, the UK and our international partners in the EU, Australia, Canada and the US have sent an unequivocal message to Russia that their attack on Ukrainian vessels in the Kerch Strait and Black Sea last year was absolutely unacceptable. 皇冠体育appse sanctions are another example of the international community standing up to Russia as it persistently violates international law. We will continue to take necessary action together in response to Russia鈥檚 efforts to destabilise Ukraine.

Russia must immediately release the 24 detained servicemen and return the seized vessels. We remain deeply concerned for the safety and welfare of the servicemen who are unjustly held in Russian custody. Russia must allow free and unhindered passage of Ukrainian and international ships through the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov.

We, with our international partners, stand with Ukraine in opposing Russia鈥檚 ongoing efforts to undermine Ukrainian security, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

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Published 15 March 2019