On Thursday, Britain announced a fresh set of sanctions against Russia, to diminish President Vladimir Putin's weapons stockpile and financial resources. The package of measures includes sanctions targeting over 50 individuals and entities. This announcement, coming just days before the second anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, marks the latest step in a coordinated Western initiative to impose restrictions on the Russian economy.

"Our international economic pressure means Russia cannot afford this illegal invasion. Our sanctions are starving Putin of the resources he desperately needs to fund his struggling war," Foreign Secretary David Cameron said in a statement.

Britain imposed sanctions on companies associated with the Russian ammunition industry, which includes the major entity Sverdlov State Owned Enterprise. The sanctions specifically aim at disrupting revenue sources in the metals, diamonds, and energy sectors.

The foreign office additionally mentioned that the sanctions include key Russian importers and manufacturers of machine tools. These machine tools are instrumental in the production of defense systems and components, spanning from missiles and engines to tanks and fighter jets.

On Wednesday, the European Union gave its approval to a comprehensive package of sanctions, prohibiting almost 200 entities and individuals. These measures target those accused of assisting Moscow in acquiring weapons or being involved in the kidnapping of Ukrainian children.

Earlier this week, Britain also sanctioned six individuals in charge of the Arctic penal colony where Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died.

In the meantime, Russia has withdrawn from a longstanding fishing agreement with the UK and suggested that Britons should "lose weight and get smarter."

A 1956 agreement permitting British boats to fish in the Barents Sea has been terminated, marking the latest indication of escalating tensions between Moscow and the West.

The fishing deal was signed by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, but Russian politicians have now claimed it was never in the national interest.

The UK government said the end of the deal would have "no material impact on our fish supplies".

Image source: AFP