The UK government has announced a new wave of 100 sanctions against Russia following the record drone attack on Kyiv over the weekend.

The new sanctions are aimed at "entities supporting Russia's military machine, energy exports, and information warfare, as well as financial institutions that help fund" the war following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Foreign Office said in a statement.

They were imposed just as the European Union officially adopted a 17th round of sanctions against Russia — "coordinated efforts to ensure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine," AFP reported.

The United Kingdom also imposed sanctions on "financial institutions that help finance" the war following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, claiming that London and its allies are negotiating to tighten oil price caps and strike a blow to "critical oil revenues."

"Sanctions by the United Kingdom and other Western countries are having a serious impact on the Russian economy," the ministry said in a statement.

"Every ruble we take away from the Kremlin reduces Putin's ability to sow chaos, division, and disorder around the world," the statement said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
On May 17, Moscow launched 273 drones against Ukrainian cities, the largest drone attack since the start of the war, the Foreign Ministry said.

"The people of Ukraine and around the world have paid the price for Putin's aggression, and now he must pay the price for shirking peace," the ministry added.

US President Donald Trump held a two-hour phone call on May 19 with his Russian counterpart to end the three-year conflict.

After the conversation, Trump said that Russia and Ukraine would begin peace talks "immediately."

Today, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of not being seriously committed to the peace talks.

The first direct talks between the two sides, held on May 16 in Istanbul, did not lead to a truce, and Zelensky accused Putin of sending "empty heads" to the negotiating table.

"It is obvious that Russia is trying to buy time to continue the war and occupation," Zelensky wrote in a social media post. | BGNES