Jan 17, 2025 01:55 AM
(This post was last modified: Jan 17, 2025 03:54 AM by C C.)
(war games) UK signs 100-year agreement with Ukraine
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/e...5l52i.html
INTRO: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has signed a 100-year partnership agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, part of a European show of support and promises to keep helping Ukraine endure in its nearly three-year war with Russia.
The announcement comes days before Donald Trump is sworn in as US president, with what he says is a plan to end Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II.
“We are with you, not just today or tomorrow, for this year or the next, but for 100 years – long after this terrible war is over and Ukraine is free and thriving once again,” Starmer told Zelensky during a visit to Kyiv, promising that the UK would “play our part” in guaranteeing Ukraine’s post-war security.
Starmer said that the landmark agreement committed the two sides to co-operate on defence – especially maritime security against Russian activity in the Baltic Sea, Black Sea and Sea of Azov – and on technology projects including drones, which have become vital weapons for both sides in the war. The treaty also includes a system to help track stolen Ukrainian grain exported by Russia from occupied parts of the country and provides £40 million ($79 million) for Ukraine’s economic recovery.
It will also cover areas such as energy, critical minerals and green steel production, Starmer’s office said... (MORE - details)
(war games) No convictions for breaching UK sanctions on Russia
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdd994vl76qo
EXCERPTS: The UK has not carried out a single conviction for breaches of Russian sanctions, the National Crime Agency has said. Financial sanctions on Russia were introduced following the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the wider invasion of Ukraine in 2022. They include bans on exporting weapons technology, facilitating the illegal trade of Russian oil and generally assisting President Vladimir Putin's government.
A law was introduced four years ago to allow the UK to convict those breaching the sanctions. However, in a letter to MPs, the NCA's director-general pointed to the complexity of cases and said charges had only been brought once.
[...] critics have long claimed that Western sanctions are less effective than first hoped, and figures last year showed the Russian economy was growing.
Investigations into potential breaches of financial sanctions are carried out by a Treasury unit called the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI). [...] In October, BBC News revealed the OFSI was carrying out 37 investigations into UK-linked businesses for potentially breaking Russian oil sanctions. A further 15 cases had closed without any fines or other punishments issued and it is not known how many more have closed since.
[...] In November, MPs on Parliament's Treasury Select Committee quizzed OFSI officials about the effectiveness of their investigations, but officials said the NCA was the body ultimately responsible for prosecuting and convicting those found to have breached the rules.
In a subsequent letter to the committee's chair, the NCA's Director-General, Graeme Biggar, pointed to the "complex and lengthy" nature of the cases. He said that similar cases in comparable countries took an average of seven years to be completed... (MORE - details)
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/e...5l52i.html
INTRO: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has signed a 100-year partnership agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, part of a European show of support and promises to keep helping Ukraine endure in its nearly three-year war with Russia.
The announcement comes days before Donald Trump is sworn in as US president, with what he says is a plan to end Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II.
“We are with you, not just today or tomorrow, for this year or the next, but for 100 years – long after this terrible war is over and Ukraine is free and thriving once again,” Starmer told Zelensky during a visit to Kyiv, promising that the UK would “play our part” in guaranteeing Ukraine’s post-war security.
Starmer said that the landmark agreement committed the two sides to co-operate on defence – especially maritime security against Russian activity in the Baltic Sea, Black Sea and Sea of Azov – and on technology projects including drones, which have become vital weapons for both sides in the war. The treaty also includes a system to help track stolen Ukrainian grain exported by Russia from occupied parts of the country and provides £40 million ($79 million) for Ukraine’s economic recovery.
It will also cover areas such as energy, critical minerals and green steel production, Starmer’s office said... (MORE - details)
(war games) No convictions for breaching UK sanctions on Russia
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdd994vl76qo
EXCERPTS: The UK has not carried out a single conviction for breaches of Russian sanctions, the National Crime Agency has said. Financial sanctions on Russia were introduced following the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the wider invasion of Ukraine in 2022. They include bans on exporting weapons technology, facilitating the illegal trade of Russian oil and generally assisting President Vladimir Putin's government.
A law was introduced four years ago to allow the UK to convict those breaching the sanctions. However, in a letter to MPs, the NCA's director-general pointed to the complexity of cases and said charges had only been brought once.
[...] critics have long claimed that Western sanctions are less effective than first hoped, and figures last year showed the Russian economy was growing.
Investigations into potential breaches of financial sanctions are carried out by a Treasury unit called the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI). [...] In October, BBC News revealed the OFSI was carrying out 37 investigations into UK-linked businesses for potentially breaking Russian oil sanctions. A further 15 cases had closed without any fines or other punishments issued and it is not known how many more have closed since.
[...] In November, MPs on Parliament's Treasury Select Committee quizzed OFSI officials about the effectiveness of their investigations, but officials said the NCA was the body ultimately responsible for prosecuting and convicting those found to have breached the rules.
In a subsequent letter to the committee's chair, the NCA's Director-General, Graeme Biggar, pointed to the "complex and lengthy" nature of the cases. He said that similar cases in comparable countries took an average of seven years to be completed... (MORE - details)