UK extends Russian export ban to diamonds, metals over conflict

The UK on Friday extended its package of sanctions against Russia with a ban on Russian diamonds, an industry worth USD 4 billion in exports in 2021, as well as imports of Russian-origin copper, aluminium and nickel and sanctioned 86 more people and entities linked with the country over the Russia-Ukraine conflict. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is in Japan for the G7 Summit, said the trade measures and individual sanctions will hit Russian President Vladimir Putin’s key revenue streams.
During talks with world leaders in Hiroshima – the site of the World War II atomic bombing, Sunak warned against complacency in defending democratic values and standing up to autocratic regimes.
“For the sake of global peace and security, we must show that brutal violence and coercion does not reap rewards,” said Sunak.
As today’s sanctions announcements demonstrate, the G7 remains unified in the face of the threat from Russia and steadfast in our support for Ukraine.