PM's rebuke for Russia doesn't hold all the cards

SIR KEIR'S G7 PUSH FOR FRESH SANCTIONS

- By Christian Calgie Senior Political Correspondent in Banff

SIR Keir Starmer appeared to rebuke Donald Trump yesterday as he pushed for a new sanctions package against Russia and insisted Vladimir Putin must not be allowed to dictate terms.

The PM is set to announce further action against Moscow at the G7 today in an attempt to keep focus on the European war amid the conflict between Israel and Iran.

The group — consisting of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US — will confirm a further economic squeeze on Putin’s brutal war machine.

Downing Street insisted that the existing financial restrictions on the Kremlin was having an effect.

But it could not say whether the new proposals would be backed by all of the nations in the group.

The PM said: “The fact is — Russia doesn’t hold all the cards.

“So, we should take this moment to increase economic pressure and show President Putin it is in his — and Russia’s interests — to demonstrate he is serious about peace.

“We are finalising a further sanctions package — and I want to work with all of our G7 partners to squeeze Russia’s energy revenues and reduce the funds they are able to pour into their illegal war.”