Britain has unveiled new sanctions on arms suppliers in a bid to stop Russia from launching a new offensive against Ukraine.
In recent months, Vladimir Putin has militarized Russia's economy, with surprising results, including a sevenfold increase in tank production.
Such an increase in Russia's military capacity could leave Ukraine vulnerable to further massive attacks by Kremlin forces, prolonging the conflict.
The new sanctions come at a time when support for Ukraine among Western allies appears to be waning.
Britain and other states have supplied arms and equipment worth tens of billions of pounds and these aid packages have undoubtedly prevented Russia from taking over the country.
But after almost two years of fighting, it appears that Ukraine will not be able to remove the remaining Russian forces from its territory. As a result, pressure is increasing on the government to agree to peace talks.
Speaking exclusively to the Mail, Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said the sanctions would break Putin's “international chain of suppliers” and punish those who “illegally finance Russia's war machine”.
A T-64 tank drives past in Novoselivka Persha after leaving Avdiivka, Ukraine, on December 4
Forty-six new sanctions were unveiled today, targeting individuals and manufacturers in states including Belarus, China, Serbia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan.
By involving companies operating in these states, Britain has now taken action against more than 30 third-country entities helping Russia.
Britain is also targeting entities supporting Wagner's paramilitary network and Russia's so-called “shadow fleet” of commercial shipping vessels.
Lord Cameron said: 'No matter how much effort Putin goes to fuel his illegal invasion, we will meet every desperate move with strength, resilience and unity.
“Together, our allies, we will break its international chain of suppliers, block efforts to circumvent sanctions and stop those who illegally finance the Kremlin's despicable actions.
“These sanctions will disrupt Putin's ability to use international networks for his own gain. We're hitting his war effort where it hurts. Putin and his supporters are outmatched.
“The UK will not let up on our economic pressure until Putin has removed every last military boot from Ukrainian territory.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, speaks with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron in Kiev, Ukraine, on November 15
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week to reassure Britain's support.
However, the UK government's £2.3 billion military aid package expires in March 2024 and there has been no announcement that it will last for another 12 months.
Arms stockpiles in Britain and other NATO countries are dangerously low following the donation of billions of pounds in military aid to Kiev.
The current sanctions package includes 31 individuals and entities involved in the production of drones and missiles, especially suppliers of electronic components. Britain imposes sanctions on directors of these companies and their immediate family members.
These include the JSC Display Design Bureau based in Belarus, AVIO CHEM, a Serbian company that Britain says has supplied aircraft parts to Russia and Turkey's Smart Trading Limited, which has reportedly supplied Western electronics to Russia. Three Chinese companies are also targeted.
Sanctions are also imposed on four UAE-based oil companies. They are said to have used opaque corporate structures to circumvent existing sanctions on Russian oil exports.