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Committee publication · Correspondence · 28 April 2026

Letter from the Minister for Europe, North America, and UK Overseas Territories relating to sanctions updates, dated 24 April 2026

From: Foreign Affairs Committee

Summary

Minister Stephen Doughty updates Parliament on UK sanctions policy and enforcement since December 2025. The letter details over 1,600 new sanctions introduced since July 2024, reforms to streamline compliance (including a unified sanctions list), strengthened enforcement mechanisms, and specific actions against Russia, Iran, Syria, Sudan, and cybersecurity threats. The government emphasises sanctions as a tool to deter malign behaviour, disrupt Putin's war machine, and protect UK interests.

Key findings

  • Over 1,600 new sanctions targeting individuals, entities and ships introduced since July 2024; 17 statutory instruments laid to strengthen regimes
  • Unified UK sanctions designations list launched January 2026, replacing duplicative OFSI list; improved guidance and GOV.UK pages to ease compliance
  • OFSI enforcement reforms effective February 2026 include case assessment matrix, settlement scheme, Early Account Scheme, and fixed penalties; £160,000 penalty on Bank of Scotland, £390,000 on Apple Distribution International for Russia breaches
  • Russia sanctions now exceed 1,200 total; nearly 300 new sanctions announced February 2026 targeting oil exports and shadow fleet (595 vessels); UK goods trade with Russia down 99.6% (imports) and 87.6% (exports) versus 2021
  • Trade Sanctions Implementation Office (OTSI) received 185 breach referrals by end 2025; end-user licensing powers introduced to combat circumvention; legislation planned to consolidate Russia sanctions regulations

Tone

Factual

Topics

sanctions-enforcementrussia-ukrainefinancial-sanctionstrade-compliancecybersecurity

Key actors

Stephen Doughty MP, Emily Thornberry MP, Lord Stirrup, Foreign Secretary, Prime Minister, Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI), Department for Business and Trade

Notable line

“The UK will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes to achieve a just and lasting peace ".”

Key Quotes

“The UK will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes to achieve a just and lasting peace”
— Foreign Secretary (quoted by Stephen Doughty) · Reaffirming UK commitment on fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, 24 February 2026
“Sanctions remain a powerful foreign and national security tool in our armoury. We continue to deploy sanctions to deter and disrupt threats and malign behaviour”
— Stephen Doughty MP · Opening statement on government's sanctions strategy
“A single UK sanctions designations list (introduced in January), upgrading the UK Sanctions List and search tool and retiring the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) Consolidated List of Asset Freeze Targets”
— Stephen Doughty MP · Describing compliance improvements to reduce duplication
“UK goods imports and exports to Russia compared to”
— Stephen Doughty MP · Demonstrating measurable impact of sanctions on bilateral trade
“Russia is paying a premium on sanctioned goods (including dual-use goods) of between 40-55% according to the Bank of Finland”
— Stephen Doughty MP · Evidence of sanctions-driven costs imposed on Russian procurement
“We remain committed to the principle that Russia must pay for the damage it has caused, and our sanctions allow us to keep Russia's assets immobilised until Russia ceases its illegal war”
— Stephen Doughty MP · Framing sanctions as mechanism for accountability and compensation
“The Court confirmed that Dana's designation was lawful and proportionate”
— Stephen Doughty MP · Citing Court of Appeal judgment upholding Belarus sanctions against Dana Holdings, 26 February 2026
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Source · parliament.uk record ↗