UK government bans all ships connected to Russia from calling at its ports

Britain has banned any ship with Russian ties from accessing its ports as part of measures to isolate President Vladimir Putin’s government because of its war on Ukraine. In a tweet announcing the blanket ban, British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps urged other countries to ban ships with ties to Russia from visiting their ports.

“We’ve just become the first nation to adopt laws banning any ships with any Russian link from entering British ports,” Shapps added.

UK transport secretary Grant Shapps wrote to the country’s ports on Monday instructing them not to allow the entry of any ships owned, controlled, chartered, or operated by any person connected with Russia. 

The ban is also set to apply to any ship flying the Russian flag or registered in Russia. The decision came a day after Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, requested Shapps to prevent a Russian tanker from landing in the Orkney Islands. 

In the midst of Russia’s increasing attack on Ukraine, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying his ‘unprovoked’ actions have far-reaching consequences for other nations. The UK Prime Minister accused Putin of adopting “barbaric” and indiscriminate techniques to kill civilians in Ukraine.

Britain has banned all ships with Russian connections from visiting its ports as part of its efforts to isolate President Vladimir Putin’s government in the aftermath of its war on Ukraine.

Announcing the move in a tweet, he further appealed to other nations to follow the same. “Today I’ve written to all UK ports asking them not to provide access to any Russian flagged, registered, owned, controlled, chartered, or operated vessels. Given Putin’s action in Ukraine, I’ve made clear these vessels are NOT welcome here with prohibiting legislation to follow,” Shapps tweeted.

Today I’ve written to all UK ports asking them not to provide access to any Russian flagged, registered, owned, controlled, chartered or operated vessels.

Given Putin’s action in #Ukraine I’ve made clear these vessels are NOT welcome here with prohibiting legislation to follow. pic.twitter.com/5pKzfvcbGi

— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) February 28, 2022

“The maritime sector is fundamental to international trade, and we must play our part in restricting Russia’s economic interests and holding the Russian government to account,” Shapps said in the open letter.

“We will seek to support UK ports in identifying Russian ships within the scope of the above and will communicate directly with relevant ports when we identify ships bound for UK ports who fall within the scope of the above. Further detailed sanctions against Russian shipping are being developed and further details will be shared shortly,” he added.

In an effort to stop the conflict in Ukraine, Western nations have slapped broad sanctions on Russian corporations, wealthy individuals, and even Putin.

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