Burnham announces Russia oil sanctions as 50 leaders gather in Dublin

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced new UK sanctions on Russia's oil industry as about 50 European leaders gathered in Dublin for a summit dominated by the war in Ukraine. The UK government said the package hits the oil company Slavneft and 11 ships that are illicitly transporting oil, according to the Mirror.

Downing Street said the UK is now the first country to have sanctioned all of Moscow's 10 major oil producers. Burnham said peace talks on Ukraine had progressed but it was not the time for complacency, and called for more pressure on Russia to agree a full and immediate ceasefire.

What is happening in Dublin

The BBC reported that leaders met at the Convention Centre in Dublin for the European Political Community (EPC), an informal forum for political and strategic discussions on issues of shared concern. It was set up in 2022 after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and meets twice a year. This is its ninth meeting, according to the Evening Standard.

Attendees include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Nato chief Mark Rutte. The theme is Europe being strong, secure and connected, with talks planned on economic security, Ukraine, hybrid activity and democratic resilience. The BBC explained that hybrid attacks are loose terms for non-military methods such as cyber attacks, sabotage or misinformation, used to pressure and destabilise an adversary. An informal meeting of the European Council follows on Friday.

Ireland, which chairs the EU presidency until the end of the year, said Europe's security had been "fundamentally reshaped" by Russia's war, the BBC reported. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he believed Europe was broadly united on Ukraine.

Ukraine and the Abu Dhabi talks

The summit comes after talks involving US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Abu Dhabi. The BBC said the two were flying to Dublin on Thursday to update Zelensky on talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelensky said Europe needs to pay attention when the Americans and Russians discuss security, because he described the issue as more about a new security framework between Europe and Russia than guarantees for Ukraine, an approach he called a bit strange.

The BBC added that Martin said discussions about a European voice at US meetings with Russia on ending the war would happen on the margins of the summit. A Friends of Ukraine meeting, co-hosted by the UK and Ukraine, is also due to take place, where Zelensky is expected to brief leaders.

Sir Mark Sedwill, the UK's former national security adviser, told the BBC's Today programme there was some positive news, for example on prisoner exchanges, but that there was a long way to go. He said the objectives of Russia and Ukraine are not compatible.

Why it matters for the UK

Burnham's spokesman said the Prime Minister would use the meeting to advance both security in Europe and an EU deal that cuts costs for families at home. The Mirror reported that the Dublin talks are also meant to prepare the ground for a UK-EU summit in Brussels on 20 November, where new post-Brexit agreements are expected on issues including youth mobility.

The Evening Standard said Burnham has recently reopened the debate about Britain's future relationship with the EU. He is expected to co-chair a security and defence roundtable, attend a Ukraine meeting and hold a series of bilateral talks in Dublin.

Security operation in the Irish capital

The BBC reported that Irish police are carrying out the largest security and policing operation in the history of the state, supported by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, police from Latvia and Portugal and other international agencies. Parts of Dublin city centre are closed off and there has been widespread traffic disruption. Ireland has also dealt with several bomb threats, including hoaxes, aimed at schools and media organisations in recent days.

Around Prague, based on reporting by Evening Standard, BBC News, Mirror

Cover photo: Credit: http://www.acumenimages.com . Uploaded to Flickr by / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped

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