Editor’s Note
This article outlines new UK sanctions on Russia, effective May 2025, which expand trade restrictions to include chemicals, plastics, metals, machinery, electronics, technological information, and synthetic diamonds.
On May 14, 2025, the UK Parliament approved the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2025. These regulations, which were laid before Parliament on April 23 and 24, 2025, impose further trade sanctions on Russia. The new measures include restrictions on certain dealings in additional categories of chemicals, plastics, metals, machinery and electronics, technological information, and synthetic diamonds.
On May 12, 2025, the UK’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) amended General Licence INT/2022/1678476. This licence authorises Amsterdam Trade Bank N.V. (ATB) to make or receive certain payments related to winding down transactions with ATB and its insolvency proceedings, among other things. The amendments permit ATB’s bankruptcy trustees to fulfil their statutory functions and extend the licence’s expiry date to May 12, 2030.
On May 14, 2025, the UK High Court handed down a judgment in a security for costs application in the case of Virgo Marine and Nixie Marine Inc v Reed Smith LLP. The case involved funds frozen due to US sanctions. The court refused the application for security for costs, concluding it would not be just in all the circumstances.
On May 13, 2025, a UK Parliamentary Committee debated the Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2025. These regulations revoke certain UK sanctions measures on some sectors of the Syrian economy, including transport, trade, energy, and finance.
On May 16, 2025, the UK’s Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) published Notice to Exporters NTE 2025/15, announcing the launch of the MOD security approval form 680 (F680) through its new online system.
On May 15, 2025, the ECJU published its strategic export controls commentary for 2024, providing licensing statistics for the final quarter and the full year.
