THE WORLD, CONNECTEDGeopolitical Relationship Atlas
BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP

Russia and United Kingdom

European security, the war in Ukraine and financial and trade restrictions dominate the relationship. The British regime distinguishes people, sectors and operations. Economic records do not amount to a political reopening or by themselves determine a transaction's legality.

Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-07 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-07

The British sanctions regime

The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, with subsequent amendments, organise financial, trade, immigration and transport measures.

Products and origin matter

The guidance identifies restrictions on goods and services, including provisions for petroleum products processed in third countries from Russian crude, applicable from May 2026.

Updates during 2026

Official notices record changes to the regime during 2026.

Bilateral indicators

Blank cells: data unavailable.

Indicators of the relationship between Russia and United Kingdom
IndicatorValuePeriod
Goods trade982.9 M USD2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR
Goods: Russia to United Kingdom505.51 M USD2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR
Goods: United Kingdom to Russia477.39 M USD2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR
Services trade
Export share: Russia to United Kingdom
Export share: United Kingdom to Russia0.09 %2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR
Investment stock: Russia in United Kingdom
Investment stock: United Kingdom in Russia
Definitions and sources

Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.

Goods trade
2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR · Goods; full year; GBR reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
Goods: Russia to United Kingdom
2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR · Goods; full year; GBR reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
Goods: United Kingdom to Russia
2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR · Goods; full year; GBR reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
Export share: United Kingdom to Russia
2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR · Goods share: GBR exports to the partner / the same reporter's exports to the world, same year.

Country comparison

Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.

Economic and demographic comparison of Russia and United Kingdom
IndicatorRussiaUnited Kingdom
Nominal GDP2.59 trillion USDIMF est.2025 · IMF4 trillion USD2025 · World Bank
GDP per capita17,972.12 USDIMF est.2025 · IMF57,601.96 USD2025 · World Bank
GDP growth1 %2025 · WB1.39 %2025 · World Bank
Policy interest rate14 %2026-09-11 · CBR
Inflation · annual average8.72 %Annual average · 2025 · WB3.88 %Annual average · 2025 · World Bank
Inflation · latest year-on-year figure6.33 %Year-on-year · Aug. 2026 · CBR3.1 %Year-on-year · 2026-08 · ONS
Unemployment2.13 %ILO est.2025 · WB4.75 %ILO est.2025 · World Bank
Budget balance (% of GDP)-3.9 %IMF est.2025 · IMF-5.4 %IMF est.2025 · IMF
Gross public debt (% of GDP)17.2 %IMF est.2025 · IMF102.3 %IMF est.2025 · IMF
Current account balance (% of GDP)1.68 %2025 · WB-2.43 %2025 · World Bank
Population143,997,000IMF est.2025 · IMF69,487,0002025 · World Bank
Area17,125,190 km²2023 · BM / FAO243,610 km²2023 · World Bank
Military expenditure
Military expenditure (% of GDP)
Definitions, dates and sources

Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.

For Russia, GDP, population and GDP per capita are estimates from the same IMF (WEO) dataset for 2025. The per-capita figure published by the IMF is used, rather than a calculation of our own. The earlier World Bank series could not be reconciled and are not mixed with this dataset. Review: 2026-10-07. IMF data terms of use0

Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0

Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.

Nominal GDP
Current USDRussia: 2025 · Nominal GDP in current USD · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est. · IMF estimate (WEO). GDP, GDP per capita and population for this country come from the same WEO query for 2025; no separate GDP-per-capita figure has been calculated.United Kingdom: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
GDP per capita
Current USD per personRussia: 2025 · Nominal GDP per capita in current USD · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est. · IMF estimate (WEO). GDP, GDP per capita and population for this country come from the same WEO query for 2025; no separate GDP-per-capita figure has been calculated.United Kingdom: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
GDP growth
Annual real change (%)Russia: 2025 · World BankUnited Kingdom: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
Policy interest rate
Central bank instrument (%)Russia: 2026-09-11 · Bank of Russia policy rate · Bank of Russia
Inflation · annual average
Average annual change in headline CPI (%)Russia: 2025 · Annual average change in CPI (%) · World BankUnited Kingdom: 2025 · Average annual CPI change (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency statedRussia: 2026-08 · Change in headline CPI from the same month of the previous year (%) · Bank of Russia · Published: 2026-09-16 · Year-on-year CPI. The commentary's 6.9% is annualised seasonally adjusted monthly growth and is not used here.United Kingdom: 2026-08 · Headline CPI; change relative to the same month of the previous year · ONS · Headline CPI, not CPIH or core inflation.
Unemployment
% of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionRussia: 2025 · World Bank · ILO est.United Kingdom: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate, percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
Budget balance
General government (% of GDP)Russia: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.United Kingdom: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO general-government estimate. Retains the source’s fiscal year when it differs from the calendar year.
Gross public debt
General government (% of GDP)Russia: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.United Kingdom: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO general-government estimate. Retains the source’s fiscal year when it differs from the calendar year.
Current account balance
% of GDPRussia: 2025 · World BankUnited Kingdom: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
Population
PeopleRussia: 2025 · Population from the WEO series; do not mix with a denominator from another source · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est. · IMF estimate (WEO). GDP, GDP per capita and population for this country come from the same WEO query for 2025; no separate GDP-per-capita figure has been calculated.United Kingdom: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
Area
Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceRussia: 2023 · Total area, including inland waters; territorial coverage as defined by the source · World Bank · FAOUnited Kingdom: 2023 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
Military expenditure
Current USD per year; SIPRI series
Military expenditure (% of GDP)
Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship

What they buy and sell

Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.

Russia to United Kingdom

2025

Selected products exported from Russia to United Kingdom
Product or sectorValue / share
Machinery and mechanical appliances21 M USD2025 · Source
Electrical and electronic equipment0.3 M USD2025 · Source
Land vehicles and components0 M USD2025 · Source
Pharmaceutical products0 M USD2025 · Source

Common selection: fuels, pharmaceuticals, machinery, electronics and vehicles. Not an exhaustive ranking or a claim that these are the leading products. Comtrade: indicated reporter, with possible differences from another customs publication. UN Comtrade / GBR

United Kingdom to Russia

2025

Selected products exported from United Kingdom to Russia
Product or sectorValue / share
Pharmaceutical products211.2 M USD2025 · Source
Machinery and mechanical appliances13.5 M USD2025 · Source
Electrical and electronic equipment0.5 M USD2025 · Source
Mineral fuels and oils0 M USD2025 · Source
Land vehicles and components0 M USD2025 · Source

Common selection: fuels, pharmaceuticals, machinery, electronics and vehicles. Not an exhaustive ranking or a claim that these are the leading products. Comtrade: indicated reporter, with possible differences from another customs publication. UN Comtrade / GBR

Connections between people

Education, work, visits and community connections have their own records and procedures. Residents are not equivalent to annual arrivals, and visits may be repeated. The tables retain dates, definitions and sources to distinguish these connections from business contracts and government decisions. [2]

Residents, study and travel

Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.

Indicators of human connections between Russia and United Kingdom
IndicatorValuePeriod / source
Residents from Russia living in United Kingdom
Residents from United Kingdom living in Russia
Study and training: Russia in United Kingdom
Study and training: United Kingdom in Russia
Academic stays: Russia in United Kingdom
Academic stays: United Kingdom in Russia
Travel: Russia to United Kingdom
Travel: United Kingdom to Russia
What each figure measures

Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.

Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.

Underlying ties

History, institutions and long-standing issues.

The British sanctions regime

The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, with subsequent amendments, organise financial, trade, immigration and transport measures. They do not all have the same coverage. Designating a person, limiting a product and restricting a service are different decisions. The official guidance explains categories and exceptions, not a uniform prohibition of all civilian contact with Russia. [1]

Products and origin matter

The guidance identifies restrictions on goods and services, including provisions for petroleum products processed in third countries from Russian crude, applicable from May 2026. Country of dispatch and origin may differ. An aggregate trade figure does not verify the requirements of each operation or replace consultation of the legal text and its updates. [1]

Designations change through dated notices

The register publishes additions, revocations and corrections. Since January 2026, the Government has used the UK Sanctions List as the sole reference for designations. Asset freezing and ownership or control require analysis beyond a simple business name. This profile links to the register so that its updatable nature is not confused with a static list reproduced on the page. [2]

The scale of the two economies

Russia recorded nominal GDP of 2,587.9 billion USD in 2025, compared with 4,002.6 in 2025 for the United Kingdom. The reference populations were 144 million (2025) and 69.49 million (2025), respectively. In the same year, Russia's nominal GDP was 0.65 times that of the United Kingdom. These figures contextualise market size; they do not by themselves describe well-being, individual wealth or political influence. IMF estimates or population extrapolations retain their labels in the table. No ratio is calculated when periods do not match. [4] [5] [6] [7]

Recent developments

Recent developments and latest available data · Reviewed: 2026-10-07

Updates during 2026

Official notices record changes to the regime during 2026. Their dates differ from annual goods statistics. The existence of recorded flows does not establish diplomatic normalisation or compliance of every underlying operation. The profile uses economic data as observations and official instruments to describe restrictions, without issuing legal recommendations about a specific business. [2] [1]

Observed economic exchange

In 2025, recorded goods trade between Russia and the United Kingdom totalled 982.9 million USD. Shipments from Russia to the United Kingdom were 505.5 million USD; those in the reverse direction were 477.4 million USD. The United Kingdom's shipments to the partner represented 0.09% of its goods exports to the world, using the same year and reporter. A single customs reporting source is used for both directions. This annual flow does not include all services activity or affiliates' local sales and is not added to accumulated investment capital. [3]

Milestones and consequences

  1. 2019

    Regulatory framework

    Basis of the British regime with subsequent amendments. [1]

  2. 2026-01

    Single register

    Transition to the UK Sanctions List. [2]

  3. 2026-05-20

    Petroleum products

    Application date cited in the guidance. [1]

Sources and data

Periods and scope of the figures

Each figure retains its period, unit, definition and source. Announcements, contracts and results are not interchangeable. Empty cells do not mean zero. Customs data for 2025 are not presented as activity observed during later crises.

  1. Official guidance on the Russia sanctions regime

    UK Government · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07

  2. Designations and notices concerning Russia

    UK Government · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07

  3. Annual TOTAL X/M; 2025; reporter 826; partners 0,643,699,124,36

    UN Comtrade / GBR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07

  4. Official statistics

    IMF — World Economic Outlook · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07

  5. NY.GDP.MKTP.CD; country ISO and year preserved; no military data; exact requested country subset independently re-fetched and values compared

    World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07

  6. Official statistics

    IMF — World Economic Outlook · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07

  7. SP.POP.TOTL; country ISO and year preserved; no military data; exact requested country subset independently re-fetched and values compared

    World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07

  8. HS2 30; 2025; reporter 826; partners 643,699,124,36; X/M; annual goods

    UN Comtrade / GBR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07

  9. HS2 84; 2025; reporter 826; partners 643,699,124,36; X/M; annual goods

    UN Comtrade / GBR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07

  10. HS2 85; 2025; reporter 826; partners 643,699,124,36; X/M; annual goods

    UN Comtrade / GBR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07

  11. HS2 87; 2025; reporter 826; partners 643,699,124,36; X/M; annual goods

    UN Comtrade / GBR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07

  12. HS2 27; 2025; reporter 826; partners 643,699,124,36; X/M; annual goods

    UN Comtrade / GBR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07

Additional sources on products and human connections
  • UN Comtrade / GBR

    2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 30; 2025; reporter 826; partners 643,699,124,36; X/M; annual goods.

  • UN Comtrade / GBR

    2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 27; 2025; reporter 826; partners 643,699,124,36; X/M; annual goods.

  • UN Comtrade / GBR

    2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 84; 2025; reporter 826; partners 643,699,124,36; X/M; annual goods.

  • UN Comtrade / GBR

    2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 85; 2025; reporter 826; partners 643,699,124,36; X/M; annual goods.

  • UN Comtrade / GBR

    2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 87; 2025; reporter 826; partners 643,699,124,36; X/M; annual goods.