# Britain's hard winter is the price of pressure on Putin > The UK's national security adviser says Europe has to absorb real pain this winter or lose its grip on Russia. - Title: Britain's hard winter is the price of pressure on Putin - Summary: The UK's national security adviser says Europe has to absorb real pain this winter or lose its grip on Russia. Sanctions only work if the people paying for… - Keywords: ukraine, russia, sanctions, energy, uk politics, news, entertainment, Britain's, hard, winter, price, pressure - Source: Dailymail — https://dailymail.com/news/article-16127855/Europe-prepare-hard-winter-economic-pressure-Russia-security-adviser-warns.html?ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490&ns_mchannel=rss - Published: 2026-09-13T14:23:56+00:00 - Read time: 3 min - Topics: ukraine, russia, sanctions, energy, uk politics, news, entertainment ## A hard winter is coming Jonathan Powell, the UK national security adviser, says Europe has to brace for a painful winter if it wants to keep economic pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. ## Swallow it, he says Powell told his audience that ordinary Europeans will have to keep absorbing the cost of sanctions on Moscow. No softening, no early exit. > It will require some real hardship and difficulties on our parts. ## No foot off the gas His argument is about timing. Easing up now, when the pressure is finally biting, would waste everything the last four years cost. ## Said out loud, in Kyiv Powell rarely speaks in public. He made these comments to Ukrainian leaders and international backers at the Yalta European Strategy forum in Kyiv. ## Russia is hitting harder The speech landed as Russia steps up strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and frontline cities, with new jet-powered drones adding to the damage. ## Donbas cities under threat Putin's troops are pressing the fortress cities of the eastern Donbas while insisting Ukraine will eventually 'crumble'. ## The bill for one year Delegates at the forum heard that Russian attacks are expected to cost Ukraine £7.4billion in 2026 alone. ## Escalation as a scoreboard Powell flipped the usual reading. Talk of Russian escalation is not a problem, he said, it is a sign the strategy is working because Putin feels the squeeze. > a sign of success ## Ukraine has already won Powell told delegates Ukraine has won the war in the only sense that counts: Putin set out to take the whole country and failed. ## Territory is not the test Whatever land Ukraine loses, he argued, it stays a free Ukraine in Europe, able to choose its own path. That is the win condition. ## Don't trade land yet Powell, who helped negotiate the Good Friday Agreement, said this is not the moment to ask Ukraine to give up territory in exchange for peace. ## The Russian gas temptation The real risk he named is EU countries quietly easing energy prices by turning back to sanctioned Russian gas. That would hand Moscow the exit. ## Fifth winter of weaning off This is Europe's fifth winter since it set out to cut dependence on Russian oil and gas. The habit is proving expensive to break. ## Support on four fronts Powell's ask was not just economic. Military, political and diplomatic backing for Ukraine all have to hold at the same time. > we have to keep the economic, military, political and diplomatic support going for Ukraine ## Trump has shifted With Ukraine striking Russian infrastructure using its own long-range drones, Powell said Trump is no longer leaning toward Putin on his land-for-peace proposal. ## Pressure, then the table The stated strategy is simple to say and hard to do: squeeze Putin until he has to negotiate. Talks are the endpoint, not the opening move. ## Britain's triple whammy Experts warn of a winter of discontent at home, with energy bills, interest rates and taxes all set to rise at once. ## Where the pain lands The Bank of England is hinting at higher rates, and ministers have refused to rule out more tax rises in next month's Budget. Oil prices feed straight into bills. ## Optimism, with a cost Powell insisted there are strong reasons for optimism amid the carnage. The catch is that the optimism is funded by households paying more. > strong reasons for optimism ## The question for voters Sanctions work only as long as the public keeps paying for them. This winter is the test of whether that political consent holds. ## Key takeaway Sanctions only work if the people paying for them keep paying, and this winter is where that resolve gets tested.