May 10, 2025 Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

The European Union has announced its intention to allocate almost EUR 1.9 billion for military support to Ukraine, including the purchase of weapons and artillery and the strengthening of air defense.

The European Union, Denmark, France, and Italy have agreed to transfer EUR 1 billion of funding provided by the European Peace Fund from the proceeds of russia’s blocked assets to support the Ukrainian defense industry.

The EU states have already pledged to provide Ukraine with at least 1.35 million shells by the end of the year.

France is mobilizing the proceeds of the frozen russian assets to provide maintenance for the Caesar self-propelled howitzers it has provided Ukraine with.

The countries that are members of the United Expeditionary Force initiative (the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Finland, the Baltic States and the Netherlands) have invited Ukraine to an expanded partnership.

“For more than three years, the russian people have been mobilized for a brutal war in Ukraine. Only russia itself can recognize its strategic and moral defeat and withdraw from the entire territory of Ukraine. However, as long as the war continues, we support and will continue to support Ukraine. Realizing that impunity encourages the aggressor to continue its crimes, we will continue to seek ways to ensure russia’s legal responsibility for the crime of aggression against Ukraine... so that the crimes of the past do not serve as a cover for today’s crimes,” said President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda.

“Ukraine agreed to this ceasefire almost two months ago. I now expect russia to do the same. Otherwise, we will be ready to respond decisively, together with all Europeans and in close coordination with the United States,” said President of France Emmanuel Macron.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and European Ministers of Foreign Affairs honored the fallen Ukrainian soldiers in Lviv. “This day symbolizes peace. And peace is exactly what we want for Ukraine. Our presence here today (May 9) is a testament to our unity and unwavering solidarity with Ukraine. If you stand for peace, you should be here in Ukraine, not in moscow,” she said.

European Commissioner for Defense Andrius Kubilius, using the lessons of World War II as an example, listed five mistakes that the West risks repeating in the russian-Ukrainian war: insufficient assistance to Ukraine, inability of  “some” to clearly distinguish between the aggressor and the victim, hopes for good relations with aggressor putin, recognition of the occupation of Crimea, and denial of Ukraine’s opportunity to join NATO.

The United Kingdom has allocates additional 25 million pounds (about EUR 29 million) for humanitarian projects in Ukraine.

The Government of Norway has decided to extend the agreement with the EU on the evacuation of Ukrainian patients to European countries through the EU civil protection mechanism until March 31, 2026. Oslo also is allocating NOK 580 million (over EUR 49 million) to the UN Refugee Agency’s efforts to help refugees and other people in Ukraine and Moldova affected by the rf’s war.

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The United Kingdom will impose sanctions against 100 oil tankers of russia’s “shadow fleet” in an effort to increase pressure on moscow in the conflict with Ukraine. According to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Office, the sanctions will be the largest package of measures ever. Sanctions have also been imposed on the management of the 2Rivers Group (formerly Coral Energy Group), a company associated with the russian “shadow fleet”– Azerbaijani citizens Tahir Garayev, Akhmed Kerimov, Anar Madatli, Talat Safarov and Etibar Eyyub. Among the legal entities, the sanctions list includes the insurance company “soglasie”, as well as Nord Axis, BX Energy and Romarine. “Today’s actions once again demonstrate that those who help finance putin’s war machine have nowhere to hide,” said the UK Government.

Chancellor of the FRG Friedrich Merz has threatened russia with new sanctions if it does not agree to a lasting ceasefire in Ukraine and peace talks.

As part of the 17th package of sanctions against russia, the European Union is discussing the imposition of restrictions on individuals involved in the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine. The European Commission’s proposal includes a list of 15 legal entities and individuals associated with hybrid threats from russia, as well as individuals suspected of using chemical weapons in Ukraine. In parallel, a third set of measures was discussed, which would add to the sanctions list 25 legal entities and individuals suspected of human rights violations. The EU may also add to the list the russian oil company “surgutneftegaz”, which was sanctioned by the USA in January as part of a broader crackdown on russia’s energy trade.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Kęstutis Budrys has called to discusss including energy companies into the 18th package. “Already now, realizing that May is dedicated to the 17th package, we must talk about the 18th package, and finally include large energy companies,” the Lithuanian Foreign Minister said.

Finland has proposed to impose tariffs on all goods imported from russia to the European Union. According to Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland Elina Valtonen, such an initiative can work in parallel with the existing EU sanctions and does not require unanimous support from all 27 member states. “If in the future some of the sanctions lose their effectiveness, or whatever happens, we will still have these tariffs,” said Valtonen.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium Maxime Prevost has said that his country is ready to help create an international coalition to hold the frozen russian assets.

In a joint statement, European Ministers of Foreign Affairs welcomed the completion of technical work on draft legal instruments necessary for the establishment within the Council of Europe of a Special Tribunal for the rf’s Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. “Without aggression, without this crime, there would be no war crimes committed in Ukraine,” EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas also emphasized that aggression is a “leadership crime” that implies responsibility of the country’s leaders. Kallas also believes that the available evidence allows to count on quick decisions of the Special Tribunal, which is expected to start working next year. She called on countries that share the principles of the UN Charter to join the creation of the Special Tribunal.

Secretary General of the Council of Europe  Alain Berset has called on states to provide adequate support for the future Special Tribunal. “We are creating the basis for the Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. This is the moment when states must continue to implement the political will they have demonstrated today. Justice also requires resources. It is necessary to provide funding and support for the functioning of the future Tribunal,” emphasized Berset.

Prime Minister of the Netherlands Dick Schoof sees risks that russia may start a war against Northern Europe in a few years, and it is worth preparing for this scenario.

russia could enter into a military conflict with NATO countries within a year after the war in Ukraine, said Director of the Military Intelligence Agency of the Netherlands MIVD Vice Admiral Peter Risink.

China does not intend to “fight neo-Nazism” together with russia and does not comment on putin’s statements that the two countries are allegedly jointly countering “modern manifestations of Nazism,” said  China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson  Lin Jian.

Federal President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier, in a speech to the Bundestag on the occasion of the 80th  anniversary of the Day of Victory  over Nazism, accused russia of “historical lies.” During his speech, the German President referred to russia’s aggression against Ukraine, saying that the kremlin is spreading “historical lies” when it claims that its war against Ukraine is “a continuation of the struggle against fascism.” “putin's war of aggression, his offensive against a free, democratic country, has nothing to do with the struggle against Nazi tyrannical rule during World War II,” Steinmeier said.

President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda strongly condemned the May 9 celebrations in moscow, calling them an attempt to cover up the kremlin’s aggressive policy. He believes that such celebrations are a propaganda show aimed at justifying russia’s crimes, particularly against the background of the war in Ukraine.

The USA’s  Ambassador to moscow Lynne Tracy did not attend the “victory parade” on May 9.

In the first four months of 2025, russia’s federal budget was in critical condition, and its deficit increased by 183 % compared to the same period last year. The main factors behind this decline were a decrease in revenues from energy exports, as well as significant spending on defense and economic support under sanctions pressure. Analysts point out  that oil and gas revenues decreased by 12 % in April alone, while  the overall profits of russian companies are also declining.

russia is gripped by a potato crisis. The price that russians pay for potatoes has skyrocketed to a record level, having increased by almost 50 % this year alone. Thus, potatoes have seen the largest price increase among all the food products monitored. This follows the nearly doubling of prices in 2024.

Cabbage prices in the rf were not far behind, up by 42 %, while beets became more expensive by more than a third and onions – by a quarter.

In russia, prices are expected to rise for goods from India: cell phones, computers, medicines, tea, coffee, whiskey; and from Pakistan: shirts, “brand” jeans, and agricultural products.

The most acute shortage of personnel is in Omsk region of the rf. Most of all, in the healthcare sector: there are only 0.7 resumes per vacancy for medical specialists. Apart from doctors, other needed  professions include janitors, real estate agents, cooks, bakers, and pastry chefs. There are also vacancies for turners, milling operators, grinders, pharmacists, and zootechnicians, and the demand for these professions is growing daily.

The “plans” announced by the government do not help  russia out of the demographic crisis. The country’s total fertility rate is 1.4 (more than 2 is needed for reproduction and growth). Thus, by 2050, russia will lose 10 million people.

The russian orthodox church has stated that those who oppose the war are worshippers of the Antichrist.

On Thursday, members of the Latvian Saeima supported in the second reading amendments to the law on national security, which provide for a ban on employment or services in critical infrastructure for citizens of the rf and the rb.

In mid-April, the belarusian railways proposed to Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia to resume passenger railway service between the countries. The Ministry of the Interior and Administration of Poland has  stated that “the resumption of this connection depends on the behavior of the belarusian regime towards Poles in the rb, the technical security of the state border, as well as the reduction of the threat of mass migration, including the cessation of attacks and provocations by belarusian services.”

Lithuania is sending additional military forces to the border with belarus in response to the growing number of illegal migrants trying to cross the border from the neighboring country.

Human Rights Watch has called on the International Labor Organization to pay attention to the repression of  belarusian businesses, employers and workers.

Due to the lukashenko regime’s manual management of the country’s economy, “belaruskali” is forced to sell fertilizers on the domestic market below cost. As a result, the company has lost more than 1.2 billion belarusian rubles over the past eight years.

The loss of familiar markets and rising costs of alternative logistics have hit belarusian exports, which have not been able to recover to pre-sanctions levels. In 2024, belarus exported 5.7 million tons of petroleum products to russia by railway, down almost by 25 % from 2023. The biggest decline was in diesel fuel (minus 58 %, to 1 million tons) and petrol (minus 13 %, to 2.3 million). Previously, belarus exported almost twice as much, up to 11 million tons of oil products, which went through the Baltic states and to Ukraine.

In April 2025, 3,859 new passenger cars were sold in belarus, down by   9.9 % from 4,281 in March.

The prosecutor’s office of belarus proposes to involve juvenile offenders in labor activities, allegedly citing the growth of juvenile delinquency. In fact, this is how the regime, amid an acute shortage of workers caused by mass emigration and demographic decline, stimulates the use of juvenile labor in the economy.

putin mocked lukashenko at the  parade in moscow. The belarusian dictator and his son, kolya, were seated next to Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. In October 2022, lukashenko shouted at Pashinyan during an extraordinary session of the CSTO Collective Security Council. As a result, lukashenko did not stay for putin’s lunch reception for foreign politicians but returned to minsk.