April 15, 2025 Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

“What is clear is that we need to support Ukraine more, and I am glad to see that we already have two-thirds of my ammunition initiative,” EU Diplomacy Chief Kaya Kallas has assured that EU countries have already collected two-thirds of the two million rounds of ammunition worth EUR 5 billion for Ukraine.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Kaspar Veldkamp and his Polish counterpart Radosław Sikorski have supported the statement by the next German Chancellor Friedrich Merz that he may send long-range Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.

Lithuania will allocate EUR 10 million for the production of modern Ukrainian long-range weapons.

“My thoughts are with the victims and their families at this tragic time. President Zelenskyy has demonstrated his commitment to peace. putin must now agree to a full and immediate ceasefire without conditions,” said UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Speaking about the russian attack on Sumy, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Margus Tsahkna said that “there are not enough words in the world to describe russia's inhumanity and evil.”

“I extend my deepest condolences to the victims, their families, and the entire Ukrainian people. We will continue working to put an end to this barbarism,” Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni said about the russian attack on Sumy.

“This war must end, and russia must finally agree to a comprehensive ceasefire,” Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz said about the russian missile attack on Sumy.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Austria called the missile attack on civilians in Sumy a devastating attack and yet another evidence of russia’s disregard for human life and international law.

President of Slovakia Peter Pellegrini has called on the international community to exert pressure and force russia to sit down at the negotiating table instead of killing innocent people with missiles.

“Strong measures are urgently needed to enforce a ceasefire. Europe will continue to reach out to partners and maintain strong pressure on russia until the bloodshed ends and a just and lasting peace is achieved, on Ukraine’s terms and conditions,” President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said after the russian missile attack on Sumy.

“The russian version of a ceasefire. Bloody Palm Sunday, Sumy, Ukraine,” – Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk reacted succinctly to russia’s bloody shelling of the city of Sumy.

After the attack on Sumy, Minister of Foreign Affairs of France Jean-Noel Barrot called for the toughest sanctions against russia to weaken its economy.

“The recent deadly attacks on Ukraine show that russia does not want peace. So now we need to increase the pressure on russia, but also increase the support for Ukraine. It’s also time to move on and take the frozen assets,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden Maria Malmer Stenergaard.

Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset said after russian missile attacks on the center of Sumy that violations of the laws of war must not go unpunished.

According to the Hungarian opposition, almost 60 % of the country’s population support Ukraine’s accession to the EU.

rf

The 17th package of sanctions of the European Union against russia may include the russian “rosatom”, the export of russian liquefied gas and the “shadow fleet” of the rf. This was stated by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Kęstutis Budrys.

The US government has barred scientists and organizations from “countries of concern” from the largest medical databases. Along with China, Cuba, Iran and Venezuela, russia has also entered the list of such states. Without these data, it will be more difficult to conduct research and develop new medicines.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia Baiba Braže has stressed that the European Union has given  clear guidance to the countries that are candidates for EU membership, not to attend the parade in moscow on May 9 and not to make visits to russia.

Authorities of Estonia, who detained on April 11 the Kiwala tanker, enlisted in the russian “shadow fleet”, have said that they will not allow it to move on until the detected problems are eliminated. In total, 40 minuses have been found: 23 of them relate to documentation, and the rest to technical condition and seaworthiness. “We cannot allow the ship to continue the journey, since maritime and environmental safety cannot be guaranteed,” said Director of Maritime Division of the Estonian Transport Department Kristjan Truu.

As a result of falling rates of construction, russia may face a shortage of housing. By 2027, it will reach 30 million square meters.

The government of the rf has decided to save on the repair and maintenance of federal roads. Until 2030, 2.48 trillion rubles have been allocated for these purposes, which is by 1.73 trillion less than required by current standards. Thus, in the next five years, the federal road network will be financed by only 58 % of the need.

In March 2025, industrial products in the rb rose by 0.6 %, since the beginning of the year – by 3.6 %.

Gomel jsc “8 Marta” finished the year with a net loss of 814 thousand rubles. This is a continuation of the negative dynamics: from 2020 to 2022, the factory had accumulated losses of 26 million rubles. The company faces bankruptcy.

The department of sports and tourism of minsk regional executive committee has launched an online challenge “80 steps to victory”, dedicated to the end of the Second World War. One of the tasks is very strange. One must stand for 125 seconds (children – 40 seconds), on one leg with a book on one’s head and arms to the sides. Officials explain that this is a reference to the blockade of leningrad, when 125 grams of bread were the minimum rate of delivery in the most difficult days. There are other tasks in the challenge. For example, “star” jumps to train endurance – in memory of the counteroffensive near moscow. Or walking in medium crouch – to the organizers of the challenge this reminds of partisan detachments.