August 30, 2024 Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

“In the wake of the latest russian attack, Allies have confirmed that they are stepping up their military assistance to Ukraine”, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said following a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council.

The European Union has allocated EUR 1.4 billion from the proceeds of russian assets for military aid to Ukraine, European diplomacy chief Borrell said. The money is being directed to the defence industry of Ukraine and EU countries that will supply weapons to Ukraine.

The EU’s Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova shares EU High Representative Josep Borrell’s opinion  on granting Ukraine permission to strike military targets in russia.

Commander of the Netherlands Armed Forces Onno Eichelsheim  has said that Ukraine may use F-16 aircrafts provided by his country to strike russian territory.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Jan Lipavský has assured that his country will persuade its partners to lift at least some of the restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western weapons against targets in russia.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania Luminiţa Odobescu has emphasized that russia's strategic goals for Ukraine have not changed, and the EU should step up its support for Ukraine.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia Baiba Braže considers the Ukrainian Armed Forces' operation in Kursk region “an element of self-defense”.

Lithuania has handed over a new military aid package to Ukraine, which includes forklifts, anti-drone systems and folding beds.

“I do not see russia's readiness for peace talks. russia continues to demand Ukraine's surrender, and as long as this is the case, Ukraine will not accept it”, said Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Radoslaw Sikorski.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague has announced a hearing on the merits of Ukraine's 2016 lawsuit accusing russia of violating the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait.

More than 97% of Eurobond holders have supported the agreement on the restructuring of Ukraine's external commercial debt.

Lithuania’s Department of Migration has confirmed the decision that the new temporary residence permit issued to Ukrainian refugees on the basis of temporary protection will be valid until March 2026.

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Minister  of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis believes that several countries on the EU's eastern flank may decide to restrict the movement of russian diplomats in the Schengen area.

Sweden’s Security Police has announced a growing threat of russian sabotage in the country, and defense companies have already recorded a number of suspicious incidents (flights of UAVs, infiltration attempts, etc.).

The share of russian goods in European imports is 1.3%, while exports to the rf have dropped to 1.2%, –  Eurostat said in its latest report. Since the beginning of russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine, exports of goods from the EU to russia have decreased by 59%, while imports have fallen by 87%. The EU continues to reduce both imports of oil products, natural gas, nickel, iron and steel from russia and exports of much-needed goods to russia.

Trade between the rf and South Korea fell by one third in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 due to sanctions restrictions.

Kazakhstan's largest banks, Bank of Kazakhstan, Freedom Bank, Bank RBK, Eurasian Bank, and HalykBank, have banned money transfers through the russian payment system “zolotaya korona”, which has been subject to US sanctions.

russia lacks  money for the construction of the M-12 motorway under the “Europe-Western China” project, which was estimated at 912.2 billion rubles.

The central bank of the rf has released a forecast that inflation in the rf can rise to 15% over the next three years.

Since the beginning of the year, the average cost of accommodation in russian five-star hotels has increased by 17.3%, in four-star hotels – by  17.9%, in three-star hotels – by  16.6%, and in two-star hotels – by  16.2%.

In the first half of 2024, the volume of retail space under construction in russia decreased by 13% to 1.3 million square meters. Today, developers are completing projects in the rf that were launched in 2020-2021, but they are not starting new ones due to lack of investment and customers.

According to Polish border guards, on August 28, about 130 people tried to illegally enter Poland from the rb. This is a record number in recent weeks.

According to belstat, 329.6 thousand people live below the poverty line, which is 3.6% of the population of the rb (9 million 156 thousand people). The number of poor people in rural areas is twice as high as in urban areas: 6% vs. 2.8%. These people have incomes below the subsistence level – from  May 1 to August, this amount was 418.73 rubles.

The rb’s government has expanded the list of goods from “unfriendly countries” banned from importing and selling in the country. The general list includes tyre products, paper and sanitary products, high-pressure polyethylene, carpentry and joinery. The list of banned goods originating directly from Poland, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia has been supplemented by bags and suitcases, sanitary products, refrigeration and freezing equipment, and diapers.

The court of the leninsky district of brest has  ruled that the list of “extremist materials” now includes information products posted on the Reform.news website.