December 20, 2024 Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

On December 18, the Executive Board of the World Bank approved the allocation of $2.05 billion to Ukraine, part of which for the first time is the United States’ loan at the expense of russia's frozen assets.

The United Kingdom has announced a new £225 million military aid package for Ukraine, including £92 million in funds to strengthen Ukraine's Navy; 68 million – for air defense equipment; 26 million – to provide support and spare parts for systems previously delivered to our country; 39 million – for supplying over 1,000 counter-drone electronic warfare systems and jointly procuring respirators and equipment to enhance the defence capabilities of Ukraine's Armed Forces. The allied country has also said it will offer Ukraine more military exercises.

UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey has pointed out that his country intends to continue the Interflex operation to train Ukrainian servicemen on its territory throughout 2025.

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer in a telephone conversation with President-elect of the United States Donald Trump emphasized the need for further support to Ukraine.

Minister of Defence of Sweden Pål Jonson does not rule out his country's participation in a potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine.

“We must increase our support. This means to agree  to further sanctions against putin and his allies, as well as to provide unwavering financial, humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine. Finally, only a strong Ukraine can speak from a position of strength”, emphasized President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola.

“There’s no point pushing Zelenskyy to talks when putin doesn’t want to talk. We can’t talk about peacekeepers when there’s no peace. And why is there no peace? Because russia does not want peace”, said chief of EU diplomacy Kaja Kallas.

“Our military support for Ukraine is good in words, but not in real life. The situation is really difficult and we have to be honest with ourselves, but we have to stop being a club of endless discussions, we have to become a real global strategic player”, said President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda.

Nausėda also believes that negotiations with the rf will not lead to a stable and just peace, because the aggressor does not show any will to negotiate.

Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo has pointed out that the EU should do its best for Ukraine to be able to win the war against russia’s aggression, especially since the rf has been weakening recently. At the same time, he sees no signs that the United States will reduce its support for Ukraine.

Prime Minister of the Netherlands Dick Schoof has said that it is extremely important to continue supporting Ukraine, so that in the current situation, Ukraine should be really strong.

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution regarding the 11-year temporary occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol by the rf and the deterioration of the human rights situation on the Peninsula, “The future of Crimea must be connected with the recognition and protection of the Crimean Tatars’ inalienable right to the Peninsula as their historical homeland”, – reads the text.

The Czech Parliament has approved the Lex Ukrajina VII law, which extends the temporary protection of refugees from Ukraine for another year, and then, if necessary, for the same period.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will provide JSC “Ukrzaliznytsia” with EUR 480 million for the purchase of electric locomotives and the construction of a distributed power generation network.

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The United States has expanded sanctions on one person and two companies involved in iran's production of “Shahed-136” attack drones, which iran transferred to russia for use against Ukraine.

The US Department of State has announced the introduction of additional sanctions against a number of individuals and companies that were already under one of the US sanctions laws for their participation in the construction of Nord Stream-2. The “black list” includes eight russian companies and the maritime rescue service of the rf, 17 vessels, llc “mtv” and its founder Matthias Warnig, who was previously the executive director of nord stream 2 ag, and the company nord stream 2 ag itself. “The reason is that we maintain our long-standing opposition to Nord Stream 2 as a russian geopolitical project and efforts to revive it”, Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the United States Department of State Vedant Patel explained the reason for re-imposing sanctions regarding the russian gas pipeline.

This year, the production of the russian diamond producer “alrosa” fell by 4.6% to 33 million carats.

The consumer confidence index, which reflects the aggregate consumer expectations of the population of the rf, fell to minus 9% in the 4th quarter of 2024 from minus 7% in the 3rd quarter, minus 6% in the 2nd quarter (the highest level since 2014) after minus 7% in the 1st quarter 2024 and minus 13% in the 4th and 3rd quarters of 2023.

On December 19, at the moscow stock exchange, the ruble fell against the background of lower oil prices relative to the Chinese yuan, which is 14.1,685 rubles.

In January-October 2024, the production of russian road-construction equipment decreased in monetary terms by 10.9% (to 63.8 billion rubles), shipments to the domestic market – by 5.6% (to 61.1%). Sales of russian cranes decreased – by 29.9% (to 1,477 units), of excavators – by 44.9% (to 172 units), of rollers – by 22.7% (to 211 units), of motor graders – by 25, 6% (up to 229 units). The volume of import of road-construction machines for 10 months decreased year-on-year by 7.9%.

In the rf, from December 10 to 16, prices for fruits and vegetables increased by 3.4%. The growth of prices accelerated, a week earlier it was 3.2%.

In russia, egg prices rose by 1.8% from December 10 to 16, a week earlier prices rose by 1.5%, the previous week – by 1.3%. Prices for fruit and vegetable products in the rf increased by 10.4% in November, for cucumbers – by 43%.

Against the background of a shortage of personnel, the ministry of economic development of the rf has prepared amendments to the labor code, where it proposes to increase the limit of overtime work to 4 hours per day and 240 hours per year. The ministry also proposes to increase the number of workers with whom employers can conclude a fixed-term contract from 35 to 70 people – to attract seasonal workers, who are badly needed in russia.

In 2024, russians began to buy fewer cars. Interest rates on loans for the purchase of a car reached 21–34.8%, the average rate – 26.39%. Cars themselves have risen in price by more than 15% since the beginning of the year. Added to this is an increase in the disposal fee, fluctuations in the ruble exchange rate, and an increase in the price of spare parts, for which one now has to pay by 25% more.

The Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia will extend the regime of tougher control at the border with the rb till June 30, 2025.

Poland has imposed sanctions on three new companies – “technospetstrading export”, “technospetstrading”, as well as llc world chem trading co, which tried to circumvent the previously imposed bans to export from the rb nitrogen fertilizers, the producer of which is “grodno azot”.