December 9, 2024 Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

The United States has announced a $988 million military aid package for Ukraine, which will include ammunition for HIMARS, unmanned aerial vehicles, and logistical support.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has emphasized the importance of uniting the free world to protect Ukraine's sovereignty and counter russia's imperial aggression.

At the request of the Pentagon, SpaceX will provide Ukraine with expanded access to a militarized version of Starlink.

The Ministry of Defence of Denmark has announced that the country will increase its assistance to Ukraine by the end of 2024 and speed up the delivery of Caesar self-propelled artillery systems ordered for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

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“And if you look at russia's economy right now, just in the last few weeks, you've seen the warning bells begin ringing much more strongly. russia really has mortgaged its economic future”, – this is how US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan assessed the state of the russian economy.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has pointed out that the rf has lost at least 700,000 killed and wounded since February 2022 and has “wasted” more than $200 billion on the war.

EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas believes that the reason for the fall of the bashar al-assad regime in Syria is “the weakness of assad's supporters – russia and iran”.

The kremlin is preparing for a sharp drop in oil prices: according to rosneft ceo sechin, Brent crude oil prices could drop to $60, which is almost by 15% lower than current levels.

Despite the fight for fertility in the rf: the ban on childfree propaganda, the approval of fines for propensity to abortion in some regions, the correlation of pensions with the number of children and the approval of payments to student families, demographers called the increase in mortality by more than 5 percent the main news of 2024. In numbers, it is 1,840,000–1,850,000 people. For comparison, in 2023, about 1,764,618 people died, that is, an increase was 80-85 thousand. The bottom of the demographic pit awaits in 2028-2030. At this, in the draft budget for 2025, the line of expenses for social benefits in nominal terms remained unchanged, but in real terms the amounts will decrease due to inflation.

The rf will see a significant reduction in migration growth. In 2023, 560,000 people arrived in russia from all over the world and registered at passport offices, while 450,000 left. For comparison, in 2019, 701,000 people came to the country.

In 2024, russians will spend an average of 30.1 thousand rubles on the New Year's holiday, which is by 14% more than last year, when the cost was 25.9 thousand rubles. As of the beginning of December, prices of beef have risen by 11.4%, of lamb – by 22%, of butter – by 31%, of potatoes – by 78%, of onions – by 37%, and of red caviar - by 30%. 31% of russians are going to spend money on New Year celebration, while 15% will not spend money on gifts for their loved ones.

The members of the state council of tatarstan did not support the draft law that prohibits enrolling in schools children of migrants who do not speak russian. kabanov, a member of the presidential human rights council, called the decision a demarche against president putin's position.

The rb has ceased to be a leader in the EAEU in terms of agricultural production dynamics – the country has taken third place. In terms of labor remuneration, the rb was in the penultimate place, with only Kyrgyzstan doing worse.

The rb has adopted the draft Tax Code 2025 in the second reading – the document must be approved by the “council of the republic” and signed by lukashenko. The estimated cost of a square meter of the first apartment in minsk has been increased to 1,020 rubles, in regional cities – to 850 rubles, in large cities – to 748 rubles. The tax on renting an apartment in minsk will increase to RUB 567, in regional centers – to RUB 46, and in large district centers the rate will increase to RUB 31. Owners of cars will have to pay for automobiles weighing more than 1.5 tons - 70 rubles; more than 1.75 tons - 92 rubles; more than 2 tons - 116 rubles; more than 2.25 tons - 138 rubles; more than 2.5 tons - 161 rubles; more than 3 tons - 183 rubles; more than 3 tons - 253 rubles. Belarusians earning more than 200 thousand rubles a year will have to pay a 25% tax on excess profits. On dogs of potentially dangerous breeds, the tax will be raised from 63 rubles per quarter, on all other breeds – to 13 rubles. A tax on income from token transactions is being introduced. For an amount more than 10,431 rubles as a gift, at the end of the year, one must fill out a tax return and pay 13% over the limit.