March 23, 2025 Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

In 2025, the EU may allocate up to EUR 9 billion for military aid to Ukraine as part of assistance funded through proceeds from frozen russian assets.

US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has said that the issue of providing security guarantees to Ukraine under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty remains open.

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer has announced the next meetings of the participating countries to plan the military aspects of a potential peacekeeping contingent in Ukraine.

The Budget Committee of the Bundestag of the FRG has supported the allocation of EUR 3 billion of additional military aid to Ukraine in 2025 and EUR 8.3 billion for the period from 2026 to 2029.

“It's high time to do this: the military situation has become increasingly difficult for Ukraine in recent months. The country urgently needs more anti-aircraft missiles, artillery ammunition, spare parts and weapon systems to continue to counter russia’s aggression,” Minister of Foreign Affairs of the FRG Annalena Baerbock welcomed the decision of the Budget Committee.

The group of states (Core Group) working on the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine has finalized the technical and legal documents required to launch it under the Council of Europe.

The Government of the Netherlands has decided to contribute EUR 65 million to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund.

Estonia will purchase military equipment and supplies worth EUR 100 million for Ukraine, including drones, watercraft, medical equipment and other items produced by Estonian defence companies.

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The Government of the United Kingdom has frozen more than 25 billion pounds (32 billion dollars) of russian assets since the beginning of russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.

Starting March 31, Estonia will not recognize russian passports without biometric data.

In russia, the prosecutor general’s office has declared the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), which has been conducting foreign policy research since 1955 and providing advice and consultations in the spheres of politics, business and civil society on the basis of this research, an “undesirable organization.”

The cost of gas supply, electricity, water supply and heating will increase by more than 12 % from July 1 in all regions of russia. The largest increases in utility tariffs will be in the Perm Territory, Arkhangelsk and Kemerovo regions.

The situation on the Don reflects the situation in russia:

prices are rising, bread has risen by 20 % within a year, although the region is a leader in wheat harvesting;

drivers for Rostov buses have been sought in the Caucasus and Uzbekistan;

the cargo turnover of the Rostov seaport in 2025 has fallen to 1.6 million tons, which is by 20 % less than in the same period a year earlier;

trucks have been allowed to drive through the city, and there will be no fines for “overloading” until October.

In Tyumen region, construction materials have risen significantly over the year, by an average of 20 %. Some materials have risen even more: ceramic block – by 54 %, quarry sand – by 50 %, cement – by 33 %, edged board – by 22 %.

The price increase is due to inflation and costs of logistics and energy.

Other influential aspects, which are also common to other regions, include a significant labor shortage and rising labor costs.

Demand for new cars in russia is falling rapidly and may decline by more than 40 %. 80-90 thousand new cars are expected to be sold, which is half the 159,000 units sold a year ago. The traditional spring sales growth did not happen, and experts say the main reason for this is the reluctance of buyers to make significant purchases in the unstable economic situation.

At the same time, in February, the volume of secondary car sales decreased by 5.5 % compared to January. All in all, the annual decline is 0.6 %. Owners are also in no hurry, this time to get rid of an old car without being able to buy a better one.

The United Kingdom has allocated 2.5 million pounds to support a democratic Belarus.

At least 34 people have been convicted in the rb on charges of committing sabotage on the railway. Most of the sentences were announced after the start of the rf’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine.