March 26, 2025 Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

President of the European Council António Costa believes that the best guarantee of security for Ukraine is its membership in the European Union.

A group of US senators from the Republican and Democratic parties insist on more decisive measures to use frozen russian assets to support Ukraine. They demand not to limit to a percentage of those funds, but allocate the entire amount – more than $300 billion – to help Kyiv, and persuade the allies to take this step too.

The Government of Denmark, through the Danish Export and Investment Fund (EIFO), plans to guarantee up to 70 % of investments made by domestic companies in Ukraine’s defence sector.

In the coming days, the European Parliament will vote to lift the immunity of a pro-russian MP from the far-right group Europe of Sovereign Nations Petr Bystron.

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Due to the expiration of the service life of foreign engines, srussia may be left without Ansat helicopters, which are used for civilian transportation and medical evacuation. Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PW207K engines installed on the helicopters need to be repaired after 3,000 flight hours, but there are no certified organizations in russia or in “friendly” countries that can do the job. At this, Pratt & Whitney Canada refuses to service russian equipment because of sanctions.

There is a shortage of civilian aircrafts in russia. Currently, the fleet of carriers includes about 800 aircrafts, and this number is not enough to organize tour operators’ flight programs. Companies are forced to choose where and on what to fly. The situation will continue to deteriorate: “50-100 aircrafts will be out of service every year”.

The rf recognises the critical state of the research fleet, which may lead to the loss of “leadership positions” in the study of the Arctic. Over the past 30 years, the fleet has become obsolete and has shrunk to a critical minimum. The average age of research vessels is about 34 years. The vessels are more than 80 % worn out. Their operation is much more expensive than that of their modern foreign counterparts.

The global oil market may face a prolonged period of low prices, just as it did in the second half of the 1980s, on the eve of the collapse of the ussr, – warns the central bank of the rf. The free capacities of OPEC countries now make it possible to completely replace all russian oil on the world market. The cartel states can increase production by 5 million barrels a day, which covers all oil exports from the rf. Saudi Arabia alone has idle fields and wells capable of producing 3 million barrels a day, the same amount as russia exports to the world market by sea. The central bank reminds us that there was a similar precedent: from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s, Saudi Arabia cut production in an attempt to maintain the then-record prices of $30 per barrel. However, after losing two-thirds of its market share in 10 years, in 1985 the Saudis “turned the taps back on”, tripled production, and brought prices down to $10-15. This caused an acute currency crisis in the old soviet economy and 6 years later ended in de facto bankruptcy and the collapse of the ussr.

Shipments of thermal coal from russia to China by sea decreased by 49 % year-on-year in the first two decades of March. Shipments to other Asian countries also declined.

As the national wealth fund is being depleted and the cost of the war increases, members of the state duma propose to turn on the central bank’s “printing press.” According to the new draft law, the central bank will be able to issue virtually interest-free loans to the government to cover the budget deficit – at a negligible rate of 0.15 % per annum. The members of the state duma also propose to give the central bank the right to buy government bonds, effectively financing the treasury through money emission.

In 2024, the number of concessional mortgage loans issued in the rf decreased by 32 %, and their volume – by 31 %. In February 2024, 43.78 thousand loans were issued for RUB 225.82 billion. In February 2025 – 29.6 thousand for RUB 156.24 billion. Preferential mortgages accounted for 71 % of the total number and 88 % of the volume of loans for the purchase of housing.

The prosecutor general’s office of the rf has declared undesirable the activities of the international non-governmental organization The European Leadership Network in the country. According to the russian agency, the foundation’s objectives are to promote NATO enlargement, advance the anti-russian agenda and support Ukraine. It is alleged that the foundation publishes materials in which those who disagree with the course of the “collective West” are called aggressors, and the goals of the russian military operation in Ukraine are called aggressive.

Veterans of the so-called “special military operation” who are returning from Ukraine and who were sent to the front directly from the colonies do not want to get a job, some of them have never worked at all. This was reported by human rights commissioner in Tatarstan sariya saburskaya.

russians may be banned from feeding stray animals, hiding street cats and dogs in their homes, and preventing their capture. These amendments to the draft law, which proposes to allow regions to kill captured stray animals, were prepared by members of the state duma. In addition, the members of the duma proposed to expand the list of grounds for euthanizing animals in shelters.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (World Athletics) has extended suspension of belarusian and russian athletes from participating in international competitions, –said Head of the Organization Sebastian Coe. “The Council adopted a recommendation regarding the participation of belarus and russia in international tournaments. The Council considers the sanctions to be adequate and sees no need to replace, supplement or change them –unless the situation deteriorates or a peace agreement is reached,” said Coe.

The European Union will continue to support all those who seek a democratic future for Belarus. This was stated by the European External Action Service (EEAS) on the occasion of the Freedom Day. “On Belarus’ Freedom Day, we reaffirm the EU’s solidarity with the people of Belarus. We are determined to continue to support all those who seek a democratic future for the proud, independent country of Belarus.” The statement also recalls the fate of political prisoners. According to the EU External Action Service, more than 1,200 people are currently unjustly deprived of their freedom in Belarus. The EEAS emphasized that all of them should be released, and those responsible for the repression should be brought to justice.

Belarusian human rights organizations have issued a joint statement condemning lukashenko’s inauguration. In their opinion, the latest elections did not meet international standards and cannot be considered legitimate.

lukashenko, who came to power 30 years ago on the image of a fighter against corruption, promised to defeat it “within these 5 years”. According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, the corruption situation in the rb has been deteriorating for four years in a row. At the end of 2024, the rb scored 33 points (in 2023 – 37, in 2022 – 39, in 2021 – 41, in the best year for it – 2020 – 47) and shared 114th place (it was 98th a year earlier) with Laos, Mongolia, Sierra Leone, Panama, and the Philippines.

In 2024, 43 % of all belarusian bankrupt companies were trade organizations. This is much higher than the share of any other industry. For example, transportation firms accounted for 11.5 %, construction firms – for 12.2 %, and manufacturing firms – for 5.1 %. It was trade that suffered the most from the system of manual price regulation adopted by the belarusian government in 2022.

The launch of the national eHealth system, announced for 2022, was disrupted by the lukashenko regime’s involvement in the war against Ukraine and subsequent EU sanctions. The national eHealth system was supposed to be a modern tool that would combine all medical data on belarusian patients in one database. The project envisaged the launch of a website and a mobile application through which belarusians would have access to electronic prescriptions, hospital records, and personal treatment history.

As of 2024, the rb ranks 8th in the world in terms of mental disorders, with one in four people in the country suffering from anxiety and depressive disorders or adaptation disorders. Over the year, about 510 thousand cases of depression were detected in belarus, which is about 5.6 % of the population.

belarus has recognized the book about lukashenko published in russia, “The Accidental President”, as “extremist”. Recognition of the publication as “extremist material” means that its distribution is now prohibited in the rb. Possession or public use of this book may result in administrative or criminal proceedings.

Another maz’ bus caught fire in the rf. belarusian buses regularly catch fire in russia, the reason being sanctions imposed on the company.