May 22, 2024 Ukraine and the World - Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

The European Union has approved the use of proceeds from the rf central bank’s frozen assets to help Ukraine. Thanks to this, Ukraine will receive EUR 3 billion in 2024 alone. 90% of this amount will go to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Jan Lipavsky.

Minister of Defence of Spain Margarita Robles has announced the shipment to Ukraine of the second batch of Leopard tanks, as well as 155 mm artillery ammunition and a new batch of Patriot anti-aircraft missiles, as well as anti-drone systems, optical-electronic surveillance systems, etc.

The German initiative to strengthen Ukrainian air defense has already raised almost a billion Euros. According to the Ministry of Defense of Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands and Norway will finance this project. In addition, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Spain, Lithuania, Romania, the United States and France promised to help with “equipment and missiles”, and Latvia expressed a desire to join the initiative.

Minister of Defence of the Netherlands Kajsa Ollongren has announced the delivery of a batch of YPR-765 infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine.

Ten servicemen of the Ukrainian Armed Forces have completed F-16 fighter maintenance training in the Netherlands.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis has confirmed that his country fully supports French President Emmanuel Macron’s initiative to send military instructors to Ukraine and is ready to take such a step within the coalition that could be led by Paris.

Finland's Minister for European Affairs and Property Management Anders Adlercreutz has said that EU countries should increase military aid to our country, because russia's even relative success in the war against Ukraine would have the most serious consequences for Europe.

The USA has handed over to Ukraine 107 generators for Kharkiv region. Also, USAID has handed over 50 voltage transformers, nine current transformers and 80 insulators to the Kharkiv power distribution system operator.

“We fundamentally want Ukraine to win this war, and we've made that clear, including by providing billions of dollars in security assistance”, said Spokesperson for the US Department of State Matthew Miller.

US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen plans to call on European allies to work together to find a way to use blocked russian assets and provide sustainable financial support to Ukraine.

“I believe that if the attacks are carried out immediately from behind the rf’s border, then those bases should be legitimate targets, regardless of where the missiles are launched from or where the troops are supplied from”, said former US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland.

Federal Chancellor of Austria Karl Nehammer will represent his country at the Peace Summit in Switzerland.

President of Romania Klaus Iohannis has confirmed his participation in the upcoming Peace Summit.

By the end of June, Belgium wants to hold an intergovernmental meeting with Ukraine and Moldova regarding the start of negotiations on EU membership.

Vehicles have been donated to Ukraine by London under London's Ultra Low Emissions Zone (Ulez) programme. They will be used for humanitarian purposes.

Rrepresentative of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Ukraine Karolina Lindholm Billing has said that humanitarian aid needs for the country have been growing for more than two years.

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On May 21, Canada imposed sanctions on companies that helped deliver ballistic missiles from North Korea to the rf, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada Mélanie Joly said. Two of the sanctioned individuals are high-ranking representatives of russian companies that are closely linked to the russian military and are involved in the transportation of weapons from North Korea to the rf. Six of the entities are russian shipping companies that own, manage and operate aircrafts and cargo ships that were used to complete the arms transfers from North Korea to the rf.

UK Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps believes that the rf will not be able to completely place its economy on a war footing.

In Poland, nine people were arrested, who are suspected of sabotage on the order of the russian special services. They are accused of beating people, attempted arson attack on a paint factory, diversions in Lithuania and arson attack on an IKEA warehouse.

The Government of Finland has presented a draft law on fighting controlled migration from the rf.

From September 16, the European Union will strengthen control over the import of dogs, cats and ferrets from the rf: they will be allowed through the EU borders only after testing for the presence of antibodies to rabies. The sample can be taken at least 30 days after vaccination and no earlier than three months before obtaining a veterinary certificate and entering the EU. This test must be conducted in EU accredited laboratories.

According to the calculations of economists of the Vienna Institute for International Economic Research (WIIW), by the end of 2021 the accumulated volume of foreign direct investment in russia amounted to EUR 439.8 billion. In terms of one person, the volume of investment was approximately EUR 3 thousand, which can be compared with Albania and Kosovo. In Poland, the volume of foreign investments was EUR 6,400 per person, in Serbia – EUR 6,800, in Kazakhstan – EUR 7,100, in Hungary – EUR 9,600, in the Czech Republic – EUR 17,000. Last year, the number of deals involving foreign capital decreased to 97, and their volume – to $11.1 billion (the average amount of deals for the year decreased by 23%).

Prime Minister of the rf mishustin has recognized the problems with the development of russian software, which should replace the product of foreign suppliers.

After “gazprom” had reported  record losses of 629 billion rubles at the end of 2023, the government of the rf  banned the company from paying dividends for the previous year. After the publication of the order of russian authorities, “gazprom”’s shares at the moscow stock exchange fell by 5.8% to 146.17 rubles.

“gazprom”’s losses in 2023 were primarily due to the rejection of russian gas by European countries: pipeline exports to the continent fell to 24 billion cubic meters, compared to 62 billion cubic meters a year earlier. According to the results of 2023, “gazprom”’s revenue decreased by 27% to 8.54 trillion rubles. Revenue from the sale of gas halved, to 3 trillion rubles. The company's EBITDA indicator in 2023 decreased 4.5 times, to 618.37 billion rubles.

Sales of Lada cars in the rf have reached an annual maximum. The Chinese brand Haval is second, and Chery is third.

russia intends to legalize the use of used auto parts in the repair of vehicles.

The volume of early repayment of mortgages by borrowers in the rf in the first three months of 2024 fell by 10% compared to the same period in 2023.

30% of representatives of small and medium-sized businesses in the rf reported a decrease in sales of goods and services in April. 16% of respondents reported a decrease in profits, 18% reported a forced reduction in staff. The share of companies that already had a loan, but had to take another one, within a month increased from 27% to 29%. More than 25% of small and medium-sized businesses stated that they are unable to obtain loans due to high bank interest rates – this figure is the highest in the recent history of the rf.

The tver district court has fined a muscovite for dyeing his hair in the colors of the Ukrainian flag. “Such visible agitation clearly expresses a negative attitude to the armed forces of the rf”,  the court ruling reads.

According to the results of a survey by the russian “levada center” almost half of russians believe that in “exceptional cases” it is OK to use torture against suspects. Over the past five years, this indicator has increased by 19 percent – in 2019, less than a third of respondents were loyal to torture. Currently, only 35% of respondents are categorically against the use of torture.

Rising housing prices, problems with obtaining a residence permit and the general increase in the cost of living in Turkey have led to an outflow of russians from the country. They began to move to Serbia and the UAE, where the price of square meters is higher, but obtaining a residence permit is easier.

russians give the Thai authorities and law enforcement officers a lot of trouble and become subject to discussion in the Thai media. In 2023, russian tourists became leaders in crime in Thailand. Some try to conduct illegal business in the resorts of the country. Residents also complain en masse about visiting russians. They are unhappy that they earn money in professions that are reserved only for the Thai, in particular, this applies to the work of guides. Problems with the Thai police also await lovers of gambling, which is prohibited in the Kingdom – at the beginning of 2024, four russian tourists were detained for this at one of the villas in Phuket.

The Lithuanian women's national football team refused to play qualifying matches for the 2025 European Women's Championship against the team from the rb.

The US Embassy in minsk and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland in their appeals on the Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners called for releasing all political prisoners in the rb and clearing them of the charges.

Sweden allocates five million kroner (about 470,000 dollars) to the support fund for belarusian political prisoners. The money is intended for medical and psychological assistance, as well as rehabilitation of those who were repressed by the lukashenko regime.

On May 21, the state concern “belneftekhim” increased the prices for petrol and diesel, calling it a “correction” and promising another increase in the next two months.

In the rb, the shortage of personnel is increasing. As of May 21, according to the employment service, employers need almost 151.7 thousand workers. For comparison: as of May 20, 150,057 workers were needed. That is, within 24 hours, their shortage increased by 1.6 thousand people.

The investigative committee of the rb has announced the initiation of criminal cases against the participants of the elections to the coordination council of the rb. 257 people are defendants in the case. “They represent 12 extremist organizations and are now  defendants in criminal cases”, the investigative committee said.

The brest regional court of the rb has sentenced a 25-year-old Ukrainian citizen Artem Makovey to six years in prison on charges of “agent’s activity”. It is anybody’s guess what exactly the Ukrainian was accused of, since the trial was held behind closed doors, and there were no procedural actions, in particular interrogations, regarding him.

A two-day command and staff exercise with military command bodies and rear support military units began in the rb. The “survivability” of military facilities and rear-line organizations will be tested.