September 18, 2024 Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

Minister of Defence of the Netherlands Ruben Brekelmans believes that the war in Ukraine will not end in 2024, so he has called for long-term support for our country. Brekelmans is also convinced that NATO should shoot down drones and missiles that violate its airspace.

The Ukraine Mine Action Conference (UMAC2024) will be held in Lausanne, Switzerland, on October 17–18.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany Annalena Baerbock has announced that her country intends to provide  additional EUR 100 million in aid to Ukraine this winter.

Executive Vice President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis has pointed out that russia's targeted shelling of Ukraine's critical infrastructure creates a difficult situation for people's survival next winter, but the EU intends to support our country in these conditions and is already providing unprecedented emergency and humanitarian aid.

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The United States will work to expand sanctions against countries that help russia find mechanisms to circumvent international bans, – said US National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard.

The United States has detained a russian man, denis postovoy, on charges of violating export restrictions, money laundering and illegal supplying russia with dual-use and military microelectronics.

The American multinational corporation Meta has blocked the accounts of the russian media group “rossiya segodnya” and related resources on its Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and WhatsApp platforms.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has sent a note to the rf over the detention and forced deployment of Azerbaijanis to the war with Ukraine.

The international non-profit organization Médecins Sans Frontières has suspended its activities in the rf.

In the first half of the year, the “growth” of the rf’s economy almost halved, – the central bank of the rf has reported.

Due to rising prices for olive oil, more than 33 % of russians have started buying blends of olive oil and sunflower oil.

In August, the number of sales contracts in the secondary housing market in moscow decreased by 36.3 % compared to August 2023.

Over the year, the average price of a cup of coffee in russian coffee shops rose by 9 %, while the price of the most popular option, a 300 ml cappuccino, increased by 23%. Two years ago, 1 kg of coffee cost 400 rubles in shops, while now it costs 700 to 3,000 rubles, which is by 30–40 % more expensive.

President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda has suggested that the Seimas consider denouncing the agreement on the promotion and protection of investments with the rb and the rf.

In the rb, starting September 20, tolls for vehicles with a permissible gross vehicle weight of more than 3.5 tons will rise by 1.3–1.9 euro cents per kilometer.

The members of the house of representatives of the rb have passed in the first reading the draft law “on amendments to the codes on criminal liability”, which introduces liability for violence and threats against the former president of the country.