September 28, 2024 Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

“Let me be clear – russia will not win the war. russia will not win. Ukraine will win, and we will continue to stand with you”, said US President Joe Biden.

US President Joe Biden will chair a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (Ramstein) on October 12 in Germany.

The US Department of Defense has announced what is in the package of assistance to Ukraine for an additional $ 2.4 billion under the Security Assistance Initiative. The package includes: munitions and support for Ukrainian air defense systems; air-to-ground munitions; Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and components to support Ukrainian production of UAS; counter-UAS equipment; unmanned surface vessels; secure communications equipment; equipment and materiel to support Ukrainian munitions production; spare parts, maintenance and sustainment support, and other ancillary equipment.

The Parliament of the FRG has approved a EUR 400 million increase in military aid to Ukraine.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the FRG Annalena Baerbock believes that if the allies stop defending Ukraine, it will mean “depriving Ukrainian hospitals and children of security and will lead to more wars”.

Michael Roth, Chairman of the Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee and a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, is calling for an increase in European assistance to Ukraine in the form of weapons to create a better negotiating position for our country.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy believes that restrictions on Ukraine’s using Western long-range weapons against military targets in russia may be lifted by the beginning of winter.

Minister of Defence of Lithuania Laurynas Kasčiūnas believes that putin's statements about the kremlin's updated nuclear doctrine indicate his fears that Ukraine may be allowed to use long-range missiles to hit targets in russia.

Former Minister of Defence of the Netherlands Kajsa Ollongren believes that the world should stop being afraid of putin's “red lines” because they “exist only in the head” and should learn from Ukraine's military experience. “It (the Ukrainian Armed Forces' operation in kursk) is brilliantly organized: tactics, secrecy, the use of various systems. I think in the future it will be analyzed in all textbooks and in all military academies of the world”, said Ollongren.

Canada and France will help Ukraine defend itself against russia in cyberspace.

Pierre Heilbronn, Special Envoy of the President of France for Ukraine’s Relief and Reconstruction, has assured that the new French government is committed to Ukraine and will keep all expenses related to aid and investments in the budget for the next year.

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The United States has announced sanctions against the russian virtual currency exchanger PM2BTC, the Cryptex crypto exchange, and its head sergey ivanov. At the same time, the US Department of State has announced a $ 10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of s. ivanov.

“If a member of the Security Council is allowed to reap the rewards of aggression, the harmful effects will not be limited to Ukraine. The rf’s leadership will continue to try to impose its dominance on neighboring countries”, said Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden Maria Malmer Stenergard.

Finland's Ministry of Defense has decided to deploy a NATO ground forces command post in Mikkeli, 140 km from the rf’s border.

India will not buy russian liquefied natural gas from the “arctic lng-2” project, which has been subject to international sanctions.

The rf continues to lose ground in the Global Innovation Index ranking, which has been compiled by the World Intellectual Property Organization (a specialized UN agency) since 2007: In 2024, the rf ranked 59th out of 133 countries after 51st place in 2023 (in 2022 it ranked 47th, in 2021 – 45th). russia's worst result was in the “Institutions” indicator – 126th place.

One of russia's largest oil and gas companies, “surgutneftegaz”, reduced gas production by 11.85 % in January–August compared to last year, to 4.25 billion cubic meters.

In the first half of 2024, the russian oil company “lukoil” reduced extraction of hydrocarbons to 2.289 million barrels of oil equivalent per day compared to 2.312 million last year, and oil production – to 1.728 million barrels per day. Gas production dropped to 17.4 billion cubic meters from 17.5 billion cubic meters.

On September 27, at the st. petersburg international mercantile exchange, the average wholesale price of AI-92 petrol rose by 436 rubles per ton (+0.73 %) compared to the previous trading day, and of AI-95 – by 17 rubles (+0.03 %).

According to belstat, in 1994 there were 24,885 settlements in the country. By the beginning of 2024, their number had decreased by 1,694 and amounted to 23,191 settlements. According to experts, on average every week one village disappeared in the rb.

The rb has approved a draft law amending the law on the payment of pensions to military personnel. Now they will lose their pensions if they move to “unfriendly” countries for permanent residence.

The “cherven woodworking plant”, the oldest belarusian enterprise that had been producing furniture, lumber and woodworking products since 1929, has gone bankrupt and is in the process of liquidation.