With Russia's military stocks running low and domestic production capacity simultaneously hampered by Western sanctions, North Korea has been shaping up as Russia's leading weapons supplier, reportedly providing Moscow with extensive military packages, including ballistic missiles and over 3 million artillery shells.
For those interested in #economy of #Russia and international #sanctions, here’s the latest International Working Group on Russian Sanctions status report and recommendations:
The restrictions target actors purportedly involved in the transfer of North Korean arms to Russia for use against Ukraine and Iranian actors providing military aid to Moscow.
President #Biden on Monday evening signed a bipartisan bill prohibiting Russian imports of enriched #uranium a move intended to cut off one of the last significant flows of #money from the #UnitedStates to #Russia amid the #war in #Ukraine.
But #sanctions on #uranium imports have taken much longer, in part because #Russia supplies roughly 20% of #US#nuclear fuel, leading some lawmakers to fear disruptions to the nation’s 93 nuclear reactors.
“It’s kind of ridiculous that it took as long as it did to get to this stage,” said Scott Melbye, exec VP of mining company Uranium Energy & president of the Uranium Producers of America, a trade group. “But we’re just glad that we got here.”
Kadri Simson also said the EU is preparing for a sudden end to the Russian gas supply when the transit contract between Ukraine and Moscow expires at the end of this year.
Despite Western #sanctions Russia's weapons stockpile continues to replenish unrelentingly. As of March, the country was producing three times more artillery shells than the United States and Europe for #Ukraine. #Moscow has managed to bypass traditional checks and balances during its invasion, importing basic materials and components instead of weapons, Jean-Emile Jammine takes a look at the loopholes benifiting the Kremlin and how the West could be complicit.
The U.S. imposed new sanctions on May 1 against nearly 300 companies and individuals in Russia and third countries, including Chinese companies, for aiding Moscow's war effort, the Treasury Department announced.
Italy has overcome its dependence on Russian gas and will not oppose the proposed package of EU sanctions on liquified natural gas (LNG), Italian Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin said on April 28.
In 2023, the largest #Western#banks still operating in #Russia paid taxes that were four times the amount they paid before the full-scale invasion. This is due partly to international #sanctions on Russian banks.
#Chinese companies concerned about U.S. #sanctions are having to find news ways to sell their goods to Russia. One Chinese company selling electrical goods is considering selling them through currency brokers on China's shared border with #russia Reuters reports.
How about this: EU banks paid in #russia FOUR TIMES more taxes in 2023 than before the war. Half of that comes from #Austria#reiffeisenbank which not just didn’t leave russia as promised, but is actively expanding its business there. Way to go #eu, let’s finance russian war machine!
The banks are:
Raiffeisen Bank International, Unicredit, ING, Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, Intesa Sanpaolo, OTP
"Italy has emancipated itself from Russian natural #gas and would have no problem with a proposed package of #EU#sanctions on #LNG that the European Commission is considering, Italian #Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin said.
#Italy was one of the countries most dependent on Russian gas at the time of Moscow's all-out invasion of #Ukraine in 2022. But it has been remarkably nimble at diversifying supply..."
France threatens new sanctions against West Bank settlers
> PARIS: #France is considering extending #sanctions on Israeli settlers behind violence against Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank, President #EmmanuelMacron’s office said he spoke with Jordan’s King Abdullah II.
EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said earlier in April that the bloc is preparing its 14th round of sanctions against Russia, which should be adopted in spring.
Airbus has been granted a waiver by the Canadian government, allowing it to continue using Russian titanium after Ottawa became the first Western nation to ban the metal in its latest package of sanctions targeting the Kremlin, Reuters reported on April 23.
The proposal "would target those responsible for threatening the stability, security or sovereignty of EU member states or third countries by undermining elections, the rule of law, facilitating acts of violence or do so through the use of information manipulation and interference," Bloomberg wrote.
The EU is assessing imposing sanctions against over a dozen companies that continue to supply Russia with weapons technology, such as navigation systems for missiles, Bloomberg reported on April 23.
"Adopting the 14th sanctions package is one of the most important things," Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said when he arrived in Luxembourg for a ministerial EU meeting.
US imposes sanctions on Russians who helped transport weapons from North Korea to Russia (kyivindependent.com)
With Russia's military stocks running low and domestic production capacity simultaneously hampered by Western sanctions, North Korea has been shaping up as Russia's leading weapons supplier, reportedly providing Moscow with extensive military packages, including ballistic missiles and over 3 million artillery shells.
New Zealand announces new sanctions over Russia's war against Ukraine (kyivindependent.com)
The restrictions target actors purportedly involved in the transfer of North Korean arms to Russia for use against Ukraine and Iranian actors providing military aid to Moscow.
Commissioner: EU's next package of Russia sanctions to target LNG imports (kyivindependent.com)
Kadri Simson also said the EU is preparing for a sudden end to the Russian gas supply when the transit contract between Ukraine and Moscow expires at the end of this year.
US sanctions Russia, Chinese companies for war effort support (kyivindependent.com)
The U.S. imposed new sanctions on May 1 against nearly 300 companies and individuals in Russia and third countries, including Chinese companies, for aiding Moscow's war effort, the Treasury Department announced.
Minister: Italy has no reason to oppose new EU sanctions against Russian gas (kyivindependent.com)
Italy has overcome its dependence on Russian gas and will not oppose the proposed package of EU sanctions on liquified natural gas (LNG), Italian Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin said on April 28.
Reuters: Next round of EU sanctions on Russia to target shadow fleet, ships transporting North Korean equipment (kyivindependent.com)
EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said earlier in April that the bloc is preparing its 14th round of sanctions against Russia, which should be adopted in spring.
Reuters: Canada grants Airbus waiver against sanctions on Russian titanium (kyivindependent.com)
Airbus has been granted a waiver by the Canadian government, allowing it to continue using Russian titanium after Ottawa became the first Western nation to ban the metal in its latest package of sanctions targeting the Kremlin, Reuters reported on April 23.
Bloomberg: France proposes new sanctions to target Russian disinformation, election interference (kyivindependent.com)
The proposal "would target those responsible for threatening the stability, security or sovereignty of EU member states or third countries by undermining elections, the rule of law, facilitating acts of violence or do so through the use of information manipulation and interference," Bloomberg wrote.
Bloomberg: EU considering sanctions against foreign companies behind Russian defense tech (kyivindependent.com)
The EU is assessing imposing sanctions against over a dozen companies that continue to supply Russia with weapons technology, such as navigation systems for missiles, Bloomberg reported on April 23.
Swedish FM: EU's next Russia sanctions package must target shadow tanker fleet, LNG imports (kyivindependent.com)
"Adopting the 14th sanctions package is one of the most important things," Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said when he arrived in Luxembourg for a ministerial EU meeting.