[🇷🇺] Russia vs West

[Saif]

UK to unveil sweeping sanctions against Russia

London will unveil a significant package of sanctions against Russia on Monday, which marks three years since the start of its war with Ukraine, UK foreign secretary David Lammy said Sunday.

www.newagebd.net

UK to unveil sweeping sanctions against Russia
Agence France-Presse . London, United Kingdom 23 February, 2025, 22:10

London will unveil a significant package of sanctions against Russia on Monday, which marks three years since the start of its war with Ukraine, UK foreign secretary David Lammy said Sunday.

‘This is also the time to turn the screws on [Vladimir] Putin’s Russia,’ Lammy said in a statement.

‘Tomorrow [Monday], I plan to announce the largest package of sanctions against Russia since the early days of the war—eroding their military machine and reducing revenues fuelling the fires of destruction in Ukraine,’ he added.

UK’s decision to ramp up sanctions comes as US president Donald Trump has in recent weeks sought to sideline Kyiv and its European backers from talks with Russia on the future of the conflict.

‘This is a critical moment in the history of Ukraine, Britain and all of Europe... Now is the time for Europe to double down on our support for Ukraine,’ said Lammy.

London has already imposed sanctions on 1,900 people and organisations with link’s to Putin’s government since the start of the war, as of January 2025.

Its sanctions target the Russian financial, aviation, military and energy sectors, including through bank asset freezes, travel bans, and trade restrictions.

EU countries last week agreed a new round of sanctions which includes a ban on imports of Russian aluminium set to be formally adopted on Monday.

In his statement, Lammy reiterated UK’s military backing, which includes a pledge to provide $3.78 billion annually to Kyiv and ‘being ready and willing to provide UK troops as part of peacekeeping forces if necessary’.

‘Off the battlefield, we will work with the US and European partners to achieve a sustainable, just peace, and in doing so, remaining clear that there can be nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine,’ Lammy added.

On Saturday, UK prime minister Keir Starmer held separate phone calls with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, repeating a similar message to Lammy’s.

Starmer is headed to Washington to meet Trump on Thursday, hoping to act as a ‘bridge’ between the US and Europe to ensure territorial and security guarantees for Kyiv in the event of a deal to end the war.

The task looks increasingly challenging following a public spat in the last week between Zelensky and Trump, who called the Ukrainian leader a ‘dictator’ and hailed ‘good talks’ with Russia.

Trump also accused Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron of doing nothing to end the war in a Fox News interview on Friday.

European countries fear that if Ukraine is forced into a bad deal by Washington then that will leave Putin claiming victory and the continent at the mercy of an emboldened Moscow.​

 

[Saif]

Trump hands Russian economy a lifeline after three years of war

Russia's overheating economy is on the cusp of serious cooling, as huge fiscal stimulus, soaring interest rates, stubbornly high inflation and Western sanctions take their toll, but after three years of war, Washington may just have thrown Moscow a lifeline. US President Donald Trump is pushing fo

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Trump hands Russian economy a lifeline after three years of war
REUTERS
Published :
Feb 24, 2025 16:43
Updated :
Feb 24, 2025 16:43

People walk in Red Square on a sunny day in Moscow, Russia, February 23, 2025. Photo : REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

Russia's overheating economy is on the cusp of serious cooling, as huge fiscal stimulus, soaring interest rates, stubbornly high inflation and Western sanctions take their toll, but after three years of war, Washington may just have thrown Moscow a lifeline.

US President Donald Trump is pushing for a quick deal to end the war in Ukraine, alarming Washington's European allies by leaving them and Ukraine out of initial talks with Russia and blaming Ukraine for Russia's 2022 invasion, political gifts for Moscow that could also bring strong economic benefits.

Washington's push comes as Moscow faces two undesirable options, according to Oleg Vyugin, former deputy chairman of Russia's central bank.

Russia can either stop inflating military spending as it presses to gain territory in Ukraine, he said, or maintain it and pay the price with years of slow growth, high inflation and falling living standards, all of which carry political risks.

Though government spending usually stimulates growth, non-regenerative spending on missiles at the expense of civilian sectors has caused overheating to the extent that interest rates at 21 per cent are slowing corporate investment and inflation cannot be tamed.

"For economic reasons, Russia is interested in negotiating a diplomatic end to the conflict," Vyugin said. "(This) will avoid further increasing the redistribution of limited resources for unproductive purposes. It's the only way to avoid stagflation."

While Russia is unlikely to swiftly reduce defence spending, which accounts for about a third of all budget expenditure, the prospect of a deal should ease other economic pressures, could bring sanctions relief and eventually the return of Western firms.

"The Russians will be reluctant to stop spending on arms production overnight, afraid of causing a recession, and because they need to restore the army," said Alexander Kolyandr, researcher at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA).

"But by letting some soldiers go, that would take a bit of pressure off the labour market."

War-related recruitment and emigration have caused widespread labour shortages, pushing Russian unemployment to a record low 2.3 per cent.

Inflation pressure could also ease, Kolyandr added, as peace prospects may make Washington less likely to enforce secondary sanctions on companies from countries like China, making imports more straightforward and, therefore, cheaper.

NATURAL SLOWDOWN

Russian markets have already seen a boost. The rouble surged to a near six-month high against the dollar on Friday, buoyed by prospects for sanctions relief.

Russia's economy has grown strongly since a small contraction in 2022, but authorities expect 2024's 4.1 per cent growth to slow to around 1-2 per cent this year and the central bank is not yet seeing sustainable grounds to cut rates.

When holding rates at 21 per cent on February 14, Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina said demand growth has long been faster than production capacity, hence the natural slowdown in growth.

The bank's challenge in finding a balance between growing the economy and lowering inflation is complicated by rampant fiscal stimulus. Russia's fiscal deficit ballooned to 1.7 trillion roubles ($19.21 billion) in January alone, a 14-fold increase year on year as Moscow frontloads 2025 spending.

"...it is very important for us that the budget deficit...remains as the government is currently planning," Nabiullina said.

The finance ministry, which expects a 1.2-trillion-rouble deficit for 2025 as a whole, rejigged its budget plans three times last year.

CARROT & STICK

The war has brought economic advantages for some Russians but pain for others.

For workers in sectors linked to the military, fiscal stimulus has sharply raised wages, while others in civilian sectors struggle with soaring prices for basic goods.

Some businesses have seized opportunities presented by huge shifts in trade flows and reduced competition. For example, Melon Fashion Group's revenues have steadily risen as it has ridden the consumer demand wave.

Melon's brands have significantly expanded over the last two years, the company told Reuters, and since 2023, the average size of stores it opens has doubled.

But for many others, high rates pose a serious challenge.

"At current lending rates, it is difficult for developments to launch new projects," said Elena Bondarchuk, founder of warehouse developer Orientir. "The once-wide circle of investors has narrowed and those who remain are also dependent on banks' terms."

Lower oil prices, budget constraints and a rise in bad corporate debt are among the top economic risks facing Russia, internal documents seen by Reuters show. And Trump, though dangling the carrot of concessions over Ukraine, has threatened additional sanctions if no deal is forthcoming.

"The United States has significant leverage in terms of the economy and it's why the Russians are happy to meet," Chris Weafer, chief executive of Macro-Advisory Ltd, told Reuters.

"The United States is saying: 'We can ease sanctions if you cooperate, but if you don't we can make it a hell of a lot worse'."​

 

[Saif]

Russia and US aim to fix diplomatic ties under Trump-Putin rapprochement

Russia and the US will seek to mend diplomatic ties during talks also focused on ending the conflict in Ukraine as part of a surprise rapprochement under President Donald Trump. Following is a history of recent rows over staffing and properties: NO RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR IN WASHINGTON Moscow has had

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Russia and US aim to fix diplomatic ties under Trump-Putin rapprochement
REUTERS
Published :
Feb 26, 2025 21:16
Updated :
Feb 26, 2025 21:16

US and Russian flags are seen printed on paper in this illustration taken January 27, 2022. Photo : REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Files

Russia and the US will seek to mend diplomatic ties during talks also focused on ending the conflict in Ukraine as part of a surprise rapprochement under President Donald Trump.

Following is a history of recent rows over staffing and properties:

NO RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR IN WASHINGTON

Moscow has had no ambassador in Washington since last October when the previous envoy Anatoly Antonov left his post.

A senior Russian lawmaker said in late January that Washington had granted approval for a new ambassador, but the Foreign Ministry said on February 22 there was no agreement yet.

Russia plans to name Alexander Darchiev, head of the Foreign Ministry's North American department, as its new ambassador, the Kommersant newspaper reported in November.

The US has an ambassador in Moscow, Lynne Tracy.

EXPULSIONS

Days after President Vladimir Putin sent tens of thousands of Russian troops into Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the US ordered the expulsion of 12 Russian diplomats at the U.N. whom it described as intelligence operatives engaged in espionage.

That March, Russia expelled an unspecified number of US diplomats from their Moscow embassy in a tit-for-tat move.

Since then, the countries have continued to throw out each other's diplomats. It is unclear how many diplomats each side has in the other's country.

PROPERTY DISPUTE

Russia has been embroiled in a dispute over its diplomatic property in the US since 2017, when Washington closed down the Russian consulate in San Francisco and two diplomatic annexes in New York and Washington D.C. after accusations by American intelligence officials that Russia interfered in the 2016 US presidential election.

Moscow denied political interference and denounced the closures as a hostile act violating international law.

In 2018, President Donald Trump ordered the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle due to its proximity to a US submarine base and planemaker Boeing Co (BA.N). At the same time, the US also expelled 60 Russian diplomats over a nerve agent attack in Britain on Sergei Skripal, a former Russian intelligence agent, which it blamed on Moscow.

In the years since, Moscow has appealed repeatedly to the UN to urge the US to return the property to Russia.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he raised the property issue in Russia-US talks in Riyadh on February 18 that were the first round of their rapprochement.

"We talked about removing artificial obstacles that seriously complicate the daily functioning of our embassies, consulates general," he added, referring to issues with financing and restrictions on movements, numbers and length of stay of diplomats.​

 

[Saif]

'Strongly considering' banking sanctions, tariffs on Russia, says Trump

Trump has also paused military aid and intelligence sharing to Ukraine to pressure Kyiv to accept a ceasefire deal after an explosive Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy a week ago

www.thedailystar.net

'Strongly considering' banking sanctions, tariffs on Russia, says Trump

Photo: AFP

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he is "strongly considering" imposing sweeping sanctions, including ones on banking, and tariffs on Russia until a ceasefire and peace agreement is reached with Ukraine.

Trump has also paused military aid and intelligence sharing to Ukraine to pressure Kyiv to accept a ceasefire deal after an explosive Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy a week ago.

"Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely 'pounding' Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large-scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED," Trump said. "To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late. Thank you!!!"

Trump has faced criticism for doubling down on Ukraine, including his comment last month that Kyiv, not Russia, was responsible for starting the war.

Trump's threat to impose sanctions and tariffs on Russia comes days after Reuters reported that the White House was drawing up a plan to potentially give Russia sanctions relief as part of the administration's push to end the war and improve diplomatic and economic relations with Moscow.

Russia, one of the world's biggest oil producers, is subject to thousands of sanctions imposed by the United States and partners after its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

US sanctions on Russia include measures aimed at limiting its oil and gas revenues, including a cap of $60 per barrel on Russia's oil exports.

In Washington's toughest-yet measures, former President Joe Biden also hit Moscow with sanctions on Russian energy companies and vessels that shipped its oil on January 10, followed by sanctions on 250 targets, including some based in China, to crack down on Russia's evasion of earlier US sanctions.

Those measures included fresh sanctions on almost 100 critical Russian entities - including banks and companies operating in the country's energy sector - that were previously sanctioned by the United States, increasing their secondary sanction risks.​

 

[Saif]

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/economy/global/us-ramps-up-sanctions-on-russias-oil-gas-banking-sectors

US ramps up sanctions on Russia's oil, gas, banking sectors
FE ONLINE DESK
Published :
Mar 14, 2025 12:29
Updated :
Mar 14, 2025 12:29

The United States is tightening restrictions on Russia's oil, gas and banking sectors by limiting their access to US payment systems, according to CBC News.

The U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday ended a 60-day exemption introduced by the Biden administration in January, which allowed certain energy transactions involving sanctioned Russian banks to continue, CBC News reported. As the waiver expired, these banks may no longer use US payment systems for major energy deals.

The move to tighten access to U.S. banking systems makes it harder for other countries to buy Russian oil, potentially driving prices up by as much as 5 U.S. dollars per barrel, reports Xinhua.

The tougher restrictions come as the Donald Trump administration is trying to convince Russia to agree to a proposed 30-day ceasefire to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict.​

 

[Saif]

West will try to undermine us

Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday said the West would try to undermine Russia regardless of whether it lifted sanctions, telling business leaders in Moscow they should look elsewhere to invest

www.thedailystar.net

West will try to undermine us
Says Putin ahead of talks with Trump on Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday said the West would try to undermine Russia regardless of whether it lifted sanctions, telling business leaders in Moscow they should look elsewhere to invest.

Delivering a broadly anti-Western speech ahead of a crunch phone call with US counterpart Donald Trump, Putin said the G7 group was too small to see "on a map" and that Western dominance was "slipping away".

Western countries introduced sweeping sanctions on Russia in response to its full-scale military offensive against Ukraine in February 2022, restrictions that the Kremlin has called an "illegal" attempt to destroy its economy.

"Even if there is a gesture from the other side, like they suggest lifting or easing something, you can expect they will find another way of pressing down, to throw a spanner in the works," Putin told business leaders at an event in Moscow.

"You should invest where it is profitable for you and Russia, where profits are high and investments are reliably protected. There are many such regions of the world," the Russian leader said.

Dozens of Western companies pulled out of Russia in the wake of its conflict in Ukraine, while some of those that remained were seized by the Russian government.

While the Russian economy has overcome the initial shock of sanctions and found domestic alternatives to most Western brands, it wants the West to lift them as part of any Ukraine peace deal.

The Trump administration has declined to say whether it will ease sanctions on Moscow, saying only that both sides will need to make "concessions" for peace.

Washington and Moscow have expressed optimism about recent talks but it remains to be seen if Trump can convince Putin to agree to a US-proposed 30-day ceasefire, more than three years into Russia's invasion.

Kyiv has agreed to halting fighting, but Putin instead set a string of conditions, with European countries criticising him for not committing to an immediate ceasefire.

Many in Europe worry Trump -- who has for years expressed admiration for Russia -- will cede to Putin's demands.

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the leaders will discuss Ukraine and the "normalisation" of US-Russia ties, with Trump's previous call to Putin ending the Kremlin chief's isolation during the Ukraine invasion.​

 

[Mainerik]

@Krishna with Flute

 

[Krishna with Flute]

@Krishna with Flute

West is trying that post WW II. What he says is a open secret.