Sanctions remain vital for maintaining international pressure on Russia, Deputy PM says
Sanctions against Russia remain a key tool of international pressure, Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Olha Stefanishyna said on Feb. 19.
Sanctions against Russia
Oil prices near one-week high amid Russia supply disruptions, sanctions uncertainty
Oil prices remained near a one-week high on Feb. 19 as concerns over supply disruptions in Russia and the U.S. continued to drive the market.
Ukraine war latest: Trump calls Zelensky 'dictator,' warns of Ukraine's demise without elections
Key developments on Feb. 19: * Trump calls Zelensky 'dictator,' warns of Ukraine's demise without elections * Reported drone strike against Russian oil refinery in Samara Oblast causes fire * Ukraine refutes Putin's claims of Russian offensive from Kursk Oblast * North Korean troops in Russia reportedly told they're fighting South Korean forces
Hungary again blocks EU sanctions against Moscow Patriarch Kirill
"Hungary also blocked sanctions against 27 individuals and organizations, including Patriarch Kirill, arguing that targeting religious leaders undermines peace efforts," a Hungarian government spokesperson said.
US promises Europe to maintain sanctions against Russia at least until Ukraine peace deal, Bloomberg reports
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured a group of European colleagues that sanctions would not be lifted earlier. The phone call took place on Feb. 18.
EU ambassadors agree on 16th package of Russia sanctions
EU ambassadors agreed on a new package of sanctions against Russia, targeting aluminum imports and the "shadow fleet" of oil tankers, Euronews reported on Feb. 19.
EU must take Russia sanctions into 'its own hands,' commissioner says
The European Union must take greater control of its sanctions policy against Russia as U.S. priorities shift, EU Economy and Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said on Feb. 18.
Explosions reported on Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in Italy
Two explosions took place on the oil tanker Seajewel, moored in the Italian city of Savona on Feb. 18, with the vessel allegedly transporting Russian oil to Europe, Italian publication IVG reported.
Director of popular Ukrainian online casino detained over company ties to Russia
Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has detained the director of popular online casino Pin-Up over its alleged Russian ownership and business in Russia, the agency announced in a press release on Feb. 14.
Russia abandons modernization of power plants due to lack of money, equipment, media reports
The Russian government has allowed several companies to abandon the modernization of over a dozen power plants across the country, the Russian news agency Interfax reported.
Orban sees Russia's 'reintegration' into world economy, Europe's energy after Ukraine deal
"If the U.S. president comes and creates peace, there is a deal, I think Russia will be reintegrated into the world economy." Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.
Russia's growing shadow fleet sends a dangerous signal, expert warns
Russia has resorted to a "shadow fleet" to transport its oil and gas to get around Western sanctions and price caps. The Kyiv Independent spoke with Elisabeth Braw, a senior fellow with the Atlantic Council's Transatlantic Security Initiative, to find out what options the West has and how dangerous the shadow fleet actually is.
Russia's sanctioned ex-central bank official takes up in-person IMF duties in Washington
Ksenia Yudaeva is moving to Washington after the U.S. Treasury Department, still under the Biden administration, granted her permission to transition from remote to in-person duties as Russia's IMF executive director, Bloomberg reported in January.
US, UK, Australia sanction Russian cyber firm Zservers over ransomware attacks
Zservers, a bulletproof hosting (BPH) services provider, supported the Russian cybercrime group LockBit in perpetrating mass ransomware attacks, the U.S. Treasury Department said.
Chinese refiners offered discounted Russian oil as US sanctions deter buyers, Bloomberg reports
Chinese refiners are being offered Russian ESPO crude at discounted prices as rising concerns over U.S. sanctions create logistical and administrative challenges, deterring buyers, Bloomberg reported on Feb. 11.
Russia concerned with weakening sway over allies amid Western pressure, FT reports
Russian officials are concerned that the Western sanctions are undermining Russia's economic influence over countries in its close neighborhood and the Global South, the Financial Times reported on Feb. 10, citing a leaked government report.
US sanctions strain Russia’s oil exports as shipping costs surge, Bloomberg reports
The number of sanctioned vessels has now reached 265, with U.S. blacklisting proving to be the most disruptive. Of the 435 ships that transported Russian crude in 2024, 112—or 26%—are now under Washington’s sanctions.
Russia to expand seizure of foreign assets, Reuters reports
A draft law approved this week by the Russian government's legislative commission lays out the procedure for seizing foreign property in retaliation for freezing Russian assets abroad.
Trump ready to step up Russia sanctions to end war in Ukraine, special envoy says
Current U.S. sanctions on Russia, particularly those targeting its energy sector, amount to a "3 on a 10-point scale" regarding economic pressure, Keith Kellogg, special envoy for Ukraine and Russia said.
2 Russian oligarchs sell Alfa-Bank stakes hoping to escape EU sanctions, FT reports
According to documents obtained by the FT, Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven sold their stakes for about Rbs 240 billion ($2.5 billion).
Raiffeisen Bank cooperates with companies supplying Russian army, Bloomberg reports
In 2023, the Russian branch of Raiffeisen Bank earned over $1 billion in the first three quarters, which accounted for about 50% of the group's total profit. The bank also paid 277 million euros ($284 million) in taxes to Russia over the same period, Bloomberg reported.
EU to propose phased ban on Russian aluminum in new sanctions package, Bloomberg reports
The sanctions will also cut off more Russian banks from the SWIFT banking system, and target an additional 70 vessels suspected to be part of Russia’s "shadow-fleet."
Trump 'helped' persuade Hungary to unblock EU Russia sanctions, Polish FM claims
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski believes Trump's recent threats of sanctions against Moscow played a role in Hungary's decision to withdraw its veto.
EU foreign ministers agree to extend Russia sanctions after Hungary’s delays
"This will continue to deprive Moscow of revenues to finance its war. Russia needs to pay for the damage they are causing," EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas said.
The week ahead: Key developments impacting global politics & markets
Editor's note: This article is an on-site version of KI Insights' The Week Ahead newsletter covering events from Jan. 27-Feb. 2. Sign up here to start your week with an agenda of Ukraine-related events, delivered directly to your inbox every Sunday. The 9-year terms of three Constitutional Court judges will
Kremlin sees 'no new elements' in Trump's statement on sanctions against Russia
"Trump, in the first iteration of his presidency, was the American president who most often resorted to sanctions methods," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
Top Putin aide's son investing in the West despite sanctions, media reports
Vladimir Kiriyenko, son of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Deputy Chief of Staff Sergei Kiriyenko, has continued making investments in the West through offshore companies despite sanctions, The Moscow Times reported on Jan. 21.
US imposes sanctions against Russian oil tankers under construction for 1st time
The latest sanctions, imposed last week, targeted over 180 oil-carrying vessels of Russia's so-called shadow fleet, a group of aging tankers routinely used for sanction evasion.
US targets China-Russia sanctions evasion scheme with new measures
"Today's actions frustrate the Kremlin's ability to circumvent our sanctions and get access to the goods they need to build weapons for their war of choice in Ukraine," said Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Treasury Wally Adeyemo.
EU considering ban on Russian LNG, aluminum, Bloomberg reports
The phase-out of LNG could be enacted as a sanction or part of a road map presented by the European Commission next month. Restrictions on aluminum would be gradual, with a time frame yet to be determined, officials said.
65 oil tankers drop anchor after latest US sanctions against Russia, Reuters reports
Sixty-five oil tankers paused operations in various places around the world following the recent U.S.-U.K. sanctions against Russia’s oil industry and shadow fleet, Reuters reported on Jan. 13, citing maritime tracking data.
Zelensky announces new sanctions on Russian financial sector
President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree on Jan. 13 imposing new sanctions on the Russian financial sector. The sanctions target 140 distinct entities.
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