Global Courant 2023-05-19 15:32:37
G-7 leaders commit to additional sanctions against Russia
Leaders of Kiev’s allied G-7 forces said on Friday they have committed to further sanctions against Russia, and that they have “ensuring Ukraine gets the budget support it needs for 2023 and early 2024”.
They once again condemned Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine and stressed that peace cannot be achieved without the “complete and unconditional withdrawal” of Russian troops.
“We are imposing further sanctions and measures to increase costs for Russia and those who support its war effort,” the group said in a statement, outlining its intentions to further harass those operating in key sectors such as manufacturing, construction and transportation. to deal with.
“We will starve Russia of G7 technology, industrial equipment and services that support its war machine,” the bloc said, reiterating plans to cut Russian revenues and Moscow’s resources to continue its war in Ukraine.
The group said it had “drastically” reduced its dependence on Russian energy and raw materials following the export ban and its price cap on Moscow’s crude oil and oil products by sea, adding that it intends to “continue to work closely together to improve trade in and the use of diamonds mined, processed or produced in Russia.”
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— Ruxandra Iordache
The UK formally announces new sanctions against Russia
The British government has formally disclosed increased sanctions against Russia targeting the theft and resale of Ukrainian grains, major energy and arms transport companies, and companies associated with Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy company Rosatom that “produce advanced materials and technology”.
The new designations concern 86 persons and companies.
The British government also confirmed the announcement by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak – who is in Japan for the Group of Seven summit – who said the UK is banning imports of Russian diamonds and copper, aluminum and nickel.
The UK and its G-7 allies will announce new sanctions against Russia after G-7 talks to reduce the Kremlin’s coffers and slow Moscow’s progress in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
— Ruxandra Iordache
The incident involving a Russian train could disrupt supplies to Moscow’s fleet, UK says
A rail failure near the base of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet could affect the supply and delivery of weapons such as Kalibr cruise missiles, the British Ministry of Defense said in its daily intelligence update.
A train derailed near Simferopol on the Crimean peninsula, blocking its route to the Russian BSF base in Sevastopol after the intervention of “unauthorized persons”. This is reported by the Russian state news agency Tass. The Russian authorities are currently working on how to deal with the incident.
“Any sabotage in this area will further raise the Kremlin’s concerns about its ability to protect other important infrastructure in Crimea,” the British defense ministry said. “The peninsula continues to play a vital psychological and logistical role in enabling Russia’s war in Ukraine.”
Russia invaded and annexed the peninsula from Ukraine in 2014.
— Ruxandra Iordache
“Russian diamonds are not forever,” warns the chief of the European Council
“We are now focused on closing the door to loopholes. And continuing to cut Russia off from critical supplies. We will restrict the trade of Russian diamonds. Russian diamonds are not forever,” said Charles Michel, chairman of the European Council.
Thierry Monasse | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Charles Michel, President of the European Council, said this weekend at a press conference ahead of the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, Japan, that the EU is ready to consider sanctions on Russian diamonds.
“We are now focused on closing the door to loopholes. And continuing to cut Russia off from critical supplies. We will limit the trade of Russian diamonds. Russian diamonds are not forever,” he said.
The EU has so far taken no action against Russian diamonds, but has imposed several waves of sanctions against Russian banking, trade and energy since the start of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The UK announced its intentions on May 18 Ban Russian diamondsin addition to imports of copper, aluminum and nickel of Russian origin.
— Ruxandra Iordache
Zelenskyy will attend the G-7 summit in person, the Ukrainian official confirmed
A Ukrainian security official confirmed that the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will personally attend the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, Japan this weekend, in accordance with an earlier report from the Financial Times.
“Very important things will be decided there and therefore the presence of our president is absolutely essential to defend our interests,” Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, said in a Reuters commentary.
Officials from the seven richest countries in the world are expected to discuss tougher sanctions against Russia with Britain May 18 announcement of intentions to ban Russian diamonds, as well as the importation of copper, aluminum and nickel of Russian origin. It also plans further sanctions against an additional 86 people and companies. According to Charles Michel, President of the European Council, the EU is also focusing on trade restrictions on Russian diamonds.
— Ruxandra Iordache
G-7 members expected to roll out new sanctions and export controls against Russia, Biden administration official says
Russian President Vladimir Putin presides over a meeting on the development of unmanned aerial vehicles at the Rudnyovo Industrial Park in Moscow, Russia, on April 27, 2023.
Mikhail Klimentiev | Sputnik | Reuters
A senior Biden administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity under basic rules set by the White House, said G-7 members plan to roll out new sanctions and export controls against Russia.
“Tomorrow you will hear a strong statement of unity, strength and commitment in our response to the Russian offensive war,” the senior government official said on a conference call with reporters.
“We have taken a range of actions in conjunction with our G-7 partners to hold Russia accountable, we have introduced the largest set of sanctions and export controls ever imposed on a major economy,” said the co-ordinated sanctions official. to Moscow since the start of the war at the end of February.
The official said the Biden administration will also “roll out a significant package of its own,” but declined to provide specific details other than that the sanctions will address loopholes.
— Amanda Macias
Zelenskyy to attend G-7 summit in person: Financial Times
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend the meetings of the Group of Seven in person on Sunday, Financial Times reportedciting people who knew about the preparations on Friday.
The surprise visit comes after the president was expected to attend meetings virtually.
Zelenskyy’s trip to Hiroshima is “aimed at strengthening Western determination to support Ukraine and winning other non-G7 participants to the summit, including India and Brazil,” the Financial Times report said.
— Jihye Lee
Despite the renewal of the grain deal, Moscow sees no progress
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov listens as UN Secretary General António Guterres speaks during a meeting of the Security Council at United Nations Headquarters on April 24, 2023 in New York City.
Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday that Moscow had agreed to extend the Black Sea grain agreement by two months, although it saw no results when it came to implementing the parts of it that apply to Russia.
Speaking at a press conference with his Ugandan counterpart, Lavrov said the deal was designed to bolster food security for the world’s poorest people.
Lavrov denied that Russia’s renewal of the partially Turkey-brokered deal was related to Turkey’s presidential election.
— Reuters
