Russia faces further punitive measures from the EU over its war against Ukraine. According to information from the German Press Agency, this also includes the proposal to restrict the trade in diamonds from Russia. As the EU Foreign Service announced, a proposal for a twelfth sanctions package was sent to the 27 member states. It is now being examined by government officials and should ideally come into effect by the end of the year.
After almost 21 months of Russian war of aggression, President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed on Wednesday to the will of his compatriots to fight. Ukrainians could not afford to close their eyes to the war, he said in Kiev: “We have to fight.” The Ukrainian army marks the 631st day of the war on Thursday.
In Russia, the war ordered by President Vladimir Putin is supported by many people. However, as a sign of protest, several attacks have been carried out on military assembly offices in recent days.
EU launches twelfth sanctions package
According to information from Brussels, the EU wants to decide on export and import bans on further goods from Russia. The recently barely effective price ceiling for Russian oil exports to third countries will also be tightened. Unlike Britain, the EU has not yet imposed a ban on the import of diamonds and aluminum from Russia. The main reason so far has been resistance from Belgium, where the Flemish port city of Antwerp has been one of the most important diamond centers in the world since the 16th century. Russia is considered the world’s largest producer of rough diamonds. In 2021, state diamond miner Alrosa had a turnover of 332 billion rubles (about 3.38 billion euros).
The eleventh EU sanctions package came into force in June. It included, among other things, an instrument against circumventing sanctions already imposed. There have long been import bans on crude oil, coal, steel, gold and luxury goods, as well as punitive measures against banks and financial institutions. The list of people, organizations and companies sanctioned over the conflict in Ukraine now includes around 1,800 entries.
Zelensky: Russia can still do evil
At least five civilians were killed and 17 others injured by Russian shelling in southern and eastern Ukraine on Wednesday, according to official reports. At least three men have been killed in the Zaporizhia region after Russian missile attacks, according to civil defense officials. Two of the dead were rescue workers who came to help after the first hits.
“Russia is still capable of doing evil,” Zelensky said in his video address. “We must fight. We must make our defense a top priority. And we must make our state stronger every day.”
Ukraine makes war risk insurance for ships cheaper
With British help, Ukraine reduces insurance premiums for ships calling at Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea despite the war. This should support grain exports from Ukraine, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said. War risk coverage of 50 million dollars (46.1 million euros) applies to each ship. In addition, there would be an additional $50 million in protection and liability insurance for each trip to Ukraine. On the Ukrainian side, the state banks Ukreximbank and Ukrgasbank guarantee the amounts, on the British side the reinsurers Marsh McLennan and Lloyd’s of London. Germany’s DZ Bank is also involved.
Russia in July withdrew its security commitments for Ukrainian grain exports. That is why Ukraine has set up its own shipping corridor to its Black Sea ports. Since then, about 100 ships have attempted the risky passage; More grain was exported again. Last week, the Russian air force fired on a Liberian-flagged cargo ship docked in a port near Odessa. A Ukrainian pilot was killed and three Filipino sailors were injured.
Arsons on Russian collection offices
In Russia, there have again been several arson attacks on local collection offices. According to media reports, security forces arrested a 75-year-old woman in St. Petersburg on Wednesday for allegedly setting fire to a car in front of the army recruitment center. On Tuesday, the Russian Telegram channel Shot reported on arson attacks on two Russian military offices in Perm in the Urals and in the city of Prokhladny in the Caucasus.
On Monday in the city of Podolsk, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of Moscow, a district military replacement office was reportedly attacked twice in the course of one day, Shot reported. According to local media, a 70-year-old in Obninsk, about 70 kilometers to the southwest, threw an incendiary weapon at local military authorities on the same day. There were further reports of attacks on offices in Sevastopol, Crimea and the Sverdlovsk region. The last major wave of arson attacks on military replacement offices in the Russian district took place in July.
The Russian economy is growing faster than expected
The Russian economy grew stronger than expected this summer. Gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 5.5 percent in the third quarter compared to the previous year, the national statistics agency announced on Wednesday. This is the strongest increase since the fourth quarter of 2021. Economists had expected growth of 5.1 percent. Growth is supported by high government spending related to the war against Ukraine.
That will be important on Thursday
Russian troops are attacking in several sectors on the fronts in eastern and southern Ukraine. The Ukrainian army expects heavy fighting near the cities of Kupyansk, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Mariinka. (sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
