Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

Chief of European diplomacy Kaja Kallas has announced the allocation of EUR 10 million for the creation of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. She has also said that the European Union is working on allocating additional EUR 100 million in winter aid to Ukraine. “Perhaps time was on russia’s side at one point, but it is now beginning to work in Ukraine’s favor. Every euro we take away from russia is one euro less it can spend on the war,” added EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.

“...We are discussing the implementation of our EUR 400 million maritime security package, which includes ships and sea drones,” said Minister of Defence of the Netherlands Ruben Brekelmans on strengthening Ukraine’s maritime security. He also called on countries to join the PURL program to meet Ukraine’s needs.

The Netherlands is providing Ukraine with a EUR 200 million support package to intercept russian drones.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has appealed to the Alliance’s Parliamentary Assembly to actively inform the societies of Alliance member countries about the importance of investing in defense and supporting Ukraine.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas has said that Europe is currently facing an extraordinary surge in attacks, and therefore she and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will present a roadmap for Europe’s defense in the near future. Kallas has said that every time a russian drone or aircraft violates the EU’s airspace, “there is a risk of escalation, whether accidental or deliberate”. “russia is playing war, and we are going beyond a hypothetical conflict. To keep the war at bay, we must transform Europe’s economic power into military deterrence,” she stressed.

“If russia persists in its obstinate warmongering and its refusal to come to the negotiating table, it will have to pay the price,” said President of France Emmanuel Macron.

Germany wants to give intelligence agencies more powers in light of the russian threat.

Chief of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND) Martin Jäger has warned of the real danger of military conflict with russia.

russia seeks to undermine NATO and destabilize democracies in Europe, Jäger said. “To achieve this goal, russia will not shy away from direct military confrontation with NATO if necessary,” Head of the Foreign Intelligence of the FRG has warned. Jäger strongly warned against underestimating the threat from russia. “We cannot afford to sit back and assume that a possible russian attack will not come until 2029 at the earliest. We are already under fire today,” he said. According to him, the enemy knows “neither rest nor periods of calm.” “At best, there is a frosty peace in Europe, which could turn into hot confrontation here and there at any moment. We must prepare ourselves for further escalation!” Jäger said.

“Now, in fact, there is almost no russian naval presence left in the Mediterranean. There is a lonely and broken russian submarine limping home from patrol,” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte mocked the russian diesel submarine in the English Channel.

Latvia’s imports of goods from russia and belarus in the first eight months of this year decreased 2.9 times, or by EUR 269.8 million, compared to the same period in 2024. Latvia’s exports to russia and belarus over the first eight months amounted to EUR 731.945 million, which is by 9.6 % (EUR 77.805 million) less than in the same period of 2024.

In the first nine months of 2025, trade turnover between China and russia showed a noticeable decline of 9.4 % compared to the same period last year.

There has been a decline in prices for russian-produced K-grade coking coal in key export destinations. This is due to reduced demand from India and Australian coal companies’ increased activity. As of early October, the price of a ton of K-grade coal at the port of Vostochny was $153.3, which is by 1.2 % less than a week earlier.

In 2025, the number of lifts installed in russia will decrease by 10 % – to 40,000 units. Regions have significantly reduced purchases to replace old lifts in blocks of flats. In January–September, 9,800 lifts were purchased for 38.7 billion rubles, which is by 17 % less than a year ago. Demand for lifts is also declining among developers due to a decline in housing construction volumes associated with high mortgage rates and the expiration of preferential programs.

russian authorities have confiscated almost 25,000 flats and houses in the regions of Ukraine occupied in 2022. Most often, russians settle in the confiscated flats: special services employees, military personnel, and officials.

Throughout russia, diabetics are left without glucose monitoring systems.

russia quickly raised VAT from 20 % to 22 %, but the ministry of finance of the rf refused to increase the luxury tax. The reason was “low profitability for the budget”.

In September, the average price of instant coffee in russia exceeded 4,000 rubles a kilogram. It is noted that over the past year, the price of Arabica has increased approximately 1.5 times, of Robusta – 1.4 times in the last three months alone. Thus, in russian catering establishments, the cost of cappuccino, latte, and espresso increased by 8 %, 6 %, and 4 %, respectively.

The government of the rf has approved a draft law on fines for accessing websites and social networks without authorization.

Aeroflot’s passenger traffic has declined by 5.7 % compared to the same period in 2024.

Holidays in Türkiye for russians have risen in price by 218 % since 2021. Among the main factors contributing to the increase in the cost of holidays in Türkiye are transport costs; price dynamics in the host country; the dollar exchange rate; changes in supply parameters, in particular a reduction in the number of the most affordable destinations; and an increase in travel agency surcharges.

The fuel crisis has reached a critical point in Novosibirsk region, having led to the discontinuation of certain brands of petrol at filling stations. Reserves of the most popular brands of petrol, such as AI-92 and AI-95, are practically depleted.

Motor fuel continues to actively rise in price at moscow filling stations, with the largest price increase observed for diesel fuel, as stated by the moscow fuel association.

The Kaliningrad regional government intends to increase spending on the governor, members of the regional legislative assembly, members of the state duma, members of the federation council, and their assistants. This is stated in a draft law amending the regional budget law for 2025. As a result, the cost of maintaining the highest-ranking official in Kaliningrad region will cost taxpayers by 713,000 rubles more. The annual cost of maintaining 40 members of the regional parliament may increase by 25 million rubles. And three members of the state duma, together with their assistants, will cost Kaliningrad taxpayers 15.543 million rubles. This is by 940,000 rubles more than in 2024.

In belarus, the food price growth  rate rose by 9.8 % y/y, down from 9.9 % y/y. The gap is wider for non-food products, rising to 2.9% y/y from 3.2% y/y. At the same time, inflation in the services sector increased to 7.9 % y/y. Price growth began to accelerate in late spring. Inflation reached 7.1 % in May, 7.3 % – in June, and 7.4 % – in July. At this, according to the government’s plans, it should not exceed 5 % in 2025.

The negative balance of foreign trade in consumer goods increased 5.2 times over the year and amounted to $1.12 billion.