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

“We have reaffirmed to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the EU remains firm in its position and committed to its principles. Ukraine’s sovereignty must be respected. Ukraine’s security must be guaranteed, in the long term, as a first line of defense for our Union,” said President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

“We will continue to work together to develop a wide range of financing options to support Ukraine, including the potential use of all russian sovereign assets frozen in our jurisdictions until russia pays reparations, with the aim of ending the war and ensuring a just and lasting peace in Ukraine,” reads a statement by the G7 Ministers of Finance.

“We all support Ukraine, we all support peace and peace talks to achieve a lasting and credible peace. And I think we have a lot of cards in our hands,” said President of France Emmanuel Macron.

“I would like to invite you to our European Council in December. We will hold important discussions, focusing primarily on two issues: Ukraine and security on our continent; as well as the European Union’s multiannual financial framework for 2028-2034,” reads President of the European Council António Costa’s invitation letter to the leaders of EU member states.

“Ukraine’s membership in the EU is a necessary condition for European security. It is also one of the elements of Ukraine’s security guarantees,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Kęstutis Budrys.

UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine Matthias Schmale is convinced that any negotiations on ending the war and Ukraine’s future are impossible without Ukraine’s full participation.

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Prime Minister of Estonia Kristen Michal considers russian propaganda stories about economic success to be a bluff and opposes easing pressure on the rf.

Head of the Danish Security and Intelligence Service Finn Borch Andersen has called on European states to cooperate more closely amid russia’s intensifying hybrid warfare. “russia is waging a hybrid war against Europe, and russian intelligence services are responsible for specific attacks in a number of European countries. Added to this are well-known threats to Europe, such as terrorism and extremism, as well as extremely rapid technological development,” stressed the intelligence officer.

Moldovan investigators have blocked $107 million in cryptocurrency intended to finance pro-russian political groups.

Prices for russian oil shipments from Black Sea and Pacific ports have fallen to their lowest level since the start of the full-scale war against Ukraine. In Novorossiysk, in the week ending 7 December, Urals cargoes, the main export brand of russian oil companies, sold for an average of $38.28 per barrel – by $2.8 cheaper than a week earlier. In Baltic ports, prices decreased by $2.4 per week to $41.16 per barrel. ESPO, which is exported from Pacific ports to China, fell by $1.6 per week and is selling for $52.36 per barrel. The average discount on Urals offered by russian oil companies compared to Brent reached $25.8 per barrel, approaching historic highs. And since the introduction of US sanctions against “Rosneft” and “Lukoil”, it has doubled.

Prices for marine insurance in the Black Sea have tripled over the past month, having jumped by 250 % from 0.25-0.3 % to 0.5-0.75 % of the vessel’s value. The sharpest increase was observed for tankers associated with russia, followed by dry cargo ships associated with the rf, which transport grain, for example.

Italian bank UniCredit – one of the last Western banks still operating in russia –  has begun actively preparing to leave the russian market.

russia’s national debt increased by 2.9 trillion roubles in January–September 2025, having reached 31.98 trillion roubles as of 1 October 2025.

russian food producers have reduced output for the first time since 2009 due to russians’ cutting back on food spending. In January–September of this year, food production declined by 0.6 % year-on-year, while  beverage production decreased by 4.1 %. At the same time, in the first 11 months of 2025, the number of new investment projects in food production decreased by 46 % compared to the same period last year.

“Rosneft”’s revenue for January–September 2025 decreased by 14.2 %.

Retail furniture sales in russia for 2025 may decline by 10 % in quantitative terms compared to 2024. The market has been negatively affected by the cancellation of a number of preferential mortgage programmes, a decline in construction and the general economic situation.

In russia, the price gap between new buildings and secondary housing has reached 84 %. Due to the surge in prices for primary housing, mortgages are becoming less and less affordable for russians – even under the family programme, it is difficult to buy property, as the initial deposit averages 29 %.

russia’s authorities are preparing restrictions on the export from the country of cash rubles and gold.

The number of russians’ business trips abroad has decreased by 25 %. In September–November 2025, the average cost of a business trip for russian businesses, including per diems, increased by 21 % year-on-year. Air tickets for the corporate segment rose in price by 17 %, railway tickets – by 10 %, and transfers– by 13 %.

In 2026, requirements may be introduced in the freight forwarding market that will increase companies’ costs for cargo inspection and electronic documents. Forecasts suggest that the number of freight forwarding companies could decrease by 10-20 %, while freight rates could increase by an average of 10-20 %. In some cases, transport and related services can account for up to 20 % of the price structure for consumer goods.

The average cost of travel during the New Year period has increased by 52 % compared to the data for the first 10 months of 2025.

Over the past two weeks, roskomnadzor has announced the blocking of four popular russian internet services: Roblox games, FaceTime video calling, and the messaging apps SnapChat and WhatsApp.

The state duma has granted rosfinmonitoring an access to data on transfers made using “mir” cards.

In 2025, on the initiative of investigators from the investigative committee of the rf, russian citizens’ assets worth approximately 24.5 billion roubles were seized, which is by 25 % more than in 2024. The defendants also “voluntarily” handed over valuables worth 4.7 billion roubles after the cases were opened.

The Supreme Court of the rf has declared invalid the resolution on the application of the European Convention on Human Rights.

At least 551 people died at the hands of “veterans” who returned from the war against Ukraine (274 were killed, 163 died after suffering serious bodily injuries, and the rest died in traffic accidents and other crimes). Another 465 people were seriously injured by returning soldiers. More than half of the crimes were committed by former prisoners. In less than 10 % of cases judges did not take into consideration the defendants’ participation in the war as a mitigating circumstance. The European Union will continue its policy of isolating lukashenko’s regime and is working to expand sanctions, – said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.

The European Union has prepared a new sanctions regime against belarus. This regime may be approved by EU countries before Christmas and will allow the EU to impose sanctions on individuals and organisations that threaten the “sovereignty or independence of one or more of its member states”.

authorities of the rb will not receive a single euro from the EU until they become democratic, said European Commissioner Marta Kos.

The Partizansky District Court in minsk has declared the official website of the Council of Europe to be “extremist”. belarus has been applying to join the Council of Europe since the mid-1990s, but its application has never been approved.

Lithuania has proposed a complete ban on transactions involving 10 belarusian banks and on imports of nitrogen fertilisers, rapeseed oil and salt. Lithuania will also consider freezing or confiscating belarusian assets. This issue will be discussed at a meeting of the State Defence Council.

For the third year in a row, there are no businesses with belarusian roots in the world’s most prestigious North America Technology Fast 500 ranking, which is compiled annually by analysts at the consulting firm Deloitte. Before 2023–2025, belarusians failed to make the ranking only once – in 2018.

belarus ranks fourth in the world in terms of the number of imprisoned journalists.