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

“The pace of peace talks has accelerated, and that’s good. It’s good because we see progress, and I’m also very glad that Ukraine’s accession process will play a decisive role. We see Ukraine’s membership in the Union as a political anchor for security guarantees,” said European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos. According to her, private capital will play an important role in Ukraine’s recovery, but companies that invest in the country want to be sure of a favorable business climate.

Minister of State for Europe at the Federal Foreign Office of the FRG Günter Krichbaum has emphasized that if Ukraine joins the EU, Article 42.7 of the Treaty on European Union on the obligations of member states to provide assistance to another member that has been the victim of armed aggression will automatically apply to our country. He also said that Germany continues to consider the idea of a “reparations loan” based on frozen russian assets as the basis for further stable financing of Ukraine.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas believes that in the current situation, a reparations loan for Ukraine as a financing mechanism for 2026–2027 is the best option, and that russia’s threats are just threats. She has also reported that the EU’s goal of supplying Ukraine with two million large-caliber ammunition rounds in 2025 has been achieved in time.

“In a few days, during the European Council, which will bring together the heads of state and government of the 27 EU member states, a decision may be made that will protect Ukraine from any financial difficulties over the next two years and put it in a strong position at the time when discussions are ongoing that should lead to peace,” said Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Jean-Noël Barrot.

“Ukraine has proven that it has one of the best armies, one of the best-trained armies in the world. So, I think that if they do not join NATO and give up this process, it does not mean that they will not be able to defend themselves,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania Oana-Silvia Țoiu.

Germany is preparing a comprehensive partnership with Ukraine in the field of armaments.

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The EU has imposed sanctions on nine individuals and a number of companies involved in russia’s “shadow fleet”. The sanctions list includes businessmen directly or indirectly linked to the russian state oil companies “Rosneft” and “Lukoil”. Sanctions have also been imposed on shipping companies from the UAE, Vietnam, and russia that own or operate tankers subject to restrictive measures and are part of the “shadow fleet”.

The European Union has also imposed restrictive measures against 12 individuals and two organizations for hybrid threats. The list includes foreign policy analysts working in institutions, think tanks, and universities closely linked or affiliated with the kremlin policy; the “International russophile movement”, for spreading destabilizing narratives; the 142nd separate radio-electronic warfare battalion of the russian army in Kaliningrad; representatives of the 29155th unit of the main directorate of the general staff of the armed forces of the rf, which, according to Western intelligence services, focuses on destabilizing the situation in Europe; and the Cadet Blizzard group, which carries out cyberattacks.

On December 16, the leaders of Finland, Sweden, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and Bulgaria will hold an EU Eastern Flank Summit to coordinate cooperation and defense against the background of the rf’s aggressive position.

Chief of the United Kingdom’s Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) Blaise Metreweli has called russia an “aggressive, expansionist, and revisionist” threat. She has stressed that putin should not doubt the allies’ support for Ukraine. “Exporting chaos is not a bug but a feature of russia’s approach to international relations, and we must be prepared for this to continue until putin is forced to change his calculations,” Metreweli said.

The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation has banned russians from participating in competitions.

The debt of individuals and companies to the russian budget in taxes, insurance contributions, penalties, and fines had reached a record 3.26 trillion rubles by October 2025. This is by 20 % more than in the same period last year.

From December 1 to 10, russia exported 1.38 million tons of wheat – by 21.6 % less than during the same period last year.

russia plans to extend the ban on petrol exports from the country until the end of February 2026. Currently, the ban on petrol exports applies to all market participants, producers included.

The largest alcohol producers in russia have informed shops of a sharp price increase of 10–17 % due to higher excise taxes and VAT.

About 300 obsolete Mi-8 helicopters may be decommissioned within five years. They were manufactured back in the USSR, and today their service life is about 40 years. However, air carriers cannot quickly replace the aging Mi-8s with new ones. The reasons for this are the reduction of preferential leasing programs and insufficient production rates. Besides, the cost of a flight hour for the new Mi-8s is one and a half to two times higher than for the old ones, which will lead to a significant increase in tariffs, for which no one is prepared. Air carriers point out that reducing the helicopter fleet could create a shortage of equipment (there are about 2,800 civilian helicopters in russia), cause disruptions in social transportation in remote regions, and make it difficult to fulfill contracts, for example, for search and rescue operations.

The pre-tax income of russian automotive companies, which are experiencing a structural crisis with a decline in production and sales, fell threefold in January-September 2025. Moreover, the figure for the period was among the worst results in recent years.

russians are buying fewer “moskvich” cars: in 2024, 20,234 “moskviches” were sold in 11 months, while in the same period in 2025, only 14,211 cars of this brand were sold. This is a 29.8  % decrease.

Sales of tarot cards and other magical attributes have increased by 40 % in russia. Most often, russians buy tarot cards, runes, and crystals (+45 %), while shamanic drums and home altars remain niche items, but even here the growth is 15-20 %.

In russia, New Year’s gifts in 2025 have risen in price by about 15 % compared to last year. The cost of a set of sweets averages 664 rubles, which is by 10 % higher than last year. A New Year’s garland with figurines will cost 1,903 rubles (+7 %). Gift baskets have also risen in price by 7 %, costing an average of 1,207 rubles. A set of Christmas tree decorations costs 506 rubles (+14 % compared to last year).

Due to a lack of funds, the microelectronics holding company “Element” could not  build a chip manufacturing plant. This is not the first problematic electronics project in russia. In 2024, microchip manufacturer “Angstrom” suffered a net loss of 236.3 billion rubles, becoming the most unprofitable company in the country.

For the second year in a row, russian regions are sharply cutting spending on replacing old lifts in residential buildings, at least 10 % of which are over 25 years old and have exceeded their safe operating life. In January–October, regional authorities purchased 10,800 new lifts, which is by 20 % fewer than a year earlier and by 35 % fewer than in 2023. The main problem is shortage of funds in the regions.

russian authorities have included the German media company Deutsche Welle in the register of “undesirable” entities.

The Eastern-Siberian Inland Navigation Company intends to terminate ferry service to the only island on Lake Baikal, home to more than 1,700 people, ahead of schedule on December 16. The company made this decision because of  the Irkutsk region’s debt of 36.2 million rubles.

Taxi drivers in Vladivostok, following drivers in Perm and Voronezh, have joined a “silent strike” demanding better working conditions.

The European Union is expanding the scope of sanctions against belarus to include the rb’s hybrid unfriendly actions against its European neighbors.

“The European Union does not intend to lift sanctions on belarusian potash fertilizers, following the example of the United States,” said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.

Despite the lifting of US sanctions, Lithuania will not allow belarusian potash to pass through its ports. “The sanctions imposed on belarus by the European Union continue to apply to both fertilizer imports and transit agreements. We are complying with them,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Kęstutis Budrys.