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

The EU may in the future cut off funding to developing countries due to their support for russia or Iran. This was stated by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.

Europe must closely study Ukraine’s experience with energy resilience, as attacks on the energy sector are not merely a blow to infrastructure, but an attack on a state’s ability to function. This was emphasized by Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs of the FRG Johann Wadephul.

EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová, following the latest massive attack by Ukrainian drones deep into russia’s territory, has stated that it is time for russia to end the war, as Ukraine is delivering a decisive response.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Radosław Sikorski has called lukashenko “a true product of the soviet collective farm system”.

Chief National Security Adviser to the President of the Republic of Lithuania Deividas Matulionis believes that contacts with russia can be established, but exclusively regarding a peace agreement on Ukraine. According to him, there are no grounds for establishing broader contacts with the kremlin.

In January–March 2026, Hungary reduced its purchases of russian pipeline gas by 27% in value terms.

According to the updated macroeconomic forecast published by the ministry of economic development of the rf, in 2026 russian citizens will face an almost complete halt in real income growth and will be forced to virtually freeze spending on goods and services.

The central bank of russia has recorded a sharp increase in the number of complaints against microfinance organizations. Nationwide, this figure rose by 47.5% at once.

The share of food expenses in the average russian consumer basket has reached 39% – the highest level since 2008.

russians’ funds in term deposits at banks decreased by 288 billion rubles in March. This is the first outflow of funds specifically from deposits since October 2022, when people panicked over the mobilization. Long-term deposits with terms exceeding one year saw the largest decline.

In January–March, demand for franchises in the rf fell by 45% compared to the same period last year. The education franchise segment was hit hardest, with demand dropping by 55.4%. The number of applications for franchises in the leisure and entertainment sector also fell – by 49.2%, beauty and health – by 45.4%, medical – by 39.2%, food – by 35.8%, and trade and services in general – by 30.8%.

In January–April, sales of black caviar in the rf fell by 22%.

Demand for new construction in major russian cities has dropped by more than 20%.

After foreign manufacturers of professional construction equipment left the russian market, about 62% of tradespeople in various fields are experiencing a shortage of high-quality power tools and a noticeable rise in prices.

“rostelecom” has laid off 20,000 employees.

The board of directors of “eurotrans” LLC has recommended that shareholders not pay final dividends for 2025. “eurotrans” is one of the leading independent operators in moscow region’s fuel market. The company operates a network of filling stations under the “trassa” brand.

The board of directors of the “fix price” discount shop chain have also recommended not paying dividends.

russia will cut state support for farmers due to a federal budget deficit. The ministry of agriculture has proposed reducing the subsidy rate for preferential loans to agricultural producers from 70% to 50% of the central bank’s key rate. At the current key rate of 14.5%, such a loan can be obtained at approximately 4.35%, while after the reduction in subsidies, the rate will rise to 7.25%.

The share of profitable companies in russia’s agricultural sector continues to decline. In January–February 2026, it fell to 72.7% from 80.8% a year earlier. In crop production, the number of profitable companies dropped from 75.8% to 64.6%, and in livestock production – from 85.5% to 78.3%. The share of unprofitable companies raising pigs for meat in January–February 2026 fell to a historic low of 49.59%, meaning that every second enterprise was unprofitable.

Against this background, the number of people willing to start a new business in the agricultural sector is already smaller than the number of those winding it down. Last year, 1,468 new companies were registered in crop production, while 1,738 were liquidated. In livestock farming, 261 enterprises left the market; in food production – 147; and in the livestock, hunting, and related services sector – 874 companies closed.

Over the past five years, 902 cases of medicine shortages have been recorded in russia. The vast majority of the shortages, particularly in the mass-market segments (antibiotics, medications for cardiovascular diseases), were caused by economic factors.

russia’s economy cannot withstand a prolonged continuation of the “special military operation”, and therefore “the ‘special military operation’ must be concluded as soon as possible”. This was stated by member of the state duma renat suleimanov.

russia’s economy will need a huge number of new workers in the coming years. This was stated by deputy prime minister of the rf aleksandr novak. Over the next five years, the country will have to fill about 11 million jobs. This is not a long-term prospect, but a problem the russian economy is already facing. To address the labor shortage, the government plans to reallocate workers from less productive sectors to priority industries.

“To resolve the problem of labor shortages in the economy, we need to put retirees back to work,” said minister of economic development of the rf maksim reshetnikov.

“russia will not return to “Eurovision” because of ‘satanism’ at this international music contest,” said minister of foreign affairs of the rf sergey lavrov.

Most russians believe that artificial intelligence is smarter than they are.

Authorities in belgorod region have suspended compensation payments to citizens whose vehicles were damaged as a result of drone and missile attacks. The payments were suspended “due to a lack of funds allocated for this purpose”.

In January–April, belarus’ GDP grew by 0.2%; a year ago, growth stood at 2.8%. Industrial production fell by 2.5% over the four-month period; a year ago, it had risen by 1.4%.

The price of liquefied gas for refilling cylinders for private individuals in belarus has risen to 1.73 rubles per kilogram. This is by nearly 6.8% higher than the previous price.

belarusian authorities have opened a criminal case against musician Sergei Mikhalok, founder and leader of the bands “Lyapis Trubetskoy” and Brutto, under charges of inciting hostility and insulting the authoritarian belarusian leader lukashenko. The authorities did not specify which specific statements served as the basis for the criminal prosecution.