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

“The process of  Ukraine’s accession (to the EU) remains a key priority for Sweden, and we are currently seeing momentum in this regard, given that a new government has taken office in Hungary. So, Sweden hopes for rapid progress, preferably in June, to take the first official step in Ukraine’s accession process,” said Minister for EU Affairs and Nordic Cooperation of Sweden Jessica Rosencrantz.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Margus Tsahkna proposes that the EU open all six clusters of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession ahead of the summit of the European Council in June. He also pointed out that no one in the EU questions Ukraine’s right to strike targets deep inside russian territory. “Therefore, Ukraine must continue,” the Estonian Foreign Minister believes. According to Tsahkna, it is Ukraine’s experience that will form the basis for Europe’s security in the future.

“Croatia continues to say that Ukraine is more than ready to open the first cluster, and we really do expect it to happen in June,” said Croatia’s State Secretary for European Affairs Andreja Metelko-Zgombić, regarding the prospects for the start of Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations.

Romania insists that, in light of russia’s attacks on Ukraine, the EU must continue to intensify sanctions pressure on russia,  and is also implementing stricter penalties for violations of the embargo regime.

“The EU is going nowhere. We are staying in Kyiv. We are staying with Ukraine. Threats to diplomats and international organizations are not a sign of strength. They are a sign of desperation,” said the EU’s Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernová regarding russia’s threats to continue attacks on Kyiv.

“...We will consider every attack on Polish diplomatic missions to be targeted and deliberate. The rf’s actions have serious consequences under international law, once again undermining the role of this state as a permanent member of the UN Security Council,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland  responded to a statement by the russian ministry of foreign affairs, in which foreigners, including diplomats, were urged to immediately leave Kyiv due to plans to strike military facilities and decision-making centers.

  State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland Ignacy Niemczycki is not surprised by russia’s new threats against Ukraine and Western diplomats and considers them part of russia’s intimidation tactics.

“First and foremost, they signal the chaotic panic and dead end into which russia’s war of aggression has run. We call on russia to abandon this aggressive stance and immediately agree with Ukraine on a ceasefire,” – the Embassy of France in Ukraine has stated that it will continue to operate as usual, despite the rf ‘s threatening with  new strikes on Kyiv.

“Targeted attacks on the civilian population and civilian infrastructure are unacceptable. As President Trump has previously stated, this war must end,” said the USA’s  Chargé d’Affaires in Ukraine Julie Davis,  condemning russia’s massive strike on Kyiv on the night of May 24.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania Oana-Silvia Țoiu has pointed out that Romania and Bulgaria are moving forward with the creation of a security hub to monitor traffic in the Black Sea, specifically to identify potential routes for the rf’s’ “shadow fleet”.

“We must understand that, first and foremost, an information operation is being waged against us, pressuring us to abandon or limit our support for Ukraine,” said Director of Lithuania’s  State Security Department (VSD) Remigijus Bridikis. He pointed out that, against the background of drone incidents, russia is conducting an information operation against Lithuania and other Baltic countries to deter them from further supporting Ukraine.

The Netherlands has delivered another batch of military aid to Ukraine, which included more than 60 “Toyota Hilux” pickup trucks, as well as modern unmanned aerial systems.

Since the start of the full-scale war, the National Police of Ukraine has received nearly 190 million hryvnias in aid from Lithuania, including vehicles, demining equipment, electronic warfare equipment, and other necessary supplies.

European Commission Chief Spokesperson Paula Pignot has emphasized that “discussions regarding envoys (for peace talks with russia) would be best held when the time is right – and when we see a genuine willingness for peace on russia’s part.”

“I also have the impression that Ukraine is capable of successfully repelling russia’s spring offensive and seizing the initiative in certain sectors of the front. This is a sign of strength,” said a CDU member of the Bundestag and Spokesperson for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group on foreign policy issues Jürgen Hardt.

rf

Moldova’s Liberal Party is demanding that the appointed ambassador of the rf oleg ozerov  be “expelled” from the country following his statements about alleged “linguistic pressure” on the russian-speaking population of Transnistria.

russia’s new oil reserves are dwindling. Indeed, about a quarter (22%) of russia’s oil reserves in hard-to-reach fields are currently not being developed. There are practically no areas left in the country for easy geological exploration, while the share of reserve growth in the rf attributable to new fields is not that significant. This was reported by deputy director general for geology and development at “zarubezhneft” igor afanasyev.

The government of the rf plans to shift the “united shipbuilding corporation”’s preferential ship leasing program to off-budget funding. To this end, it is proposed to introduce an additional fee in the form of a surcharge on port fees and ship inspection tariffs. Previously, the preferential leasing program was funded from the federal budget. Now, market participants fear that the new measures will lead to higher transportation costs and an additional burden on shippers.

In russia, the state duma has voted in favor of a draft law  allowing courts to seize the property in russia of citizens who have left the country to ensure payment of fines for public statements “against the interests” of the state. Property of any value can be seized even before the administrative offense report is considered. This is a new attempt to pressure journalists, activists, political exiles, independent media, and bloggers residing abroad.

Chairman of the state duma committee on competition protection valery hartung has   made an emotional comment on the situation with the rf’s federal budget, using a bad word during a discussion of the growing deficit. “Well, let’s see what we’re going to do about the federal budget deficit. Last year we had over 5 trillion, and now it’s nearly 5 trillion again. That’s a total of about 11 trillion, damn it (The russian word he used was much “stronger” – Transl.).  What are we going to do about this?”,  hartung exclaimed.

According to the results for 2025, russian companies paid out only 2 trillion rubles in dividends. This is by nearly 25% less than in the previous year.

In russia, a law increasing the annual limit on overtime from 120 to 240 hours will take effect in September.

In russia, it has been determined that the economy is being held back not by the country’s aggressive policies and wars, but by household savings. As long as people are saving rather than spending, businesses are reluctant to invest in development due to high resource costs and weak demand, which directly hampers GDP growth.

Revenue in the russian IT sector fell by 60 billion rubles in 2025, for the first time in several years.

Residents of apartment buildings in kazan owe management companies 1.063 billion rubles for heat supply.

belarus has updated the list of printed publications banned from distribution. Another 17 books have been added to it. It now contains 258 items.

In April, 4.1721 million people were employed in belarus’ economy. This is by 8,800 fewer people than in March.