April 21, 2025 Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

“Let us not forget the main message of Easter: we want a peaceful world. That is why we stand with those who cannot live in peace,” said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

“Ukraine has committed to a full ceasefire. We urge russia to do the same,” said the UK Foreign Office.

“russia could stop this war at any moment if it really wanted to... We continue to support Ukraine for a long, just and comprehensive peace,” European Commission Spokesperson Anitta Hipper commented on the “Easter truce” announced by the rf.

russia's armed aggression against Ukraine is condemned by more than a half of people of other nationalities living in Estonia.

Next week, US President Donald Trump’s team will travel to London to negotiate a truce in Ukraine.

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The EU is against the resumption of air traffic with the rf as part of a potential peace deal.

Decrease in oil prices will hit the russian economy and reduce the kremlin’s military budget. Oil and gas account for about one-third of the rf’s state budget revenues, they are the main engine of the kremlin’s economy and the main source of its vulnerability. Each $10 drop in the price of oil makes russia lose about $25 billion a year. If the price of Urals oil averages $50 this year, GDP growth will be 0.1 %, which will be a shock to the russian economy.

China continues to reduce imports from russia. Compared to the same period in 2024, LNG supplies decreased by 18.8 %. Financial indicators also showed a decline. In monetary terms, exports decreased by almost 25 %.

Prices in russia will continue to rise. Between March 2024 and March 2025, the average cost of railroad tickets from Tyumen increased by 11 % to RUB 3.6 thousand. In January-March 2025, compared to the same period last year, airfares within russia from Tyumen rose by 21 %. The main factors behind the rise in price were the annual indexation of fares and higher operating costs of carriers. The trend will continue – prices will keep growing by 8-12 % till the end of 2025.

The turnover of clothing manufacturers in St. Petersburg in January-February 2025 decreased 2.5 times compared to the same period last year, amounting to 5.2 billion rubles. The decline also affected the volume of goods shipped, which fell 1.8 times to RUB 3.95 billion. According to the Union of Manufacturers of Light Industry Products, up to 25 % of the city’s companies may close or change their specialization due to the reduction in state defense orders and the high key rate. The production of clothing in St. Petersburg decreased by 15.3 %, of textiles – by 8.7 %, and of leather goods – by 22.4 %. About 30 % of enterprises are recording a decline in demand and are cutting back on production. Over the past year alone, 15 shoe manufacturing facilities have closed in russia, including 7 in St. Petersburg.

In the first quarter of this year, turkey rose the most in price in Novosibirsk region – by 26 %, to 422 rubles a kilogram. Butter is in second place. Its price increased by 23 % to RUB 183 (for 180-200 grams). Pasta rose in price by 20 %, with the price reaching 135 rubles a package. Vegetable oil went up by 19 % (248 rubles for a liter) and beef – by 13 % (943 rubles a kilo). Bread and milk went up by 12 % to RUB 73 and RUB 117, respectively. At the same time, there was a decline in demand for all products in the grocery basket. Demand for beef and eggs, sugar, bread and tea fell the most, by an average of a quarter.

On the morning of April 20, an oil tanker spilled fuel in the commercial port of Kholmsk in the South of Sakhalin region.

In Nizhny Novgorod region of the rf, an avalanche of cow manure came down from the mountains and flooded the village of Borisovo-Pokrovskoye.

belarusian potatoes, a source of national pride, have turned into contraband. belarusian customs officers did not let transport 64 tons of potatoes to russia by stopping two trucks with the scarce cargo near Dobrush, in compliance with a government decree banning the export of potatoes outside the country without a special license. The reason for the shortage of the “second bread” was the government’s “fair price” game, which resulted in potatoes having become unprofitable for local farmers and households.

The city of minsk is raising fares for suburban bus transportation.

Sales of the minsk automobile plant’s products in russia, which has become the main market for the belarusian automobile plant, continue to decrease. In early 2025, the decline in bus sales, compared to the first three months of 2024, amounted to 82.7 %.