As of 9:00 (+3 GMT) 3rd March
It is the 8th day today since russia started the full-fledged war in Ukraine. Recent days have been marked by nearly total isolation of russia. The whole civilized world has been introducing a chain of sanctions over russia, and more and more sanctions are on the way.
The support of the democratic world is of utmost importance for Ukraine, as Ukraine is not only fighting for its freedom, but for global humanity.
Every day we receive overwhelming support internationally. Here is a short list of sanctions imposed on russia by now:
The European Union introduced a number of personal sanctions against russian oligarchs, diplomats, officials, and business people. Besides, they will no longer be able to benefit from visas. EU countries introduced a blanket ban on russian flights — meaning they are unable to land in, take off from or fly over any EU nation. Over 30 countries around the world closed their sky for russian planes. The EU cut seven russian banks from SWIFT.
Historically neutral Switzerland decided to join the European Union’s decisions on sanctions, so did Monaco, which froze funds and imposed economic sanctions. Meanwhile, Sweden has called for the European Union to impose tougher and more far-reaching sanctions on russia, particularly against the russian leadership, the billionaire oligarchs who support Putin, as well as against individuals connected to the Wagner Group. Sweden is also demanding faster action to end “golden passports and visas” offered by EU countries, which allow wealthy russians to receive citizenship or visas in exchange for inward investment. Following the call of Sweden, Malta has just ended “golden passports” for russian and Belarussian applicants.
The United Kingdom, in its turn, is working on limiting the sale of citizenship via “golden passports”. The UK is freezing the assets of russia’s central bank to limit russia’s ability to access its overseas reserves. The British people and businesses were banned from making transactions with the russian central bank, its finance ministry, and its wealth fund. Besides, all major russian banks will have their assets frozen and be excluded from the UK financial system, and a number of banks were removed from SWIFT. Access to the British capital market is banned for all russian companies, and a limit on deposits russians can make to UK bank accounts was introduced. russian officials and elites close to the russian government as well as their families are targeted with sanctions and their assets are being arrested. The United Kingdom is introducing laws to stop major russian companies and the state raising finance or borrowing money on UK markets. Export licenses were suspended for dual-use items which can be used for military purposes, high-tech items, high-tech, software, and oil refinery equipment. Besides, the UK is banning the sale of aircraft and equipment to russian airlines and banned russia’s national carrier, Aeroflot. The ban on russian ships in UK ports is on the way. In total, the UK’s sanctions are targeting 70% of the russian banking market and key state-owned firms, including defence firms. A transatlantic task force is launched to identify and freeze the assets of sanctioned individuals and companies.
The USA has introduced measures against a series of banks and individuals and declared 12 personae non-grata. Following the EU and Canada, the US announced a blanket ban on russian flights. 13 major state-owned companies were cut off from raising money in the United States, including energy giant Gazprom and Sberbank. Besides, the US and allies would cut off more than half of russia’s high-tech imports to stop it from developing its military capabilities (this includes russia-wide restrictions on semiconductors, telecommunication, encryption security, lasers, sensors, navigation, avionics, and maritime technologies). Another package of sanctions was introduced particularly today. Besides banning russian aircrafts from entering and using domestic US airspace, it also includes full blocking sanctions on russian defense entities; export controls targeting oil refining; targeting entities that support russian military.
Germany halted the certification of the Gazprom-operated Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which led its operator, Nord Stream 2 AG, to insolvency.
Japan is sanctioning russian financial institutions, military organisations, and individuals and halting exports of goods such as semiconductors and other goods that could strengthen russia’s military potential. The country has imposed personal sanctions against Putin, Medvedev, Lavrov, and other leaders, and frozen their assets.
Australia is working with the United States to align with their further sanctions overnight on key Belarusian individuals and entities. It imposed sanctions on wealthy russians and over 300 members of the russian parliament who voted to authorise sending russian troops into Ukraine. Targeted sanctions also include travel bans and financial sanctions on eight members of the Security Council.
Canada became the first country to ban russian oil import. Together with partners, Canada also introduced a blanket ban on russian flights, and also banned russian ships from ports. It announced a ban on transactions with the russian central bank and blocked national wealth fund assets and transactions. On 2th March Canada imposed new restrictions, on 10 key individuals from 2 important companies in russia’s energy sector, Rosneft and Gazprom.
South Korea banned exports of strategic items (restricted items include electronics, semiconductors, computers, information and communications, sensors and lasers, navigation and avionics, and marine and aerospace equipment). Together with other countries, South Korea blocked some russian banks from the SWIFT international payments system. The country announced that they support Western-led sanctions against Moscow, without drawing up unilateral measures of its own, and will strengthen sanction measures in close cooperation with the G7 and the rest of the international community.
Singapore acts in concert with many other like-minded countries to impose appropriate sanctions and restrictions against russia. The country imposed export controls on items that can be used directly as weapons in Ukraine and blocked certain russian banks and financial transactions connected to russia.
New Zealand also prohibited the export of goods to the russian military and security forces, cut trade with russia, and imposed travel bans against russian officials.
Taiwan in its turn joined the economic sanctions against russia, without specifying which measures were being considered.
Until now, fewer sanctions have been imposed on Belarus than on russia. However, if the country continues to support russian aggression, this may change. So far, the main sanctions against Belarus have been imposed by the EU, the UK, the United States, and Australia. All of them imposed sanctions on Belarusian individuals, especially Alexander Lukashenko, and entities. For instance, the US imposed them on two significant Belarusian state-owned banks, nine defence firms, and seven regime-connected officials and elites. Today the USA complemented the sanctions list with sweeping restrictions on Belarus to choke off its import of technological goods and targeting entities supporting the Belarusian military. The EU also prohibited the sale, supply, transfer, or export of arms and related material of all types. Both the EU and Japan are planning to impose new sanctions on Belarus soon.
Restrictions on russia and Belarus are also imposed by sports associations, committees, and associations. For instance, UEFA and FIFA banned russia from international football Banned from all international leagues, i.e. IOC (International Olympic Committee). The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has decided to refuse the athlete entries from the RPC and NPC Belarus for the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games.
Are these sanctions enough? We are convinced that no sanctions are enough until russia stops hostilities on the territory of Ukraine.
