Newsletter of the main news 12.10/18.10

1.            Frozen Russian Assets

 

Belgium’s prime minister has explained why the use of frozen Russian assets was not discussed at the EU summit. Belgium opposes advancing such a proposal without properly addressing the legal risks and potential financial consequences for the country.

 

The Trump administration is considering unfreezing Russian assets and subsequently taking control of them. The proposal raises questions about the legal status of the assets and the implications for existing asset-freezing mechanisms.

 

Lithuania has frozen assets belonging to Russian oligarchs Mikhail Fridman and Alisher Usmanov. The move follows their removal from the EU sanctions list and represents a national measure to maintain restrictions on the two businessmen.

 

The EU is once again discussing the use of frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine in 2027. The need to secure additional resources to cover Ukraine’s projected budget shortfall has brought the issue back onto the European agenda.

 

2.            International Sanctions Policy

 

Donald Trump has signed an executive order suspending the application of tariffs and sanctions measures against Russia provided for under the Graham Act. Media reports link the decision to the administration’s efforts to lower diesel prices; the order leaves open the possibility of reinstating the restrictions later.

 

Trump described his decision to waive the sanctions against Russia provided for under the Graham Act as “very good” for the United States and the world. His remarks followed the signing of an executive order suspending certain restrictions, including tariffs on Russian energy exports.

 

Luxembourg has faced criticism over its arguments for removing Mikhail Fridman from the EU sanctions list. The dispute centres on whether the grounds for lifting restrictions on the Russian businessman are sufficiently substantiated and whether the decision is consistent with the EU’s broader sanctions policy.

 

The EU has ruled out easing sanctions against Russia. The position signals the bloc’s intention to maintain pressure on Moscow despite ongoing discussions about future relations with Russia.

 

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has rejected Russia’s appeal against its exclusion from international curling competitions. The existing restrictions on Russian participation in the sport therefore remain in place.

 

Slovakia and Russia plan to resume meetings of their intergovernmental commission, which were suspended after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. The move could signal the restoration of certain channels of bilateral economic cooperation.

 

Members of the European Parliament have called on the European Council to confirm that the EU will not resume trade with Russia. The initiative aims to prevent any easing of economic pressure on Moscow and a return to pre-war trade relations.

 

The parliament of Saxony-Anhalt has called for an end to aid for Ukraine and the lifting of sanctions against Russia. The position reflects the views of certain political forces at the German state level and does not automatically change the policies of Germany’s federal government or the EU.

 

Finland has called on the EU to ban tourist visas for Russian citizens until the war against Ukraine ends. The proposal would further restrict Russians’ ability to travel to EU countries.

 

The International Tennis Federation has not supported lifting sanctions against Russia and Belarus. The decision indicates that the federation intends to maintain its restrictive approach to the participation of representatives from the two countries in international tennis.

 

The EU has approved the largest expansion of its individual sanctions against Russians since the start of the full-scale war. According to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, nearly 1,600 people linked to Russia’s military-industrial sector will be added to the sanctions lists; more than half are connected to ballistic missile production.

 

Russia has taken temporary control of assets belonging to several European companies, including French, German, Swedish and Belgian businesses. The measures are being viewed as Moscow’s response to Western sanctions and restrictions on Russian assets abroad.

 

3.            Sanctions Violations and Circumvention

 

The EU has paid Russia €209 billion for energy supplies since March 2022. The figure highlights the scale of revenue Moscow continues to earn from energy exports despite sanctions and the EU’s efforts to reduce its dependence on Russian energy.

 

A Russian national has been arrested and extradited to New York on charges of evading sanctions against Russia. The case concerns alleged violations of US restrictions; the defendant’s criminal liability remains for the court to determine.

 

The Geran-4 onboard computer reportedly contains more than 75% US-manufactured components. The findings raise questions about the effectiveness of export controls and the possible routes through which Western technology reaches Russia’s defence industry.

 

France has intercepted an oil tanker suspected of belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet. Such vessels are used to transport Russian oil despite sanctions, including through flag changes and opaque ownership structures.

 

A sponsor of Portugal’s national football team has come under scrutiny over alleged assistance to Russia’s war against Ukraine. The report raises questions about commercial entities’ links to Russian military needs and potential gaps in sanctions enforcement.

 

Sweden has released a tanker subject to EU sanctions. The case raises questions about the practical enforcement of restrictions on vessels linked to Russian oil exports and the grounds for detaining or releasing them.

 

Raiffeisen Bank features in a report concerning the handling of defence contracts in Russia. The allegations raise questions about the nature of the bank’s operations and its possible links to Russian entities involved in the defence sector.

 

4. Ukraine’s Sanctions Policy

 

Ukraine is calling on the EU to impose sanctions on a further ten Russian oligarchs. The initiative seeks to expand individual restrictions on Russian business figures whom Kyiv considers connected to support for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.