The European Commission on Wednesday proposed to introduce another – ninth – package of sanctions against Russia, which should include a ban on transactions with three Russian banks and other measures.
According to a statement from EC Chairwoman Ursula von der Leyen, the EU executive body proposes as part of the new package of measures to include about 200 more individuals in the sanctions lists, to introduce a ban on transactions with three Russian banks, including the All-Russian Bank of Regions Development, as well as the broadcasting of four Russian media channels.
Von der Leyen’s proposals also include a ban on the export of unmanned aerial vehicles to Russia. In addition, the EC wants to impose new export restrictions, in particular on dual-use goods – “key chemicals, neuroparalytic substances, electronics and IT components.
Switzerland on Wednesday approved the eighth package of sanctions against Russia, which includes the introduction of a “ceiling” on Russian oil prices.
“The Swiss Federal Council adopted another set of sanctions against Russia on November 23. The council approved the measures adopted by the European Union as part of the eighth sanctions package,” the document published on the Federal Council’s website reads.
“The sanctions include a legal basis for imposing a ‘ceiling’ on prices of Russian oil and oil products, as well as restrictions on iron and steel goods, aerospace products and goods of economic importance to Russia,” the statement stressed.
It is specified that the sanctions will take effect at 18:00 Wednesday local time (19:00 KSC).
The new measures also include a ban on the provision of IT, engineering, architectural and legal services to the Russian authorities and companies. In addition, a ban is introduced for citizens of Switzerland to occupy managerial positions in some companies owned by Russia.
The document notes that on October 12, the Swiss authorities added 30 more individuals and entities to the sanctions list for Russia.
The EU adopted the eighth package of sanctions with similar measures on October 6 in response to Russia’s escalation of military aggression against Ukraine.
The United Nations General Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution on the need to hold Russia accountable for its violation of international law during the invasion of Ukraine, as well as to create a mechanism for compensating Ukraine for the damage caused by Russian aggressors.
The document was supported by 94 countries, 73 abstained and 14 others opposed.
Among the countries that voted against the resolution were the Russian Federation, Belarus, Syria, Iran, Zimbabwe, Cuba, China, Eritrea, Mali and the Central African Republic.
The resolution states that Russia “should be held accountable for any violations of international law in or against Ukraine, including its aggression in violation of the UN Charter, as well as any violations of international humanitarian law and human rights.
In addition, the states that supported the resolution believe that Russia should bear the legal consequences of all of its internationally wrongful acts, including compensation for the damage suffered as a result of the above-mentioned actions.
They also recognize the necessity of creating an international mechanism for compensation for the damages caused to Ukraine by Russia and recommend creating an international register of the damages received by all concerned individuals and legal entities, as well as the State of Ukraine, for registration of their evidence.
Negotiations are currently underway with Russia on the status of the “grain deal” after Moscow announced yesterday that it was suspending participation in it, Bloomberg reported on Sunday, citing an unnamed Turkish official.
“Negotiations with Russia on the Black Sea “grain deal” are being held on Sunday, they will continue on Monday, a representative of the Turkish authorities said,” the agency reports.
According to the source of the agency, there are grounds for optimism, despite the current situation.
He also said that ships that have reached Istanbul are being inspected, but no new ships loaded with grain are leaving Ukrainian ports at the moment.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said Washington “strongly urges” the Russian government to resume its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative and “completely comply with the agreements.”
Blinken’s statement, released by the State Department, dismisses that the failure to implement the agreement will have a direct impact on low- and middle-income countries and world food prices, as well as exacerbate humanitarian crises and food security.
Washington “urges all parties to continue this critical life-saving initiative.”
As reported, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced the withdrawal of Moscow from the agreements on the export of grain from the ports of Ukraine. They claim that allegedly Ukraine, with the participation of British specialists, carried out an attack “against the ships of the Black Sea Fleet and civilian ships involved in ensuring the security of the” grain corridor “.
On July 22, representatives of Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the UN signed an agreement in Istanbul on the creation of a sea corridor for the export of Ukrainian grain from the ports of Chornomorsk, Odessa and Yuzhny for a period of 120 days.
About 13,000 Ukrainians of Jewish origin have repatriated to Israel since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, while the number of repatriates from Russia amounted to 26,000, that is, about one in eight Russian Jews left the country, writes The Guardian on Sunday.
According to the publication, another 35,000 Russians of Jewish origin are awaiting paperwork.
“The repatriation process has been expedited for Ukrainians who are classified as refugees, but unexpected demand from Russia has stunned the Jewish Agency, a quasi-state body that facilitates immigration… However, the work of the Jewish Agency is under threat. In July, the Russian Ministry of Justice recommended closing the organization,” – writes the publication.
The article notes that despite pressure from its Western allies to take a decisive stance, Israel tried to remain neutral in the Russian war in Ukraine, as it relies on Moscow to facilitate its military operations in Syria, but the threat of closing the offices of the Jewish Agency prompted the acting Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid to warn that such a move would deal a serious blow to bilateral relations.
Since 1950, Israel has experienced several waves of aliyah from countries such as Sudan, Ethiopia and Yemen, as well as an influx of more than 1 million people from the USSR and its independent republics after 1989. According to Ukrainian-born Knesset member Yuli Edelshtein, who spent three years in a Siberian penal colony, history repeats itself. “Danger has been a part of the Jewish experience in Russia for generations. Nobody will ever forget this… This time people leave in a hurry – they are driven by fear,” he said.
Russian citizens in Israel are still accepted as tourists. Five new private agencies have also opened to help Jewish Russians make aliyah. “Municipal administration offices across the country have seen a surge in the number of people looking for documents to support their claims of Jewish ancestry. Many of those turning to the authorities for help are mothers desperate to get their sons out of the country,” it said. in the article.
Source: http://theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/16/ukrainians-russians-jews-jewish-roots-flee-israel-aliyah
