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Immobilised Russian central bank assets
One of the first, and boldest, measures taken by Western countries as a response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 was the immobilisation of around €260 billion worth of Russian central bank assets held under their jurisdictions. In October 2024, the G7 reached an agreement on the use of the extraordinary revenues generated, to service and repay a US$50 billion loan to Ukraine from G7 countries, while the complex debate on the legality and related risks on the use of the ...
Accelerating the phase-out of Russian gas and other Russian energy commodities in the EU
Russia's war in Ukraine led the EU to take measures for its energy security. Three years later, the results are positive, but more can be done to further lower reliance on Russian fossil fuels and nuclear energy in the EU. The Commission is due to make a statement on the issue during the March plenary session.
Outcome of the European Council video-conference call of 26 February 2025
On 26 February 2025, the EU held a video-conference call to prepare for the upcoming special European Council meeting on 6 March 2025, dedicated to EU defence and Ukraine. They were briefed by the French President, Emmanuel Macron, on his recent visit to Washington and his talks with United States President Donald Trump.
EU sanctions against Russia 2025: State of play, perspectives and challenges
In response to Russia's illegal and unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the European Union swiftly adopted unprecedentedly tough sanctions, in close cooperation with partners including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Japan. The rapid succession of 15 packages of EU sanctions adopted since then have resulted in an unparalleled set of measures targeting Russian political elites and key sectors of the Russian economy. New sanctions have also been ...
Russia's war on Ukraine: Forcibly displaced Ukrainian children
The invasion of Ukraine enters its 4th year in 2025, resulting in further displacement. On 17 March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights. The pair are accused of the 'war crime of unlawful deportation of population (children) and that of unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation'. ...
Ukraine, migration, and the economy were uppermost on the agenda of the European Council in 2023 as EU leaders sought to maximise support for the victim of Russia's military aggression, cope with a rising number of refugees and asylum seekers and halt the EU's declining global competitiveness. Towards the end of the year, events in Gaza preoccupied EU leaders as Israel responded forcefully to the horrendous terrorist attack by Hamas on 7 October. EU leaders met seven times in 2023, including via ...
Listing Russia as a high-risk third country for money laundering and terrorist financing
Despite reported endemic levels of corruption and state-embedded organised crime, as well as risks stemming from Russia's war against Ukraine, the European Union (EU) does not classify Russia as a high-risk third country for money laundering and terrorist financing. During the European Ϸվ's November I plenary session, the Commission is scheduled to make a statement on its potential listing as such.
Russia's 'shadow fleet': Bringing the threat to light
Following Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, the European Union (EU), G7, and allied partners imposed extensive sanctions targeting Russia's economy, in particular the oil sector, in an effort to curb the Kremlin's revenues which finance its war effort. Key measures include an embargo on Russian seaborne oil imports and a price cap on oil and oil products that restricts profits while still allowing sales below a certain price. Enforcement mechanisms prevent Russia from chartering or insuring ...
Plenary round-up – October II 2024
A key moment during the October II session was the debate on managing migration in an effective and holistic way through fostering returns, based on a Commission statement following up the previous week's European Council conclusions. International topics also took up much of the agenda, with Members debating Commission statements on war crimes committed by Russia, EU action against Russian shadow fleets and ensuring full enforcement of sanctions, and protection of European journalists reporting ...
Russia's strategy for Latin America: Strengthening ties in the light of the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan (Russia)
Since Russia started its war of aggression against Ukraine by illegally annexing the Crimean peninsula, it has been seeking to foster relations with countries in the Global South that are not firmly aligned with the Western world. In 2023, a change in Russia's foreign policy of 2016 placed a greater emphasis on Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and Africa, where the Kremlin has been building influence since the Soviet era. Russia's strategic goal is to counter the United States presence in the ...