World

Sanctions on Russian oil would have ‘direct impact’ on war: Ukraine

Published

3 years ago

April 11, 2022

Sanctions on Russian oil would have ‘direct impact’ on war: Ukraine

EU member states imposed a fifth spherical of sanctions on Russia on the finish of final week however forward of an anticipated escalation within the east, many will now be questioning the place the bloc may hit Moscow subsequent.

The sanctions final week included the primary embargo on Russian vitality with a cease on coal imports, and strain is now constructing for EU member states to cease importing oil fuel from Russia.

On the identical time, a number of the world’s largest gamers, together with China and India, have stayed agency of their positions of neutrality within the struggle.

Euronews spoke with Ukraine’s commerce consultant and deputy economic system minister, Taras Kachka, to search out out what his nation thinks are essentially the most essential sectors to focus on in Russia in addition to why he thinks international locations at the moment sitting on the fence will ultimately flip their backs on Putin’s Russia.

Watch the complete interview within the video participant above. Beneath is an excerpt of the interview.

Euronews: What does Kyiv consider the most recent package deal of sanctions?

Kachka: “It is a actually good sign that the strain on Russia is growing and continues to extend. After all, our request to our companions, particularly in Europe, may be very clear. We need to reduce their [Russia’s] sources of finance within the struggle [in Ukraine]…Russia receives about one-third of their public revenues and budgets from exporting oil…Oil is so essential [to sanction] for us due to its direct impression on the Russian capability to proceed and enhance aggression towards Ukraine.”

There was numerous discuss lately about stopping fuel. Is that no more profitable for Moscow?

Kachka: “The fuel business is constructed in a means that it creates numerous income for the Russian economic system, however much less income for the Russian finances, so after we are speaking about public funds, oil is the most important supply of public funds for the state finances for Russia. However fuel is a supply of enrichment for all of the individuals within the Russian authority. Due to this fact, fuel is essential…however we have to be conscious that the Russian military is financed by the export of oil.”

Is it not simpler mentioned than performed for Europe to only cease very important vitality imports like oil and fuel?

Kachka: “It will likely be a really troublesome undertaking. So we’re aware [of this] as a result of, as effectively, for us, this undertaking was troublesome even instantly earlier than the resumption of Russian aggression on February 24. We imported virtually 90% of our diesel from Russia and Belarus as a result of it was commercially much more environment friendly and logistically extra environment friendly.”

“Within the case of struggle, consolation is secondary, it is for later [on]. So, that is why we perceive that that is for the overall safety of Europe and that we have to reduce the funds to the Russian Military as a result of it destroys Ukraine and threatens all of the area…we consider that it’s possible that we are able to reorient the provision of oil and gas from different states. After all, it’s troublesome. The size of the issue is massive, however we’ve no different choices. And we’ve no time to attend as a result of the scenario is not going to be simpler. It would worsen and worse.”

Are you able to clarify how an oil ban may impression the struggle?

Kachka: “It implies that there might be a restricted capability to pay salaries to the Russian troopers. It will likely be unattainable to supply weapons by Russian factories, logistics, and so forth. So, if you happen to reduce your funds by one supply, you instantly ought to restrict expenditures. You [Russia] don’t have any different choices or perhaps pace up the ruining of your economic system or your public funds. In any case, the outcome might be seen right here and now. In order that’s why it’s so essential.”

And what in regards to the stance of impartial international locations like India and China? Do you consider they are going to attempt to circumvent Western sanctions?

Kachka: “With all of the makes an attempt to develop relations with India and China by Russia, it’s clear that Europe is extra essential, even for Russia, as a result of if Europe will cease shopping for Russian oil, it is not going to get replaced by India and China…For China and India, Europe and the Western world is extra essential than Russia…they attempt to be impartial, advocating for a decision of battle. However in the long run, they are going to be on the right facet of this story…I believe that when it comes to calculations, who’s a greater accomplice, Russia or Europe? I believe Europe is the higher accomplice for China and India.”

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World

Trump Plans to Attend UFC Fight at Madison Square Garden, Sources Say

Published

3 hours ago

November 17, 2024

Press Room

Trump Plans to Attend UFC Fight at Madison Square Garden, Sources Say

By Steve Holland WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (Reuters) – President-elect Donald Trump was set to travel to New York City on Saturday for what sources said were plans to attend an Ultimate Fighting Championship event at Madison Square Garden. It will be the second time Trump has left the Palm Beach,

World

Zelenskyy: Russia using Iranian weapons in 'massive' attack targeting energy infrastructure

Published

4 hours ago

November 17, 2024

Press Room

Zelenskyy: Russia using Iranian weapons in 'massive' attack targeting energy infrastructure

Russian forces launched hundreds of drones and missiles targeting Ukraine’s energy and power plant infrastructure on Sunday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attack included at least 120 missiles and 90 drones, including Iranian-made Shahed drones. Ukrainian officials say it was the largest long-range attack from Russia in at least three months.

“The enemy’s target was our energy infrastructure throughout Ukraine. Unfortunately, there is damage to objects from hits and falling debris. In Mykolaiv, as a result of a drone attack, two people were killed and six others were injured, including two children,” Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy added that Ukrianian forces were able to shoot down 144 of the projectiles before they reached their targets.

TRUMP TEAM REACTS TO REPORT PRESIDENT-ELECT TOLD RUSSIA’S PUTIN NOT TO ESCALATE WAR WITH UKRAINE

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russian forces launched over 200 drones and missiles into Ukrainian territory this weekend. (Christoph Soeder, Pool Photo via AP)

Explosions were reported in the Ukrianian cities of Kyiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro and in western Ukraine. Odesa, a port city, was reportedly left without power.

Poland’s military reacted to the attack by scrambling its own airforce within its borders, though there were no reports of Russian ordnance falling on Polish soil.

DOCUMENTS REVEAL RUSSIA’S INITIAL ‘PEACE DEAL’ EQUATED TO THE SURRENDER OF UKRAINE: REPORT

Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure as temperatures get colder in Ukraine, a strategy Mosocw has employed in previous years of the conflict.

A training session involving Ukrainian conscripts and veterans

A training session involving some 2,000 Ukrainian conscripts and veterans takes place in the muddy fields of the Champagne military camp in eastern France, November 14, 2024. (REUTERS/John Irish)

The attack comes as President-elect Donald Trump is expected to soon appoint a Ukrainian peace envoy to lead negotiations on ending the war with Russia.

TRUMP’S FIRST CABINET PICKS DECIDEDLY NOT ISOLATIONISTS: UKRAINE, ISRAEL BREATHE A SIGH OF RELIEF

The job is not expected to be a salaried role – from 2017 to 2019, Kurt Volker had served as special representative to Ukrainian negotiations on a volunteer basis.

Trump has been rolling out appointee names of those he wants to fill his Cabinet and advise him on top issues at a lightning-quick pace.

President-elect Donald Trump is preparing to appoint a peace envoy to Ukraine and Russia. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Trump has long insisted he could negotiate an end to the war with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Few details have been given about how he would do this.

Some advisers are reportedly encouraging Trump to push Kyiv to agree to terms that would freeze the frontlines by creating an 800-mile-long demilitarized zone and allow Russia to keep the land it has illegally seized, which amounts to roughly 20% of Ukraine.

It has also been suggested that Kyiv should agree not to pursue NATO membership for 20 years, a stipulation that critics of this plan argue kowtows to Putin.

Fox News’ Morgan Phillips and the Associated Press contributed to this report

Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com, or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.

World

Italy sends 15 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Gaza

Published

5 hours ago

November 17, 2024

Press Room

Italy sends 15 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Gaza

The aid, which was collected from donors by the charity Confederazione Nazionale delle Misericordie d’Italia, took off aboard a C-130J military aircraft from an airfield in the central city of Pisa.

An Italian charity has sent 15 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Gaza for distribution among the civilian population.

“We will continue to do everything possible to alleviate the suffering of the population of Gaza. Italy does not forget those who suffer,” Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said in a post on X.

The plane will first fly to the airport in Larnaca on Cyprus and the aid will be transferred from there to Gaza by sea.

The aid will be shipped to the Strip via the Cyprus Maritime Corridor, an initiative of the Cypriot government in coordination with the United Nations and international partners such as the European Union.

The aid is expected to arrive at the Israeli port of Ashdod. Israel has long been criticised for impeding the flow of aid into Gaza, something it has always denied.

On Thursday, the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that, “in the last two days alone six attempts to deliver lifesaving assistance to besieged areas in North Gaza governorate were blocked.”

The office said that 79% of Gaza’s population is under active evacuation orders, complicating aid deliveries, and accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war.

Israel denies obstructing aid

COGAT, the Israeli agency that tracks and records all aid transferred into Gaza, maintains aid is flowing into the Strip, primarily via the Kerem Shalom, Erez and Kissufim crossings. Kissufim was opened for aid deliveries on Tuesday.

According to data published on the COGAT website, more than 1.1 million tonnes of aid has passed into Gaza since the start of the war in October last year. Israel accuses Hamas of impeding aid deliveries or of stealing aid to sell on.

“In a moment of such profound suffering for the population of Gaza, we felt the moral duty to make a concrete contribution to the local community,” said Misericordie president, Domenico Giani.

“The humanitarian crisis in Gaza requires constant and coordinated commitment from the international community. It is necessary to act not only to address immediate needs, such as the distribution of food aid, but also to address the root causes of the conflict and promote a lasting solution that guarantees human rights and the safety of all citizens.”

Earlier this year, the Italian government launched its Food for Gaza initiative with an initial €12 million donation.

That initiative, led by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with key humanitarian actors such as the World Food Programme and Red Cross, aims to strengthen collaboration and facilitate access to food assistance in order to alleviate the suffering of the population and improve food security in the Gaza Strip.

Cities across Italy have seen months of protests, demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and criticising the Italian government for continuing to export arms to Israel.

Italy, considered the third biggest foreign supplier of arms to Israel after the US and Germany, assured in the wake of the 7 October attacks that it would cease to supply arms to Israel.

But in March this year, the Italian Defence Ministry acknowledged orders signed before 7 October had been delivered during the war, despite Italian law banning the export of lethal weapons to countries at war.

“After the start of operations in Gaza, the government immediately suspended all new export licences and all agreements signed after 7 October were not implemented,” Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told the Senate on Tuesday.

“I want to recall that the Italian policy of completely blocking of all new licences is much more restrictive than that applied by our partners – France, Germany and United Kingdom. These partners continue to use case-by-case assessments, including for new licences. We have blocked everything.”