Russia-Europe

No option has been taken off the table as the G-7 countries continue to discuss the possibility of using the Russian assets frozen by the West to aid Ukraine, Reuters has reported, citing a senior US Treasury official.

The European Union has introduced sanctions against correctional facilities Nos. 6 and 3 and thirty-three individuals within the framework of sanctions related to the death of Aleksey Navalny, the EU Council announced in its decree posted in the Official Journal.

President Vladimir Putin of Russia warned the West on Wednesday that Moscow was technically ready for a nuclear war and that if the U.S. sent troops to Ukraine it would be considered a significant escalation of the conflict.

While Brussels is searching for legal loopholes to send frozen Russian assets to Ukraine, it must keep some of the cash as a “safety buffer”, should its clearing house Euroclear get in trouble, potentially jeopardizing the entire global financial system, a senior EU official has told Reuters.

Ambassadors from the European Union member states must be expelled from Russia, former President Dmitry Medvedev has stated, citing their refusal to discuss "election meddling" with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

The European Commission is working hard to abandon Russian gas supplies it receives through Ukraine, the commission’s spokesperson, Tim McPhie, has stated. The EU’s gas transit contract with Moscow expires at the end of 2024.

The EU has approved its 13th package of sanctions against Moscow, the EU’s Belgian presidency announced on Wednesday on X (formerly Twitter).

The European Union has summoned Russia's representative to the EU and called for an independent international probe into the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, the EU's diplomatic service announced.

Russia supplied just over €29 billion ($31.2 billion) worth of energy to the EU last year, according to data from the bloc’s statistics office, Eurostat, as cited by the Russian business daily RBK.

The recent statements by the European Union politicians about the possibility of a war with Russia serve their own domestic interests aimed at distractinh the population from internal issues like tanking economies, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has stated. At the same time, claims of an allegedly imminent conflict with Moscow also help to justify continued funding for Kiev, he stressed.

European Union Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell has rejected the notion of peace negotiations and a ceasefire in Ukraine, instead demanding that the bloc’s member states cough up “whatever it takes” for Kiev to defeat Moscow.

The EU permanent representatives have agreed on the preliminary proposal of the European Commission on the use of income from frozen Russian assets, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union stated.

The United States is using the dollar to unleash trade wars worldwide, while international economic cooperation is also being weaponized, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.

The West is seeking to disregard objective historic processes, which may slow down the forming of a multipolar world but will never stop it, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the Zvezda television channel.

European Union ambassadors in Brussels moved closer to consensus on a significant package of sanctions targeting broad sectors of the Russian economy and individuals on Thursday. But they were debating whether to keep President Vladimir Putin off their list for now, diplomats who participated in or were briefed on the talks say.

Iran’s foreign minister has blamed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for the Ukraine crisis.

Leaders of several countries rushed to condemn a Russian invasion of Ukraine on Wednesday night, warning of heavy sanctions to come for the attack announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Ukraine’s parliament has approved imposing sanctions on 351 Russians, including lawmakers who supported the recognition of independence of the two separatist-controlled territories in eastern Ukraine and the use of Russian troops there.

European Union foreign ministers have agreed to sanction 27 Russians and entities, as well banks, the defense sector and limiting Russian access to European capital markets. It comes after Moscow recognized two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.

Following a request from President Vladimir Putin, the upper house of Russia’s parliament granted permission for the country’s military to be deployed abroad. This follows Putin’s recognition of the two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.

The United Kingdom has announced a series of sanctions against Russia, imposing asset freezes on five major Russian banks and three high net worth individuals. The measures come after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of the two breakaway regions in Ukraine.

Berlin has taken steps to halt the process of certifying the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Tuesday. The West started taking punitive measures following Moscow’s recognition of the two Ukrainian breakaway regions.

Iran’s foreign ministry says the United and NATO’s “interference and provocative measures” are to blame for the escalation of tensions in eastern Ukraine and between Kiev and Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to recognize the independence of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine has drawn condemnation across the globe.

Moscow has recognized the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics in eastern Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Monday.