Contents tagged with Russia
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Russia stocking up on foreign cash amid looming sanctions
Russian banks are importing dozens of tons foreign cash into the country, building up reserves in case of tough Western sanctions with the possible shutdown of SWIFT and foreign correspondent accounts.
In December 2021, the import of foreign cash to Russia amounted to $ 4.97 billion, RIA Novosti reports, citing Russia’s Central Bank statistics.
This is the fourth largest number in Russia’s history. Russian banks imported more dollars and euros only amid panic of March 2020 ($6 billion) and …
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USA and UK: No signs Russia is moving troops away from Ukrainian border
Western countries do not see signs of withdrawal of Russian troops from the borders of Ukraine, which was announced by the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Statements from Moscow that the troops of the Southern and Western Military Districts, after completing their exercises, are being sent to places of their permanent deployment need to be verified, said US Permanent Representative to NATO Julian Smith.
Russia "made similar claims" about the de-escalation in December, but they turned out to be …
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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz refuses to take Russian PCR test before meeting with Putin
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz refused to take the PCR test offered by the Russian side before a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, reports Deutsche Welle.
Scholz decided to do the PCR test necessary for admission to the Kremlin with a German doctor at the German Embassy in Moscow. The Chancellor's spokesperson reported that representatives of the Russian medical authorities were invited to attend Scholz's testing.
The PCR kit needed for the test was brought from Germany. Even …
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Russia warns it will sink American ships if its borders are violated
The Russian military is ready to strike at foreign ships that violate the state border of the Russian Federation, said the deputy head of the main operational directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Federation, Stanislav Gadzhimagomedov, commenting on the incident with the American submarine near the Kuril Island
On Saturday, the Russian Defense Ministry said the Russian warships had to use “appropriate means" against an American Virginia-class submarine in the Pacific Ocean, which, …
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Ukrainian Ambassador to UK: Ukraine may choose not to join NATO to avoid Russian invasion
Ukraine may abandon its goal of joining NATO if it helps to avoid war with Russia, said Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko, in an interview with BBC radio.
"Especially under threat, we can be pushed to do this. We are flexible in finding the best way out. If we have to make any serious concessions, this is what we could do," Prystaiko said.
The diplomat stressed that Kyiv has been pushed towards making such a decision for a long time, including by "voices from NATO." "The …
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Air traffic over Ukraine shutting down as Russia prepares to invade
Western insurance companies are refusing to insure airlines flying over the territory of Ukraine, practically closing the sky over the country.
The Ukrainian news outlet Strana.ua reports, citing sources in the insurance market, that on Sunday the largest British insurance companies, which reinsure other insurers, sent out a notice that within 48 hours insurance coverage for flights going to and out of Ukraine will not be provided.
"Not a single plane will fly to or out of Ukraine starting …
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Despite sanctions, Germany continues to export dual-use goods to Russia
Despite economic sanctions, German companies continue supplying Russia with a large number of goods that can be used for military purposes, reports the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag.
In 2020, the German Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) issued 673 export licenses for dual-use goods to Russia with a total value of 366 million euros.
Dual-use goods are items that can be used for both civilian and military purposes. Among them are machines that can be used in the …
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Russia begins large-scale naval drills in Black Sea
Russia has begun large-scale exercise of the Black Sea Fleet in annexed Crimea.
The press service of the Black Sea Fleet said that 30 ships are taking part in the naval exercises to practice the defense of the annexed peninsula.
"More than 30 ships of the Black Sea Fleet left the ports of Sevastopol and Novorossiysk according to the exercise plan," the press service of the Black Sea fleet said in a statement.
Frigates, patrol and small missile ships, missile boats, amphibious and small anti- …
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Russian diplomats begin leaving Ukraine
Diplomats and employees of Russian consulates began to leave Ukraine, an informed source told RIA Novosti. According to him, Moscow is taking such a step "amid the evacuation officially announced by a number of Western countries."
"Ukrainian citizens report that Russian diplomats and consular officers in Ukraine began to leave for Russia. This is evidenced by the difficulties when making an appointment at the consulates and the embassy," he said.
TASS reported that diplomats in the Russian …
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Kremlin refuses to accept NATO and EU response to Russia’s demands for security guarantees
Russia cannot accept the response of the European Union and NATO to the letter sent by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov about "security proposals". The Russian Foreign Ministry said that such "collective response" looks like a "coverup." In addition, Lavrov’s letter was not addressed to Stoltenberg and Borrell, said the press secretary of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova.
She recalled that Lavrov sent his letter to the foreign ministers of 37 countries- the United States, Canada and …