should we be giving weapons to Ukrainian Nazis or Al-Qaeda?
not sure we can get a pass on a war we could have prevented, which we allowed to proceed because it serves the financial interests of our oligarchs.
This deserves it's own thread but I will stick it here as it's Ukraine based.
Just incredible
View: https://twitter.com/skbozphd/status/1499298691156705282?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1499298691156705282%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=
Just incredible
View: https://twitter.com/skbozphd/status/1499298691156705282?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1499298691156705282%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=
a whole million. Oh wow.
You know there's some Igor out there who is staring at his Blackberry right now screaming "почему ты не работаешь"
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They'd nuke themselves to silence him.
i was wondering why a dude from the Ron Paul Institute was arguing for more war...there's a production assistant that got fired.
So what are these powerful "Sanctions" ? Anyone have any information as to what they are by country. I keep finding conflicting and vague information
United States
The US on Wednesday took aim at Russia’s oil refining sector with new export curbs.
The new round of sanctions announced by the White House ban the export of specific refining technologies, making it harder for Russia to modernise its oil refineries.
Last week Washington and its allies also barred some of Russia’s banks from the SWIFT international payments system, a list officials said was still being finalised with EU partners
The White House released a statement saying measures will also include “wide restrictions on semiconductors, telecommunication, encryption security, lasers, sensors, navigation, avionics and maritime technologies”.
It also targeted military end-users, including the Russian defence ministry.
The US has imposed sanctions on 24 Belarusian individuals and entities including “two significant Belarusian state-owned banks, nine defence firms, and seven regime-connected officials and elites”.
The European Union
The 27-country EU on Wednesday also imposed several packages of sanctions on Russia, including a ban on the export of specific refining technologies to Russia from Europe.
Last week, the group said it was planning close its airspace to Russian aircraft, including the private jets of Russian oligarchs.
The bloc also banned Russian state-owned television network Russia Today and news agency Sputnik.
For Russian ally Belarus, the EU imposed a ban on imports of products from mineral fuels to tobacco, wood and timber, cement, iron and steel.
The EU also decided to freeze any European assets of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his foreign minister Sergey Lavrov.
Switzerland
Switzerland will adopt all the sanctions that the European Union imposed on Russian people and companies and freeze their assets, the government said in a sharp deviation from the country’s traditional neutrality.
“We are in an extraordinary situation where extraordinary measures could be decided,” President and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis told a news conference in Bern on Monday, flanked by the finance, defence and justice ministers.
Only history would tell if such a move could happen again, he said. Swiss neutrality remained intact but “of course we stand on the side of Western values,” he added.
Japan
Japan said it will strengthen sanctions against Russia to include financial institutions and military equipment exports, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said, adding that an impact on his resource-poor nation’s energy supply is unlikely.
Kishida told a news conference on Friday that Tokyo would take aim at Russian financial institutions and individuals with the sanctions, as well as halt exports of military-use goods such as semiconductors.
“Japan must clearly show its position that we will never tolerate any attempt to change the status quo by force,” he said.
South Korea
South Korea decided to tighten export controls against Russia, by banning exports of strategic items, and join Western countries’ moves to block some Russian banks from the SWIFT international payments system, Seoul’s foreign ministry said.
The Korean government also decided to promote the additional release of strategic oil reserves for stabilisation of the international energy market and to further review other measures such as the resale of LNG to Europe, the ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
“The Korean government condemned Russia’s armed invasion of Ukraine and, as a responsible member of the international community, decided to actively participate in the international community’s efforts, including economic sanctions, for a peaceful resolution of the situation,” the statement added.
United Kingdom
The UK said on Monday it will lock Russia’s Sberbank out of the sterling clearing and slap sanctions on three other banks. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss also said there will be a full asset freeze on Russian lenders within days.
Last week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled the UK’s largest-ever package of sanctions against Russia targeting banks, members of Putin’s closest circle, and wealthy Russians who enjoy high-rolling London lifestyles.
In the 10-point sanctions package released on Friday, the British government said it would impose an asset freeze on major Russian banks, including state-owned VTB, its second-biggest bank, and stop major Russian companies from raising finance in the UK.
Britain will also ban Russia’s flagship airline Aeroflot from landing in the UK, suspend dual export licences to Russia, and ban exports of some high-tech exports and parts of the extractive industry.
Canada
Canada announced more sanctions against Russia on Friday targeting 62 individuals and entities, including members of the elite and major banks, and cancelled all export permits.
“Today, in light of Russia’s reckless and dangerous military strike, we are imposing further, severe sanctions,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.
“These sanctions are wide-reaching. They will impose severe costs on complicit Russian elites.”
Sanctions will target the Russian Security Council – including the defence minister, finance minister, and justice minister, Trudeau added.
Canada will prioritise immigration applications for Ukrainians who want to come to Canada
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic banned Russian airlines from flying to the central European country and is considering further steps against Russia.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Friday Prague will also speed up its exit from two international banks set up in the Soviet era, while the finance ministry will analyse Russian-owned companies’ access to Czech public funds.
Fiala said memories of the 1968 Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia made the Czech stance tougher than that of some western European partners.
“We are a country which experienced the aggressive policy of Russia, or Soviet Union, and our unique historical experience makes us much more sensitive,” he said.
Taiwan
Taiwan will impose sanctions on Russia, the government said, with the world’s largest contract chipmaker saying it would comply with all export-control rules.
“We very harshly condemn such an act of invasion and will join democratic countries to jointly impose sanctions,” said Premier Su Tseng-chang on Friday, without giving details.
Asked about the sanctions, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC), a major Apple supplier and Asia’s most valuable listed company, said it had a robust export control system and would follow the rules.
Australia
Australia imposed more sanctions on Russia targeting several of its elite citizens and lawmakers, and said it was “unacceptable” that China was easing trade restrictions with Moscow at a time when it invaded Ukraine.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday said the new sanctions will be placed against “oligarchs whose economic weight is of strategic significance to Moscow”, and more than 300 members of the Russian parliament who voted to authorise sending Russian troops into Ukraine.
Australia is also working with the United States to align sanctions on key Belarusian individuals and entities who helped Russia.
Morrison voiced concerns over the “lack of strong response” from China and criticised Beijing about reports it eased trade curbs with Moscow by allowing imports of wheat from Russia.
New Zealand
New Zealand imposed targeted travel bans on Russia and prohibited trade to its military and security forces.
“The world is speaking and sending a very clear message to Russia that what they have done is wrong and they will face the condemnation of the world,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.
Ardern said “an unthinkable number of innocent lives could be lost because of Russia’s decision”.
United States
The US on Wednesday took aim at Russia’s oil refining sector with new export curbs.
The new round of sanctions announced by the White House ban the export of specific refining technologies, making it harder for Russia to modernise its oil refineries.
Last week Washington and its allies also barred some of Russia’s banks from the SWIFT international payments system, a list officials said was still being finalised with EU partners
The White House released a statement saying measures will also include “wide restrictions on semiconductors, telecommunication, encryption security, lasers, sensors, navigation, avionics and maritime technologies”.
It also targeted military end-users, including the Russian defence ministry.
The US has imposed sanctions on 24 Belarusian individuals and entities including “two significant Belarusian state-owned banks, nine defence firms, and seven regime-connected officials and elites”.
The European Union
The 27-country EU on Wednesday also imposed several packages of sanctions on Russia, including a ban on the export of specific refining technologies to Russia from Europe.
Last week, the group said it was planning close its airspace to Russian aircraft, including the private jets of Russian oligarchs.
The bloc also banned Russian state-owned television network Russia Today and news agency Sputnik.
For Russian ally Belarus, the EU imposed a ban on imports of products from mineral fuels to tobacco, wood and timber, cement, iron and steel.
The EU also decided to freeze any European assets of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his foreign minister Sergey Lavrov.
Switzerland
Switzerland will adopt all the sanctions that the European Union imposed on Russian people and companies and freeze their assets, the government said in a sharp deviation from the country’s traditional neutrality.
“We are in an extraordinary situation where extraordinary measures could be decided,” President and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis told a news conference in Bern on Monday, flanked by the finance, defence and justice ministers.
Only history would tell if such a move could happen again, he said. Swiss neutrality remained intact but “of course we stand on the side of Western values,” he added.
Japan
Japan said it will strengthen sanctions against Russia to include financial institutions and military equipment exports, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said, adding that an impact on his resource-poor nation’s energy supply is unlikely.
Kishida told a news conference on Friday that Tokyo would take aim at Russian financial institutions and individuals with the sanctions, as well as halt exports of military-use goods such as semiconductors.
“Japan must clearly show its position that we will never tolerate any attempt to change the status quo by force,” he said.
South Korea
South Korea decided to tighten export controls against Russia, by banning exports of strategic items, and join Western countries’ moves to block some Russian banks from the SWIFT international payments system, Seoul’s foreign ministry said.
The Korean government also decided to promote the additional release of strategic oil reserves for stabilisation of the international energy market and to further review other measures such as the resale of LNG to Europe, the ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
“The Korean government condemned Russia’s armed invasion of Ukraine and, as a responsible member of the international community, decided to actively participate in the international community’s efforts, including economic sanctions, for a peaceful resolution of the situation,” the statement added.
United Kingdom
The UK said on Monday it will lock Russia’s Sberbank out of the sterling clearing and slap sanctions on three other banks. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss also said there will be a full asset freeze on Russian lenders within days.
Last week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled the UK’s largest-ever package of sanctions against Russia targeting banks, members of Putin’s closest circle, and wealthy Russians who enjoy high-rolling London lifestyles.
In the 10-point sanctions package released on Friday, the British government said it would impose an asset freeze on major Russian banks, including state-owned VTB, its second-biggest bank, and stop major Russian companies from raising finance in the UK.
Britain will also ban Russia’s flagship airline Aeroflot from landing in the UK, suspend dual export licences to Russia, and ban exports of some high-tech exports and parts of the extractive industry.
Canada
Canada announced more sanctions against Russia on Friday targeting 62 individuals and entities, including members of the elite and major banks, and cancelled all export permits.
“Today, in light of Russia’s reckless and dangerous military strike, we are imposing further, severe sanctions,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.
“These sanctions are wide-reaching. They will impose severe costs on complicit Russian elites.”
Sanctions will target the Russian Security Council – including the defence minister, finance minister, and justice minister, Trudeau added.
Canada will prioritise immigration applications for Ukrainians who want to come to Canada
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic banned Russian airlines from flying to the central European country and is considering further steps against Russia.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Friday Prague will also speed up its exit from two international banks set up in the Soviet era, while the finance ministry will analyse Russian-owned companies’ access to Czech public funds.
Fiala said memories of the 1968 Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia made the Czech stance tougher than that of some western European partners.
“We are a country which experienced the aggressive policy of Russia, or Soviet Union, and our unique historical experience makes us much more sensitive,” he said.
Taiwan
Taiwan will impose sanctions on Russia, the government said, with the world’s largest contract chipmaker saying it would comply with all export-control rules.
“We very harshly condemn such an act of invasion and will join democratic countries to jointly impose sanctions,” said Premier Su Tseng-chang on Friday, without giving details.
Asked about the sanctions, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC), a major Apple supplier and Asia’s most valuable listed company, said it had a robust export control system and would follow the rules.
Australia
Australia imposed more sanctions on Russia targeting several of its elite citizens and lawmakers, and said it was “unacceptable” that China was easing trade restrictions with Moscow at a time when it invaded Ukraine.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday said the new sanctions will be placed against “oligarchs whose economic weight is of strategic significance to Moscow”, and more than 300 members of the Russian parliament who voted to authorise sending Russian troops into Ukraine.
Australia is also working with the United States to align sanctions on key Belarusian individuals and entities who helped Russia.
Morrison voiced concerns over the “lack of strong response” from China and criticised Beijing about reports it eased trade curbs with Moscow by allowing imports of wheat from Russia.
New Zealand
New Zealand imposed targeted travel bans on Russia and prohibited trade to its military and security forces.
“The world is speaking and sending a very clear message to Russia that what they have done is wrong and they will face the condemnation of the world,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.
Ardern said “an unthinkable number of innocent lives could be lost because of Russia’s decision”.
I’m having a hard time believing this.
View: https://twitter.com/kevinrothrock/status/1499395103957434369?s=21
View: https://twitter.com/kevinrothrock/status/1499395103957434369?s=21
edit: removed boring story about blackberry storm
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FACT SHEET: Joined by Allies and Partners, the United States Imposes Devastating Costs on Russia | The White House
Today, the United States carried out the following actions:
Today, the United States carried out the following actions:
- Severing the connection to the U.S. financial system for Russia’s largest financial institution, Sberbank, including 25 subsidiaries, by imposing correspondent and payable-through account sanctions. This action will restrict Sberbank’s access to transactions made in the dollar. Sberbank is the largest bank in Russia, holds nearly one-third of the overall Russian banking sector’s assets, is heavily connected to the global financial system, and is systemically critical to the Russian financial system.
- Full blocking sanctions on Russia’s second largest financial institution, VTB Bank (VTB), including 20 subsidiaries. This action will freeze any of VTB’s assets touching the U.S financial system and prohibit U.S. persons from dealing with them. VTB holds nearly one-fifth of the overall Russian banking sector’s assets, is heavily exposed to the U.S. and western financial systems, and is systemically critical to the Russian financial system.
- Full blocking sanctions on three other major Russian financial institutions: Bank Otkritie, Sovcombank OJSC, and Novikombank- and 34 subsidiaries. These sanctions freeze any of these institutions’ assets touching the U.S financial system and prohibit U.S. persons from dealing with them. These financial institutions play a significant a role in the Russian economy.
- New debt and equity restrictions on thirteen of the most critical major Russian enterprises and entities. This includes restrictions on all transactions in, provision of financing for, and other dealings in new debt of greater than 14 days maturity and new equity issued by thirteen Russian state-owned enterprises and entities: Sberbank, AlfaBank, Credit Bank of Moscow, Gazprombank, Russian Agricultural Bank, Gazprom, Gazprom Neft, Transneft, Rostelecom, RusHydro, Alrosa, Sovcomflot, and Russian Railways. These entities, including companies critical to the Russian economy with estimated assets of nearly $1.4 trillion, will not be able to raise money through the U.S. market — a key source of capital and revenue generation, which limits the Kremlin’s ability to raise money for its activity.
- Additional full blocking sanctions on Russian elites and their family members: Sergei Ivanov (and his son, Sergei), Nikolai Patrushev (and his son Andrey), Igor Sechin (and his son Ivan), Andrey Puchkov, Yuriy Solviev (and two real estate companies he owns), Galina Ulyutina, and Alexander Vedyakhin. This action includes individuals who have enriched themselves at the expense of the Russian state, and have elevated their family members into some of the highest position of powers in the country. It also includes financial figures who sit atop Russia’s largest financial institutions and are responsible for providing the resources necessary to support Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. This action follows up on yesterday’s action targeting Russian elites and their family members and cuts them off from the U.S. financial system, freezes any assets they hold in the United States and blocks their travel to the United States.
- Costs on Belarus for supporting a further invasion of Ukraine by sanctioning 24 Belarusian individuals and entities, including targeting Belarus’ military and financial capabilities by sanctioning two significant Belarusian state-owned banks, nine defense firms, and seven regime-connected official and elites. We call on Belarus to withdraw its support for Russian aggression in Ukraine.
- Sweeping restrictions on Russia’s military to strike a blow to Putin’s military and strategic ambitions. This includes measures against military end users, including the Russian Ministry of Defense. Exports of nearly all U.S. items and items produced in foreign countries using certain U.S.-origin software, technology, or equipment will be restricted to targeted military end users. These comprehensive restrictions apply to the Russian Ministry of Defense, including the Armed Forces of Russia, wherever located.
- Russia-wide restrictions to choke off Russia’s import of technological goods critical to a diversified economy and Putin’s ability to project power. This includes Russia-wide denial of exports of sensitive technology, primarily targeting the Russian defense, aviation, and maritime sectors to cut off Russia’s access to cutting-edge technology. In addition to sweeping restrictions on the Russian-defense sector, the United States government will impose Russia-wide restrictions on sensitive U.S. technologies produced in foreign countries using U.S.-origin software, technology, or equipment. This includes Russia-wide restrictions on semiconductors, telecommunication, encryption security, lasers, sensors, navigation, avionics and maritime technologies. These severe and sustained controls will cut off Russia’s access to cutting edge technology.
- Historical multilateral cooperation that serves as a force multiplier in restricting more than $50 billion in key inputs to Russia- impacting far more than that in Russia’s production. As a result of this multilateral coordination, we will provide an exemption for other countries that adopt equally stringent measures. Countries that adopt substantially similar export restrictions are exempted from new U.S. licensing requirements for items produced in their countries. The European Union, Australia, Japan, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, have already communicated their plans for parallel actions. This unprecedented coordination significantly expands the scope of restrictions on Russia. Further engagement with Allies and partners will continue to maximize the impact on Russia’s military capabilities.
