News   GLOBAL  |  Apr 02, 2020
 8.4K     0 
News   GLOBAL  |  Apr 01, 2020
 39K     0 
News   GLOBAL  |  Apr 01, 2020
 4.7K     0 

Now the bad news...

Russia publishes list of 'unfriendly countries' after invasion of Ukraine

From link.

Oh no! Not the island of Jersey (located in the English Channel) and Liechtenstein (a 25km-long principality between Austria and Switzerland).
Russia has published a list of 43 "unfriendly countries" which face new economic restrictions in retaliation for sweeping sanctions brought in by the West.

Vladimir Putin's forces have been trying to gain control over Ukraine for 13 days, but run into a number of logistical problems and a stronger resistance than they initially expected.

Sanctions have also been imposed by the UK, US, Canada and the EU, causing the Russian ruble to drop to its lowest ever value.

These have included sweeping measures against Putin himself, his ministers, oligarchs, individuals close to the Kremlin, banks, and key businesses.

Under the new restrictions being brought in by the Kremlin, financial trades, loans, and real estate purchases will need "special authorisation" if nations from the list are involved.
The list includes;

  • United States
  • Canada
  • the EU states
  • UK (including Jersey)
  • Anguilla
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Gibraltar
  • Ukraine
  • Montenegro
  • Switzerland
  • Albania
  • Andorra
  • Iceland
  • Liechtenstein
  • Monaco
  • Norway
  • San Marino
  • North Macedonia
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Australia
  • Micronesia
  • New Zealand
  • Singapore
  • Taiwan (considered a territory of China, but ruled by its own administration since 1949)

Taiwan was an interesting addition to the list, as China - a key ally of Russia - does not recognise it as a separate country but rather part of its own borders.

China has refused to condemn Russia's actions and refused to call Putin's actions an "invasion", instead asking Western nations to respect Russia's "legitimate security concerns".

It has called for a solution to the crisis through peaceful negotiations.

Taiwan's foreign minister Joseph Wu said Russia's decision to put Taiwan on the list would have little effect on their bilateral relations.

During a visit to London on Monday, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau announced new sanctions against 10 individuals who were "complicit in this unjustified invasion."

Russia’s economy has come under immense pressure from the international sanctions, with the rouble weakening to 133.5 to the dollar - a 40% drop in value compared to before the invasion.

Russian state media has portrayed the measures as a retaliation to the sanctions brought in, which have almost entirely cut the Russian people from international payment systems.
A number of credit card companies have also pulled out of Russia, including Visa, Mastercard and American Express.

The list follows a presidential decree on 5 March allowing the Russian government, companies and citizens to temporarily pay foreign currency debts owed to overseas creditors from "unfriendly countries" in rubles.

To make such payments, the government said debtors should open a special type of ruble account with a Russian bank and transfer into it the ruble equivalent of the foreign currency amount owed according to the central bank's official exchange rate on the day of payment.

The Russian economy could come under further pressures following reports US President Joe Biden is set to announce a ban on Russian oil and other energy imports.
Biden has been working with allies in Europe, who are far more dependent on Russian oil, to isolate Russia's energy-heavy economy and Putin.

Two people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday the United States may move ahead with a ban on Russian oil imports without the participation of allies in Europe.

The UK is reportedly set to join the US in the ban, and will ban the import of Russian oil gradually.

It comes after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a plea for the West to stop buying Russian oil, which has so far escaped sanctions.

Oil prices climbed back above $130 a barrel as reports of the latest sanctions emerged.
 
Now the bad news...

Russia publishes list of 'unfriendly countries' after invasion of Ukraine

From link.

Oh no! Not the island of Jersey (located in the English Channel) and Liechtenstein (a 25km-long principality between Austria and Switzerland).

The list includes;

  • United States
  • Canada
  • the EU states
  • UK (including Jersey)
  • Anguilla
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Gibraltar
  • Ukraine
  • Montenegro
  • Switzerland
  • Albania
  • Andorra
  • Iceland
  • Liechtenstein
  • Monaco
  • Norway
  • San Marino
  • North Macedonia
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Australia
  • Micronesia
  • New Zealand
  • Singapore
  • Taiwan (considered a territory of China, but ruled by its own administration since 1949)

This does not bode well for the upcoming Hungarian elections. Hungary has always been close with Russia and now they are on the outs.

This could have ripple effects onto the Hungarian economy given all the Russian investment there.
 
Now the bad news...

Russia publishes list of 'unfriendly countries' after invasion of Ukraine

From link.

Oh no! Not the island of Jersey (located in the English Channel) and Liechtenstein (a 25km-long principality between Austria and Switzerland).

The list includes;

  • United States
  • Canada
  • the EU states
  • UK (including Jersey)
  • Anguilla
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Gibraltar
  • Ukraine
  • Montenegro
  • Switzerland
  • Albania
  • Andorra
  • Iceland
  • Liechtenstein
  • Monaco
  • Norway
  • San Marino
  • North Macedonia
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Australia
  • Micronesia
  • New Zealand
  • Singapore
  • Taiwan (considered a territory of China, but ruled by its own administration since 1949)
This is a much better reporting 😅
 
This does not bode well for the upcoming Hungarian elections. Hungary has always been close with Russia and now they are on the outs.

This could have ripple effects onto the Hungarian economy given all the Russian investment there.
Ideally, it will see the end of the dreadful Mr Orban and his Fidesz colleagues. They are a group of right-wing, homophobic, Islamophobic, Euro-sceptics (except when taking EU money) and in general are rather unpleasant folk!
 
Last edited:
This does not bode well for the upcoming Hungarian elections. Hungary has always been close with Russia and now they are on the outs.

This could have ripple effects onto the Hungarian economy given all the Russian investment there.

As a member of the EU and NATO, they shouldn't have close relations with Russia at all. Why attach yourself to a loser, especially when you're already aligned with the West?
 
As a member of the EU and NATO, they shouldn't have close relations with Russia at all. Why attach yourself to a loser, especially when you're already aligned with the West?
Unfortunately because some people do not believe this old proverb!

1646762488420.png
 
This will certainly not make Putin too happy! From Guardian.

I assume many other former "East Bloc" countries also still have MIGs.

EDIT: Yes, there's a list of all owners at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Mikoyan_MiG-29_operators I would have thought the most likely other donors might be Bulgaria & Slovakia but ...



Here’s the full statement from the Polish government following its announcement that it is ready to immediately transfer MIG-29 planes to the US for Ukrainian use:

The authorities of the Republic of Poland, after consultations between the President and the Goverment, are ready to deploy – immediately and free of charge – all their MIG-29 jets to the Ramstein Air Base and place them at the disposal of the Government of the United States of America.
At the same time, Poland requests the United States to provide us with used aircraft with corresponding operational capabilities. Poland is ready to immediately establish the conditions of purchase of the planes.
The Polish Government also requests other NATO Allies – owners of MIG-29 jets – to act in the same vein.
 
This will certainly not make Putin too happy! From Guardian.

I assume many other former "East Bloc" countries also still have MIGs.

EDIT: Yes, there's a list of all owners at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Mikoyan_MiG-29_operators I would have thought the most likely other donors might be Bulgaria & Slovakia but ...



Here’s the full statement from the Polish government following its announcement that it is ready to immediately transfer MIG-29 planes to the US for Ukrainian use:
Canada might have been able to send over some used Avro Arrows, if the Progressive Conservatives didn't destroy them in 1959. See link.

BTW. Avro is now Bombardier or Alstom.
 
History I would assume. The older generation has a fondness for the communist times were everything was provided to them.

Despite 45 years of Soviet oppression? Very bizarre thinking. They should rather harken back to the Austria-Hungary days instead!
 
Apart from Ukraine itself, it's noteworthy that Moldova and Georgia also formally applied for EU membership last week.
 
Despite 45 years of Soviet oppression? Very bizarre thinking. They should rather harken back to the Austria-Hungary days instead!

I have family who have lived in Hungary all their lives (dating back to 1927). They actually prefer the communist times because despite the Soviet control it was one of the happiest countries behind the Iron Curtain hence the term Goulash Communism.

They had limited access to western culture and so forth while still being under the thumb of the USSR. More to the point, everything was paid for including government pension while still looking after seniors.

Yes they were occupied but it was not aa bad as other parts of the USSR like Romania, Poland or Czechoslovakia.
 
I have family who have lived in Hungary all their lives (dating back to 1927). They actually prefer the communist times because despite the Soviet control it was one of the happiest countries behind the Iron Curtain hence the term Goulash Communism.

They had limited access to western culture and so forth while still being under the thumb of the USSR. More to the point, everything was paid for including government pension while still looking after seniors.

Yes they were occupied but it was not aa bad as other parts of the USSR like Romania, Poland or Czechoslovakia.
That is a rather unusual view of history and seems to ignore the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and the very considerable repression both before and after it. I certainly agree that Hungary has a history of rule by right-wing or left-wing 'dictators' - look at their very right-wing government and Horthy and the fascist Arrow Cross. Oraban is simply the most recent.
 
That is a rather unusual view of history and seems to ignore the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and the very considerable repression both before and after it. I certainly agree that Hungary has a history of rule by right-wing or left-wing 'dictators' - look at their very right-wing government and Horthy and the fascist Arrow Cross. Oraban is simply the most recent.

The 1956 Revolution is considered by Hungarians to be a defining moment in their history.

Despite the oppression afterwards, it forced the USSR into a compromise to avoid another Revolution.
 

Back
Top