The statement marks a sharp departure from the typically measured tone of recent U.S.-Russia exchanges and signals Washington's concern over Moscow's expanding military footprint in Africa.
Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for their fourth meeting on April 25, has reportedly promoted the idea. It has "not found much traction in the White House," and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has opposed it, Politico reported.
Ukrainian intelligence has identified the captain of the oil embargo-breaking tanker FACCA, a part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers.
"The preliminary investigation has focused on a significant number of archive documents that were attempted to be taken to Russia," the Finnish Customs Economic Crime Investigation Unit said in a statement.
"I am continuing for one year the national emergency with respect to the Russian Federation and the emergency authority relating to the regulation of the anchorage and movement of Russian-affiliated vessels to United States ports," a U.S. Federal Register document says.
The EU sanctions consist of two documents adopted one after another: a decision and a regulation. While a regulation must by extended by all 27 members every six months, a decision remains in force until a qualified majority repeals it, RFE/RL reported.
European Union foreign ministers will meet in Luxembourg on April 14 to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine, including a possible monitoring mission under the "coalition of the willing," a senior EU official told European Pravda on condition of anonymity.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov linked the potential resumption of direct air service between the U.S. and Russia to Washington's decision on Aeroflot.
The warning follows Ukraine's agreement to a full 30-day ceasefire on March 11 during U.S.-mediated talks in Saudi Arabia.
Key developments on April 10: * US ambassador to Ukraine to resign, State Department tells Kyiv Independent * 'Before I got there, I had never held a weapon' — Ukraine shows interrogation of Chinese POWs * Ukraine won't accept any limits on its army in talks with Russia, official says * Russia frees woman jailed
Russia's Finance Ministry said the government lost roughly 230 billion rubles ($2.7 billion) in tax income compared to March 2024, with oil and gas revenues accounting for one-third of the total state income.
Key developments on April 2: * US sanctions Russian firms but lifts sanctions on Putin ally's wife * US sanctions network supplying Houthis with stolen Ukrainian grain, Russian arms * Trump admin officials say ceasefire unlikely in coming months, Reuters reports * Russian negotiator to meet Trump envoy in US on April 2, media
The Treasury Department did not provide a reason for Karina Rotenberg's removal from the sanctions list.
"The dominating view in the United States Senate is that Russia is the aggressor, and that this horrific war and Putin’s aggression must end now and be deterred in the future," the press release on April 1 said.
With much fanfare, the U.S. on March 25 announced it had brokered an agreement between Russia and Ukraine to "eliminate the use of force" in the Black Sea after two days of talks in Saudi Arabia. But while Kyiv said it was ready to abide by it straight away,
U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly "pissed off" and "very angry" regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin's fixation over President Volodymyr Zelensky, NBC News reported on March 30.
According to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, some of the sanctions Russia wants lifted "are not ours — they belong to the European Union."
Russia's "unconditional withdrawal" from Ukraine is one of the main preconditions for changing or lifting EU sanctions, European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper told Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne on March 26.
The analysis covered over 300 foreign firms with "significant assets" and annual revenue of at least 1 billion rubles ($12 million) in Russia. Of these, 183 companies had fully withdrawn by the end of 2024.
The Kyiv Independent's Alisa Yurchenko went undercover as a representative of a Russian defense manufacturer to try buying American chips through Russian suppliers. Our investigation reveals how China helps Russia obtain the Western weapon components through gray import schemes.
“No one has officially applied yet. So, they are informally probing the ground,” Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, claimed.
The move may reassure European leaders, who have expressed concerns that the U.S. would attempt to broker a deal without their involvement.
Budapest had initially planned to veto the sanctions renewal, citing U.S. President Donald Trump's return to the White House and the possibility of a shift in U.S. policy toward Russia.
Western sanctions against Russia could be eventually eased if the step ensures security and justice for Ukraine, top Ukrainian sanctions official Vladyslav Vlasiuk told Politico in an interview published on March 17.
The Trump administration dealt a blow to Russia's energy sector last week after it let lapse an exemption allowing Russian banks to use U.S. payment systems for energy transactions. The move closed an important financial channel for Russian oil and gas exports and comes as Washington looks for ways
The European Union has reached a deal with Hungary to renew sanctions on more than 2,400 primarily Russian entities and individuals hours before they were set to expire on March 15, an EU official with knowledge of the negotiations told the Kyiv independent. The EU had been braced for
Sources suggest that Russia will likely continue using digital currencies in energy trade even if Western sanctions are lifted.
"They are taking a break for now while contemplating if there are ways to work around," a source told Reuters.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that any final resolution to the war would have to involve European leaders "because of their sanctions that they've imposed."
Easing the price ceiling on Russian oil is allegedly one option under consideration, Bloomberg reported.
Chinese car exports to Russia surged sevenfold in 2023 compared to 2022, as Western sanctions over Moscow’s war against Ukraine cut Russia off from brands like Volkswagen, Toyota, and BMW.
The decline is attributed to Russia prioritizing weapons production for its own military, the impact of Western sanctions, and increased pressure from the U.S. and its allies on countries purchasing Russian arms, the report said.
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