UKRAINE WRAP | SA abstains from voting Russia out of UN Human Rights Council

April 07 2022 - 21:00

UN suspends Russia from human rights body — Moscow then quits

The UN General Assembly on Thursday suspended Russia from the UN Human Rights Council over reports of “gross and systematic violations and abuses of human rights” in Ukraine, prompting Moscow to announce it was quitting the body.

The US-led push garnered 93 votes in favour, while 24 countries voted no and 58 countries, including SA, abstained. A two-thirds majority of voting members in the 193-member General Assembly in New York — abstentions do not count — was needed to suspend Russia from the 47-member Geneva-based Human Rights Council.

April 07 2022 - 20:40

SA abstains from voting Russia out of UN Human Rights Council

SA on Wednesday abstained from a UN General Assembly vote that sought to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council. This as the country continued its invasion of Ukraine.

In  a letter from ambassador Xolisa Mabhongo, addressed to President Cyril Ramaphosa, she said while the South African delegation remained concerned about the deadly situation which was still unfolding in Russia, it did not believe that kicking Russia out of the council was a wise decision.

April 07 2022 - 19:40

Montenegro expels four Russian diplomats -report

Montenegro's Foreign Ministry on Thursday ordered four Russian diplomats to leave the country over violations of diplomatic norms, the Podgorica-based Pobjeda newspaper reported, citing sources from the ministry.

A diplomatic note has been handed over to Russia's ambassador to Montenegro and the diplomats have a week to leave the country, the report said.

Officials from Montenegro's Foreign Ministry and the Russian embassy could not immediately be reached for comment.

The government of Montenegro, a small ex-Yugoslav republic of just 628,000, has joined international sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

Montenegro already expelled one Russian diplomat in March, again citing violations of diplomatic norms.

North Macedonia and Slovenia, both ex-Yugoslav republics and NATO members, have also expelled a number of Russian diplomats.

On Feb 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his troops into Ukraine on what he calls a "special military operation" to demilitarise and "denazify" Ukraine.

Ukraine and the West say Putin launched an unprovoked war of aggression.

-Reuters

April 07 2022 - 14:33

Lukashenko says there must be no Ukraine deal 'behind Belarus' back'

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday his country must be involved in negotiations to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and he expected to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the next few days.

“There can be no separate agreements behind Belarus' back,” Lukashenko was quoted as saying by the Belarusian state news agency Belta.

“Since you dragged us into this — principally Western countries — the position of Belarus needs to be heard at these negotiations.”

April 07 2022 - 14:31

France summons Russian envoy over 'indecent' Bucha Twitter post

Russia's ambassador to France was summoned on Thursday to the foreign ministry in Paris after his embassy tweeted a picture claiming to be a film set in the Ukrainian town of Bucha, where the killing of civilians has triggered a global outcry.

The tweet, which has since been deleted, appeared to show people preparing to shoot a film, with the words “Film set, Bucha town” written above the image.

The embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

April 07 2022 - 13:58

Russia’s two richest men face first western sanctions in Canada

Vladimir Potanin and Leonid Mikhelson, Russia’s two richest people, were sanctioned by Canada, the first time they’ve been targeted by a Western government since Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. 

Canada also added billionaire Viktor Vekselberg, Kirill Shamalov, Dmitry Pumpyansky and Vadim Moshkovich to its sanctions list, according to the government’s website.

Potanin has a net worth of $28.9 billion and Mikhelson is worth $25.5 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. They have avoided sanctions from the US, UK and European Union partly because of their stakes in huge metals and energy companies, some experts say.

April 07 2022 - 13:50

Ukrainian military says Russia likely to renew attack on Kyiv if it takes Donbas

Russia is likely to renew its attack on Kyiv if its forces succeed in taking full control of the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, the deputy chief of staff of Ukraine's ground forces said on Thursday.

Speaking at an online briefing about efforts to defend the capital, Oleksandr Gruzevich said: "It is likely the enemy has not given up the goal of a second attack on Kyiv - there is such a threat."

Reuters

April 07 2022 - 13:40

Ukraine state security service compiles list of Russian troops behind alleged war crimes

Ukraine's state security service (SBU) said on Thursday it was building up a list of Russian troops suspected of carrying out alleged war crimes in the Kyiv region, including in the town of Bucha.

"The SBU will identify anyone involved in atrocities in Bucha and other cities in Kyiv region," the SBU said in a statement, adding that it had interviewed almost 2,000 witnesses and identified 33 people suspected of collaborating with Russia.

Reuters

April 07 2022 - 13:39

Russia facing most difficult situation in three decades, PM says

Russia is facing its most difficult situation in three decades due to unprecedented Western sanctions, but foreign attempts to isolate it from the global economy will fail, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said on Thursday.

He also said the situation provided room for new business opportunities as foreign companies leaving Russia would make space for others.

Western countries are progressively tightening a barrage of economic sanctions imposed to try to force Russia to end its military operation in Ukraine and withdraw its forces.

Reuters

April 07 2022 - 13:35

EU's full ban on Russian coal to be pushed back to mid-August

European Union envoys are set to approve on Thursday a ban on Russian coal that would take full effect from mid-August, a month later than initially planned, two EU sources told Reuters, following pressure from Germany to delay the measure. 

The phase-out of EU imports of Russian coal is the cornerstone measure in a fifth package of sanctions against Russia that the EU Commission proposed this week, as a reaction to atrocities in the Ukrainian town of Bucha.

Once approved, it will be the EU's first ban on any import of energy from Russia since the start of what the Kremlin calls a "special operation" in Ukraine on February 24.

April 07 2022 - 13:10

Russia piles pressure on companies as unemployment crisis looms

The next economic jolt to Russia will likely arrive by way of the labour market, building in intensity over the coming months and bringing new hardships for a nation already waylaid by a series of shocks. 

Joblessness this year is set to more than double from the first quarter and exceed 9% for the first time in more than a decade, according to a Bloomberg survey of analysts in March. 

“This is reminiscent of the early 90s, when reforms began and factories were being closed,” said Evgeny Gontmakher, a former government official and a prominent Russian economist. 

April 07 2022 - 11:20

Belarus sharply cuts oil processing volumes due to sanctions - Belta

Belarus has sharply cut oil processing volumes due to Western sanctions, Belarusian state news agency Belta reported on Thursday citing Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko.

"For Belarusian oil refineries, in the face of tougher sanctions, we are assuming the task of supplying the domestic market. In connection with this, their load is balanced.

In the future, as the situation stabilizes and exports increase, the load of refineries will increase," said Golovchenko.

Reuters

April 07 2022 - 09:05

British embassy guard charged with passing secrets onto Russia

A British security guard who worked at the UK embassy in Berlin was charged with spying for the Russian state, according to London police. 

David Ballantyne Smith was extradited from Germany and charged with nine offences under the Official Secrets Act, the Metropolitan Police Service said. The charges relate “to the collection and communication of information useful to the Russian state.”

Smith is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday. A lawyer for Smith couldn’t immediately be found.

April 07 2022 - 08:29

Amplats CEO says carmakers looking for palladium after Russia sanctions

SA's Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) has received enquiries from manufacturers and carmakers seeking palladium in the wake of Western sanctions on top producer Russia, CEO Natascha Viljoen said on Wednesday.

Palladium users with no existing contracts with the company have contacted Amplats about “potential alternative sources of palladium”, Viljoen told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of the PGMs Industry Day, a platinum group metals (PGMs) mining conference in Johannesburg.

Russia produces 25-30% of the world's supply of palladium, a metal used by automakers in engine exhausts to reduce emissions.

April 07 2022 - 08:21

Speed up EU climate policies to help end reliance on Russian fuels, 11 countries say

EU nations should speed up negotiations on new climate change policies and also increase the ambition of those proposals to quit Russian fossil fuels as soon as possible, 11 countries said on Thursday.

EU countries and the European parliament are negotiating a raft of green measures this year, including a revamp of the EU's carbon market, a 2035 ban on new combustion engine cars, and higher targets to expand renewable energy.

The proposals are designed to cut net EU greenhouse gas emissions 55% by 2030 from 1990 levels. But their links to energy security have come into the spotlight as the bloc seeks to end its reliance on Russian fuels by 2027 — partly through renewable energy and energy savings — in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

April 07 2022 - 07:59

Ukraine seeks 'ruinous' sanctions on Russia as Europe hesitates

Ukraine wants sanctions that are economically destructive enough for Russia to end its war after accusing some countries of still prioritising money over punishment for civilian killings that the West condemns as war crimes.

The democratic world must reject Russian oil and completely block Russian banks from the international finance system, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his daily video address early on Thursday.

After grisly images of dead civilians in the streets of Bucha sparked international condemnation, Zelensky said Kremlin forces were trying to cover up evidence of atrocities.

April 07 2022 - 07:00

GRAPHIC CONTENT - US slaps sanctions on Russian banks, Putin's kids

The United States targeted Russian banks and elites with a new round of sanctions on Wednesday, including banning Americans from investing in Russia, in response to what President Joe Biden condemned as 'major war crimes' by Russian forces in Ukraine.

April 07 2022 - 06:20

Hungary says it is ready to pay for gas in roubles

Hungary said it was prepared to pay with roubles for Russian gas, breaking ranks with the European Union which sought a united front in opposing Moscow's demand for payment in the currency

April 07 2022 - 06:00

'Absolutely they can win,' Pentagon says of Ukraine

The Pentagon said it assessed that Ukraine could win the war against Russia, even as U.S. officials speak of the risk of a protracted conflict.