Sanctions and demonstrations, the world against Vladimir Putin

All against Putin. All against Moscow, understood as his government. There is a clear distinction that all those who take to the streets to support theUkraine. Theirs is a no to Vladimir Putin and his policy that led to the invasion of Ukraine. The words of a well-known person who took sides against the war explain it well, Ivan Zaytsev, Italian volleyball player whose parents are Russian. «I am saddened, this is not the Russia I know, there are many people who do not want this conflict in the land that gave me the surname I bear. It is with them that they have the courage to protest, with all the Ukrainian people who are fleeing and with those who are resisting to protect everything they have: their land, their home, their freedom. Love knows no war ».

There is a Russia protesting and the whole world taking to the streets. TO Berlin there were 500,000 people on Sunday and the demonstrations range from Tokyo to the United States. If this is the popular response, there is a policy that becomes economic and indirectly military.

Sanctions

Europe has decided to stop all transactions and freeze foreign assets for the Russian central bank that they are 50% of the total reserves, held in G7 countries. There are also individual sanctions for around twenty oligarchs. For now, the total exclusion of Russia from the Swift system has not been implemented, the list of excluded banks should arrive. The United States has banned all transactions with the Russian Central Bank. Japan will do the same.

Movements

The closure of the skies is the most evident, but there are other limitations affecting Russia. Since the weekend, Russian airlines have been banned from flying to Europe. This also applies to private aircraft. Maritime space could also be closed to Russian ships.

European countries have closed their airspace to Russian companies and Moscow is doing the same with other countries. Airspace is that which extends from the earth’s surface up to an altitude of 100,000 feet. Closing airspace means redesigning routes and timetables, but also increase costs as travel times get longer. Applies to passenger and freight flights.

Weapons

For the first time, the European Union has decided on a loan of 500 million euros to supply Ukrainians with weapons. The High Representative of Foreign Policy Josep Borrell has requested and obtained the activation of two types of military assistance: that for non-lethal weapons and that for lethal material. Helmets and uniforms, but also ammunition, rifles, missiles. Brussels will reimburse, even retroactively, all those states that send arms to Ukraine. NATO is carrying out a parallel action by sending missiles and anti-tank weapons.

Communications

The European Union also bans Russian government media RT and Sputnik and related newspapers to stop the Kremlin media machine which “will no longer be able to spread its lies to justify Putin’s war”.

Sport and entertainment

They seem less strong positions, but those of the world of sport and entertainment entail significant economic damage. No F1 Grand Prix in Sochi, no Champions League final in St. Petersburg. Uefa has established that no club and national matches will be played in Russia and Ukraine, but always in third countries. According to Frankfurter Allgemeine Gazprom’s impact on European football finances is 20-25%. Uefa has terminated the sponsorship contract with the Russian energy giant. He had a contract until 2024, worth around 45 million per season. The national team will not be able to participate in the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, the club teams will no longer be able to participate in any European cup. For Russia, farewell also to Eurovision.