US, Japan, EU and Canada impose additional economic sanctions on Russia; Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov: Russia will respond to the economic sanctions; China opposed to unilateral sanctions against Russia; Defence Minister Shoigu: Russian
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    • According to reports, the US1, Japan2, EU3 and Canada4 have imposed additional economic sanctions on Russia on April 28 over the ongoing developments in Ukraine. These sanctions are primarily targeted against Russian individuals and companies that are considered close to President Putin. The US sanction also includes suspension of cooperation in the field of combating drug trafficking and space industry (except in the International Space Station project).

    Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has declared that Moscow will respond to the fresh round of sanctions imposed on it and termed the language of sanctions ‘inappropriate and counterproductive’. 5

    China’s Ambassador to Russia Li Hui has said that Beijing is opposed to unilateral economic sanctions against Russia. 6

    Reports noted that in a telephone conversation held on April 29, Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has given re-assurances to his US counterpart Chuck Hagel that Russia has no plans to invade Ukraine. 7

    President Putin has expressed hope that Russia-Ukraine defence trade will continue in the future. He was of the opinion that any disruption will be catastrophic for the Ukrainian defense industrial complex. 8

    Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has called for national reconciliation in Ukraine through an all-inclusive political dialogue. 9

    Ukraine’s acting President Olexander Turchynov has said that security officials are incapable of tackling the escalating situation in eastern Ukraine’s Luhansk and Donetsk regions. 10
    Military observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) who were detailed by federalist supporters in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk have been released on May 3. 11

    According to reports, Russia’s presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov has expressed concern over the approval of punitive operation given by Ukraine’s acting President to carry out anti-terror operations in southeast Ukraine. He also said that EU’s statements about Kiev authorities' monopoly on use of violence are completely unacceptable. 12

    Russia’s Foreign Ministry has blamed Kiev for the violent turn of events in Odessa where 38 people have died and more than 50 injured. The Kiev government’s tacit understanding with the ultranationalists also came in for sharp criticism. 13

    Russia has come forth with a proposal that seeks to pass a statement in the UNSC in support of the April 17 Geneva agreement which called for cessation of violence in Ukraine. 14

    President Vladimir Putin and British Prime Minister David Cameron agreed during a telephone conversation held on April 30 that the crisis in Ukraine can only be resolved peacefully by diplomatic methods. 15

    Reports noted that President Putin had a telephone conversation with Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel on may 1 wherein they discussed ongoing development in Ukraine. 16

    Gazprom has said that it will not demand advance payment from Ukraine for gas supplied in May. According to the company spokesperson, May 16 is the date when the bill for gas supplies in June will be issued. Ukraine will have till May 31 to pay for it. 17

    Ukraine acting President Alexander Turchinov has, on May 1, revived army conscription as a result of the crisis in south-eastern regions of the country. 18

    According to reports, NATO’s special envoy for the South Caucasus and Central Asia James Appathurai has said that the alliance will consider Georgia’s offer to host defensive systems. 19

    The IMF has endorsed a new anti-crisis program for Ukraine that envisions a loan facility to the tune of US$ 17 billion over the next two years, with the first instalment of US$ 3.2 billion expected to be released within the next few days. 20

    Russia has filed a lawsuit with WTO against the European Union over the Third Energy Package. Russia believes that this package is solely designed to restrict its is genuine economic interests. 21

    The US administration has rebuked Bahrain for signing an investment cooperation deal with Russia. The deal was signed during the visit of Crown Prince of Bahrain to Moscow on April 30. 22

    In other developments, according to reports, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has discussed with his Peruvian counterpart prospects of bilateral co-operation in field of science and technology and military-technical sphere. Peru has also expressed a desire to forge close links with the Customs Union. Mr. Lavrov was on an official visit to Peru. 23

    Two Russian navy ships along with forces from Nicaragua and Honduras have taken part in anti-narcotics naval exercises in the Caribbean on April 29. 24

    As part of his week long tour to Latin America, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Cuba, Nicaragua, Peru and Chile towards the last week of April. 25

    President Putin has instructed his government to finalise drafting a treaty on Eurasian Economic Union. This came in the backdrop of the meeting of Heads of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan in Minsk on April 29 wherein they discussed formation of the Union. 26

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