The EU has sanctioned two of the most influential oil traders behind Russia’s shadow fleet.
Etibar Eyyub (Azerbaijan) and Murtaza Lakhani (Pakistan) are accused of keeping Russian oil exports alive despite Western sanctions. — WSJ 1/
Brussels says both men provided a “substantial source of revenue” to Moscow by moving oil and refined fuels on risky tankers that conceal cargo origins.
Assets in the EU are frozen, travel is banned and business ties are cut. 2/
Oil and gas generate up to one-third of Russia’s federal budget revenue.
Every tanker that slips through sanctions helps finance the war against Ukraine. 3/
Trump is preparing new sanctions on Russia’s energy sector if Vladimir Putin rejects a peace deal with Ukraine, according to people familiar with the plans.
Targets include Russia’s shadow fleet of oil tankers and the traders who move its crude. — Bloomberg 1/
The measures could be announced this week. Scott Bessent briefed European ambassadors, while the Kremlin warned that new sanctions would “harm relations,” signaling Moscow’s vulnerability on energy exports. 2/
Sanctions since 2022 have not stopped the war, but they have crushed Russia’s oil revenues. Russian crude trades at deep discounts, Brent is down 20% this year and Moscow’s economy is under growing strain. 3/
Russia's S-400 air defense system runs on US-made components, Kazakhstan ceramics, and Chinese middlemen — Kyiv Post.
A new RUSI report maps 70+ vulnerabilities in the production chain. Ukraine is already striking the supply routes. 1/
The S-400 needs RO4003C high-frequency laminate from US-based Rogers Corporation for its phased-array radars. Russia doesn't produce this at scale. Despite export controls, Russian defense firms buy it through China and Hong Kong intermediaries. 2/
China openly advertise materials for Russian radar systems. RUSI's Dr. Jack Watling: this reflects "weak enforcement rather than weak legislation." The laws exist — countries just aren't vigilant about stopping obvious circumvention. 3/
Washington wants a free hand for Silicon Valley and Russian investment. The EU is an obstacle — and the far right is an ally, FP. 1/
Trump’s team is not focused on using frozen Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine.
They want those EU-held funds repurposed as investment capital to reintegrate Russia — enabling US firms to buy assets and secure first-mover advantages in energy and resources. 2/
That only works if Europe folds.
US access to Russian energy, Arctic projects, and companies like Lukoil is most profitable if EU sanctions weaken and European markets reopen to Russian flows. Ukraine peace becomes the political lever to dismantle Europe’s resistance. 3/
Europe is preparing to lead a multinational military force inside Ukraine as part of a White House–backed peace plan.
The plan offers “Article 5–like” security guarantees without NATO membership and would deploy European troops, with U.S. backing — The Guardian. 1/
The proposed force would operate inside Ukraine, helping regenerate Ukraine’s armed forces, secure the airspace and support safer seas. UK, France, Germany and 8 other countries called it a “coalition of the willing,” supported politically and operationally by Washington. 2/
Ukraine would keep a standing army of about 800К troops. The U.S. would lead a ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism, providing early warning if Russia prepares another attack.
European states would sign legally binding commitments to respond to a future invasion. 3/