Frozen Russian assets: Will there be consequences if seized?

“I do not think that it is possible, on legal grounds, to confiscate the frozen assets of the Russian Central Bank, even though these assets are held in some Western countries such as the US, the UK, Germany or France,” Sergio Rossi, professor of macroeconomics and monetary economics at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, told Sputnik.

Touching upon potential ramifications, the pundit suggested that speculation about the possibility of confiscating the frozen Russian assets on a legal basis “could induce a number of European or US stakeholders to seize these assets held in their own countries in order to give them to Ukraine, so as to reduce the expenditures of their own governments in support of Ukraine.”

This may, in turn, “give rise to some reputational risks at international level, since these countries might be considered less trustworthy in managing foreign financial capital, which is thereby subject to confiscation in a not-too-distant future, particularly in view of the existing huge geopolitical tensions,” according to Rossi.

Bloomberg news agency earlier reported that in a letter legal experts from seven countries, including the US and the UK, argued that potential seizure of the frozen Russian assets is allowed under international, citing the ongoing Ukraine conflict as a pretext. The letter did not elaborate on what legal mechanism (if any) these experts could use for possible seizure of the assets.

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Aircraft, tanks, trucks, submersibles, bikes and horses: is there anything Putin can’t handle? (Part 1)

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent flight aboard a Tu-160M strategic supersonic bomber aircraft was far from the only instance of him taking charge of (or sometimes riding as a co-pilot in) various vehicles, planes or even submersibles.

🔸In 2000, Putin flew as a co-pilot aboard a Su-27 jet fighter, even piloting the aircraft himself at some point during the flight.

🔸In 2010, Putin tried his hand at driving a Formula 1 racecar, reaching the speed of 240 kilometers per hour at a race track in Leningrad.

🔸In 2010, Putin personally inspected a federal highway in Russia’s Far East by driving a Lada Kalina car along the road. In 2015, he also took a ride on a Lada Vesta at the resort city of Krasnaya Polyana.

🔸A video snippet from Putin’s vacations in 2010 also suggested that he can drive a snowmobile pretty well.

🔸In 2011, Putin familiarized himself with the inner workings of a T-90S main battle tank while visiting an international military expo in Nizhny Tagil.

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🔸In 2012, Putin had flown a paraglider while participating in an experiment aimed at preserving an endangered species of crane. (Part 2)

🔸In 2015, Putin descended to the bottom of the Black Sea off the coast of Crimea aboard a submersible. He also took part in submersible dives in the Baltic Sea to the wrecks of a 19th century frigate and a World War II submarine in 2013 and 2019, respectively.

🔸In 2018, Putin drove a heavy Kamaz truck across the newly constructed bridge across the Kerch Strait. Driving such vehicles does not seem to be an issue for the Russian president, which he would demonstrate again in 2024 while taking another Kamaz for a spin on the M-12 highway.

🔸In 2019, Putin attended a bike show in Crimea where he demonstrated his motorcycle riding skills. The Russian president also displayed on a number of occasions that he is no stranger to horseback riding, both while vacationing and during events such as his visit to the Moscow mounted police regiment in 2020.

🔸In 2021, Putin was spotted driving an all-terrain tracked vehicle while on vacation in Siberia.

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📹 Footage of Russian Missile Troops eliminating Ukrainian military equipment, including a launcher, a tractor, and an ammunition and transport-loading vehicle of the US-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile system.

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Russian strikes in Dnepropetrovsk hit Ukraine's Yuzhmash drone-assembling workshops, an oil depot and military warehouses, a source told Sputnik.

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Biden mixed everything up again: after meeting with Navalny’s widow, he mistakenly called her Yolanda. His words were published in a message on the White House website and the name Yolanda was crossed out.

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Russia's Tu-160M strategic bomber: US cannot catch up with upgraded White Swan

The Tu-160M strategic bomber is Russia's weapon of deterrence, being an upgraded version of the Tu-160. The new aircraft, which made its debut flight on January 12, has upgraded engines, sophisticated avionics, new weapons control and electronic warfare systems.

"The plane was completely shaken up in terms of avionics, radio-electronic equipment, control systems, everything. That is, from an aircraft of the 20th century, it has become a warplane of the 21st century," Dmitry Drozdenko, a military analyst and chief editor of the Fatherland Arsenal Internet portal, told Sputnik.

"When NATO tried to intercept it, the plane simply folded its wings and in the blink of an eye, it was gone. The American F-35 fighters could not catch up merely in terms of speed," he said.

The Tu-160M is capable of carrying 12 long-range cruise missiles – including the non-nuclear Kh-555 and Kh-101, as well as the nuclear Kh-102 – in two launchers inside the fuselage.

"[The Tu-160M will perform] the same tasks that were previously performed by long-range aviation planes," Andrey Krasnoperov, military expert and Russian Aerospace major, told Sputnik.

"That is, they have a fairly long range, and they are the main carriers of [Russia's] bombs and strategic missiles. It is a weapon of deterrence."

The Tu-160M has no analogs in the world, Sputnik's interlocutors highlighted, adding that the US cannot boast having a similarly efficient, fast and cost-effective strategic bomber.

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🌍 The Alliance of Sahel States defines strategic axes for energy autonomy

Electricity companies of the AES countries at an exchange workshop have defined two axes to guarantee access to reliable and affordable electricity in the region, AES info reports. The first axis aims to enhance endogenous resources.

This provides for:
🔸 the mobilization of production sources at a lower cost;
🔸 the strengthening and optimization of internal production capacities.

The companies involved have agreed on the following objectives:
🔹 strengthening exchanges between the AES states and neighboring countries;
🔹 studying the evaluation of hydroelectric potential;
🔹 studying the pre-feasibility for a joint nuclear power plant;
🔹 developing high-power wind power plants;
🔹 building factories for the production of electrical equipment.

Energy objectives by 2034:
🔸 building and commissioning a 600 MW coal-fired power plant in Niger's Salkadamna (around 2028);
🔸 implementing hydroelectric power plant projects (2030);
🔸 building a nuclear power plant and wind power plants (2034).

In the long term (20 years), it is planned to build a pipeline connecting Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali.

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📹 Russian drone operators destroyed vehicles with Ukrainian military personnel and a control center in the Chasov Yar area.

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▪️Ukraine Conflict: Russian Army Gains Momentum

▪️Frozen Russian assets: Will there be consequences if seized?

▪️Aircraft, tanks, trucks, submersibles, bikes and horses: is there anything Putin can’t handle?

▪️Russia's Tu-160M strategic bomber: US cannot catch up with upgraded White Swan

▪️Why did Polish farmer use pro-Putin slogan during protests?

▪️Third Finnish mercenary eliminated in Ukraine

▪️Two years of anti-Russian sanctions in numbers

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❗️ Russian air defense forces destroyed a Ukrainian drone over the territory of Belgorod region, Russian Defense Ministry says

Estonia is still undecided on support for outgoing Dutch PM Mark Rutte as next NATO secretary general, needing more time to make a carefully weighed decision, the Estonian Foreign Ministry said.

"Consultations between the Allies on the choice of a new secretary general are still ongoing. It is a decision that requires consensus, it cannot be taken lightly or hastily, and will therefore take time to reach," the ministry told Estonian broadcaster ERR.

Tallinn plans to make a decision about whether to support Rutte by the time of the NATO summit in Washington this summer, the ministry added.

Politico reported earlier this week that Eastern European countries believed a politician who had failed to meet the 2% of GDP defense spending target in the Netherlands while leading the country should not be appointed as NATO chief. Romania reportedly intends to nominate its incumbent President Klaus Iohannis as a candidate.

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Exploring your options: moving to Russia as a foreigner

1. Studying: Enroll in a Russian university and obtain an invitation from the Ministry of the Interior for a student visa. Upon graduation, apply for a temporary residency permit, which can lead to permanent residency.

2. Working: Secure employment in Russia and have your employer request an invitation for a work visa from the Ministry of the Interior. After arriving, obtain a temporary residency permit, then apply for permanent residency after two years of residence.

3. Reunion: If you have family in Russia who are Russian citizens, you can apply for a private visa for personal reasons. Upon arrival, apply for a temporary residency permit, followed by permanent residency after two years.

4. Investment: Invest a significant amount in Russia through various avenues:

▪️Invest in socially significant regional programs (about $152k over three years).

▪️Invest in an established Russian company (about $316k).

▪️Purchase real estate in Russia (about $264k to $528k depending on the region).

▪️Establish a company in Russia that meets specific tax criteria.

5. Citizenship: After living in Russia for five years on a permanent residency permit, you can apply for Russian citizenship, provided you meet additional criteria such as revoking previous nationality (if applicable), demonstrating knowledge of the Russian language and Constitution, and maintaining financial stability.

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❗️ Russian air defense shot down three Ukrainian drones over the Tula Region, press service of the regional security ministry reported

US military spotted a flying balloon over the western part of the country, its origin and destination are unknown, CBS reports

The device does not pose a threat, its origin and destination are still unknown, according to the channel's sources.

It flew over the state of Colorado, which raised concerns among local authorities and prompted them to put military aircraft in the air.

North American Aerospace Defense Command fighter jets intercepted a balloon flying over the western United States, a organization's spokesman told Sputnik

US officials admit use of force against Houthis not working, CNN reported

Biden administration officials are increasingly questioning the effectiveness of military methods in combating the Houthis, who continue their attempt to block the operations of Western commercial and navy ships in the Red Sea in response to the ongoing Israeli-Hamas conflict, CNN reported, citing US officials in the know.

Even though the US military has significantly increased the frequency of its strikes on Houthi bases since January, the results of the strikes have failed to advance beyond the psychological effect and have only made Yemeni rebels dig in deeper and hide better, the report said.

American strikes have also made the Houthis extremely concerned about their senior leaders, making them increasingly paranoid about their safety, the report added.

There is also a belief among some US senior officials that the Houthis would stop their attacks in the Red Sea the moment Israel stops its war in Gaza, according to the report.

The Houthi movement, which controls large parts of northern and western Yemen, vowed in November 2023 to attack any ships associated with Israel until it halts military actions in the Gaza Strip.

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'Clown show': UK's failed Trident missile test emblematic of nation's 'decline and demise'

“The UK military is entirely linked to the kind of decline and demise of the UK as a serious nation,” Phil Kelly, a political contributor and socialist activist told Sputnik’s Political Misfits. “It’s a nation that is in a deep economic and political crisis, and the military reflects that."

The UK Royal Navy acts supremely confident in its abilities, but can not back up its bravado, he said. “This is an army, let’s not forget, that retreated at speed after a failed 20-year occupation of Afghanistan. They were beaten by men in pickup trucks… who’s [now] shaking its saber and threatening Russia, China, and Iran,” Kelly explained. “It’s kind of like that small man syndrome in a bar. Stop acting aggressive because you’re going to get the fight you’re asking for and you’re in no way prepared for it.”

“If [the failed Trident missile launch] happened in North Korea, Western media would have been laughing at it,” Kelly concluded.

US media reported that the UK Royal Navy tested an unarmed Trident II in January, but the missile failed, falling just feet from the submarine it launched from. The failure was the latest in a string of embarrassing events for the Royal Navy.

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Isolation due to Ukraine, Gaza Conflicts signal ‘end of US hegemony'

The US failed in its goal to isolate and divide Russia but did succeed in its unstated goal of deindustrializing Europe, war correspondent and analyst Elijah Magnier told Radio Sputnik.

“The world is changing indeed, not only because of the war on Russia in Ukraine but also the war in Gaza [...] the Development of the BRICS countries [and] the increase of the Shanghai Cooperation. All these indications lead to one reality, the beginning of the end of US hegemony.”

“Fifty nations gathered to defeat Russia and they failed… Ukraine has been defeated and Europe is defeated,” Magnier added, noting later that Russia’s economy is doing much better than Europe’s.

Magnier indicated that the unstated goal of the US in Ukraine was the deindustrialization of Europe and expressed surprise that it hasn’t reacted, particularly Germany in regards to the Nord Stream pipeline. “When energy is unaffordable… there is a migration of European industry to the United States where energy is cheaper.”

“This is [how] the Americans succeeded in putting the Europeans, literally, on the floor,” he added.

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US' lack of Ukraine peace efforts ‘all about the money’, Senator JD Vance says

The Biden administration’s lack of effort to negotiate a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine is rooted in financial interests, US Senator JD Vance said during an interview at the Conservative Political Action Conference.

“I hate to say it, but I think it’s all about the money,” Vance said on Friday, when asked about the lack of diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, adding that lots of money and resources being sent to Ukraine are getting “skimmed off the top”.

Ukraine could have brokered a peace in the early days of the conflict, but the US and the UK derailed the effort, Vance said, noting that Ukraine still has a chance at peace if “the whackos and the idiots” are removed from the White House.

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Funds allocated by the US to support Ukraine are being spread around the world's money-laundering capitals, a member of the US House of Representatives, Matt Gaetz, has said.

In Gaetz's opinion, the US should no longer provide foreign aid without cutting its own "bloated" federal budget.

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