Over the years of political confrontation, the EU has lost more from mutual restrictions than Russia. The economic damage is estimated at tens of billions of euros.
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Western sanctions on Russia claiming that they have backfired.
Since March 2014, the EU has progressively imposed restrictive measures against Russia. The measures were adopted in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and the deliberate destabilisation of Ukraine.
According to research into the effect of sanctions, the cumulative export loss to Russia during 2014-2018 is estimated at EUR 30 billion (about -0.2% of EU’s GDP in 2018), incurred largely during 2014-2016, as EU exports to Russia recovered in 2017. While these sanctions do affect the EU's economy, the EU-wide impact of the export losses are estimated at less than 0.2% of total value-added and employment. Research showed that already in 2016 most of the affected agricultural sectors had been able to find alternative markets, either within the EU or beyond.
According to a Bloomberg report, sanctions have knocked off 6% of Russia’s GDP since 2014. The sanctions played a major role, although other factors were present as well. And the GDP of the Russian Federation is now 10 percent smaller than might have been expected before the crisis in Crimea. Sanctions also play an important role in the relatively small wage increase in Russia in comparison to other countries in 2019.
Most research supports the view that sanctions have worked as planned, noting the drag they have imposed on Russia’s general economic development since 2014. Russia’s own counter-sanctions have also had a clear negative effect on the welfare of the average Russian household.
See similar disinformation claims that it was EU that suffered the most from anti-Russian sanctions; that EU has lost hundreds of billions due to sanctions on Russia; that the EU is suffering from sanctions against Russia; that EU sanctions against Russia dealt a big blow to Europe itself; that EU has lost hundreds of billions due to sanctions on Russia; that Russophobia weakened Europe; and that sanctions actually help Russia.
The strategy the European Union currently uses for the acquirement of COVID-19 vaccines is clearly political. It is also about profits – if Sputnik V vaccinations were taking place, the Pfizer vaccine would not be used as much which would result in lower profits for the Western company.
Those who question the quality of Sputnik V just because it originates in Russia are simply stupid.
Following the development of vaccines against COVID-19, pro-Kremlin websites have actively promoted the Russian vaccine Sputnik V.
Although it is legitimate to criticise the EU’s vaccine (or any other) strategy, there is no proof for these claims.
The war in Donbas is in its eight year. In 2015, the second Minsk agreement was signed to stop the bloodshed. But Kyiv continues to ignore this document. Not one single point of this document has been fulfilled by Ukraine.
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative claiming that Ukraine and implementation of the Minsk agreements.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated multiple times that the achievement of a full, comprehensive, and long-lasting ceasefire is one of the key priorities of the Ukrainian government.
Sweden has decided to obstruct the project of the gas pipeline Nordstream 2. A member of the Swedish parliament has appealed for this to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden.
A recurring disinformation narrative about the Nord Stream 2. A question in the parliament does not mean that Sweden “will obstruct” the construction of Nord Stream 2. Sweden’s government has declared that the country is skeptical towards the project, but does not have any legal abilities to act against it.
