Europe.Table

Feature

Sanctions in Russia: 'Nothing has happened yet!'

A battle over interpretive sovereignty has broken out in the Russian media not only over the war but also over the sanctions imposed by the West. While the pro-government press is trying to appease citizens and thus keep them away from the ATMs, independent media paint a gloomy picture.

By Eugenie Ankowitsch

Grafiken(5)

Bruegel warns against 'subsidy war' over gas

In the future, Germany's gas storage facilities are to be 90 percent full by December each year. The German government wants to set corresponding minimum filling levels with a law on the national gas reserve. Meanwhile, the think tank Bruegel warns against national solo efforts, a "subsidy war" among EU states – and risks that could arise if Gazprom supplies increase again.

By Manuel Berkel

China's gas needs are Putin's future

The Ukraine war is also part of a global struggle for oil and gas. The USA wants to sell more of it to Europe. China, in turn, wants to be less dependent on oil and gas from the US and its allies – and is leaning toward Russia.

By Redaktion Table

New defense policy: repositioning with open questions

The change of course by the traffic light government due to the Russian attack on Ukraine is a significant change on many levels. Thomas Wiegold analyzes the new course and its meaning in terms of federal policy, Europe, and for the armed forces.

By Redaktion Table

Decision on SWIFT exclusion serves German and US interests

The EU is severely restricting the Russian Central Bank's ability to protect the financial system from the consequences of the sanctions. Several banks will also be cut off from the SWIFT international payment processing system. The measures are likely to shake the Russian financial system.

By Eric Bonse

Relations with Russia: China's balancing act

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine plunges China into a deep strategic dilemma: Should Beijing stick to its “borderless friendship” with Vladimir Putin? But this would mean giving up its own interests and foreign policy principles. In any case, it refuses to speak of a Russian invasion.

By Redaktion Table

Reactions EU and NATO

The day after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the US, the EU, and the G-7 agreed on far-reaching sanctions against Russia. At the EU Council meeting in the evening, however, differences of opinion also emerged on the scope of the sanctions – on the SWIFT payment system.

By Eric Bonse

Technology sanctions: indirectly effective

A key component of the new sanctions will be export restrictions on high-tech products. Russia's economy is to be severely hit by the fact that Putin's regime and the state-dominated economic apparatus will lose access to technologies that are hardly indispensable for maintaining operations in the medium term.

By Falk Steiner