Berliner Boersenzeitung - Putin threatens Ukraine 'statehood' as Moscow sanctions tighten

EUR -
AED 4.301624
AFN 81.044748
ALL 97.821241
AMD 450.037658
ANG 2.09592
AOA 1073.946594
ARS 1466.907697
AUD 1.787524
AWG 2.108074
AZN 1.974516
BAM 1.954227
BBD 2.366195
BDT 142.505264
BGN 1.952849
BHD 0.441471
BIF 3491.688714
BMD 1.171152
BND 1.498693
BOB 8.127456
BRL 6.579111
BSD 1.171856
BTN 100.3562
BWP 15.615427
BYN 3.835112
BYR 22954.580428
BZD 2.354005
CAD 1.603131
CDF 3379.944944
CHF 0.932056
CLF 0.029037
CLP 1114.280742
CNY 8.409165
CNH 8.408526
COP 4710.373596
CRC 591.024145
CUC 1.171152
CUP 31.03553
CVE 110.176293
CZK 24.639045
DJF 208.681983
DKK 7.461316
DOP 70.433292
DZD 151.821359
EGP 57.974254
ERN 17.567281
ETB 162.103984
FJD 2.628301
FKP 0.862159
GBP 0.862618
GEL 3.173983
GGP 0.862159
GHS 12.217164
GIP 0.862159
GMD 83.738391
GNF 10168.812717
GTQ 9.002752
GYD 245.182595
HKD 9.19352
HNL 30.656317
HRK 7.534365
HTG 153.756205
HUF 398.94588
IDR 19015.761811
ILS 3.871899
IMP 0.862159
INR 100.411078
IQD 1535.163983
IRR 49334.78106
ISK 143.000188
JEP 0.862159
JMD 187.279215
JOD 0.830311
JPY 171.336619
KES 151.769776
KGS 102.417093
KHR 4700.215684
KMF 493.05554
KPW 1054.025086
KRW 1607.558407
KWD 0.357834
KYD 0.976614
KZT 607.950517
LAK 25249.670567
LBP 105001.659325
LKR 352.036562
LRD 234.960824
LSL 20.785765
LTL 3.458108
LVL 0.708419
LYD 6.330903
MAD 10.535018
MDL 19.828036
MGA 5175.832748
MKD 61.409227
MMK 2458.894542
MNT 4200.694229
MOP 9.475671
MRU 46.559513
MUR 52.959674
MVR 18.032044
MWK 2032.063911
MXN 21.84728
MYR 4.974467
MZN 74.907113
NAD 20.785765
NGN 1789.508359
NIO 43.125278
NOK 11.80499
NPR 160.569719
NZD 1.948056
OMR 0.450307
PAB 1.171856
PEN 4.152557
PGK 4.91804
PHP 66.187632
PKR 333.403864
PLN 4.247894
PYG 9082.687196
QAR 4.27286
RON 5.076985
RSD 117.148703
RUB 91.20389
RWF 1693.336633
SAR 4.392483
SBD 9.763806
SCR 17.186343
SDG 703.282665
SEK 11.150281
SGD 1.49894
SHP 0.920342
SLE 26.353185
SLL 24558.477469
SOS 669.760751
SRD 43.626001
STD 24240.48315
SVC 10.253744
SYP 15227.237637
SZL 20.79126
THB 38.193647
TJS 11.338071
TMT 4.110744
TND 3.419547
TOP 2.742955
TRY 46.923613
TTD 7.957593
TWD 34.257423
TZS 3059.632505
UAH 49.048409
UGX 4199.618733
USD 1.171152
UYU 47.611666
UZS 14828.061386
VES 133.050258
VND 30584.05054
VUV 139.886926
WST 3.22183
XAF 655.42929
XAG 0.032023
XAU 0.000353
XCD 3.165097
XDR 0.814435
XOF 655.42929
XPF 119.331742
YER 283.243545
ZAR 20.821157
ZMK 10541.771796
ZMW 27.451897
ZWL 377.110486
  • CMSC

    0.0900

    22.314

    +0.4%

  • CMSD

    0.0250

    22.285

    +0.11%

  • RBGPF

    0.0000

    69.04

    0%

  • SCS

    0.0400

    10.74

    +0.37%

  • RELX

    0.0300

    53

    +0.06%

  • RIO

    -0.1400

    59.33

    -0.24%

  • GSK

    0.1300

    41.45

    +0.31%

  • NGG

    0.2700

    71.48

    +0.38%

  • BP

    0.1750

    30.4

    +0.58%

  • BTI

    0.7150

    48.215

    +1.48%

  • BCC

    0.7900

    91.02

    +0.87%

  • JRI

    0.0200

    13.13

    +0.15%

  • VOD

    0.0100

    9.85

    +0.1%

  • BCE

    -0.0600

    22.445

    -0.27%

  • RYCEF

    0.1000

    12

    +0.83%

  • AZN

    -0.1200

    73.71

    -0.16%

Putin threatens Ukraine 'statehood' as Moscow sanctions tighten
Putin threatens Ukraine 'statehood' as Moscow sanctions tighten

Putin threatens Ukraine 'statehood' as Moscow sanctions tighten

Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened the existence of Ukrainian statehood as his army's invasion of the neighbour faces stiff resistance and his economy is increasingly asphyxiated by sanctions.

Text size:

In the latest efforts to freeze Moscow out of the world economy, US-based card payment giants Visa and Mastercard announced they will suspend operations in Russia, while world leaders vowed to act over the intensifying onslaught.

"The current (Ukrainian) authorities must understand that if they continue to do what they are doing, they are putting in question the future of Ukrainian statehood," Putin said on Saturday.

"And if this happens, they will be fully responsible."

Since Russia's invasion 10 days ago, the economic and humanitarian toll of the war has spiralled, sending more than one million people fleeing Ukraine. Officials have reported hundreds of civilians killed.

Kyiv has urged the West to boost military assistance to the besieged country, including warplanes, with President Volodymyr Zelensky pleading for Eastern European neighbours to provide Russian-made planes that his citizens are trained to fly.

Putin meanwhile escalated warnings against NATO, threatening a wider war if a no-fly zone is set up, as his forces resumed their offensive against a key Ukrainian city where security fears stalled a planned evacuation.

While Zelensky criticized NATO for ruling out the no-fly zone, Putin spoke of "colossal and catastrophic consequences not only for Europe but also the whole world" if such a step was taken.

"Any movement in this direction will be considered by us as participation in an armed conflict by that country," Putin said.

He also dismissed rumours that the Kremlin was planning to declare martial law in Russia.

- Cards cut -

Visa and Mastercard both announced they will suspend operations in Russia, the latest major American firms to join the business freeze-out of Moscow.

Mastercard said it made the decision over the "unprecedented nature of the current conflict and the uncertain economic environment".

Visa meanwhile said that "effective immediately" it would "work with its clients and partners within Russia to cease all Visa transactions over the coming days".

Major corporations across a range of industries have halted business in Russia since the invasion, including US-based tech firms such as Intel and Airbnb to French luxury giants LVMH, Hermes and Chanel.

Visa and Mastercard had already announced that they were complying with US and international sanctions imposed on Russia in the wake of its attack.

However, Russia's major banks -- including its largest lender Sberbank and the Russia Central Bank -- downplayed the effects that the cards' suspensions would have on their clients.

The war has already had serious global economic impacts, with the IMF warning that its effects would be "all the more devastating" should the conflict escalate.

Russia's business and other contacts with the West have been steadily cut. Moscow has suspended all flights by flagship carrier Aeroflot, effective Tuesday.

- Frenzied diplomacy -

As frantic, top-level diplomatic talks continued, President Zelensky announced on Sunday that he spoke by phone with his US counterpart Joe Biden to discuss financial support and sanctions against Russia.

"As part of the constant dialogue, I had another conversation with @POTUS," Zelensky tweeted. "The agenda included the issues of security, financial support for Ukraine and the continuation of sanctions against Russia."

Hours earlier, the Ukrainian leader had addressed US lawmakers by video call, pleading for further funding and an embargo on Russian oil imports.

The American legislators promised an additional $10 billion aid package, but the White House has so far ruled out an oil ban, fearing it would ratchet up prices and hurt US consumers already stung by record inflation.

Weapons, ammunition and funds have poured into Ukraine from Western allies as they seek to bolster Kyiv against Moscow's invasion.

Washington last week authorised $350 million of military equipment -- the largest such package in US history.

While visiting Ukrainian refugees on the Polish border over the weekend, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington was seeking $2.75 billion for the unfurling humanitarian crisis as nearly 1.4 million civilians have fled.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett made a surprise visit to the Kremlin Saturday for three hours of talks -- Putin's first face-to-face meeting with a foreign leader since the invasion began.

The Israeli leader later spoke with Zelensky.

Kyiv had asked Israel -- which has strong relations with both Russia and Ukraine -- to launch a dialogue with Moscow.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's office said he is to launch an international "plan of action" to ensure Russia's invasion of Ukraine fails, including a flurry of diplomatic meetings next week.

- Scenes of devastation -

On the ground, the strategic city of Mariupol on the Azoz Sea has for days been under siege and without electricity, food and water.

After Russia declared a ceasefire to open a humanitarian corridor, city officials said the population of 450,000 could begin to leave by bus and private cars.

But the officials then delayed the evacuation, saying, "The Russian side does not adhere to the ceasefire and has continued shelling both Mariupol itself and its environs".

A Russian Defence Ministry spokesman later announced the assault was back on, citing "the unwillingness of the Ukrainian side to... extend the ceasefire".

The siege came as Russian forces inched closer to the capital Kyiv in an assault that has become ever-more indiscriminate -- and deadly.

Working-class towns such as Bucha and Irpin are in the line of fire, and air raids Friday broke many people's resolve to stay.

"They are bombing residential areas -- schools, churches, big buildings, everything," said accountant Natalia Dydenko, glancing back at the destruction she was leaving behind.

Dozens of civilians have been killed in the northern town of Chernihiv. Those remaining live in craters or among ruins.

"There were corpses all over the ground," a man who gave his name only as Sergei told AFP, as air raid sirens wailed. "They were queueing here for the pharmacy that's just there, and they're all dead."

A defiant Zelensky said Saturday that Ukrainian forces were counterattacking around Kharkiv, the country's second-largest city, inflicting "such losses on the invaders that they have not seen even in their worst dream".

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba was equally defiant, saying, "Ukraine is bleeding, but Ukraine has not fallen, and stands both feet on the ground... The myth of the unbeatable and almighty Russian army is already ruined."

burs-je/lb

(S.G.Stein--BBZ)