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Anti-Russian sanctions

New Zealand introduces sanctions against 18 Russian financial institutions — top diplomat

The list includes Russia’s central bank, sovereign wealth fund and the largest financial institutions in the country

SYDNEY, April 19. /TASS/. New Zealand is introducing sanctions against major Russian banks and financial institutions over the situation in Ukraine, the country’s Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said on Tuesday.

"New Zealand is imposing sanctions on eighteen financial entities, including Russia’s central bank, sovereign wealth fund and the largest financial institutions in the country. These major institutions make up approximately 80% of Russia’s total banking assets," her statement on the government website said.

New Zealand’s top diplomat noted that the sanctions list included "Three core government financial institutions, including banks and a key investment fund, eight of the largest banks, seven other banks of significance" because of their links to Russia’s defense sector and the situation around Crimea. "The 18 entities designated under the latest round of sanctions are: Alfa-Bank, Bank Rossiya, Bank Otkritie, Black Sea Bank for Development and Reconstruction, Central Bank of the Russian Federation, Credit Bank of Moscow, Gazprombank, GenBank, Industrial Savings Bank, Novikombank, Russia Agricultural Bank, Russian National Commercial Bank, Russian Direct Investment Fund, Sberbank, Sovcombank, SMP Bank, Vnesheconombank, VTB," the foreign minister reported.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address on February 24 that in response to a request by the heads of the Donbass republics, he had made a decision to carry out a special military operation in order to protect people "who have been suffering from abuse and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years." The Russian leader stressed that Moscow had no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories, noting that the operation was aimed at the denazification and demilitarization of Ukraine.

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Sanctions vs. Russia

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Russia vetoes US-backed UNSC resolution on banning nuclear weapons in outer space

The resolution gained 13 votes

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According to Nikolay Patrushev, this creates conditions for the devaluation of international law and its institutions and the erosion of the UN's central role in resolving global and regional conflicts

US incapable of replicating Cold War-era arms race — Valdai club expert

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