Russia sets up special working group to deal with “unfriendly” parties

Group led by presidential adviser RussiaMr. Maxim Oreshkin, headed and among the members is the Governor of the Central Bank of Russia Elvira Nabiullina.

The group’s task next time is to find out the terms of international transactions with Russia’s unfriendly countries and strategic partners.

More specifically, the working group must put in place “infrastructure for international payments, including in the Russian ruble. This applies to countries and territories that take actions that are not friendly against Moscow” – news agency Reuters cited by President Putin clearly stated.

The team will also review payment terms in rubles and other foreign currencies with friendly countries. “Although not named, Russia’s friendly countries are understood to include China and India” – the company Reuters comment.

Another important task, this “special working group” must find a way to minimize the risks associated with freezing nearly half of Russia’s $640 billion in foreign exchange reserves.

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: Reuters

Russia is the world’s largest producer of natural gas. In March, Putin demanded that “unfriendly” countries pay for their gas purchases in rubles. Accordingly, Russia requires the buyer to open an account at Gazprombank and pay in euros or USD, then convert it to rubles.

Poland and Bulgaria refused the request and Russian energy giant Gazprom stopped supplying them last month. The Kremlin has announced it will do the same to any country that refuses to accept the new payment terms.

Western countries have imposed an unprecedented series of economic sanctions against Russia since they launched their special military campaign in November. Ukraine on February 24

In response, Russia also has a series of retaliatory measures against “unfriendly” countries including the US, Canada, UK and European Union (EU) member states. Reuters.

Russia says Ukraine “has suffered heavy losses” when trying to regain Snake Island

Ukraine’s air and sea attacks to retake Snake Island in the Black Sea over the past two days have “severely failed”. Information is broadcast RT (Russia) quoted Major General Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry, as saying on May 9.

Snake Island image in the Black Sea. Photo: RT

According to Konashenkov, Russian forces stationed on the island thwarted the Ukrainian attacks and cost the enemy eight aircraft, including three Su-24 ground attack aircraft and one Su-27 fighter jet. as well as 1 Mi-24 and 3 Mi-8 troop carriers.

“During two days of fighting, Russia also shot down 29 Ukrainian drones. Kiev’s damage also included three ‘Centaur’ class destroyers of Project 58181” – Major General Igor Konashenkov emphasized.

Snake Island is located about 48 km off the southern coast of Ukraine and the Russian Navy took control of the island in the first week of the outbreak of hostilities.