it is important to talk to Russia. [...] Because first it is our neighbor, and also because it is important that we have a stable relationship with this country, (inaudible). And it is in the name of these principles that we would like to maintain this dialogue. It does not prevent us from standing firm, like we said earlier.

But of course, Europe, as well, need to talk to Russia at a high level, and mainly because there is a major issue, which is arms control.

And over the past few month, we witnessed the de-organization – deconstruction of the regulation system of weapons that – the system that was put in place in – at the end of the ’90s on the strategic armaments. And luckily, we have New START being extended, but we also have the issue of the intermediate nuclear forces.

And all of these regulations are a matter of security to prevent any accident or incidence, to provide some relative transparency. All of that does not exist anymore, so this is what is at stake – the interest to rebuild, to begin to rebuild all of that.

It was discussed by President Biden and President Putin, and this is what we will be working on together based on a common agenda.

So we need to talk to have a strategic stability, to have relational stability between the Europeans and the great neighbor. And all of the initiatives aiming at talking with a willingness of dialogue are there.

And they’re not – the Americans, while they’re specialist in dialogue with Russia, and the Europeans are special experts in sanctions, we need both, and this is what we’re doing.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian at a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Tony Blinken June 25, 2021

"We have for years promoted relations [with the EU], doing this in a sincere and pragmatic manner. These relations were aimed at integrating things, minimising costs, engaging in mutually beneficial cooperation in a number of areas.  

Regrettably, this largely fruitful work was stymied by the West, by the Brussels elite, who are fully at Washington’s beck and call. European nations, citizens of European countries have nothing to do with this blockade. 

Why did this happen? Because peaceful, mutually beneficial and effective coexistence on the European continent is a nightmare for the United States! Because it means they will be unable to find competitive advantages or fish in troubled waters. No! Any kind of US domination will be out of the question.

As of today, “divide and rule” is the sinister, frightful 21st-century logic, with its conscious intention to sow chaos and attempt to rule.  

We were proceeding from pragmatic decisions that were necessary for our national interests.  Let me remind you that the EU was created as the European Coal and Steel Community; integration in other areas was launched later, with the ECSC transformed into the European Economic Community and subsequently the European Union with a common currency. It all seemed well and good until it dawned on someone in Washington that Europe acquiring its own strong currency and a totally independent energy system was unheard-of impudence.

Can you imagine what it means for the US “deep state” to understand that Europe is energy independent and has its own mineral resources and technologies to produce and deliver these to any location in Europe and neighbouring regions. 

It means leaving the United States out in the cold. Obviously, they could not afford it, because they have no competitive advantage left to them other than the capacity to wreak havoc.  

So, everything was done, as we understand now, to transform the EU from an independent economic integration system into an economic division of NATO, to destroy ties, and deal a blow to the entire edifice of European unity, which we observed."
Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova   8 June 2022

An Apartheid International Trading System

"We lost faith in our Western colleagues’ negotiation skills and dependability after 2014, when Crimea-related sanctions were imposed on us...Since then, we have been relying on ourselves and our contacts and connections with dependable partners. As a result of the measures we had taken, we became an agricultural powerhouse. For many years before that, we had been importing large amounts of food."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov  4 June 2022

"Even before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, all the U.S.' major Western trading partners agreed that there must be significant systemic reforms to the WTO's structure and rules to make it a functioning institution.

China and to a lesser degree Russia's presence in the WTO, along with the WTO's own rules, however, make reforming the institution virtually impossible.

Therefore, any consideration of real reform must include eliminating the institution and starting over...By withdrawing PNTR status for certain WTO members, the U.S. is recognizing that it can no longer remain shackled to a framework that no longer functions properly. If the institution is unable to force reform because of the gridlock created by its own rules, then it is time to consider abandoning the institution.
Withdrawing PNTR is a first step in creating a system for countries that adhere to Western democratic ideals."
Robert DeFrancesco, American lawyer

"We drew a lesson from all this, which is to never again rely on these people.

This does not mean that we will stop talking to them. We’ll see what they have to tell us when they get over the current insanity.

Under no circumstances, from here to eternity, will we ever let any critical sphere of our country or our people’s lives depend on Western investment or technology."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov  4 June 2022


"Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor or caprice?"
George Washington, Farewell Address, 17 September 1796

• Russia is uniquely able to run a sovereign currency that is indexed to the value of real commodities.
• The Central bank of Russia uses gold (in part) to regulate the supply and value of the ruble.
• The 'illiquid' ruble means that foreign speculators cannot influence its value.
• Import substitution by new domestic producers, or from suppliers in friendly countries means Russia will import fewer and fewer goods from the west. Therefore western commercial bank treasuries will only be able to hold limited ruble reserves. They will have to come to Russia with gold or acceptable foreign currency if they want more.
• Friendly countries will likely export more goods to Russia, and have better access to ruble reserves. The gross domestic product (based on purchasing power parity) of the eight countries that either refused to apply western 'sanctions' plus 'sanctioned' countries - China, India, Russia, Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico, Iran, and Turkey – is greater than the G7 nations (US, UK, Japan, Germany, France, Italy, and Canada).
  
• If a Eurasian Monetary Fund is created, 'friendly country' currencies will gain some resilience.
• Russia is creating a very stable, carefully controlled currency, with enduring purchasing power - but a currency that is only spent domestically and regionally.

Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail.
Proverbs 22:8.

"5,787 new restrictions have been imposed against Russian legal entities and individuals since February 22, and their number has reached more than 8,500 in total. No other country has ever had so many restrictions imposed on it. Even Iran, which has been under sanctions for more than 40 years, comes in a distant second, with only 3,600."
- RT, 12 April 2022

"In September 2014...Restrictive measures forbade the US export of commodities, services and technologies to support deep-water, Arctic and shale projects of Gazprom, Gazprom Neft, LUKOIL, Rosneft and Surgutneftegas (Forbes 2014). The new US sanctions introduced in August 2017 applied to these five companies and forbade American citizens and companies from participating in their new projects both within and outside Russia (RBC 2017). However, Bogdanov commented that the sanctions would have little effect on Surgutneftegas since it did not have any debt denominated in foreign currencies, did not have any deep-water or (offshore) Arctic projects and had limited dependence on foreign technology (Neftegaz.ru 2014a)."
'Russian Oil Companies in an Evolving World'  Indra Overland and Nina Poussenkova

"Why should Russia maintain oil production of 10 million bpd if we can (more) effectively consume and export 7 million-8 million bpd without losses to the state budget, domestic consumption? Which is better - to sell 10 barrels of crude for $50 or 7, but for $80?"
Leonid Fedun, Vice President Lukoil 30 May 2022

"Today's package contains a complete import ban on all Russian seaborne crude oil and petroleum products. This covers 90% of our current oil imports from Russia. The ban is subject to certain transition periods to allow the sector and global markets to adapt, and a temporary exemption for pipeline crude oil to ensure that Russian oil is phased out in an orderly fashion. This will allow the EU and its partners to secure alternative supplies and minimises the impact on global oil prices."
European Union press release 3 June 2022

"Member States who have a particular pipeline dependency on Russia can benefit from a temporary exemption and continue to receive crude oil delivered by pipeline, until the Council decides otherwise."
European Union press release 3 June 2022

"Croatian President Zoran Milanovic said that the sanctions didn’t work because they cut energy purchases from Russia, but global prices for energy are on the rise. As a result, Russia is receiving even more revenue than last year. Let them draw their conclusions. Clearly, they have finally started crunching the numbers and trying to figure out what they are doing and what are the consequences"
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov 1 June 2022

"Limited spare capacity in the global refining system, together with reduced exports of Russian fuel oil, diesel and naphtha have aggravated the tightness in product markets, which have now seen seven consecutive quarters of stock draws. While a first tranche of SPR releases halted the precipitous decline in OECD industry stocks in March, crude made up the majority of it and product stocks have continued to fall. Notably, middle distillate reserves reached their lowest levels since April 2008."
IEA May report

'...the REPowerEU strategy appears to be the most feasible.The plan suggests cutting Russian natural gas imports to 101.5 bcm from 155 bcm ( 2021) – in theory, by increasing non-Russian gas supply by 63.5 bcm, and reducing gas demand by 38 bcm.The EU plan to cut two-thirds of its Russian gas imports and replace it elsewhere – by the end of 2022 – is very optimistic...to attract more LNG cargoes, spot prices in Europe should be $2-3/MMBtu higher than the Asian markets. This is leveling now at $35/MMbtu for the rest of 2022 which is more than five times their five-year average.

The bottom line is that it will be impossible for the EU to increase their LNG imports by the crucial 50 bcm milestone. Even if the EU overcomes the technical issues represented by the regasification capacities and the interconnections between the EU countries and Britain, the supply in the global LNG market simply cannot meet the demand.

Although Europe may receive an extra 25 bcm of LNG, it will come attached to a very high price tag, while prices in North America will be largely unaffected. The US is the big winner in this scenario...Europe will have to acknowledge that it will be neither an energy independent or politically independent continent for the foreseeable future.'
'Beggaring Europe: switching cheap Russian gas for expensive American LNG' The Cradle, Daoud Baalbaki 15 June 2022

"More than ever, getting rid of Russian fossil fuels and of fossil fuels in general, is essential. What is at stake is both the need to accelerate the fight against climate change, and, as we can see now, the short-term energy security of the European continent."
Barbara Pompili, EU President 3 March 2022

Russia has a plan to be able to produce 110-190 bcm/year of LNG exports by 2025. Russia is already the world's fourth largest LNG exporter at 40 bcm/y LNG exports. There is likely to be strong competition.

 “US persons are prohibited from engaging in any transaction – including gold-related transactions – involving the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, the National Wealth Fund of the Russian Federation or the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation.”
US Treasury 2022

"Together with the State Council Commission on Agriculture, the Government has been instructed to amend the Agriculture and Fishing Development Strategy until 2030 to set forth a growth rate of at least 3 percent for agricultural output; set annual performance indicators for the import substitution of critical agricultural products as well as products used by the agriculture industry and fisheries; state support measures for these sectors, including to promote new export opportunities for finished products and increasing funding for the state programme to rehabilitate and reclaim farm land."
Presidential Instructions following meeting on agricultural industry, fisheries and related sectors’ development April 26, 2022

"In addition, there is also a problem with Russian grain exports. Although the West loudly proclaims that grain is not covered by the sanctions, it coyly remains silent about the sanctions on vessels carrying Russian grain. They are not accepted in European ports and are denied insurance. All logistics and financial chains linked with grain supplies to the world markets are under Western sanctions."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov 1 June 2022

"Western countries, which have artificially created several problems by closing their ports to Russian ships and disrupting supply and financial chains, should seriously think about what is more important to them: to use food security as a media stunt or to overcome the challenge with concrete steps. It's up to them."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov 31 May 2022

"...volatile weather results from ‘the combination of a high continental weather pattern, with the occasional blocking in the seasonal paths of cyclones’ (ibid., p. 3), producing ‘dry hot east winds’ which blow all the way ‘from Central Asia across the Volga, Northern Caucasus and the Ukraine’ (ibid.). These hot winds from the deserts bring high temperatures and virtually no rainfall, causing serious droughts across the whole chernozem region."
'Persistent farmland imaginaries: celebration of fertile soil and the recurrent ignorance of climate' Oane Visser 2020

"Our foreign customers and partners have always seen and continue to see cooperation with Russian metallurgists as predictable and mutually beneficial.

...the Western states have imposed illegal restrictions on Russian companies. This includes a ban on shipping ready-made products, as well as the purchase of certain components for manufacturing - rolled metal products, steel sheets, rods, etc."
Vladimir Putin April 20, 2022

"...these unfriendly steps towards Russian metallurgists are only serving momentary political interests...they have suspended ties that took years to establish and that hinged on reasonable parameters like business reputation, mutual interest and economic efficiency.

There was no place for these key concepts, which are crucial to businesses, in the political games of Europe’s bureaucrats...there is no reason to believe that there will be any essential change in our partners' behaviour. We have to take this into account when implementing our metallurgy development strategy at the corporate and state levels.

...Businesses are already rebuilding their logistics and production chains and looking for new suppliers and clients in order to keep enterprises working and protect the interests of their staff.

...we should not forget about the long-term development of the metallurgy industry, the implementation of its future plans, and seek not only to ensure the steady operation of the entire metallurgical complex and to maintain production volumes but to boost production capacity and expand the range of goods produced domestically.

I suggest that we discuss a potential industry development model with the business representatives here, based on the current state of affairs and thinking far ahead.

I want to stress the importance of domestic demand, which needs to be supported and stimulated – primarily, by expanding the scope of residential, infrastructure, commercial and industrial construction, and by producing more metal-based goods.

I want to repeat that long-term projects and programmes are necessary to support the demand for Russian metals. The impact of such projects and programmes will serve the entire economy. It will benefit the Russian regions and their residents."

Obviously, new clients have to be found from amongst the 'friendly' countries. But Russia may be a price taker.

International conditions are unfavorable to Russia. Domestic demand is key to the survival of the Russian steel industry. As always, the government has to pay for this by subsidising or funding new projects. As it happens, infrastructure development is the Russian governments main priority. Russia is the largest country in the world, with vast distances between towns. The eastern and northern regions are poorly served with road and rail. New industries in the near arctic are hampered by poor roading, poor communication, poor water, poor housing, and poor public facility infrastructure.

The government brought in a regime of tax breaks for foreign investors - an important source of capital. Westerners will no longer be able to invest in Russia. But other countries, such as China, the UAE, Saudi Arabia will.

A combination of private domestic and foreign investment. plus Russian government investment, funded from budget surplus and cheap loans from the Central bank might make up for losses of longstanding steel contracts with the west.

Russian steel products are likely to be sold at discounted prices, if that is what it takes to keep the industry alive. Better prices also help cement in long term relationships.

And Russia plans ahead for the long term. It has a plan for an economy that improves its citizen lives (the number one priority of government, according to President Putin). That plan involves a lot of coordination of private and public investment, and involves a lot of logistics planning. And involves a lot of steel.

Titanium

Russia is the world's 4th largest titanium exporter, valued at USD$471 million in 2020. Main export markets 2 years ago (millions) were Germany $148, US $132, China ~$29, UK ~$27, Ukraine $22.5. It's imports in 2020 were modest (millions), Kazakhstan ~$19, China ~$9, Estonia $10.7, US ~$7, Ukraine ~ $6.

Most of the world titanium dioxide concentrate produced in the world is for the bright white pigment used in white paint and in plastics. Only a small percentage of the mined ore is used to smelt into titanium metal, an energy intensive and technically complex process. Russia has 3 large titanium mines. Russia's largest titanium mine is Ruchar, with 3 billion tonnes of ore containing 15% titanium. The Pudozhsky mine in the Republic of Karelia.has 516.7 million tonnes of ore (8.1% titanium). This mine also contains resources of about 1 million oz of platinum and 2.4 million oz of gold.The Yugo-Vostochnaya Gremyakha mine in Murmansk Oblast.has 585.3 million tonnes of titanium ore grading out at 8.51% titanium.

Russia is not listed in the US Geological Survey data on tonnage of titanium production. The UGS gives its data in weight of titanium dioxide, rather than ore containing a certain percentage of titanium oxide. Perhaps Russia's reserves are simply being air-brushed out. Even so, Russia is the worlds third largest producer of 'smelted' (sintered) titanium 'sponge', 33,000 metric tonnes per year. China is the worlds largest producer (110, 000 tonnes). Japan is second largest titanium sponge producer (50,000 tonnes).

The Russian State owns the world's largest titanium producing company VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation, which is a subsidiary of state-owned Rostec corporation. While titanium is a not uncommon mineral, it is, of course, a strategic mineral, important in aircraft and spacecraft manufacture. Russia produces about a third of global titanium used in the aviation sector. In addition to titanium, VSMPO-AVISMA produces aluminum, magnesium and steel alloys, and exports products to 50 countries around the world. VSMPO-AVISMA has facilities in USA, Ukraine, Germany, England, and Switzerland. Boeing USA has invested heavily in  a joint 50:50 venture with VSMPO-AVISMA created in 2007, 'Ural Boeing Manufacturing'. The joint venture makes titanium components for Boeing finishing in Boeings USA factories, as well as parts for Airbus. VSMPO-AVISMA also supplies manufactured parts for Embraer, Safran, and Rolls-Royce.

"In an interview with Design News, Boeing’s chief materials maven Alan Miller brushed off concerns about relying on a Russian source for titanium. Miller said that Boeing has done a lot of collaborative work in developing new high-strength alloys in collaboration with Russian titanium experts.

Boeing’s alliance with the Russian titanium industry has been growing since the early 1990s. As of 2008, VSMPO-Avisma will become Boeing’s biggest titanium supplier, moving ahead of US companies TIMET and RMI Titanium. As part of the deal, Boeing is helping develop Russia’s aircraft production capabilities."
Design News July 30 2007

A second production line was launched in 2018. This highly automated 82 million dollar expansion, located in a special economic zone called 'Titanium Valley' machines parts for Boeings new civilian airliners. The 'titanium valley' special economic zone has special tax concessions and customs fast-tracking for investing companies, as well as guaranteed infrastructure.

Ironically, while Russia has been the reliable partner, the US has not. The Boeing officials should have been more concerned with their own politicians de-stabilising a mutually beneficial partnership with their 'sanctions'.

"During last November’s Dubai Airshow, the company and Boeing announced an extension of Ural Boeing Manufacturing joint-venture “for years to come.” A Memorandum of Understanding covered the supply of titanium of current and future commercial aircraft programs, including the 737/MAX, 767, 777/777X, and 787, making the Russian company the largest supplier of titanium parts to Boeing. The two companies would also work together on new alloys and technologies. In a press statement at the time, Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stan Deal described VSMPO-AVISMA as “a reliable and valuable partner to Boeing for almost 25 years.”"
Airinsight.com February 28, 2022

The 'sanctions' means that Boeing 'suspended' buying titanium from Russia. Boeing had been diversifying titanium sources in recent years, and while it still relies on Russia for 30% of its overall titanium metal supply, Boeing believes it can increase its supplies from domestic US suppliers, China, Japan and Kazakhstan in sufficient quantity to replace Russia.The US produces about 100,000 tonnes of titanium dioxide a year, but has to import a further 1,000 000 tonnes of TiO₂ a year, mostly for use as a white pigment. It is discretely quiet about the machined parts it obtains from its Ural Boeing Manufacturing joint venture. According to various industry internet resources these parts are still delivered by roundabout means that comply with the letter, but not the 'spirit' of the so-called 'sanctions'. It seems there is a certain amount of 'don't ask, don't tell' going on.

Boeing has suspended the supply of aircraft parts to Russian airlines, and suspended training in Russia. The EU banned the sale and trade in aircraft and aircraft parts in February 2022.

Will the American and European aircraft part manufacturing trade return? That is really 'will the American and EU 'sanctions' end'? If you 'tool up' to make specific parts for specific airline models, as Boeing did, it is a big financial blow if you have to walk a way from it. If Boeing walks away from their Russian investment, they might lose the Russian specialist titanium metallurgic expertise as well as the modern bespoke production capacity. Or they may pay a huge salary for the experts to emigrate to America. America's loss may end up as Russia's gain.

USA mainly imports titanium ore from South Africa (27%) Madagascar (18%), Australia (15%) and Mozambique (15%). China, which has the worlds largest titanium ore reserves (230 million metric tonnes titanium dioxide) - is also a massive titanium ore consumer. Not only did it consume all the ore it produced, China also imported 3.6 million tonnes of titanium mineral concentrate in 2021, mainly from Mozambique (32%), Australia (14%), Vietnam (13%), and Kenya (9%) (U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2022). While China exported titanium-based manufactured products it remains a nett importer of its own resource. No doubt it met its own needs for titanium metal first. Australia has the worlds second largest titanium ore reserves, with 160 million metric tonnes of titanium dioxide. India has the worlds third largest titanium ore resource, at 85 million metric tonnes, but has relatively little mine production.

Nuclear Industry

Russia’s Rosatom exports fuel for Brazilian nuclear power plants and radioisotopes for medical purposes. Rosatom is also interested in participating in the construction of new power units in Brazil, including low-capacity nuclear power plants, both land and floating plants, because it has unique and extensive experience, and technologies that are not available elsewhere in the world.
Russia Press Statement 16 February 2022

Russia is an important supplier of nuclear fuel assemblies (including to Ukrainian nuclear power plants), and is also involved in building nuclear power plants in Turkey and Brazil.

Defense industry

"A lot has been done over 2021. Our consolidated revenue grew by almost 10 percent and amounted to 2.06 trillion rubles. We have crossed the important psychological milestone of two trillion. We have been trying to achieve this for a long time and, finally, last year we surpassed this barrier, this milestone.

Our consolidated net profit increased by almost 47 percent and constituted 163.5 billion rubles. EBITDA increased by 18 percent to 335 billion. The total market value of our assets is a new indicator that we introduced last year. It is 980.5 billion rubles, which is 50 percent higher than in 2020; this means that the value of our assets is constantly growing.

The share of civilian products in the consolidated net profit amounted to 45.5 percent."
Sergey Chemezov, CEO of Rostec State Corporation 18 May 2022

The Russian Government-owned Rostec Corporation ('State Corporation for Assistance to Development, Production and Export of Advanced Technology Industrial Product') is the largest player in the Russian defense industry. The Russian government has long wanted to see civilian product spin-offs from defense technology, as has happened in the west. The President set Rostec a target of a civilian market segment of "50 percent by 2030". As Sergey Chemezov noted, they have already achieved 45.5%, and, 'thanks' to both covid-19 and western sanctions, it is almost certain this target will be met much earlier than expected.

The western sanctions have created a strong imperative for Russia to innovate across many industries. The Russian military has been a major source of innovation since the earliest times, and the pace seems to have accelerated under external pressure. While the most advanced hypersonic missiles are unlikely to be exported, the various track-decision-launch integrated layered defense systems are exported. They are already competitively priced, fairly efficient, and are likely to become a popular option for countries needing a defensive posture as a major part of homeland security.

The updating of the strategic defense system, including the massive liquid fueled Sarmat ICBM, has allowed Russia to design and build an unbeatable nuclear strike missile. The Sarmat can reach into space, has a range that allows attack from any direction (including via the South Pole), has an ability to accelerate, and a degree of maneuverability.

Advances in satellite-based electronic intelligence for military operational purposes, including sophisticated integrated optical and radar technology, is not usually 'for sale'. But again, there are spin-offs in commercial space vehicle satellite deliveries, as well as other civilian spinoffs.

Sergey Chemezov outlined some of the accomplishments of Rostec in the military sphere in 2021 and projects for the future -
- Rostec will use its experience in the special military operation in Ukraine to develop 'pocket-sized' drones that are all but invisible. They will be used for fire control and real-time military intelligence, especially useful in urban warfare.
- Total redesign and equipment refit of the 1980's Tu-160M missile carrier, fitted with Rostec's new NK-32 engine ("We have actually created a totally new aircraft. It looks like the previous model on the outside, but in fact, everything is new")
- The Checkmate fifth generation light tactical 'stealth' fighter with a modified Su-57 engine. Flight testing is due in 2023 and production is due in 2027. (This aircraft was designed mostly for export)
-  Okhotnik UCAV drone with an innovative flat jet nozzle that makes it less visible to radar with production due in 2023.
- the first Russian-made diesel gas-turbine engine (the M55R), to be used in Russian frigates

Electricity sector

Russia is a nett energy exporter.  Russia's Electricity exports in year end January 2022 were $179M and imports were $2.11M, a nett export value of $177M. Russia exports electricity mainly to Finland ($116M, 9 terawatt-hours nett), about 10% of demand, China ($22.2M), and Lithuania ($20.1M), with smaller amounts to Kazakhstan and Latvia. In May 2022 Finland refused to pay Russia for the electricity Russia had already supplied, Fingrid saying "Due to these restrictions payments for sold Russian electricity can no longer be made." As a result, Russia cut off power to Finland until Finland had paid its debt.

Aviation sector - civilian aircraft

Quite apart from the EU banning all business jets, and passenger and cargo airliners in the EU airspace, the EU has banned the sale, trading and leasing of aircraft to Russia. Aircraft parts, vital to repairs and airworthiness certification, are also banned. 

Russia is already building it's own passenger aircraft, the UMC-21, the TU-214 and the SSJ-100. Because of the sanctions affecting component availability, the united Aircraft Corporation can only deliver two MC-21's in 2022, rather than the 4 initially planned. A fully import-substituted version should be built by 2023, and certified with the substitute components for sale in 2024. The Sukhoi SSJ's contain foreign parts, and 19 have already been built, and will be delivered.  Work on an import-part free version of the SSJ regional jet started in 2018, and a fully import-free version is expected to be available in 2024. This seems very optimistic, as the engine for the SSJ-100 is produced by a French-Russian joint venture, and the French components have stopped being delivered. The Russian side is toying with the idea popular with the Germans, that is, some form of 'tempory' control of the local assets of the French company in order to ensure a supply of spare parts from stock on hand.

"To prevent disruptions, the Ministry of Industry and Trade reportedly proposed an idea to legalize the transfer of foreign companies’ property to Russia-registered enterprises. The move could ensure that the property of foreign companies, that terminated their business in Russia due to the international sanctions, would be temporarily managed by Russian entities and resources such as spare parts for SaM146 engines could be seized to secure the maintenance of SSJ100 jets"
AeroTimeHub, Gabriele Petrauskaite 31 March 2022

At the moment, only 2 or 3 of the longer range narrow body TU-214 aircraft are produced per year. Russia will build additional construction capacity and increase this to up to 10 per year. They will replace the Airbus and Boeing planes Russia has used up until now.

Russia also produces a wide body passenger plane, the Ilyushin-IL96 long range aircraft, as well as the Soviet-era Ilyushin Il-76, a four-engine turbofan airlifter used for cargo.

Spare parts will be made for all the domestically produced planes at a proposed new manufacturing center in Kazan, capital of the Republic of Tatarstan. Russia hopes to have it up and running by the end of 2023. Its focus will be on parts fofr domestically manufactured aircraft.

Russia had relied heavily on Ukraine for helicopter parts, at least. But following the 2014 coup in Ukraine, Russia has joined China in joint production of aviation products - engines, helicopters, parts, specialised cockpit glass. A China-Russia joint company has already been buying Russia's Ka-32A11BC on contract to the Shanghai Ministry of Public Security. China uses the twin engine multi-purpose mi-8 and the newer mi-17 helicopters in various versions, both military and civilian. China has used the various helicopters produced by Russian Helicopter manufacturers for many years.

The Rostec-owned plant in Ulan-Ude produces helicopters at a 'state of the art' modern facility, producing for customers all over the world. As well as high tech versions of the Mi-171, the 'Russian Helicopters' Rostec subsidiary is producing an advanced fully digital single engine civilian light helicopter, the VRT-500 for release about 2023.However, the engine was expected to be from Pratt & Whitney Canada - there is no chance for that now. Where an engine might come from is unclear at this point, but it is very likely it will be either Russian designed and built, or it will be from a reliable partner.

The prohibition on the import of foreign civilian airplanes has given the domestic civilian aviation industry a massive boost. Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) is now producing civil aircraft "in large quantities: not large enough yet, but we are striving towards this" - Sergey Chemezov, Rostec, May 2022
.

Medical industry

Russia produced the world's first covid 19 vaccine, showing it was fully capable of meeting the needs for technically advanced immunilogical products domestically.
Rostec's Natsimbio (National Immunobiological Company) subsidiary supplied over 100 million sets of all kinds of vaccines "from the coronavirus to flu, and various other diseases" to domestic customers in Russia. Most were domestically manufactured.

Russia's Direct Investment Fund financed ChemRar to develop the world's first anti-coronavirus drug, Avifavir. It is currently sold in at least 15 countries. The Russia's Direct Investment Fund is also backing a project to localise production of the Sputnik V vaccine in Brazil.

In 2010 Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced the Russian government plan to 'onshore' the pharmaceutical sector of the economy. This seems realistic with regard to antibiotics, as generic (off patent) antibiotics can in principle be manufactured by anyone from various precursor chemicals. China dominates the manufacture and global supply of these chemicals because it has low labor costs, government subsidies, and lower environmental standards. Given their global dominance, China has economies of scale.

The antibiotics made from these precursors are immensely important. The broad spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic Ciprofloxacin for example, is highly important in treating bacterial sepsis within the body cavity, bone and joint infections, respiratory infections, anthrax, typhoid, urinary tract infections and so on. China has the intention of becoming the 'pharmacy of the world', and will achieve this goal for medium and smaller countries. Large technically advanced countries could make the precursor chemicals, but will need government subsidies to do so.

"Today, China is the main source of the key ingredients for both penicillin and another class of antibiotics, cephalosporins. Together these drugs comprise two-thirds of the antibiotics used in the U.S. each day...when a giant cargo ship ran aground in the Suez Canal, global trade was snarled. More than 200 vessels carrying billions of dollars’ worth of goods were left waiting to get through the canal. Such a bottleneck could pale in comparison to potential antibiotic shortages. If U.S.-China tensions were to escalate over Taiwan, trade corridors and supply chains would be at risk of massive disruption—including the freighters expected to bring antibiotics to America’s hospitals and pharmacies."
MarketWatch 28 April 2021

It is clear to me that the US intends to manufacture critically important medininces domestically in future for strategic reasons (90% of the drugs consumed in USA are generics, most finished generics are imported - mostly from India - and the 3 major US resident generic drug manufacturers Mylan, Sandoz and Teva have relocated generic drug production to China. Western domestic single batch preparation of generic antibiotics precursors and intermediates is low profit margin, inefficient, and can't compete with slowly emerging continuous flow production [CFM]).

"Continuous manufacturing is best described as a series of processes that optimize drug production to a continued flow of drugs. This is in contrast to the widely used batch manufacturing, which consists of complex processes rendered across the world where materials are made in large batches, rather than in a consistent flow.

Denoted as one of the top 10 emerging technologies, a November 2021 World Economic Forum (WEF) report stated that CFM could effectively “revolutionize” the process of drug manufacturing by allowing greater personalization of each medicine made on-demand that would not need to be shipped across multiple locations. Yet adopting CFM will likely be a long process, particularly while producing complicated assets like biologics.

...As of now, Baxendale says that some aspects of CFM are appearing in the pharmaceutical industry rather than a wholesale transfer to flow chemistry. New tools and new processes still need to be created, and many companies consider CFM at a proof-of-principle stage, says Baxendale. Although CFM could play an increasingly more visible role in the industry, Kappe anticipates seeing the use of both batch manufacturing and CFM in a hybrid system in the years to come."
 Pharmaceutical Technology May 20, 2022

India has a massive trade imbalance with China, and is very dependent on China for the active ingredients for medicine manufacture. Strategically, India is likely to produce at least the more important active ingredients locally in the future.

Russia is somewhat dependent on imports from India at this stage. I suspect Russia will indeed slowly move to re-shore manufacture of critical medicines. In principle Russia can import active ingredients from China at very favorable prices, but once again, they would be wise to expand their domestic active ingredient production facilities, at least for medicines of critical importance. And if they have the capital to further build the sector, Russia certainly has the educational-technical capacity to develop continuous flow techniques right from the very start - driving down costs.

Russia already subsidises strategically important industries. It already takes a 51% shareholding in industries that are strategically important. Expending and subsidising a chemical precursor industry for domestic insurance would be fully in line with their current strategic practice.

"Ravi Uday Bhaskar: Sanctions do not apply to medicines and agriculture. So, even discontinuation of supply in the shadow of western sanctions may not have a serious impact because Russia possesses its own capabilities to manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients as well as formulations.

In fact, Russia's domestic market is good, and they are capable of getting things done.

Sputnik: China is a major supplier of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) which are the raw materials for medicine. If Beijing tries to fill the void in the Russian market created by European countries ceasing to supply medicines, do you fear any disruption in the supply of basic materials?

Ravi Uday Bhaskar: I do not think so. China is one of the most prominent suppliers of APIs, intermediates, and basic chemicals. That's why it will not have any serious effect on supply of raw materials from China.

Europe also imports APIs and other raw materials from China. Ukraine may face problems with raw materials but Russia will not face any disruption as it has good relations with China. And Russia itself is capable of tackling challenges resulting from western sanctions.

Sputnik International 11 March 2022

The 'Pharma-2020' and 'Pharma-2030' initiatives required Western pharmaceutical companies locate their production in Russia. Abbott, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, and Pfizer are among the large Western drug companies producing vaccines, generic medicines, or Russian branded products.Russia remains a lucrative market for western (mainly European) pharma companies.

Russia sold out Veropharm, its major medical products company, in 2014 to the US owned Abbott Laboratories. The pharmaceutical industry in general is exempt from the western illegal trade restrictions, and Abbott intend to remain operating in Russia, as are most US major drug companies.

"We remain committed to providing essential health products to those in need in Ukraine, Russia, and the region, in compliance with current sanctions and while adapting to the rapidly changing situation on the ground.”
Johnson and Johnson spokesperson March 2022

"...major opportunities will open up if they leave, and the market will accommodate new players. I am 100 percent confident that the substitution of foreign owners and manufacturers will improve the quality of services for Russian citizens. I am 100 percent confident."
Vladimir Putin April 20, 2022

“We take good care of those foreign businessmen who stay [in Russia]. We have extremely great respect and the same care for those businessmen who, under pressure, are now forced to wait it out, but who have already said that they will resume their activities here as soon as possible"
Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman, 12 June 2022

Soon after the start of the operation to expel Ukrainian forces from the newly declared breakaway republics, the EU and US closed it's airspace to Russian flights. This effectively ended most Russian overseas tourism, putting Russia's Aeroflot's fleet of aircraft almost out of work.

"Since the London Market’s Joint War Committee (JWC) listed the Black Sea a week before the conflict began, much has happened...Apart from the physical damage to ships and many vessels being trapped, underwriters have been faced with a variety of challenges from the ever expanding sanctions regimes which failed to deter the attack, have failed to stop the conflict and have not yet changed the political path adopted by Russia.

For insurers whose reason for existence is to support trade, it is difficult to thrive in an environment where they are being compelled to stop themselves and others from trading. Having put expensive compliance teams in place and embedded due diligence, they are under intense pressure. This is further evidenced in the advent of self-sanctioning where entities take a policy decision not to broke or write any new or renewal business in certain countries. The situation is legally constricted as running risks cannot simply be cancelled unless there is contractual reason to do so.

Problems have arisen from the speed and number of measures as well as the difference between sanctions and asset freezes, plus variations between different national measures. These can leave clients at least partially without cover and underwriters similarly without reinsurance. Additionally, the reinsurance market has felt the need to utilise territorial exclusions, so many underwriters are now significantly and unexpectedly exposed without the protection they had expected to have.

The situation remains very fluid, with new developments daily, so underwriters will proceed with great caution, if at all, as the penalties for errors are high."
Neil Roberts, Head of Marine and Aviation at Lloyd’s Market Association June 2022

In February 2022 Lithuania banned the transhipment of Belarusian potassium from its port of Klaipeda. Almost all Belarusian potash (10-11 million tonnes per year) was exported from there. A new facility is being built at St. Petersgurg to export the Belarus production.

"The EU has indeed avoided a direct and comprehensive ban on the import of Russian agricultural products.

...despite prohibiting the import of certain types of Russian fertilizers, the EU has introduced exemptions to fulfill its own needs.

The import of fertilizers from Russia into the EU this and the following seasons (until 9 July 2023) is permitted in an amount equal to the average annual volume of imports of these products (imports of potassium chloride are allowed in the amount of 837,570 tonnes, other restricted fertilizers - in the amount of 1,577,807 tonnes).

EU Member States are also authorised to grant, at their own discretion, access to EU ports of vessels flying the Russian flag, as well as entry to the EU of Russian road carriers for the purposes of importing or transporting agricultural products, including fertilizers and wheat, that are not subject to restrictions.

...What the EU fails to mention is that anti-Russian unilateral sanctions are still distinctly detrimental for key Russian producers and exporters of agricultural products. They affect directly or indirectly the export, financial and transport capabilities of Russia, including in the food sector. The ultimate goal of these actions is obvious - to undermine the Russian economy, including the agro-industrial complex.

...Stringent measures are being introduced or proposed to police the proper implementation of the anti-Russian sanctions regime, including criminal liability for either circumventing or assisting in circumventing unilateral sanctions, which, according to instigators of these measures, should induce economic operators in EU Member States to terminate their cooperation with Russian partners. Consequently, cargo transports, as well financial and insurance services are seriously hindered and logistics chains are disrupted, also due to total customs inspection of all goods imported into the EU from Russia. Western financial and commercial entities, intimidated by the prospect of penalties for violating the sanctions regime, are either delaying or frequently annulling their transactions.

Furthermore, individual restrictions have been imposed against the owners and chief executives of leading Russian producers and exporters of fertilizers - Uralchem, Eurochem, PhosAgro, Akron...The future of factories that belong to them in some EU Member States also hangs in the balance.

Evidently, the European Union is engaged in a deliberate campaign to obstruct the export of Russian food products and fertilizers, including to prevent Russia's access to third markets. Behind the smoke-screen of its habitual hypocritical rhetoric the EU is busy aggravating what is already a precarious situation in terms of global food security."
Russian Foreign Ministry press release 3 June 2022

Russia has developed its own 'secure' domestic smartphone, the AYYA. It is based on based on a domestic operating system (Aurora) and on the android system. It will be available in late 2022.

'This Executive Order was signed to protect the national interests of the Russian Federation in response to unfriendly actions, which contradict international law, undertaken by the United States and joined by other foreign states and international organisations, aimed at introducing restrictions against Russian citizens and legal entities.

The President resolved that in light of the risk of natural disasters and man-made emergency situations endangering the life and safety of people and threatening the national interests and economic security of the Russian Federation, arising due to the violation by certain foreign entities and individuals of their obligations under the Agreement of the Development of the Piltun-Askokhskoye and Lunskoye Oil and Gas Fields on the Basis of Production Sharing, signed on June 22, 1994, special economic measures shall be applied to these foreign entities and private individuals under their jurisdiction.

In particular, the Government of the Russian Federation is to establish a Russian Limited Liability Company, which will take over the rights and obligations of Sakhalin Energy Investment Company in accordance with this Executive Order. The ownership of the company’s property, created within the framework of the above Agreement, shall be transferred forthwith to the Russian Federation.'
Russian Executive Order June 30 2022

"Should the executives at Gazprom Germania “carry out the procedure of the voluntary liquidation” as ordained, the long-term gas contract held by German companies with the German subsidiary as their partner was at risk.

These long-term contracts are highly lucrative, as they were agreed upon before the record spike in gas prices and are usually hedged against massive price swings to allow for stable business planning.

As per German law, any transfer of ownership in “critical” infrastructure requires the go-ahead of Habeck’s ministry, which was not given. Fearful of additional attempts to interfere with the subsidiary, the German government did something it had never done before.

“I’ve lived to see Germany nationalise Russian companies operating in Deutschland, what a time to be alive,” commented legal scholar Jakub Jaraczweski.

Gazprom Germania will be steered by the federal network agency until 30 September 2022, although the government has yet to comment on what will be done with the subsidiary of the Russian state company afterwards."
Euractiv.com 5 April 2022

We are entirely clear on how to proceed. The main conclusion is not to rely in our plans on the West as a negotiating partner. It has proved ...it is ready to violate its own principles and resort to outright theft and robbery. The sanctity of private property and the presumption of innocence...have been upended and crudely violated.

We have already made our conclusions. We will rely only on ourselves and our trustworthy partners, the overwhelming majority of which are not part of the former “golden billion.”

We have enough buyers of our energy resources. We will work with them. Let the West pay much more than it paid to the Russian Federation and let them explain to their own people why they have to be made poorer.
Sergey Lavrov

"China is our biggest trade and economic partner among foreign countries, with more than $100 billion in mutual trade.

And that does not include major projects related to oil, gas, aviation, machine engineering, nuclear energy and other industries.

But in today’s conditions, small and medium-sized businesses have many opportunities to join a great variety of projects, on both sides."
Vladimir Putin April 20, 2022

"It is clear that all kinds of restrictions imposed at the height of the anti-Russia frenzy have led to spikes in energy prices and have destroyed the existing logistics chains, which has affected the economy and foreign trade of regional countries. The situation is completely different in those regional states which opted to maintain normal relations with Russia and refused to join the sanctions war, despite unprecedented pressure by Western countries.

Positive dynamics was reported in the first quarter of 2022 in Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia (GDP growth over 5 percent) and the Philippines (over 8 percent). Cambodia expects to report similar yearend figures in 2022. Export-import transactions went up in Indonesia (38 percent), Malaysia (23 percent) and Vietnam (15.6 percent).

We have taken notice of our ASEAN partners’ growing interest in Russian oil, fertilisers and food. Statistics show that Russian exports to these countries have grown in January-March 2022. For example, our exports to Vietnam reached $971 million (up 48.2 percent year on year).

The delivery of our chemical and foods products to Thailand has increased by 54 percent and 185 percent, respectively. We can report an increase of bilateral trade with Indonesia (up 89 percent), Malaysia (up 38.5 percent), Myanmar (up 128 percent) and Laos (up 50 percent). Draw your own conclusions.
Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova 8 June 2022

"True, there have been some good shifts [authors note - in international cooperation against covid]. One of them is the United States’ return to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Some hotheads in Washington believe that, now that they have returned, they will make others do their bidding.

There are fewer than 50 Chinese people in the WHO Secretariat, 25 Russians, over 200 Americans, and more than 2,000 NATO representatives. The past US administration said China was manipulating the WHO. That is not true. Otherwise, we are admitting the complete helplessness of 2,000 NATO members who should be the majority in the WHO Secretariat.

Nevertheless, there are some positive results though. This problem has been recently considered at the UN General Assembly and the Security Council. It is important now to focus on equitable collaboration within the WHO. Besides the attempts at carrying out “soft coups” and establishing their own rules in the organisation, hardly based on consensus, an idea has been suggested to move the main decision-making on global health policies outside the universal organisation."
Sergey Lavrov 19 Feb 2021

"April 1, 2022, '“Sputnik nasal vaccine, world’s 1st registered СOVID vaccine in nasal form, is especially effective vs. highly transmissible Omicron & other emerging variants not only in terms of protection from infection but alsо at preventing transmission." According to the document published on the state register of medicines, the nasal spray version of the Sputnik V vaccine is to be applied in two doses according to the document published on the state register of medicines, reported CNA on October 13, 2021."
Precisionvaccinations.com April 26 2022

"I would like to emphasise that only domestic parts and components were used in creating the Sarmat missile. This will, of course, facilitate its production by defence industry enterprises and expedite its use in the Strategic Missile Forces."
Vladimir Putin, April 18 2022

The Motor Sich manufacturing factory in Zaporizhzhia Ukraine makes engines (turbo-prop, turbo-fan and turbo-shaft) for drones, airplanes, helicopter engines (including engines for several of Russia's military helicopters), and marine gas engines, among other things. It's main market was Russia, but that ended after the coup in Ukraine in 2014. As a result, Ukraine looked for new markets and more capital and found some of what they wanted in China's partly state-owned Skyrizon Aviation. Skyrizon bought a 41% share in Motor Sich in 2017, with 250 million of new capital to be injected, and an assembly and servicing plant in China to be opened. USA then 'sanctioned' Motor Sich company, resulting in the capital injection and China facility being scotched. Some bizarre dodgy share-issue dealings by Ukraine almost gave Skyrizon a controlling shareholding. This was blocked by the Ukraine government.  Ukraine announced in March 2021 that it intended to unilaterally nationalise Motor Sich and 'compensate' the China-based shareholders. Skyrizon Aviation placed a suit against the Ukrainian government for 4.5 billion at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague. In the meantime, Ukraine explored Turkeys interest in buying a 50% stake in Motor Sich.

"High-precision long-range air- and sea-based missiles in Zaporozhye have destroyed the production facilities of Motor Sich plant, which produced aircraft engines for combat aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force, including UAVs"
Russia Ministry of Defense, 26 May 2022

Russia's strike ended production of the turbo-prop engine used in the Turkish Baykar Bayraktar drone, currently in use by Ukraine against Russian forces (assisting the two newly independant Republics to remove Ukrainian forces from their territory). The AI-450 engine cost about $250,000 USD.

"According to objective laws governing the economy, it is obvious that in this ongoing sanctions frenzy, if I may say so, the European Union and its people will inevitably face consequences that will be hard to reverse. The same applies to the world’s poorest countries, which are already at risk of hunger.

Let me emphasise that full responsibility for all this lies squarely with the Western elites, who are ready to sacrifice the rest of the world for the sake of preserving their global dominance."
Vladimir Putin, 12 May 2022

"Today's exports bans are worth €10 billion and target areas in which Russia is vulnerable, e.g. quantum computers and advanced semiconductors. This will degrade Russia's technological base and industrial capacity and prospects (beyond purely military) in the medium term."
EU press release (8 April 2022)

Today's import bans are worth €5.5 billion and will cut revenue streams for Russia and its oligarchs, on products from wood to cement, from seafood (e.g. caviar) to liquor (e.g. vodka). In addition, loopholes between Russia and Belarus have been closed as far as possible by mirroring the import bans in place for Belarus, as well as aligning – where feasible – our restrictions and import bans with those of our partners, notably the UK and the US."

"Incidentally, the global crisis is largely caused by these sanctions. Those who conceived them proceeded from short-sighted, exaggerated political ambitions and Russophobia, at the expense of their own national interests, their own economies and the wellbeing of their people, as primarily demonstrated by the rising inflation in Europe. In some countries, the annual rate of inflation is approaching 20%, while prices in the eurozone increased by over 11%, on average."
Vladimir Putin, 12 May 2022

" Russia has already suspended gas supplies to Poland, Bulgaria, Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark and to some extent Germany because they refused to comply with the new payment system."
Interfax, 2 June 2022

"Expectations by some EU countries that LNG would quickly substitute Russian pipeline gas are self-deceptive. Global LNG demand will exceed supply in 2022 (436 million tonnes vs. 410 million tonnes), new projects will not become operational until 2024, while current infrastructure will be unable to ramp up production by more than 10.6 million tonnes (15 billion cubic meters) per annum."

"From the early days of gas supplies to Europe in the 1960s the USSR and, subsequently, the Russian Federation proceeded from the premise that energy cooperation should never become contaminated with politics. Following the escalation of anti-Russian rhetoric in some EU quarters in the 2000s we repeatedly urged the EU to refrain from politicizing energy cooperation, highlighting the mutually beneficial nature of this partnership which brings our economies closer and enhances security in Europe.

Heeding calls by the EU and seeking to increase mutually beneficial cooperation with our Western neighbours, Russia has over the past decades embarked on new domestic oil and gas projects while constructing pipelines for carrying these products to Europe. To this end the EU-Russia Energy Dialogue was inaugurated in 2000 and its internal well-developed composition established. The “EU-Russia Energy Cooperation until 2050” roadmap was adopted in 2013. Work was ongoing to ensure the convergence of energy standards and discuss the feasibility of coordinating energy strategies
.
Even in the course of gas “conflicts” between Russia and Ukraine in 2005-2006, 2008-2009 and after 2014 Russia invariably demonstrated its reliability and guaranteed an uninterrupted energy supply in accordance with its obligations. At the Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Doha in February 2022 the Russian side reaffirmed its commitment to continue exporting natural gas to international markets, including to Europe.

By disseminating baseless claims about Russia’s supposed plans to terminate hydrocarbon supplies to EU, our adversaries in the EU and across the ocean seek to pull Russia away from Europe, sever the ties that bind us, even in spite of the enormous damage this will cause to EU economies and its citizens. Unfounded allegations that Moscow is using energy supplies for political aims are part and parcel of the fact-twisting information warfare unleashed by the EU and the US, the latter seeking to increase its LNG exports to the EU.

There are simply no alternatives to Russian energy resources in the European market in the short term. Should their supplies be restricted, immense difficulties for the EU’s economy and citizens will follow. Some EU capitals are well aware of the fact. Hence, amidst public calls to renounce Russian energy resources, some countries are in fact increasing natural gas shipments from Russia to fill their underground storage facilities.

Thus, it is the EU which, by imposing or planning to impose further unilateral sanctions against Russian energy supplies, is politicizing the energy sphere, attempting to use interdependences between energy consumers and suppliers as an instrument of political pressure, while damaging its own economy and the well-being of its citizens and aggravating what is already a precarious situation in the global energy markets."

'Siemens Energy has withdrawn its services and maintenance support for Russia in order to comply with Western sanctions ..Siemens Energy said in a statement to Reuters that the turbines were manufactured in Canada and need to be returned regularly for maintenance. One of the turbines is currently being overhauled in Montreal, Siemens Energy added.

“Due to the sanctions imposed by Canada, it is currently impossible for Siemens Energy to deliver overhauled gas turbines to the customer ......Russian technical compliance watchdog Rostekhnadzor ordered the facility to idle several turbines in Portovaya because of “technical faults and the expiry of overhaul deadlines”, according to Gazprom.'
Upstream online 15 June 2022

"Actions by Kiev authorities are the only obstacle in the way of commercial vessels entering and departing from Black Sea ports of Ukraine. Upon Kiev’s decision approximately 420 naval mines of an outdated design have been placed in the basin of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Due their technical inadequacy these mines are coming off of their anchors (cables) and are thus putting all vessels of the Black Sea states at risk. The Ukrainian origin of the naval mines has been confirmed, their precise location is unknown. Earlier some of these mines were cleared near the coast of Romania and Turkey. These explosive devices are frequently uncovered near the coastal strip of the Odessa region....

...maritime corridors are being opened on a daily basis from 08.00 to 19.00 (Moscow time) in the Sea of Azov (length 115 miles, width 2 miles) and the Black Sea (length 139 miles, width 3 miles).Their coordinates and details have been widely circulated among the international community. In the Mariupol area this corridor is fully operational.

In the Odessa region it is the responsibility of the Ukrainian side to ensure the safety of vessels leaving ports and proceeding to the assembly area. Kiev avoids liaising with representatives of foreign states to which the vessels belong in order to ensure their safe passage to the assembly area.

The humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea has been open since 27 March 2022"
Russian Foreign Ministry press release 3 June 2022

"Russia expects to have a good wheat harvest this year, which will allow our country to offer 25 million tonnes of grain for export from 1 August 2022. Our capacity for exporting fertilizers from June to December 2022 will amount to at least 22 million tonnes (20% of global consumption over this period).

Since the launch of the special military operation Russia has continued to provide humanitarian assistance to countries in need through bilateral and multilateral channels. Via the UN World Food Programme Russian food aid was delivered to Lebanon, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Cuba, Yemen and Sudan. On a bilateral basis assistance was provided to Sudan and Cuba - 20,000 tonnes each.

Meanwhile, illegitimate unilateral restrictions imposed by the EU, the US and their satellites remain the main obstacle to normal export relations between Russia (and Belarus) and buyers of grain and fertilizers."
Russian Foreign Ministry press release 3 June 2022

"The food market has been disrupted most severely. I said this at the recent St Petersburg International Economic Forum, and I want to say it again: they printed money, distributed it in their wealthy countries and, like a vacuum cleaner, started scooping up all the food from the global market. Only recently, the United States was a food exporter – a net exporter – but now, I think, their imports are about US$17 billion more than their exports. This is a dismal indicator for food markets around the world.

Meanwhile, the soaring cost of essential agricultural commodities such as grain has hit the developing countries and markets the hardest as this is where bread and flour are vital for the survival of most of the population.

I think it was French Queen Marie Antoinette who, looking over a crowd of starving citizens from her palace, reportedly said with indifference: “If they have no bread let them eat cake.”

This is the same cynicism that certain Western countries are now showing by destabilising the global production of agricultural products and dealing with this matter by restricting, for example, supplies of Russian and Belarusian fertilisers and impeding exports of Russian grain to world markets."
Vladimir Putin June 24 2022

"Incidentally, the Americans have adopted sanctions on our fertilisers, and the Europeans followed suit. Later, the Americans lifted them because they saw what this could lead to. But the Europeans have not backed off. Their bureaucracy is as slow as a flour mill in the 18th century. In other words, everyone knows that they have done a stupid thing, but they find it difficult to retrace their steps for bureaucratic reasons."
Vladimir Putin June 17, 2022

"Cooperation in the chemical industry and the production of environmentally friendly mineral fertiliser is progressing at a good pace. In 2021, Russian companies supplied almost 10 million tonnes of fertilisers worth about $3.5 billion to the Brazilian market."
Vladimir Putin 16 February 2022

"...Russia provides a third of the palladium metal used in sensors and memory products produced by U.S. companies. Russia is also a “crucial” source of C4F6 (hexafluorocyclobutene), which several U.S. suppliers buy and purify for advanced node logic device etching and advanced lithography processes for chip production, Techcet wrote in advance of the invasion as Russia build up troops along the border of Ukraine in recent weeks."
Fierce Electronics 25 February 2022

"Ukraine makes more than 90% of the high-grade neon in gas-phase lasers used to make chips produced by U.S. semiconductor companies. The gas is a biproduct of Russian steel manufacturing which is purified in Ukraine, said market research company Techcet. Neon prices soared during the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2014."
Fierce Electronics 25 February 2022

“If we talk about the income that Finland received from international tourism, then the share of Russians in it was as much as 19%. This is a lot. Annual losses this year will amount to more than 600 million euros [$640 million]. If we add to this the difficulties with the Asian market due to the closing of the sky over Russia, we will lose 2 billion euros [$2.13 billion] every year”
Kristiina Hietasaari - head of 'Visit Finland'

"Everyone knows all too well our misgivings regarding the approaches of the collective West, or whatever you call it – NATO-centricity or Washington’s satellites, it can be framed in all kinds of ways.

This deals with NATO’s aggressive expansionist policy,
the absence of security guarantees for our country,
conditions undermining our security,
the destructive unilateral, illegal and illegitimate sanctions and restrictions,
failing to respect Russia’s interests or take them into consideration in all spheres, including security, economic, financial and humanitarian matters,
endless lying and cheating when discussing subjects that matter for the collective West just as much as they are important to us (although we have been unable to engage in a sincere, frank and pragmatic conversation on many of these subjects lately),
their inability to deliver on their own promises for no particular reason or offer an adequate explanation.

We have discussed this at length and convened all kinds of negotiating formats throughout the second half of 2021. President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu have regularly raised these subjects. All Russian ministers, including the ministers of sport, culture, finance, industry, etc., have discussed these matters from all possible angles.

We need to revise something in the global track so that we do not have to think about rebuilding anything.

I believe that we need to address the root of the problem instead of thinking about minimising the damage it caused when there is nothing left in terms of substance."

[...] We have always believed that every state has the right to its own independent foreign and domestic policies, economy, etc. Countries can create voluntary unions on a mutually respectful footing. If they want their integration to be guided by other principles, this must be something they decide on their own. Whenever countries decide to subordinate their national interests to a supranational structure, they must do so voluntarily.

A state can cede part of its sovereignty if it believes that it can benefit from this. This can include giving up its own armed forces and merging them into a military bloc that would protect the country in question. This may be the best option for it. This way, they can spend their defence budgets on their domestic agenda instead. If they are doing this voluntarily and this is what the people want, and if all the required legal procedures are fulfilled, and referendums held, so be it.

However, what we are seeing is the opposite of that."
Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova   8 June 2022 [list formatted by Laurie]

So we need to talk to have a strategic stability, to have relational stability between the Europeans and the great neighbor. And all of the initiatives aiming at talking with a willingness of dialogue are there.

And they’re not – the Americans, while they’re specialist in dialogue with Russia, and the Europeans are special experts in sanctions, we need both, and this is what we’re doing.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian at a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Tony Blinken June 25, 2021

Around 400 Russian diplomats have been expelled from 28 countries since the launch of Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry revealed on Monday. According to Deputy Foreign Minister Evgeny Ivanov, diplomatic expulsions became the preferred method of the West even before February 24
RT 25 April 2022

“... everyone tends to understand that this is a trend of time, and sooner or later, in one format or another it will be carried out... But, once again, it should be legal, correct, in accordance with the rules that will be formulated...The question is when it will happen, how it will happen and how it will be regulated. Now both the Central Bank and the government are actively engaged in this.”
Denis Manturov, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation 18 May 2022

"The ban on transferring funds abroad by legal entities from countries which support sanctions also remains in force. The restrictions are effective through 30 September 2022."
Central Bank of the Russian Federation 8 June 2022

"The restrictions against Russia imposed by unfriendly countries have affected Russian businesses, and, of course, complicated the logistics of exports and imports and created obstacles to making settlements.

It is necessary to provide entrepreneurs with as much assistance as possible ...including speeding up the transition of foreign trade to rubles and the national currencies of countries that are Russia’s reliable business partners.

I want to emphasise that in the new, changed environment, we need to do this much faster."
Vladimir Putin, April 18 2022

"In order to mitigate sanctions risks to trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Latin America, we are consistently working to introduce alternative financial mechanisms to Western ones, and that includes [...] direct correspondent relations between banks. We are also taking a number of other steps towards this goal"
Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharov, June 8, 2022.

"When they froze the Russian assets in dollars, euro, yens, and the pound sterling for the amount of more than 300 billion euros or dollars, those were mostly the money kept in Western banks after we received payments from them, from the Western countries, for our gas deliveries. In other words, they paid us, and they stole the money from us because those were the currencies which are linked to the Western banking system"
Sergey Lavrov April 2022

"So what we told them to do: they would not be paying directly to Gazprom’s accounts abroad, but they would be paying to a bank called Gazprombank. It is an independent entity. They would be paying the same amount which they have to pay under the existing contracts, but they will pay these amounts to a special account which they have to open with this bank. There would be a parallel account in roubles. So they pay euros, and then inside this bank these euros are transferred to the rouble account, and from this account Gazprom receives roubles.

As of now, they would not be able to keep the money in their banks, the money that they not even owe us, but which they paid to us already. I believe this is something which does not contradict contracts. They would still be paying in euros or dollars or whatever was the currency of the contract, but we will have insurance that this robbery would not happen again."
Sergey Lavrov April 2022

"It is crucially important to support domestic demand and prevent it from shrinking. It is necessary to act both through the budgetary system and to provide businesses with greater access to loans. This is the responsibility of the Central Bank. The bank has already begun lowering the interest rate, which will reduce the future cost of loans in the economy...

....the budget definitely should actively support the economy, fill it with financial resources, maintain its liquidity. We have the capacity for that.

Of course, one needs to act with caution; the Minister and I constantly discuss this."
Vladimir Putin, April 18 2022

"Nevertheless, in the first quarter of this year we are witnessing a record level of budget surplus...It is necessary to be cautious, and as I see it, the key condition is that the financial system remains stable at the federal and regional levels.

What is our current surplus? I believe it is some 1.1 trillion rubles, and the total surplus in the regions is about 0.9 trillion rubles."
Vladimir Putin, April 18 2022

"Let me remind you that the key rate increase by the Central Bank was, however, justified and necessary to stabilise the banking sector and financial markets. The decision proved successful and the Bank of Russia is already lowering the key rate gradually, which will make loans cheaper. Other steps are possible based on the real situation in the sector, but this is the prerogative of the Central Bank."
Vladimir Putin April 25 2022

'Of course, the main condition for a real increase in our citizens’ incomes is the creation of new and well-paid jobs, the acceleration of the economic growth rate, and the development of industry and other sectors.

Overall, the current situation is stable in this regard, as we can see from the electricity production index. This indicator is very good, which points to the dynamic development of the economy. And the number of registered unemployed is relatively low.'
Vladimir Putin 12 May 2022

"The illegitimate freezing of some of the currency reserves of the Bank of Russia marks the end of the reliability of so-called first-class assets.
In fact, the US and the EU have defaulted on their obligations to Russia. Now everybody knows that financial reserves can simply be stolen.
And many countries in the immediate future may begin – I am sure this is what will happen – to convert their paper and digital assets into real reserves of raw materials, land, food, gold and other real assets which will only result in more shortages in these markets."
Vladimir Putin

30.22
In assessing whether assets are freely transferable for regulatory purposes, banks should be aware that assets may not be freely available to the consolidated entity due to regulatory, legal, tax, accounting or other impediments.
Assets held in legal entities without market access should only be included to the extent that they can be freely transferred to other entities that could monetise the assets.

"The paying agent — National Settlement Depository — received funds to pay income on Russian Eurobonds maturing in 2026 in the amount of $71.25 million and due in 2036 in the amount of 26.5 million euros."Thus, the obligations to service government securities of the Russian Federation have been fulfilled by the Russian Finance Ministry in full in accordance with the issuance documentation for Eurobond issues."
Sputnik 20 May 2022

"Payments to holders of Eurobonds issued by the Russian Federation shall be made through authorised Russian lending institutions, the list of which is approved by the Government of the Russian Federation.

Obligations under the Eurobonds issued by the Russian Federation shall be recognised as properly met if executed in rubles in the amount that is equivalent to the value of the obligations in a foreign currency and converted at the foreign exchange rate available on the domestic foreign exchange market of the Russian Federation on the day the Russian Federation made the payment to the central depository."
Executive Order On the Temporary Procedure for Meeting State Debt Obligations in the Form of Government Securities [etc] 22 June 2022

"Russia has been able to withstand this unprecedented pressure. The situation is getting back to normal with the ruble recovering to where it was in the first half of February, which is attributable to a robust trade surplus, which is an objective reality. In the first quarter, the current account surplus exceeded $58 billion, setting a historical high. Foreign cash is returning to the banking sector and household deposits are growing."
Vladimir Putin April 18, 2022

"...Russia is confidently dealing with external challenges due to the responsible macroeconomic policy of the past few years and systemic decisions and solutions to strengthen its economic sovereignty, technological and food security."
Vladimir Putin, 12 May 2022

Import replacement

"Our production companies are gradually filling domestic market niches vacated after unscrupulous partners left the country. This concerns daily staple goods, industrial and service sector equipment, construction and farming machinery"
Vladimir Putin, 12 May 2022.

Food

"We are expecting a good harvest this year. According to preliminary expert estimates, we may harvest 130 million tonnes of grain, including 87 million tonnes of wheat. If this happens, then the projected grain harvests would hit an all-time high in Russian history.
This will make it possible to meet domestic demand, with a substantial safety margin, and to expand global exports for our partners; this is highly important for global food markets."
Vladimir Putin, 12 May 2022

Inflation

"Inflation is gradually subsiding. Last month, inflation rates fell several-fold on March levels. Weekly price hikes are down to 0.1 percent. This closely matches weekly growth rates under Bank of Russia inflation targets."
Vladimir Putin, 12 May 2022

"The Bank of Russia’s baseline scenario expects annual inflation to run at 14.0–17.0% by the end of 2022. Inflation movements will be shaped including by such impactful factors as the efficiency of import substitution processes and the scale and speed at which imports of finished goods, raw materials and components will be recovering. According to the Bank of Russia’s forecast, given the current monetary policy stance, annual inflation will reduce to 5.0–7.0% in 2023 to return to 4% in 2024."
Bank of Russia  Press release 10 June 2022

Wages

The minimum wage will be raised by 10% on June 1st 2022.

Welfare of society support payments

Pensions will be raised by 10% on June 1st 2022.

Government Budget

"The budgetary system’s capabilities continue to expand. In January-April, the consolidated budget surplus reached 2.7 trillion rubles, while budgetary spending has grown appreciably over the same period following decisions to finance development projects and purchase prepayments earlier than planned."

Faith in the ruble

"The national currency, the ruble, is growing stronger in conditions of a record-breaking foreign trade surplus. It appears that it is posting better results than all other foreign currencies since early 2022."
Vladimir Putin, 12 May 2022

By mid May the Russian currency briefly hit 55.63 rubles to the US  dollar on Tuesday - the strongest since February 2018.

Russia Federation National External debt

At March 2022 total external debt (private and government) is about (USD) $453.5 billion. This sum includes money owed to foreigners by the Government, the Central Bank, and commercial banks. It also includes money owed directly to foreign investors (loans, trade credits, various securities, private direct investment funds and other entities etc).
Total national external debt has dropped 5.5% since December 2021.

Russian Government (only) external debt

At December 2021 was (USD) 62 billion. Almost all of this was long term securities, probably bonds of some description. All else equal, as the ruble strengthens, this will be cheaper to re-pay. Especially the Euro denominated debt - given the current weakening of the Euro continues (as it perhaps must, given the continual selling to buy rubles for gas).

Current Account (Trade in Goods & Services)

Balance of Trade

A record-breaking foreign trade surplus .

Domestic private and business income/economic stimulation/employment

"...some trends that require special attention. For example, domestic demand is short of 2021 parameters. Corporate and private accounts continue to shrink. Obviously, these factors impact economic development trends, and it is necessary to reduce these risks by relying on our successful experience of targeted actions during the 2020–2021 pandemic.

As before, today, the most important indicator of successful socioeconomic policy is the income of Russian citizens. To ensure positive dynamics here, it is necessary to support consumer demand and improve the opportunities for businesses and regions. In March, we decided to expand the financial aid programme for families with children in need. From April, it was extended to include families with children aged up to 16 years. Backdated payments have been made since May 11.

We have also arranged for additional financial support for the constituent entities, by restructuring regional debt and granting loans from the federal budget....These mechanisms must motivate regions to finance additional economic development programmes, including a capital boost for regional industrial development funds, and they must also ensure that all obligations and programmes are fulfilled on the ground and that major construction projects are continued. All these measures are compulsory.

With respect to businesses, we have developed a lending programme for backbone companies, secured by VEB. Such loans are expected to amount to 1.6 trillion rubles. There are specific decisions to support key industries such as aviation, agriculture and food production....we have expanded the programme for the guaranteed support of lending to businesses by VEB...an instruction has been issued to extend this programme to companies that are yet to obtain the status of major employers but have already emerged from the category of small and medium-sized businesses. Aided by VEB’s guarantees, these organisations will be able to raise over one trillion rubles at attractive, lower rates due to the risk reduction.

Next, in late April, we agreed to take special measures to grant additional resources to the economy – as professionals say, to saturate it with liquidity. This is important for the continuous operation of companies and organisations and for maintaining and even increasing the number of jobs. These measures include deferring social contribution payments for the second quarter of 2022. There was extensive discussion of this matter and a decision was made. Companies which employ almost 52 million people in total will be eligible for this concession.

Social contributions for these organisations will be deferred for a year, starting from May 2023. Overall, businesses will be able to keep around 1.1 trillion rubles in circulation. Essentially, this money will serve as an interest-free loan from the Government. In addition, companies in the production sector will be eligible for social contribution deferment in the third quarter of this year, amounting to another half a trillion rubles.

I have instructed the Government to explore the issue of providing additional preferences with regard to repaying insurance contributions for the third quarter depending on employment and payroll retention. We went through this, as I said, during the pandemic."
Vladimir Putin, 12 May 2022

Extensive debt restructuring is keeping businesses going, keeping people in jobs. The deferment of business 'social contributions' probably starts in May 2022, I suspect the start in 2023 is an error. All these measures can easily be 'rolled over' as needed, especially as high oil prices are providing the government with a windfall of un-budgeted extra money.

Central Bank interest rates and monetary policy

"Let me also note that the Bank of Russia continues easing its monetary and lending policy and making loans more widely available in general. The Central Bank key rate, as you know, has been reduced to 14%.

Given this dynamics, we have taken the decision to reduce the favourable mortgage rate to 9%. Loans at this rate are available as of May, while the favourable mortgage programme has been extended until the end of this year. This decision should be of help to the families that are planning to buy a flat and to improve their living conditions. We should go on thinking about this. And, of course, the favourable mortgage mechanisms will support the construction industry and the related economic sectors."
Vladimir Putin, 12 May 2022

"On 10 June 2022, the Bank of Russia Board of Directors decided to cut the key rate ... to 9.50% per annum." - Press Service Central Bank of the Russian Federation

The Bank of Russia's June 10 2022 forecast is for a key rate averaging 10.8—11.4% for 2022 (perhaps lower than that in the second half of the year), 7–9% in 2023, and 6–7% in 2024.

Decarbonisation
The EU ban on coal may give Russia a 'glimpse of the future'. Coal burning is the primary long-term driver of irreversible climate change. Like it or not, Russia will ultimately have to leave coal in the ground. In the meantime, coal is in short supply in the world, and, unfortunately. Russian coal finds a ready market.

"I don’t think we are thinking in the context of sustaining. Sustaining means, you know, you sustain, you take some hardships, and hope that, sooner or later, this would be over.

Russia has been under sanctions all along – Jackson–Vanik, then it was repealed, but Magnitsky Act was introduced, then we were punished for the free vote of the Crimeans, we were punished for supporting those who were in favour of keeping the Minsk agreements...and so on and so forth.

So, now we have come to a very straightforward conclusion. We cannot rely on our Western colleagues in any part of our life which has strategic significance, be it food security, which we managed to ensure ourselves after 2014, be it, of course, defence, and be it some strategic sectors where high-tech is developing and indicating the future of the mankind.

We did not have time to achieve self-sufficiency in all these areas, but in most cases, we resolved this issue.

Of course, we are open to cooperation with all other countries who do not use illegal, illegitimate unilateral measures in violation of the UN Charter."
Sergey Lavrov 19 April 2022

"...specific decisions will be made in the near future on the indexation of pensions and all social benefits, as well as the salaries of specialists employed in the public sector. To ensure practical implementation of this policy, I ask the parliamentarians to carefully work out the necessary amendments and legal mechanisms.

These and the other decisions we have been making are aimed at providing direct assistance to the most vulnerable categories of the population – families with children and senior citizens.

The key industries, strategic enterprises, small and medium-sized businesses are also receiving and will continue to receive support.

As a result, by taking the measures I have just mentioned, we have not just softened, but, as I said, we have repelled, blocked the very first crushing blow – as the West believed it to be – of the illegitimate sanctions against our country.

Our banking system, national currency, transport, trade, and the economy in general have withstood the shock and have not crumbled. On the contrary, they now have good resources for development, for the launch of new projects in infrastructure and industry, and for developing and unlocking the potential of all our regions.

Undoubtedly, this is the result of a balanced and responsible socioeconomic policy over the recent years, the implementation of our national projects, and the result of your, my colleagues, concerted and energetic efforts amid today’s extraordinary circumstances...

...we will counter any crude and often inept external restrictions, the destruction of all civilised rights and agreements and attempts to isolate us with greater freedom of entrepreneurship, openness to honest partnerships, respect and reliable protection of owners and genuine investors."
Vladimir Putin 27 April 2022

"The Russian economy’s accumulated potential, including its experience overcoming the 2014 sanctions, will allow the Russian economy to quickly adapt to the latest sanctions and the global crisis. In the coming years, Russia will go through a laborious period of completing the construction of a self-sufficient industrial core, including with respect to the defence industry, high-tech engineering, and the IT sector.

Russia will expand payments in Russian rubles on loans and energy supplies.....The further reformatting of the Russian economy and the departure of Western brands will open windows of opportunity for partner countries in the EAEU to increase the export of services, food, and engineering products. New niches will be vacated on the Russian market, and the EAEU countries will receive privileged access....The US is living beyond its means, "exporting" inflation to developing countries...over the past 20 years, the United States has become the largest debtor in the world; the cost of the dollar does not reflect its real value.

According to a  March 2022 IMF report, over 20 years the share of the dollar has decreased from 71% to 59% due to its replacement with national currencies. The process will accelerate after the erosion of confidence in the dollar due to the theft of Russia's dollar reserves....the scope for de-dollarisation in the global economy remains significant...

This will also be facilitated by the formation of a settlement architecture parallel to the dollar, including new units of accounting (probably tied to real values ​​and resources), as is currently being discussed between the EAEU and China."
Vyacheslav Sutyrin, Valdai Discussion Club, 24 May 2020