Russia's list of "unfriendly countries" released
Following global reactions to Russia's military operation in Ukraine, the nation has launched a list of countries and territories that imposed or joined sanctions against Russia.
On Monday, the Russian Federation's Government adopted a list of foreign governments and territories that engage in hostile measures and sanctions against Russia, its enterprises, and individuals.
Included on the list is the US, Canada, the EU, the UK, Montenegro, Switzerland, Albania, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, North Macedonia, and also Japan, South Korea, Australia, Micronesia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Taiwan.
The countries mentioned in the list imposed or joined the massive sanctions against #Russia after the start of the special military operation by the Russian Armed Forces in #Ukraine, yet interestingly, most of them remain dependent on Russian energy supplies.#RussiaUkraine pic.twitter.com/40Eip8Y4Pv
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) March 7, 2022
While capital control remains in place, Russia and Russian enterprises are now permitted to pay international creditors in rubles as a measure to avert defaults.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the decree on Saturday that establishes provisional rules for sovereign and corporate debtors to follow in order to pay creditors from "countries that engage in hostile activities" against Russia, its firms and residents.
Russia has alternatives to SWIFT: Central Bank
Russian banks can use the financial messaging system of the Bank of Russia (FMS) to transfer information within the federation, and they are able to use other channels for international transferring in isolation from the SWIFT system, the Bank of Russia said Wednesday as sanctions mount against Moscow.
The European Union had announced that it made the decision to disconnect a wide array of Russian banks from SWIFT, seven, to be exact.
The banks, VTB BANK, Bank Otkritie, Novikombank, Promsvyazbank, Bank Rossiya, Sovcombank, and Vnesheconomban, would not be able to transmit financial information to counterparties on domestic transactions and international transactions.
The West disconnecting the Russian banks from the SWIFT system is part of its pressure on Moscow in light of the Russian special operation in Ukraine over NATO's eastward expansion.