Moldova does not join the wave of sanctions against Russia
On April 1, Moldovan President Maia Sandu said that the country's leadership will maintain a neutral stance and not participate in the sanctions imposed by the West on Russia related to the Ukraine issue.
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| Moldovan President Maia Sandu (left). Photo: Publika/VNA |
According to a VNA correspondent in Eastern Europe, President Sandu said that this stance was taken to ensure people's lives, energy resources and domestic stability. She added that the conflict in neighboring Ukraine had negatively impacted Moldova's economic situation. The country could not export goods to the Ukrainian, Russian or Belarusian markets and faced the risk of not receiving Russian energy resources.
The Moldovan leader also said that Western partners are supporting the country, which is in a difficult situation and is trying to find alternative energy supplies.
On the same day, the Ukrainian Parliament passed a bill to increase taxes on foreign companies operating in the country by 50% if they have branches operating in Russia.
The move is the latest attempt by Kiev to increase pressure on Russia amid a conflict that Ukraine estimates has so far cost the country more than $560 billion in economic and infrastructure damage. The bill must be passed a second time and approved by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky before it can take effect.
Dozens of major international brands have temporarily closed or left Russia since the country launched a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24.
Meanwhile, a senior US Treasury official said that the series of sanctions imposed by the US and its allies have severely impacted the Russian currency and economy, possibly causing Moscow's gross domestic product (GDP) growth to decline by 10%.
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