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Published: 23:13, May 03, 2022 | Updated: 23:15, May 03, 2022
Putin approves retaliatory sanctions over Ukraine conflict
By Xinhua
Published:23:13, May 03, 2022 Updated:23:15, May 03, 2022 By Xinhua

A woman walks near the Kremlin in downtown Moscow on April 12, 2020. (DIMITAR DILKOFF / AFP)

MOSCOW / KYIV - Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Tuesday on retaliatory sanctions against individuals and entities in response to their "unfriendly actions" over the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The measures will be taken in retaliation to "the unfriendly actions of the United States, foreign states and international organizations ... which aimed at illegally depriving Russia, Russian citizens and Russian legal entities of property rights or restricting their property rights," and with the aim of "protecting the national interests of Russia," according to the decree.

Russia will ban the export of raw materials and products from Russia to those it has sanctioned

The document prohibits fulfilling obligations with foreign individuals and entities under sanctions, concluding deals or carrying out transactions with them. Moreover, Russia will ban the export of raw materials and products from Russia to those it has sanctioned.

The decree does not provide any details of which individuals or entities may be affected by the measures. The Russian government was ordered to compile a list of individuals under sanctions within 10 days.  

During a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday, Putin urged Western countries to stop supplying Ukraine with weapons.

READ MORE: Ukraine seeks to seize Russia's assets for post-conflict recovery

Putin told Macron about Russia's efforts in the evacuation of civilians from Mariupol, the Kremlin said in a statement.

The Russian president urged Western countries to stop arming Kyiv, saying Russia is open to dialogue.

Putin noted that Western sanctions against Russia are worsening global food insecurity, in response to Macron's concerns over this issue.  

In this image from video provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks from Kyiv, Ukraine, April 5, 2022. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

Ukraine may put neutral status on referendum

Also on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that his country may put the issue of neutral status on a nationwide referendum.

If Russia's desire for Ukraine's neutral status is one of the provisions of the agreements on ending the conflict, "we are ready to consider this neutral status for Ukraine," the Ukrinform news agency quoted Zelensky as reporting.

ALSO READ: Uncovering secrets of NATO: A remnant from Cold War days

However, the referendum would be possible only after Ukraine receives security guarantees from "specific countries," he added.

At the peace talks with Russia in Istanbul, Turkey in March, Kyiv proposed to sign a new international treaty on security guarantees, which enshrines obligations for the guarantor countries to provide Ukraine with military assistance in the event of an attack.

In 2014, the Ukrainian parliament renounced Ukraine's "non-aligned" status with the aim of deepening cooperation with NATO.  


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