Britain imposed sanctions on Thursday that ban British citizens and companies from trading a wide range of Russian metals. In addition, London introduced a ban on the import of diamonds from Russia. Details. A document published by the UK government states that UK citizens and companies "should not directly or indirectly purchase metals produced in or located in Russia." The document lists the metals that are subject to sanctions: copper, nickel, aluminum, lead, zinc, tin and cobalt.

State Duma deputy Andrei Gurulev on Thursday during Vladimir Solovyov’s “Full Contact” show on “Soloviev Live” said that the writer Boris Akunin should be “destroyed” for his words about the Russian military. Quote . “Who is Akunin? Enemy! And we have already talked about this, that the enemy must be destroyed. I don’t know when we will come to this, that no matter where he is - here, abroad, or something else.

On Thursday, during the Direct Line and press conference, Vladimir Putin did not answer some of the questions that most worry Russians. Among them are questions regarding the standard of living of citizens, Putin’s plans to leave the Kremlin, and retirement age. Details . Levada Center in early December compiled a list of the main questions that Russians would like to ask Putin.

During the Direct Line, Vladimir Putin announced figures about the active Russian military group in Ukraine, the number of demobilized military personnel and volunteers. Details . On Direct Line, Putin said: that since the beginning of 2023 the Ministry of Defense has recruited 486 thousand volunteers, There are now 244 thousand mobilized at the front, 41 thousand mobilized were dismissed due to reaching the age limit or due to health.

Vladimir Putin compared the leaders of the European Union with Marshal Philippe Pétain, who defected to Nazi Germany and headed the collaborationist government of France during the Nazi occupation of that country. The President clarified that EU leaders, with the exception of the heads of two countries, now depend on Washington. From Putin’s words it follows that the president considers the EU occupied by the United States. Quote .

Vladimir Putin, during a direct line on Thursday, promised that the Russian economy in 2023 will grow by 3.5% , and real wages by 8% . Economists believe that growth will be lower even this year, and in 2024-2026 it will fall significantly. Experts do not share Putin’s confidence that the Russian economy has a sufficient margin of safety. Details . According to Putin's forecast, GDP growth this year will be 3.5%, and real wages (nominal wages minus inflation) will grow by 8%. In fact.

The Russian economy would be 5% more if Vladimir Putin had not started the war in Ukraine, said the chief economist for the US Ministry of Finance Rachel Lingas in the financial consequences of the war for Moscow, which the Financial Times got acquainted . Details . Lingas wrote that the Russian economy was under “significant pressure” both because of the war itself in Ukraine and because of the sanctions of Western countries and the response of Moscow.