anti-Russian Sanctions Research Articles

ВАЛЮТНОЕ РЕГУЛИРОВАНИЕ В РОССИЙСКОЙ ФЕДЕРАЦИИ

The article defines the essence, directions and instruments of currency regulation in the Russian Federation. The evolution of currency legislation in the period from 2014 to 2022 is considered. Since the topic of currency regulation was updated with the introduction of anti-Russian sanctions, which complicated the activities of domestic companies that closely cooperated with foreign counterparties, special attention in the article is devoted to the consideration of government measures to change currency regulation under sanctions pressure.

The Russian-Ukrainian war 2014-2023: Interference factors of the War

At the end of February 2022 Russian aggression against Ukraine escalated into a full-scale war. This provoked strong resistance from the Ukrainian state and society, as well as Western anti-Russian sanctions. The Russian-Ukrainian war has gone far beyond the borders of Ukraine and Russia and has acquired regional and global significance. The interim results and outcomes of the war encourage understanding and generalisation of experience for Ukraine, Europe, and the world. The purpose of this study was to analyse the key aspects of the full-scale phase of the Russian-Ukrainian war in the context of their impact on national, regional, and global processes. The methodology of the study is based on the principles of scientificity, historicism, systematicity, generalisation, multifactoriality, combined with the use of methods of analysis and synthesis, historical-comparative and historical-genetic, systemic, and structural-functional analysis. The coverage of aspects of the large-scale stage of the Russian-Ukrainian war is based on the analysis of the current state of the situation at the front, military-technical, and diplomatic efforts to ensure Ukraine’s victory. This is necessary to stop Russian aggression and the crimes of the Russian occupiers, restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, punish the aggressors, return to international law and order, and ensure lasting and stable peace in Europe and the world. Another generalisation is that Ukraine’s allies and partners understand that it opposes militarism and authoritarianism and defends democratic rights and freedoms and universal human values. Ukrainians, through their resilience and struggle, have given new impetus to the North Atlantic partnership and European integration. In the long run, this is of great practical importance for strengthening the democratic priorities of European and global civilisational development. The applied aspect of the study of the aspects of the full-scale phase of the Russian-Ukrainian war is also important for the establishment of democratic trends in the evolution of modern international relations and the world order

Anti-Russian Sanctions in Global Economic Warfare

The article analyzes the discrepancy between the declared goals of sanctions against Russia and their practical effects. The author puts forward a hypothesis according to which the real purpose of the anti-Russian sanctions imposed after the start of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine is not to change the foreign policy of the Russian Federation but to weaken the country as much as possible by causing economic damage to it and destabilizing the domestic political situation. Under these conditions, it is reasonable to consider sanctions as an "economic war," which raises the question of the goals of such a war, the choice of optimal methods for its conduct, and ways to minimize damage to the national economy. The author distinguishes between "defensive" and "offensive" methods of economic warfare. The article argues that a country that has become the object of large-scale sanctions is unable to successfully resist them in the long term, relying solely on "defensive" mechanisms (for example, measures to support the economy). It must resort to "offensive" tools as well, for instance to the embargo for the export of goods that are of key importance for the stability of the economic model of the countries that initiated the sanctions.

ALTERNATIVE LOGISTICS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IN THE CONDITIONS OF WESTERN SANCTIONS

Purpose. The aim is to study the trends in the evolution of the transport and logistics market of Russia under the influence of Western sanctions, taking into account the conjuncture of the world economy.
 Methods of work: analytical, logistics theory, general theory of systems, marketing.
 Results: the study considers alternative logistics schemes for the delivery of imported goods from the USA and EU countries to Russia. Trends in the construction of a new architecture of transport logistics have been established. Scope of the results: A critical assessment of the current state of the transport and logistics market of the Russian Federation is given and the features of its functioning under the influence of the sixth package of Western sanctions are established. The novelty lies in determining the prospects, opportunities and threats of “rapid reconfiguration” of the architecture of transport and logistics schemes for Russia.
 The practical significance lies in the fact that an attempt has been made to answer the question “What could be the scenario for leveling the trigger effects of the next package of anti-Russian sanctions?”. It is established that the following scenarios of leveling trigger effects are possible: 1) intensification of domestic production and its localization within the country; 2) development of the transport and logistics infrastructure of the regions in new directions of delivery; 3) overcoming the shortage of empty containers, optimizing the work of border crossings, improving the efficiency of interaction of modes of transport; 4) development of multimodal delivery systems in close cooperation with foreign partners from Kazakhstan, China, Belarus and others . 5) entering new markets for import-dependent sectors of the Russian economy; 6) state regulation of the transport and logistics market. 7) the “revival” of supply chains within the country.

Improving the quality of implementation of the container transportation project along the NSR based on the environmental and energy transition agenda

The article considers the possibilities of improving the quality of transportation project along the Northern Sea Route (NSR) within the environmental and energy transition agendas. A multiple increase in the cost of container freight in 2019–2021 is considered as an economic incentive to justify the feasibility of a large-scale expansion of transit container traffic along the NSR by 2030–2035 within the Northern Maritime Transit Corridor (NMTC) project. It will require the construction of specialized ice-class ships in compliance with the general emission requirements set by the IMO for new ships, as well as the requirements of the IMO's International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code). To ensure the eco-economic efficiency of NSR transit, the need to organize transshipment hubs is also taken into account. The paper provides a generalized assessment of the energy and eco-saving potential of ice-class ships, depending on different types of main fuel and vessel average speed index. The obtained results preliminary evaluate the energy and eco-efficiency of solutions for installing LNG and hythane engines at modern polar ships, including designing specialized bulk container ships. The prominent restrictions on the implementation of the NMTC project in the context of current anti-Russian sanctions, were also considered.

Possibilities for forming a new model for the development of Russia’s military-technical cooperation with foreign countries under the conditions of sanctions and current geopolitical risks

International economic relations at the beginning of the 21st century are experiencing a new reality, when many world economy achievements of the globalization era are being reversed, and the entire system of economic cooperation between the countries is undergoing revolutionary changes. In this context, there have been significant shifts in the structure and trends of militarytechnical cooperation between Russia and foreign countries, when the existing strategic approaches to the organization of this process are being radically modified. The article shows that the main narratives of these changes are the unprecedented strengthening of anti-Russian sanctions, which caused a change in the methods of foreign economic policy, which significantly affected the development of the military-industrial complex, the strategy for realizing its export and investment potential. In this regard, the issues of sectoral import substitution, diversification of the defense industry, formation and implementation of the state defense order in this sector of the national economy are becoming highly controversial and complex. The ever-increasing deepening of cooperation and integration ties with partners from developing countries and the actual curtailment of these ties with developed countries is a strategic long-term task designed to ensure both the development of the defense industry and the elimination of existing geopolitical risks. At the same time, within the framework of the defense industry strategy, it is still difficult to call the task of prompt response to new emerging risks solved, and this aspect should underlie the new model of Russia’s military-technical cooperation with foreign countries.

Ответы российской логистической системы на вызовы западных санкций: обход или нивелирование?

Purpose: To provide analytical overview of Russia's logistic system current state under new sanction package introduction as of August 2022, including analysis of possible responses to formed challenges to national transport-logistic market. Methods: The method of analytical review of Russia and World transport-logistic market state in conditions of sanctions new package is applied. The results of the study: The analysis of trends in the development of Russia logistic system made it possible to determine possible RF responses to foreign economic turnover challenges in terms of transport and container blockade as well as to formulate potential options for leveling sanctions new package negative impact on national logistic system. New logistic schemes “bypassing anti-Russian sanctions” should be considered exclusively as a forced, temporary way out of existing transport and economic blockade and not like 2.0-level logistics at minimal number of participants and a list of operations with goods. Main triggers under anti-Russia sanctions influence have become: production purchase for in store, active search for domestic analogues, trade routes complete renewal and access to delivery new markets. The answers to these challenges for logistic domestic systems may be three tracks: dependence reduction from key suppliers, alternative delivery methods formation and “to the East” direction work reorientation. Practical significance: Analytical review of the options for the development of domestic transport-logistic system in new geopolitical situation conditions has been carried out. The ways of leveling Western country sanction negative effects upon RF logistic system are characterized. Based on the results of the study, the key trends in RF logistic system development and response pool to external challenges are formulated.

RUSSIA — MERCOSUR: IMPERATIVE AND POTENTIAL OF BILATERAL TRADE

The article examines the state and prospects of development of Russia’s foreign trade relations with MERCOSUR. In the light of the West’s anti-Russian sanctions, the position of the bloc’s member states on the development of economic relations with our country is characterized. The assessment of the macroeconomic significance of MERCOSUR and the main directions of its trade policy is given. Quantitative indicators on the volumes and dynamics of bilateral foreign trade turnover, the structure of exports and imports of goods are given. Taking into account favorable prerequisites for expanding trade and economic cooperation, using the methodology of the International Trade Center of the UN Conference on Trade and Development, the potential for increasing exports of Russian goods to MERCOSUR countries is calculated. As part of the analysis of the possibilities of diversifying the range of supplies of Russian products based on the Hausmann-Klinger methodology, the most promising Russian goods for entering the MERCOSUR market are identified. In conclusion, there are considerations aimed at intensifying bilateral trade and economic ties against the background of Western sanctions.

ПРЕДЛОЖЕНИЯ ПО ПЕРЕОРИЕНТАЦИИ ЭКСПОРТНЫХ ПОСТАВОК И РАСШИРЕНИЮ РЫНКОВ СБЫТА ДЛЯ ПРЕДПРИЯТИЙ РОСТОВСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ В СОВРЕМЕННЫХ ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКИХ УСЛОВИЯХ

At the present stage, participants in foreign economic activity are faced with a few restrictions on export supplies caused by anti-Russian sanctions imposed by unfriendly states. Based on the conditions of the new economic and political agenda, the region needs to reorient export flows that were previously supplied to unfriendly countries and improve the mechanism for supporting exports to countries that are open to cooperation.

A branch university on the frontier of technological sovereignty

The work is devoted to the study of the new role of the transport university in the conditions of anti-Russian sanctions. The paper raises such questions as “Is the politicization of science and education a challenge or a panacea? Forced deglobalization of university activities — a point of growth? The crisis for the industry is a time of opportunity?” It is shown that the mission of a modern university is leadership in the creation of fundamentally new equipment, technologies and human capital for transport.Materials from open Internet sources, tools of ecosystem and project approach, methods of system analysis, theory of synergetics and innovation management were used.The key scientific results of the work of PGUPS in 2022 aimed at ensuring the technological sovereignty of the Russian Federation are presented. The role of the scientific results obtained by PGUPS in the national economy in the following tracks is shown: new materials and technologies in construction; automation and digitalization; expert and scientific and methodological support for the implementation of large-scale transport projects; cooperation with academic and high-tech partners.It can be assumed that the intellectual potential of a branch university as a supplier of “engineering special forces” for solving engineering problems of global relevance can and should guarantee the breakthrough high-tech development of the domestic transport ecosystem.

EU Anti-Russian Sanctions (Restrictive Measures): Compliance with International Law

The EU sanctions policy against Russia began back in 2014 as a response to the aggravation of the crisis in Ukraine. In 2022, sanctions (restrictive measures) against Russia were significantly strengthened and acquired a large-scale and unpredictable character. The purpose of this article is to identify the essential characteristics of the EU anti-Russian sanctions and to determine the legal nature of the sanctions, as well as their compliance with international law. It is concluded that the unilateral EU sanctions, contrary to their purpose, are intended to punish Russia by causing maximum damage. International law does not forbid states and their associations to impose unilateral restrictive measures in the economic sphere if they are justified by security considerations. In this context, the verification of the validity of the EU sanctions should be assessed individually for each measure. The author believes that a number of EU restrictive measures taken against the Russian Federation go beyond the scope of the permissions established by international law. This is especially true regarding measures taken in 2022. Moreover, the practice of implementing the adopted restrictive measures is becoming increasingly sophisticated, indicating that the European Union and its individual members are abusing their position.

Management at the enterprise on the basis of ESG principles in the conditions of sanctions pressure

The principles of ESG in management as the basis of sustainable development of the company, industry and economy in general are considered in the article. The authors deal with the issue, whether the rupture of economic links and financial schemes, as well as the exception of the Russian companies from the international ESG-ratings can lead to refusal of the ESG-principles in management. The features, peculiar to each of the ESG aspects in the conditions of the anti-Russian sanctions in 2022 are considered. The problems and strengths of the Russian companies, the degree of prevalence of the ESG principles among the Russian entrepreneurs are revealed. According to the data of analyst companies, research and polls, the authors conclude, that the enterprises applying the ESG-principles have more chances to recover from the current crisis successfully.

Government support for regional economy in the context of modern turbulence

Aim. The presented study aims to analyze the instruments of government support for regional development in the context of political and economic turbulence caused by anti-Russian sanctions.Tasks. Through the example of the Leningrad region, the author describes the directions and effects of the macroeconomic shock caused by external sanctions on regional economy and systematizes measures of government support for the regional economy in the context of political and economic turbulence.Methods. This study uses the methods of retrospective and comparative analysis, analogy and observation, expert assessments, scenario approach, and special methods of regional research.Results. The performed analysis indicates that the impact of the macroeconomic shock caused by anti-Russian sanctions (2022) on the Russian economy is multidirectional. The degree and nature of its impact vary significantly by region and type of economic activity. However, despite its generally negative nature, this impact has not yet become critical. The analysis results show that the regional economy is sufficiently resistant to crisis challenges. At the same time, the negative impact manifested as a general drop in production volumes or a decrease in real wages is gradually increasing. Therefore, the authorities should be proactive in combating crisis phenomena. In the Leningrad region, such measures are taken actively and efficiently. These need to be focused primarily on supporting import substitution programs and reducing the level of import dependence.Conclusions. In the context of unprecedented sanctions, reducing the risks of import dependence is one of the key goals of sustainable economic development. The successful solution of import substitution problems today, i.e. as quickly as possible, is important not only for quickly curbing crisis phenomena and restoring the Russian economy back to normal, but also from the perspective of changing the region's economic specialization. The observed turbulence is causing a structural shift in the economy driven by the macroeconomic shock. It is recommendable to ensure the progressivity of the structural shift in the Leningrad region as it will be much more difficult to do this after the transition process is complete. In the context of the transition to a new technological paradigm in the economy, this will limit the competitiveness of the region.

Development Prospects of Political and Economic Aspects of the Environmental Agenda in Anti-Russian Sanctions

In recent years, the number of problems associated with the environment and the corresponding political and economic effects has been growing. The author observed this trend both in the internal Russian environment and within the framework of international relations. The current geopolitical situation and new realities associated with external sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation faces issues of the environmental agenda as a tool of political and economic impact on society and states are of particular importance. So far, they have been poorly disclosed in Russian political science. The paper considers the dominant trends and prospects for the development of some aspects of the environmental agenda in anti-Russian sanctions.

ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ РАЗВИТИЯ ПРОМЫШЛЕННОСТИ РОССИИ В УСЛОВИЯХ ИМПОРТОЗАМЕЩЕНИЯ

An overview of the changes that have occurred and are planned to support the Russian industry is presented. In connection with the introduction of anti-Russian sanctions, the main directions of development of the oil and gas industry are analyzed. An example of strengthening the domestic production of medicines is the program "Pharma2020", the development indicators of which are presented in the article for the future. The state support of the agro-industrial complex is considered, as a result of which it became possible not only to increase production, but also to develop and modernize production facilities in the agro-industrial complex.

Российско-японские рыболовные отношения в условиях санкций

The problem of the influence of anti-Russian sanctions did not immediately affect Russian-Japanese relations in the field of fisheries, but began to manifest itself in rather unexpected ways. The impact of sanctions on the negotiation process on fisheries between Russia and Japan, the problem of non-payments is considered. Also, the impact of sanctions on the supply of Norwegian salmon to Japan, since the delivery routes passed through the sky of Russia, now it is closed to many countries. Fish products from Russia continue to be in high demand on the world market even under sanctions. Therefore, the import of fish by many countries from Russia remains high. In the Russian press, the issue of sanctions in Russian-Japanese fishing relations is covered little and insufficiently competently. The author's analysis of the problem is mainly based on publications in the Japanese media and Japanese government publications.

The impact of the sanctions on the economy of the Russian Federation

The article analyses the impact of the sanctions of civilized countries on the Russian economy. Particular attention is paid to sectoral sanctions on the markets of oil and oil products, in the banking and financial sectors, as well as on the market of transport services.
 The authors analysed the prospects for expanding sanctions on the oil market for Russia in the context of setting a maximum price for the export of Russian oil by the main buyers. Conclusions are drawn not only about the impact of sanctions on Russian oil production, but also about a possible decrease in prices for oil and other energy resources in the region.
 The authors positively assessed the US and EU anti-Russian sanctions in the financial sector. The impact of sanctions on the Russian banking system, insurance, and stock markets was studied. Particular attention was paid to the impact of disconnecting the banking system of the Russian Federation from the international payment system SWIFT.
 The authors also focused on the gradual division of the Russian economy under the influence of sanctions and trends in the energy market into the energy sector and the rest. It was found that the most affected by the sanctions were air transportation, mechanical engineering, and ferrous metallurgy sectors.
 Conclusions are drawn about the need to continue sanctions pressure on the Russian economy. High energy prices during the 200 days of the war with Ukraine allowed the Russian Federation to subsidize economic sectors that suffered from the war at the expense of the energy sector. A market reduction of the oil prices or their correction with the help of the sanctions policy should cause significant and irreversible damage to the Russian economy.

Russia under Putin in the Eastern Mediterranean: The Soviet Legacy, Flexibility, and New Dynamics

Abstract Russia has become an important player in the Eastern Mediterranean during the presidency of Vladimir Putin, setting up a military presence in the Crimea, South Caucasus, Syria as well as naval facilities in the Mediterranean. Moscow deepened its bilateral relations with NATO members Greece, France and particularly Turkey and has been able to profit from the new dynamics that have emerged in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region. Russian policy towards the Eastern Mediterranean has been based on large-scale flexibility and its ability to combine elements of soft and hard power. Dependent on Russian grain and tourists and eager to cooperate with Moscow militarily, most non-EU countries of the Eastern Mediterranean have refused to institute anti-Russian sanctions of the sort imposed by the EU after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The digitalization trends as a source of changes in global economy

This article reviews new challenges and trends of economic digitalization after the coronavirus crisis in the context of sanctions, discussed at the Lomonosov Readings, the conference held on April 18, 2022, at Economics Faculty of Lomonosov Moscow State University. The paper addresses the following issues: competition in digitalization era, social and psychological challenges of digital economy, the Matthew effect in digital era, the experience of publicprivate partnership to boost technological self-sufficiency, migration processes in digitalization context, national and regional models of digital development and cooperation, new development opportunities and risks of digitalization for low-income African countries. The article concludes with a discussion of the prospects for digital development and cooperation in new geopolitical reality and anti-Russian sanctions.

Current Challenges for German Business in the Russian Market

The reaction of leading German companies in the Russian market after the start of the special military operation on the territory of Ukraine is considered. Companies interested in resolving the situation as soon as possible decided whether to leave the Russian market or not. The author analyzed the decisions of firms in the general context of winding down German business activities after 2014. After the acute phase of the pandemic ended, trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Germany showed a tendency to recover. However, since February 24, 2022, German companies with a small number of exceptions have generally supported anti-Russian sanctions. The conceptual typology of firms’ decisions, i.e., exit, activity compression, stabilization, and continuation of work in a difficult environment, is explored. It is concluded that the long-term trajectory of the real actions of German companies has fundamentally changed. The analysis made it possible to establish that the foundation of pragmatic market relations towards Russia is being eroded in the German foreign economic policy. This explains why German companies declare their willingness to pay. If during the annexation of Crimea to Russia groups of lobbyists for the interests of the German economy fought to maintain contacts, now such efforts are coming to naught.