Tag: sanctions relief

South Africa: Vincent Magwenya Disagrees With Ukraine Foreign Affairs Minister Over Missile Attack Claims

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

The presidential spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya has disagreed with the statement made by the Ukrainian foreign minister that Russia launched a missile towards Kyiv as African leaders are preparing to enter Ukraine. Vincent Magwenya stated that since they came, they have not heard any explosion, and they have seen people moving about their businesses, saying that there were no signs of explosion as the Ukrainian minister had claimed. Furthermore, the Ukrainian foreign minister seems to be drawing Africans into the conflict by insinuating that the missile launched by Russia towards Kyiv is a message to African leaders. Social media users are arguing who among them could be saying the truth. However, since they have been conducting president Cyril Ramaphosa and other African leaders around Ukraine, they have not reported any explosion, yet, the Ukrainian foreign minister claimed that the missile was launched.

South Africa: Vincent Magwenya Disagrees With Ukraine Foreign Affairs Minister Over Missile Attack Claims

Related:

RT: South Africa calls out Reuters’ air-raid ‘misinformation’

New Voice of Ukraine (and every other Western media outlet): Visiting South African leader taken to hotel bomb shelter as Russian missiles rain on Kyiv

Ramaphosa arrives in Poland ahead of Russia-Ukraine Peace Mission

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in Warsaw Airport in Poland ahead of the Peace Mission to Russia and Ukraine by seven African leaders.

Ramaphosa arrives in Poland ahead of Russia-Ukraine Peace Mission

Video via 2nacheki

Related:

African leaders to propose ‘confidence building measures’ to Russia, Ukraine

Those measures could include a Russian troop pull-back, removal of tactical nuclear weapons from Belarus, suspension of implementation of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant targeting Putin, and sanctions relief.

Did the U.S. really lift sanctions off Syria temporarily?

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

The “humanitarian exemptions”, on Syrian sanctions, are conditional!

The U.S. Treasury announced a decision on February 9 claiming to allow an easing of sanctions imposed on Syria for the ensuing six months until August 8, as part of “earthquake relief efforts.”
The decision allows for “third parties” to transfer aid to Syria without fear of U.S. sanctions, but should only be intended for aid to earthquake-effected areas. Nonetheless, the sanctions programs applied to Syria for many years, the most severe of which are the Caesar Act (2019) and Captagon Act (2022), provide for “humanitarian exceptions,” but are conditional on U.S. approval.

Did the U.S. really lift sanctions off Syria temporarily?

Related:

Did the U.S. lift sanctions on Syria?

So any earthquake relief effort must take place away from the Syrian state. In other words, it must contribute to undermining the sovereignty of the Syrian state, or it will not take place.

The earthquake ought to loosen US policy on Syria

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Lifeless bodies pulled from ruins, roads and bridges ripped apart, entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble — these are the classic earthquake images. The latest come from Turkey and Syria, which were devastated by a fierce quake on Monday. Turkey, with a thriving economy, a well-organized state, and rich Western friends, is well equipped to rush relief to victims. In Syria the situation is quite the opposite.

The earthquake ought to loosen US policy on Syria

CSIS advises US to prepare for possible redeployment of tactical nukes to S. Korea

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)1 Comment

A Washington think tank is advising the US government to review military exercises in preparation for the redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea. The think tank also advised the US to consider partial sanctions relief for North Korea on the condition that it ceases its nuclear weapons and missile tests.

CSIS advises US to prepare for possible redeployment of tactical nukes to S. Korea

H/T: WENT2THEBRIDGE.ORG

US Says Approach to Venezuela’s Maduro ‘Not Changing,’ Will Maintain Sanctions

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)1 Comment

US Says Approach to Venezuela’s Maduro ‘Not Changing,’ Will Maintain Sanctions

While Price insists it’s business as usual when it comes to Venezuela, the US has eased sanctions very slightly. After Maduro resumed talks with the opposition in November, the US granted a license to Chevron to resume pumping oil in Venezuela and agreed to release $3 billion in Venezuelan funds that were frozen by US and European banks. Under the deal, the funds will go toward humanitarian and economic development projects.

Previously:

Venezuela: Opposition Parties Oust Guaidó as ‘Interim President’