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troops from Ukraine and agrees to pay reparations;
● instructs the US president to create an international mechanism for transferring confiscated/frozen Russian assets for Ukraine’s benefit.
Meanwhile, Estonia has become the first country in the EU to develop a legal mechanism for confiscating frozen Russian Federation assets, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsakhkn said. In the coming days the project defined by the relevant amendment to Estonian law will be submitted to the government for consideration.
UK to keep Russia under sanctions until compensations paid to Ukraine — Reuters. New measures anticipate in particular that persons under UK sanctions will be able to donate frozen funds for reconstruction of Ukraine
Washington plans to delay imposing new sanctions against PMC Wagner for fear of appearing to side with the Russian President, The Wall Street Journal reported. "Washington does not want to appear to be taking sides in this," WSJ cited a close source as saying. The sources said the State Department was expected to disclose additional sanctions June 26 against Wagner's gold business in Africa, including an alleged mining operation run by the private military company in the Central African Republic. Washington had previously sanctioned the group for its alleged role in disinformation during the 2016 US presidential election, which was never proven, as well as for engaging in hostilities in Ukraine.
● Domestic Politics
Prigozhin says he started rebellion on June 24 to protest Wagner dissolution, not topple government. The Wagner Group's founder Yevgeny Prigozhin published a statement through his press service on June 26, addressing the reasons for starting and abruptly ending his June 23-24 rebellion.
White House says sanctions against Wagner Group to continue. The U.S. will continue to apply sanctions against the private military company Wagner led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on June 26.
Western allies not involved in Wagner rebellion. U.S. President Joe Biden made his first comments regarding the Wagner Group's short-lived rebellion to the media on June 26.
Moscow’s mayoral elections will be held in September and the incumbent, Sergei Sobyanin, is in cruise control. His popularity is high; no serious rivals are waiting in the wings. Better still, the mayor’s office has electronic voting in its arsenal. It has already ensured the victory of United
41 RUSSIA Country Report July 2023 www.intellinews.com