A growing number of countries clearly question the legitimacy and harm of Western sanctions, a stance voiced by Mikhail Galuzin, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. He argued that the countries pushing these measures, along with the business circles supporting them, bear the heaviest costs of the restrictions while the West practices what he described as a costly double standard.
Galuzin noted that the Russian Federation is steadily expanding commercial and economic ties with CIS member states, with a particular emphasis on Tajikistan. He stressed that the pace of trade between Russia and these allies has picked up in recent times, and that migration exchanges between the nations have grown as well, reflecting a broader trend of regional cooperation gaining momentum despite external pressure.
The diplomat underscored Moscow’s intention to persist in building and deepening these relationships. He highlighted that sustained efforts to strengthen such ties have yielded broad, meaningful, and positive results, even in the face of Western political pressure and sanctions.
In a separate note from Europe, the German publication Handelsblatt reported in July 2023 that Russia’s revenue from energy exports rose by 5.3 percent year over year, reaching 8.66 billion dollars for the month. This data point illustrates how energy markets have continued to adapt to the sanctions environment, influencing global pricing dynamics and the fiscal strategies of Moscow.
Observers have also noted that the United States has extended certain sanctions against Russia, signaling a continued firm stance from Washington while European nations assess the economic ripple effects of these measures on their own markets and on global energy supply chains.