A Black Sea grain export deal, allowing continued safe passage of certain Ukrainian agricultural exports amid the country’s war with Russia, has been extended (see 2207250004). Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov tweeted March 18 that the U.N., Turkey and others worked with Russia to extend the deal for another 120 days, although Russia’s foreign ministry said it agreed to a 60-day extension, the Associated Press reported.

The U.K. Supreme Court ruled Ukraine can defend a $3 billion Eurobond lawsuit on the grounds it was forced to take on the debt in 2013 due to threats from Russia. The Law Debenture Trust Corp., which is incorporated in England and Wales, sued on Russia's behalf. Ukraine said it need not pay the loan because it was procured by duress stemming from illegal pressure and threats, including sanctions.

A group of European countries not in the EU aligned with a European Council decision to extend until March 6, 2024, restrictions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway also extended the restriction, the council said March 15.

The U.K. on March 16 updated its guidance relating to the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation's enforcement and monetary penalties for financial sanctions breaches to include a new section on ownership and control, according to the EU Sanctions blog. The new section states that where OFSI finds a sanctions breach, and an "incorrect assessment of ownership and control of an entity is relevant to the commission of the breach, OFSI will consider the degree and quality of research and due diligence conducted on the ownership and control of that entity," the blog post said.

The U.K.'s High Court of Justice on March 14 rejected a challenge from Belarus technology company LLC Synesis to its sanctions listing. Justice Robert Jay held that the U.K.'s standard for a listing -- not a finding of fact but "reasonable grounds to suspect" -- is a well-established test under the law. Decision-makers must consider the information "as a whole" and it "cannot be disaggregated or salami-sliced," Jay said. Synesis was listed for supplying the Belarus state with video surveillance and monitoring systems that could be used to suppress protesters.

A group of European countries not in the EU aligned with two recent European Council sanctions decisions. North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland and Liechtenstein also imposed the EU's changes on its terrorism sanctions list, the council said. North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway imposed the EU decision amending entries related to Belarus' support of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The European Council extended until Sept. 15 sanctions on people and entities responsible for undermining the sovereignty of Ukraine. The sanctions apply to 1,473 people and 205 entities.

The European Parliamentary Research Service released a briefing covering a timeline of EU sanctions on Russia, including an analysis of the sanctions, their effectiveness and their economic impact.

Arms shipments to Europe have “risen sharply” due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said in a March 13 report. Many of the exports have come from the U.S., the report said, which accounted for 40% of global arms exports from 2018 to 2022. The report also highlighted a steep decline in Russian arms shipments, mostly due to Western sanctions, although Moscow increased its arms exports to China by 39% and to Egypt by 44% from 2018 to 2022. Russian arms exports to India during that same time period fell by 37%.

Switzerland amended its Syria sanctions regime to allow for humanitarian work in the war- and earthquake-torn nation. "Humanitarian actors in receipt of federal funding may now provide money and economic resources directly or indirectly to designated persons, entities and businesses, when necessary to provide humanitarian assistance or support to the civilian population," the Swiss Federal Council said. The amendment went into effect March 3.