Vladimir Putin has expanded Russia’s list of unfriendly nations as the invasion of Ukraine reaches its 31st month, intensifying tensions between Moscow and the West.
3 Countries Absent From List
The updated list names 47 countries deemed hostile to Russia, including all European Union (EU) members, the U.S., the U.K., and other Western allies such as Japan, South Korea, and Australia.
Notably absent from the list, however, are three NATO countries: Hungary, Slovakia, and Turkey. In a surprising move, Taiwan, a territory of China with its own administration since 1949, is included among Russia’s foes, according to Ziare.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin formally approved the blacklist, which targets nations whose actions are considered "destructive" and against Russia’s spiritual and moral values.
Near-Total Breakdown
This list marks the latest in a series of escalations since the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, which strained Russia’s ties with Europe and the broader international community.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 led to a near-total breakdown in relations with the West. The EU has since implemented sweeping sanctions aimed at crippling Moscow’s ability to fund its war.
These sanctions target key figures in Putin’s regime and aim to impose significant economic and political costs. Despite long-standing cultural and religious ties with nations like Greece, relations with Russia have deteriorated.
In response to Russia’s aggression, the EU and its allies have halted nearly all cooperative programs with Moscow. The EU continues to call for Russia to withdraw its forces and restore Ukraine’s sovereignty, as the war enters a protracted phase with no end in sight.
