Russia

Policy & Legal Updates

Trump Seeks 60 Days to Assess Russia Sanctions Law Impact, Rubio Says

US President Donald Trump is taking a 60-day period to evaluate the economic consequences of imposing Russia-related sanctions and secondary tariffs, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. The announcement follows an executive order waiving penalties under the Graham Act, which included proposed 100 percent tariffs on top purchasers of Russian oil and gas, such as China and India. Rubio stated the pause is intended to study the broader repercussions on global energy markets and domestic industries.

Industry News

Russian Fintech A7 Launches Crypto-to-Bank Cross-Border Settlement Service Supporting Yuan and Dirhams

Russian financial technology company A7 has unveiled A7 International, a cross-border payment service enabling payers to settle invoices using USDT while recipients receive traditional SWIFT bank transfers. The service supports payouts in Chinese yuan, UAE dirhams, US dollars, and euros, with a 0.3% commission fee. Transactions are available in jurisdictions where digital currency transactions are legal.

Policy & Legal Updates

US Senators Urge Sanctions Targeting Intermediaries and Dual-Use Flows in China and UAE

Senior U.S. senators Jeanne Shaheen and Roger Wicker have urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to enforce sanctions under the newly enacted Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The lawmakers called for penalizing front companies and intermediaries in Dubai and Hong Kong, as well as dual-use tech supply lines in China, the UAE, and Türkiye. The majority of the legislation's provisions enter into force on October 18, 2026.

Policy & Legal Updates

US Senators Demand Sanctions Enforcement on China and UAE Trade Intermediaries

US Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Roger Wicker sent a letter urging the Trump administration to execute new sanctions ahead of an October 18 deadline. The lawmakers called for crackdowns on Russian oil trading intermediaries in Dubai and Hong Kong, as well as transit networks in China and the UAE. They also urged the Treasury Department to target illicit banking channels, specifically naming overseas branches including VTB Bank in Shanghai.