Election results in Italy and options for strengthening sanctions against Russia: last night's highlights
A number of EU countries insist on a complete ban on diamond imports from Russia, and in Italy, the right—wing coalition, which includes parties that support Putin, is winning the general election. Here is what you may have missed from the previous night.
Elections in Italy
According to exit polls, the right-wing coalition is set to win the parliamentary elections in Italy, gaining from 43% to 47% of the vote. Giorgia Meloni's nationalist-conservative party "Brothers of Italy" gained 24.6%.
In the coalition with it are Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italis party and Matteo Salvini's Liga, which are known as open allies of Putin.
According to the results, Giorgia Meloni will almost certainly become the next Prime Minister of Italy and the first woman in this position in the history of the country. It should be noted that despite her coalition allies, she previously declared support for Ukraine in the war against Russia.
Scenarios of response to nuclear threat
The West is thinking over response plans in case Russia starts to implement its nuclear threats against Ukraine, and privately sends warnings to the Kremlin about the possible consequences, the Financial Times writes, citing five interlocutors.
It is noted that the allies believe that Putin's threats are unlikely to be implemented and do not signal a change in Russia's nuclear strategy. But Western capitals are still stepping up monitoring and deterrence.
Sanctions against Russia
Poland, Ireland, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia have proposed to impose a ban on diamond imports from Russia, which is the world's largest producer of rough diamonds, Reuters reports.
The European Commission is expected to submit a formal proposal for additional sanctions to member states this week.
In turn, Belgium, home to the world's largest diamond trading center Antwerp, has previously rejected proposals to impose sanctions against Russian diamonds.
Improving logistics
Canada will provide another aircraft for the transport hub in Scotland. This is to make it easier to deliver military cargo to Ukraine and other Eastern European countries.
The country plans to expand the arsenal in Prestwick, Scotland, with a CC-130 aircraft and 55 members of the Canadian Armed Forces. According to the CBC, Canada is responsible for the delivery of four million pounds of cargo since March.
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