According to reports from Xinhua News Agency and CCTV News, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a presidential decree on April 4 to implement retaliatory visa measures against "unfriendly countries."
International oil prices have strengthened again. U.S. President Joe Biden announced a record-breaking release of strategic reserves last week, and international energy agency member states pledged to further coordinate releases, with Brent crude prices falling about 13 percent last week.
Putin signs against "unfriendly countries"
Presidential Decree Implementing Retaliatory Visa Measures
On April 4, local time, Putin signed a presidential decree against "unfriendly countries" to implement retaliatory visa measures. Under the Decree, Russia has suspended a number of provisions of visa facilitation agreements with the European Union, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
It is reported that Putin has instructed the Russian Foreign Ministry to impose personal entry restrictions on foreign citizens and stateless persons who have "unfriendly behavior."
EU officials: Push forward with further sanctions against Russia
On April 4, local time, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Borrelli issued a statement saying that the EU condemned the actions of the Russian army in some Ukrainian towns. He said the EU would continue to firmly support Ukraine and would accelerate the imposition of further sanctions on Russia.
French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview with the media that he was inclined to ask the European Union to adopt new sanctions against Russia, which would require coordination with European partners, especially Germany. Macron said the sanctions would involve coal and oil.
A yacht of a wealthy Russian merchant was seized in Spain
On April 4, local time, U.S. federal agents and the Spanish National Guard searched and seized a yacht owned by a wealthy Russian businessman in the port of Palma in the Balearic Islands of Spain.
On the morning of the 4th, witnesses at the scene saw police entering and leaving the ship. A spokesman for the Spanish National Guard confirmed that Spanish government agencies and the FBI were searching the ship and said more details would be released later.
It is reported that the yacht is related to the wealthy businessman Victor Wikselberg, a close ally of Putin. According to U.S. Treasury documents, Vickerberg runs the Renoir Group, a Moscow-based company involved in metals, mining, technology and other sectors.
International oil prices have strengthened sharply
On April 4, U.S. stocks opened with mixed gains, with the Nasdaq up 0.56%, the Dow down 0.48%, and the S&P 500 down slightly. Chinese stocks rose, Bilibili and Pinduoduo rose more than 9%, Didi Chuxing and Alibaba rose more than 3%, and JD.com, Weilai and Ideal Automobile rose more than 5%.
On April 4, international oil prices rose. Goldman Sachs raised its 2023 oil price forecast to $115 from $110 a barrel. Goldman Sachs analysts said inventories are at historic lows, and seasonally adjusted shortages remain large and will get worse.
Analysts believe that the U.S. release of crude oil from strategic reserves can only weigh on oil prices in the short term.
The pictures in this article are from Wind
Editor: Li Ruoyu Ya Wenhui