Russia preparing to ban Britain from fishing for cod and haddock in Barents Sea

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Russia is preparing laws to ban British fishermen from the Barents Sea, one of many greatest fisheries for cod and haddock in the world, in accordance to a significant Russian newspaper.

Vladimir Putin’s authorities is in favour of draft laws submitted by the agriculture ministry that will see Russia pulling out of a Soviet-era fishing settlement that allowed British vessels to function in the ocean, in accordance to Izvestiya.

The 1956 fisheries settlement got here as a part of concerted diplomatic efforts to ease post-war tensions with the West, and allowed British vessels to fish for seafood alongside the coast of the Russian Kola Peninsula, east of Cape Kanin Nos, off Kolguev Island and the small islands in the Barents Sea.

The sea is alongside the northern coasts of Norway and Russia.

Already fraught relations between the UK and Russia crashed in February 2022 when Putin ordered the invasion of European neighbour Ukraine, starting a struggle that can attain the two-year mark late subsequent month.

Britain has been considered one of Ukraine’s most vital worldwide allies ever since, offering an estimated £12bn in direct assist in addition to imposing a string of sanctions on Russian entities and companies.

The invoice denouncing the Barents Sea fishing settlement has already been authorized by Russia’s cupboard after it was submitted by the agriculture and international ministries, in accordance to Izvestiya, and is now with the Kremlin.

The laws would additionally want to be authorized by Russia’s rubber-stamp parliament earlier than changing into legislation.

The Russia-Ukraine struggle reveals no indicators of abating. Short on money and defence provides, Ukraine is presently defending its traces in opposition to a contemporary Russian assault after its personal counteroffensive over the summer season and autumn failed to yield important good points.

Moscow has additionally resumed a marketing campaign of mass air strikes on inhabitants centres far past the frontline.

At the World Economic Forum conferences in Davos, Switzerland, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the gathering and referred to as for a “strong” determination this yr on what to do with frozen Russian belongings held in Western banks.

He made no direct appeals for the provision of weapons for new offensives on the battlefield however referred to as for assist to construct and reconstruct war-battered Ukraine.

He referred to as for the frozen funds – roughly $300bn in Russian Central Bank cash – to “be directed towards defence against the Russian war and for reconstruction” of Ukraine.

“Putin loves money above all,” he stated. “The more billions he and his oligarchs, friends and accomplices lose, the more likely he will regret starting this war.”