**Putin’s Son Continues to Invest in the West Despite Sanctions**
Vladimir Kiriyenko, the son of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Deputy Chief of Staff Sergei Kiriyenko, has been making investments in the West through offshore companies despite sanctions. This was reported by The Moscow Times on January 21.
Kiriyenko is the CEO of Vkontakte, a social media site owned by Gazprombank. He holds shares in at least one venture capital fund and maintains ownership in various offshore companies registered in the British Virgin Islands and Barbados. Despite being sanctioned by several countries, including the US, UK, and EU, Kiriyenko continues to operate these investments.
The sanctions were imposed on him in 2022 for his role in Russian disinformation and propaganda operations. His father, Sergei Kiriyenko, has also been involved in organizing Russia’s sham elections in occupied Ukrainian territories in 2023.
**US Imposes New Sanctions on Russia**
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the US will engage in making a peace deal with Russia that is sustainable and not just temporary. This comes as Russian forces suffered 1,950 casualties over the past day.
The new restrictions also include blocking payments for Russian crude by financial institutions in India, which is currently the leading importer of Russian oil.
**Peace Deal Progress**
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said that at least 200,000 European soldiers would be required to serve as peacekeepers on Ukraine’s eastern front for a peace deal to be enforced. He also emphasized Ukraine’s commitment to ending the war with Russia and establishing itself as a strong global player.
A joint venture between a Ukrainian defense company and Germany’s KNDS Deutschland has been officially opened to support Ukraine’s military efforts.
