大象传媒

Russia's central bank has been targeted with sanctions by the United States in an attempt to cripple the Russian economy following the invasion of Ukraine. The measures block Americans from engaging in any transactions involving Russia's central bank, finance ministry or national wealth fund. It comes on top of action by the US and EU to bar some of Russia's banks from the SWIFT international payments system. The ruble has plunged as a result to less than one ruble to one US cent. The stock market in Moscow failed to open on Monday. We asked Oleg Vyugin former First Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank of Russia if these sanctions would affect the financing of the war in Ukraine.

Also in the programme, we hear from people in the midst of the chaos in Ukraine. First, we speak to Olga Shapoval, who is an executive director of the city of Kharkiv's IT cluster, in north-eastern Ukraine. We then hear from Oleg Chernyak of the software development company CHI Software. He is normally based in Kharkiv and has been trying to run his business as the war intensifies. Now he is is in Carpathian Mountains in the West of the Country.

The ostentation wealth of the Russian oligarchs has come in for intense scrutiny from regulators and financial watchdogs. From the massive yachts in the Bahamas to the stately homes and London mansions these people are obvious targets. We spoke to Oliver Bullough the author of Moneyland: Why Thieves and Crooks Now Rule the World and How to Take It Back about whether the latest sanctions would hit these targets.

Next, we asked Andreas Clenow if Switzerland have broken their pledge of neutrality in regards to it's announcements of joining the EU in it's sanctions. Andreas is a Swiss author, entrepreneur and asset manager, based in Zurich, where he is the Chief Investment Officer of a family office.

Lastly, in a strange twist the war in Ukraine may well give an extraordinary push to the adoption of carbon free renewable energy in Europe, as countries, in particular Germany accelerate their move away from Russian gas. Holger Schmieding, Chief Economist at Berenberg Bank, told us whether the change in Germany would filter through to other economies on the continent.

In today's programme we are joined by Jyoti Malhotra in Delhi & Mitchell Hartman in Oregon.

(PICTURE CREDIT: GETTY)