Dossier
Ukraine and Russia
What does the war between Russia and Ukraine mean for Dutch entrepreneurs? Check this page for more information.
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Frequently asked business questions
- The Dutch 'Ondernemersloket Rusland' (helpdesk for entrepreneurs with questions around business with Russia) is run by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and gives advice on the sanctions with Russia and Ukraine. They can explain what the sanctions entail and what they mean for your company. For example, there may be an export ban on certain goods or even on certain people. Financial sanctions can also affect your company. For instance, if you have not yet been paid for goods you have delivered.
For the latest news on the situation in Ukraine (in Dutch), follow RVO.nl (Netherlands Enterprise Agency). For English information, check government.nl.
- Because of the economic sanctions against Russia, the value of the Russian ruble has fallen. These currency fluctuations can have consequences for you as an entrepreneur. For example, if your client pays in rubles, this results in a loss for you. If you let your Russian client pay in euro, your products will be a lot more expensive for them.
Most areas of Russia have been given the colour code yellow and can be visited. Some areas have a different colour code. Especially the Russian areas around Ukraine have colour code red, because travel to these areas is very dangerous. Follow the latest information on travel to Russia on 'Nederland wereldwijd' (in Dutch, Netherlands Worldwide).
The advice for all of Ukraine is 'do not travel'. The whole country has been given the colour code red. The Dutch government advises Dutch citizens residing in Ukraine to leave the country as soon as possible. Follow the latest information on travel to Ukraine on 'Nederland wereldwijd' (in Dutch, Netherlands Worldwide).
Due to the sanctions against Russia, several shipping companies are currently not transporting containers to Russia, or are transporting fewer of them. According to news reports, major carriers such as Maersk and MSC have stopped taking bookings for new shipments to and from Russia. Previous bookings and shipments in transit are still being transported.
Dutch Customs is also carrying out more checks on containers going to Russia to check for sanctioned goods.
EU airspace is currently closed to Russian aircraft. In turn, Russia has closed its airspace to European airlines. The transport of goods or people by air is therefore increasingly difficult, more expensive and takes longer. However, air transport to Russia via countries such as Turkey or Kazakhstan is still possible.
- The New Silk Road logistics route between China and the EU is also affected by the economic sanctions on Russia. This rail route passes through Russia and Belarus. Check with your logistics provider if the train connection to China is available. Read more about the New Silk Road and problems and solutions.
- Ukrainian drivers are mainly being stopped at the Ukrainian border. Many Ukrainian drivers are also being deployed to defend Ukraine. This causes a shortage of truck drivers. The European Commission has been asked to explore solutions by relaxing the European Mobility Package. This covers rules about cabotage and the mandatory return of vehicles.
With an international sanction you force countries, organisations, or persons to change their undesirable behaviour. Usually, sanctions are imposed by institutions like the United Nations (UN) or the European Union (EU). The most common sanctions are:
- a ban on the export or import of (certain) goods
- financial sanctions
- travel restrictions through withdrawal or banning of visas
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