Eastern Europe / Features
Ukraine seeks infrastructure investment capital, a “once in a generation” opportunity
As the war in Ukraine enters its third year, Kyiv and its partners are pithing international investors to get involved the infrastructure projects. "The time is now."
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Ever in India’s shadow, Bangladesh needs to define its own energy path
As a country Bangladesh is at an energy crossroads. Following decades of natural‑gas dominance, its energy planners are charting a course towards a diversified power policy with the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant the jewel in the crown.
Russia’s June budget deficit widens sharply as military spending and oil revenues diverge
President Putin has lost his luck with oil prices and the budget deficit has widened sharply as budget revenues in June have fallen, but expenditure widened. Russia’s federal budget deficit surged to nearly RUB3.7tn ($41.4bn), or 1.7% of GDP.
Thirteen top officials and executives have died in suspicious circumstances since the start of the war in Ukraine
The death of Roman Starovoit, who killed himself only hours after being fired by Russian President Vladimir Putin as Russia’s transport minister, has spurred fresh talk of the life-threatening dangers of working for the Russian government.
Russian labour market crunch shows signs of easing as firms scale back hiring and wage growth
Russia’s chronic labour crisis is showing signs of beginning to ease, as new data show a slowdown in wage growth and hiring, particularly in the civilian and construction sectors, Kommersant reported this week.
Sofa-beds for victory: the furniture makers charting a new path on Ukraine's domestic front
Whilst enrolled on an MBA course at Kyiv Mogyla Business School in 2016, Volodymyr Patis, head of the Ukrainian Association of Furniture Producers, had a “light-bulb moment".
Despite robust international support, Ukraine “running out of space” to cope with additional economic stress – IMF
The International Monetary Fund has warned that Ukraine’s ability to absorb further economic shocks is rapidly diminishing as the war with Russia enters its fourth year and reform momentum in Parliament slows, says the IMF in a staff report.
Russian banking officials warn of hidden risks as debt concerns mount
Russia’s banking sector faces a growing threat of a systemic crisis within the next 12 months, with internal assessments suggesting a more fragile outlook than official statements imply.
Tosyali dethrones Eregli to become largest Turkish steelmaker
Company owner Fuat Tosyali became a favourite businessman of president Erdogan. Projects he’s involved in include making Turkey’s “native and national” Altay battle tank.
Russia’s switch to Murmansk after EU sanctions on LNG exports exposes fragile dependence on Western shipping – CREA
Russia’s attempt to reroute Arctic LNG exports through domestic waters following the European Union’s March 2025 transshipment ban has exposed a hidden vulnerability at the core of its energy strategy, Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.
Will Ukraine's refugees go home after the war is over?
Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 caused Europe’s biggest displacement in decades as millions fled, most of them women and children. Three years later, there are still more than 5mn Ukrainians living abroad and only 20% say they will go home.
LONG READ: Nato summit in The Hague is all about the money, not about Ukraine
The collected membership of Nato meets in The Hague on June 25 for a cutdown version of the annual gathering, where Ukraine has been dropped from the agenda and the only thing that will be discussed is increasing defence spending to 5% of GDP.
Global uncertainty causes FDI to plummet in Emerging Europe
wiiw research blames crisis in German industry and the uncertainty surrounding Donald Trump’s second term as US president for sharp slowdown in FDI.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is set to attend a Nato summit in The Hague next week after all
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is set to attend a Nato summit in The Hague next week after all, the European Council confirmed on June 20, amid uncertainty over the US role in transatlantic security commitments.
Russian economy: cooling or recession?
One of the most closely watched sessions at the annual St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), which is underway now, is the economic panel with the heavy hitters from the Kremlin’s economic team.
Western unity collapses as G7 summit in June beaks up with no joint statement
Western unity to support Ukraine in its existential struggle with Russia has collapsedю The G7 summit of the world’s richest nations in Canada, broke up on June 17 without releasing a statement condemning Russia’s military occupation of Ukraine.
Belarus sliding back into Soviet economy habits
Russia been transformed into a war economy, but it is still run on market lines. Belarus is going in the opposite direction, one that is increasingly mirrors Soviet-style economic management.
Russia slowly being squeezed out of Syria
The new Syrian authorities have gone a long way towards gaining full recognition by the international community and as these relations get better those with Russia are getting worse.
Kremlin in delicate position between Israel and Iran, but could play peacemaker
With its long-standing good relations with both Tel Aviv and Tehran, the outbreak of war in the Middle East has put Moscow in a delicate position, but it has also been presented it with the opportunity to act as peacemaker.
CITIES IN PERIL: Boomtowns built on melting ground
The warming climate has opened up some of the world’s coldest regions to mining and shipping, but melting permafrost under cities like Yakutsk and Norilsk is causing buildings and infrastructure to crumble.