Eastern Europe / Features
SCO summit highlights India’s balancing act
For India, participation was both a bridge and a shield. It allowed New Delhi to remain engaged with Eurasian institutions while avoiding full alignment with Beijing or Moscow.
Can the SCO shield Iran from Western pressure?
As Tehran continues to face mounting pressure from the US and its European counterparts, the strategic value of other alliances is becoming more pressing following the so-called 12-day war with Tel Aviv and Washington.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is coming of age
More than two and half decades after it was founded as a regional security organization to secure porous borders in the depths of Central Asia, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is coming of age as it expands its reach and agenda.
A look at the Indian industries hardest hit by US tariffs
India has emerged as one of the hardest hit nations under fresh tariff measures imposed by the United States, with Indian exports to its largest single market now facing duties of up to 50%.
Deathonomics: Russia’s war in Ukraine creates a new kind of middle class
Deathonomics: Russia’s war in Ukraine creates a new kind of middle class Some economists have dubbed it “deathonomics”. Russia’s heavy military spending is transforming income profiles. The trouble is you might be dead at the end of it.
China takes Russian oil shipments usually bound for India amid shifting trade flows
At its peak, Russia was India’s largest single supplier of crude, commanding a 36% share of the market. In 2024 alone, New Delhi imported $53bn worth of oil and crude products from Russia.
Russia’s economic problems are getting worse
Russia’s economic problems are getting worse. The economy narrowly avoided a recession in the first half of the year and the 2.2% forecast budget deficit is looking increasingly unrealistic as growth slides towards zero.
Putin says Russia and US discuss joint energy projects in Alaska, Arctic
US President Donald Trump let more deadlines to impose crushing sanctions and tariffs on Russia to end the war in Ukraine slide yet again. The reason might be that he is still hoping to sign off on multi-billion-dollar business deals with the Kremlin
Ukraine’s defence industry could triple its capacity, if Europe provides the contracts
Ukraine’s defence factories could triple their current output tomorrow. The technology is ready, the workers are trained, the production lines are in place. What is missing is money.
Russia’s car industry stalls under weight of Chinese dominance and structural decline
The Russian automotive sector is showing signs of systemic failure. After a brief post-crisis rebound in 2023 (+69%) and 2024 (+48%), the market has sharply reversed course in 2025, revealing deep-rooted vulnerabilities that go beyond a slowdown.
Are Ukraine's Flamingo cruise missiles really made in Ukraine?
Secret factory A camera crew from Associated Press was granted access to the Fire Point factory at an undisclosed location inside Ukraine to witness the production of Ukraine’s new Flamingo cruise missile.
Ukraine goes into production of Flamingo ICBM
Flamingo is part of Ukraine's broader push to develop independent strike capabilities, as it has been sorely lacking in missiles that can strike targets deep in Russia’s hinterland.
Russian fossil fuel revenues slip as CREA calls for tighter price cap enforcement
Russia’s fossil fuel export revenues fell 3% month-on-month in July to €585mn a day, as weaker crude oil and LNG sales offset a sharp rise in pipeline gas income, according to the July monthly update on Russia’s oil trade from CREA.
Europe overtakes US as main supplier of military aid to Ukraine
Europe, including the United Kingdom, has outstripped the United States in total military aid to Ukraine for the first time since mid-2022, with a growing share of support sourced directly from defence industry production rather stockpiles.
Russia’s Rosstat decides to hide increasing bleak income and retail figures from the public
In July Rosstat declared it will withhold data on monthly retail, wholesale trade, income, and salary data from its June release. Analysts say the reason is those numbers paint an increasingly bleak picture.
Indian opposition blames government on Trump threats
Under President Donald Trump’s second term his administration has taken a much more hawkish stance that Indian purchases enable Russia to weather sanctions and indirectly fund its war effort
Can India dump Russian oil imports completely if Trump’s secondary sanctions appear?
Since early 2024 India has typically bought 1.5–2.0 mbpd of Russian crude, or about 35–40% of its total imports. US President Donald Trump is threatening crushing 100% tariffs on Russia’s business partners if they continue to import crude.
India’s refiners face pressure as EU sanctions hit $14bn fuel exports
India’s petroleum exports to the European Union—valued at $14–15bn annually—are under threat following the EU’s latest sanctions package targeting Russian crude and its derivatives.
Russia-Azerbaijan crisis continues to deepen
The diplomatic crisis between Russia and Azerbaijan has expanded into cultural warfare, with Moscow dismissing a senior TASS executive for attending an Azerbaijani event.
Who are the men linked to corruption allegations dogging Zelenskiy’s government?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is facing mounting scrutiny over his decision to curb the independence of the country’s top anti-corruption bodies – provoking the largest domestic protests since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.