Russia

Tensions in the Baltic Sea: Russia detains oil tanker that left Estonian port

bne IntelliNews May 19, 2025

Russian authorities detained a Greek-owned oil tanker, Green Admire, on May 18 after it departed from Estonia’s Port of Sillamae en route to Rotterdam, and was transiting Russia’s territorial waters along a previously agreed shipping corridor.

The world is getting darker, absorbing more sunlight, which is accelerating the Climate Crisis

Ben Aris in Berlin May 18, 2025

The world is getting darker as the ice melts and that means it is absorbing more and more sunlight, which is accelerating the process.

COMMENT: Europe must choose either to accept 15% of Russian gas supplies or zero

Newsbase May 18, 2025

The European Commission on May 6 unveiled a brief roadmap outlining how it plans to achieve the EU objective of eliminating all remaining Russian energy imports by 2027.

United States has image problem in Central Asia

bne IntelliNews May 17, 2025

Public perceptions toward Washington rapidly swing from positive to negative.

Russo-Ukraine Istanbul ceasefire talks break up without result

Ben Aris in London May 17, 2025

The first direct meeting between the Kremlin and Bankova for negotiations since the start of the war in Ukraine in Istanbul on May 16 ended in failure with little progress being made.

Brazil and Russia edge closer on nuclear deal

Victor Alves May 15, 2025

Brazil and Russia are expected to advance cooperation on small modular reactor (SMR) technology, Brazil’s Minister of Energy Alexandre Silveira said after a visit to Moscow with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Putin slaps Zelenskiy in the face, skipping the Istanbul meeting, sending a low-level delegation in his place

bne IntelliNews May 15, 2025

Russian president Vladimir Putin was a no-show at direct talks he proposed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and sent a low-level delegation instead that didn't include a single minister, in what has been called a “slap in the face”.

Slow Kazakhification of Russianised lands falls flat in Kazakhstan’s north

Emma Collet in Petropavlovsk May 15, 2025

“We're moving poor people who are unemployed, to regions where they'll be poor,” says sociologist.

EBRD2025: Ukraine prepares for peace by getting ready for war

Ben Aris in London May 15, 2025

“We keep struggling, but we are strong and now we are stronger than we were in 2022, but of course we have suffered a lot,” said Ukraine’s Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko at a high-level panel on Ukraine.

Lula presses Putin to attend Ukraine peace talks as Russian leader sends deputies instead

bne IntelliNews May 15, 2025

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva joined the chorus of voices piling pressure on his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to personally attend proposed peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, but to no avail.

Eurasia a significant source of methane emissions – report

Eurasianet May 14, 2025

Russia and Turkmenistan are primary offenders.

China's SWM to launch auto plant in Turkey

Akin Nazli in Belgrade May 14, 2025

BYD's sales of zero-tariff Chinese EVs on Turkish market are, meanwhile, booming.

EBRD2025: France pledges €10mn to repair Chernobyl shelter after drone strike

Ben Aris in London May 14, 2025

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has secured a €10mn ($10.8mn) contribution from France to help fund emergency repairs to the New Safe Confinement (NSC) structure at the Chernobyl (Chornobyl) nuclear power plant.

COMMENT: Amid shrinking civic space, will the EBRD still uphold its democratic mandate?

Nina Lesikhina of the CEE Bankwatch Network May 14, 2025

As the global Democracy Index recorded a historic low in 2024, institutions tasked with upholding democratic values are under increasing pressure to adapt.

Russia eyes deeper coal partnership with India amid long-term supply plans

bno - Mumbai Office May 14, 2025

Russia’s coal reserves are sufficient to meet domestic demand for over 500 years, and the country sees significant scope for deepening cooperation with India in the coal sector.

Iran, Russia launch second phase of banking payment system integration

bnm Tehran bureau May 13, 2025

Iran and Russia rolled out the second phase of their Shetab-Mir payment network integration, strengthening financial ties between the two nations

Russian tycoon Usmanov wins lawsuit against Luxembourg media giant

Ben Aris in Berlin May 13, 2025

A German court has banned Mediahuis Luxembourg S.A., the most important media holding in Luxembourg, from referring to Uzbek-born Russian metals and media tycoon Alisher Usmanov as the owner of the luxury superyacht Dilbar.

Zelenskiy to travel to Istanbul after Trump backs Putin’s offer of talks

Ben Aris in Belrin May 11, 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy agreed to hold face-to-face peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul on May 15.

EU leaders demand Putin end hostilities or face crushing sanctions

Ben Aris in Berlin May 11, 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a rare midnight press conference on May 10 and called for direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in the Istanbul format, as the key EU members of the coalition of the willing met Ukrainian President Zelinskiy.

Brazil courts Moscow with nuclear and defence pacts as Europe rallies behind Ukraine

bne IntelliNews May 10, 2025

Brazil and Russia are pursuing extensive cooperation on nuclear technology, military hardware and space exploration, as President Lula da Silva dismissed European criticism of his attendance at Vladimir Putin's Victory Day celebrations.

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