Russia
Russia’s economy narrowly avoids technical recession as war strains mount
The slowdown in GDP growth in Russia to 1.1% year on year in the second quarter suggests the economy may have narrowly avoided a technical recession, but “the economy is clearly struggling amidst imbalances that have built up due to the war."
COMMENT: What is Rosneft’s flagship Vostok Oil Project seeking to achieve?
Russia’s oil industry enjoyed a renaissance between 2008 and 2018 when about 30 new oil fields came online, significantly boosting production. The Vostok Oil fields hold some 45bn barrels of oil.
The unintended consequence of Trump's tariffs is pushing BRICS together
President Donald Trump’s tariff salvo aimed at some of the BRICS economies is in danger badly of backfiring on US interests by driving the more moderate members of the world’s leading emerging economies into the anti-Western Sino-Russian alliance
Venezuela clears way for Russian extradition of Ukraine supporter held in Caracas
Venezuela's Supreme Court will consider extraditing a Russian national and prominent Ukraine supporter to Moscow on terrorism charges, in yet another case that illustrates the deepening ties between Maduro's regime and the Kremlin.
Ukraine's position deteriorates ahead of key Trump-Putin summit in Alaska
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet in Anchorage, Alaska on August 15 in what could be critical talks that could bring the war in Ukraine a step closer.
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.
Fire reported at Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant's cargo port
Fire reported near cargo port of occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant as Ukraine warns of catastrophic risks from Russian military actions at Europe's largest atomic facility.
Naftogaz wins Austrian court approval to seize Russian assets worth over €120mn
Ukraine’s state-owned Naftogaz Group has secured permission from an Austrian court to enforce a $5bn arbitral award against Russia, in the latest step in its effort to recover compensation for the seizure of its assets in Crimea.
COMMENT: Russia’s debt relief scheme masks war spending in regional budgets
A quiet reshuffling of budget lines in several Russian regions is revealing how the Kremlin is using a federal debt write-off programme to subsidise military recruitment, according to Janis Kluge, fellow at the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik.
Russia's Tatarstan region reports massive Ukrainian drone attack
Russia's Tatarstan region reports a massive drone attack, with air raid sirens sounding in Almetyevsk, as defence systems intercept 25 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions.
Armenian businessman launches $500mn arbitration case against Yerevan
Russian-Armenian businessman Samvel Karapetyan seeks $500mn in international arbitration against Armenia over alleged illegal expropriation of his electricity distribution company.
Iran revives Mark 1 Dacia Logan as Pars ‘Nova’ in relaunch
Move over Vauxhall, Iran's former GM plant has nabbed the Nova moniker for a rehashed Dacia sedan from the early 2000s!
US ends Ukraine war funding, says vice president JD Vance
US Vice President JD Vance has said that Washington has stopped financing Ukraine’s war effort, signalling a shift in policy under President Donald Trump towards pushing European allies to take greater responsibility in supporting Kyiv.
Confusion reigns over the upcoming Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska
Russian President Vladimir Putin presented the Trump administration this week with a proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine that will be discussed at a meeting between the two presidents on August 15 in Alaska.
COMMENT: Moscow's strategic defeat, Washington's noisy triumph in the South Caucasus
With the historic Washington deal, the US is seizing from Russia the role of main mediator in the Armenian-Azerbaijani process.
Ukraine slams Slovak strongman Fico, saying he does not understand causes of war in Ukraine
PM Robert Fico and his nominally leftist Smer party have moved deep into national conservative waters and adopted pro-Kremlin propaganda talking points about Russia being “provoked” into invading Ukraine.
Largest shareholder of Russia's Samolet Group Mikhail Kenin dies at 57
Russia’s largest residential developer Samolet Group announces death of top shareholder Mikhail Kenin.
Wildfires close Dardanelles gateway to Black Sea
Strait closed as Turkey’s heatwave battle with raging wildfires fanned by strong winds continues.
Mixed messages on Russian oil supply to India
India’s Rosneft-backed Nayara Energy is struggling to secure ships to transport fuel after being placed under European Union sanctions.