Russia

Russia's Lukoil to sell international assets as a result of new US oil sanctions

Ben Aris in Berlin October 28, 2025

Russia's second-largest oil producer, the privately owned Lukoil, will sell its international assets as a result of the new oil sanctions imposed by US President Donald Trump last week.

Ukraine accuses Russia of using energy blackmail against Serbia

Tatyana Kekic in Belgrade October 27, 2025

Ukraine says Moscow is repeating tactics it previously deployed against Kyiv after Russia refuses to sell its stake in Serbia's NIS.

US senator tells Maduro "head to Russia or China" as warships close in on Venezuela

bnl editorial staff October 27, 2025

A senior US Republican senator has warned that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's time in power is running out and suggested he leave the country, as military tensions in the Caribbean continue to escalate.

Russian e-commerce giant Wildberries goes on a mysterious M&A spree

Ben Aris in Berlin October 27, 2025

Russian e-commerce giant goes on M&A spree Almost a year after the controversial merger with a leading outdoor advertising firm, Russia’s leading e-commerce site Wildberries is indulging in a fresh bout of eyebrow raising deals.

MOSCOW BLOG: Dmitriev goes to Washington

Ben Aris in Berlin October 27, 2025

That didn’t work well. Kirill Dmitriev, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy on Ukraine who has been leading business talks with the US, shot off to Washington within two days of US President Donald Trump imposing oil sanctions.

EU rare earth supply dominated by China and Russia - Eurostat

bne IntelliNews October 27, 2025

The European Union remains heavily dependent on China and Russia for rare earth imports, with nearly three-quarters of its supply sourced from the two countries in 2024, according to data published by Eurostat and reported by Statista.

Zelenskiy accuses China of aiding Russia’s war effort through industrial and military support

bne IntelliNews October 27, 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused China of materially supporting Russia’s military-industrial complex, providing key technologies and resources that have enabled Moscow to sustain and scale its war effort against Ukraine.

US Treasury Secretary Bessent blasts “Russian propagandist” special envoy Dmitriev in Washington PR debacle

Ben Aris in Berlin October 27, 2025

A trip to Washington by the Kremlin’s special business envoy Kirill Dmitriev days after the US imposed new oil sanctions turned into a debacle after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent blasted him as a “Russian propagandist.”

COMMENT: Europe’s “fake it till you make it” war approach cannot hold off Russia’s trillion dollar war machine

Matthew Blackburn is a Senior Researcher at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, Patricia Marins is an independent analyst focusing on defence and security in Europe and Eurasia October 27, 2025

In their speeches on the war in Ukraine, European leaders appear like a video clip looped on repeat. Standing before the cameras they declare new packages of support for Kyiv and threaten new measures to pressure Russia as if it was still 2022.

US expands oil sanctions on Russia

Ben Aris in Berlin October 26, 2025

US President Donald Trump imposed his first sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies on October 22, the state-owned Rosneft and the privately-owned Lukoil in the latest flip flop by the US president.

Russia test fires its Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile

bne IntelliNews October 26, 2025

Russia’s Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile has no analogues in the world, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, as the Kremlin escalates the unfolding missile arms race with Ukraine another notch.

Russia claims to surround Pokrovsk

bne IntelliNews October 26, 2025

Russia’s chief of the general staff Valery Gerasimov triumphantly reported to Putin that 31 Ukrainian battalions have been encircled in Pokrovsk and 18 battalions in Kupyansk, the hottest spot in the war.

Bulgaria tightens control over Lukoil sale after fresh US sanctions on Russia

Tatyana Kekic in Belgrade October 26, 2025

Bulgaria’s parliament passed new legislation tightening state control over the sale of Russian oil major Lukoil’s assets in the country, after Washington imposed fresh sanctions on Russia’s top energy firms.

Russia will remain defiant against US sanctions pressure, Putin claims

bne IntelliNews October 23, 2025

The sanctions come at a time when Russia’s two largest energy buyers, China and India, have shown signs of reducing their oil imports from Russia.

Russia rules out seizing EU assets but warns of retaliation if confiscations proceed

bne IntelliNews October 23, 2025

Russia will not seize European Union assets currently operating within its borders, Russian Deputy Finance Minister Alexei Moiseev has said.

China’s state-owned oil giants halt Russian crude purchases in response to US sanctions

bne IntelliNews October 23, 2025

China’s state-owned oil giants have paused their purchase of Russian crude oil in response to recent US sanctions targeting Moscow’s two largest oil firms, Rosneft and Lukoil

Emerging Europe’s growth holds up but risks loom, says wiiw

Clare Nuttall in Glasgow October 23, 2025

Fiscal fragility, weakening industrial demand from Germany, and the prolonged fallout from Russia’s war in Ukraine threaten to undermine growth momentum in parts of the region.

India, US near major trade deal cutting tariffs to 15–16% if New Delhi will limit Russian crude imports

bno - Mumbai Office October 23, 2025

India and the United States are close to finalising a long-awaited bilateral trade deal that could sharply lower tariffs on Indian exports to about 15–16% from the current average of 50%

Slovak PM Fico to unblock 19th round of sanctions in exchange for EU’s concessions to car industry

Albin Sybera in Prague October 22, 2025

During a parliamentary session in Bratislava, Fico reportedly admitted he uses the support for sanctions as a "pressure tool".

Hungarian foreign minister says "many actors" worked to prevent Budapest summit

bne IntelliNews October 22, 2025

The White House has suspended plans for a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest.

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