Russia
Europe's gas crisis is back with a vengeance
A year ago, many market watchers were warning that it was premature to say Europe’s gas crisis was over. Now it seems it is back with a vengeance.
Missing money, delayed arms deliveries and demands for mining deals, Ukraine's relations with Trump are off to a rocky start
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has complained that Ukraine has only received $75bn out of a pledged $177bn of aid pledged by the US to support Ukraine last year and he doesn’t know where the missing $100bn money is.
EU sanctions envoy takes on delicate “compliance” issues on visit to Kazakhstan
Given Russian-Kazakh economic integration, Europe cannot hope to stop every illicit shipment from the Central Asian country to Moscow’s war economy, but there are some notable successes.
Russian manufacturing PMI growth up a robust 53.1 points in January from 50.8 points a month earlier
Russia’s manufacturing sector expanded at its fastest pace in six months in January, driven by a surge in domestic demand and a rise in new orders, according to the latest S&P Global Russia Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index data.
Bomb blast kills pro-Russian paramilitary leader in Moscow
A bomb explosion in a luxury residential complex in Moscow has killed Armen Sarkisyan, a pro-Russian paramilitary leader from eastern Ukraine, in what authorities are treating as a targeted assassination.
COMMENT: Trump should do a deal with OPEC and tighten sanctions further to collapse the Russian economy
As its parting shot, the Biden administration imposed the toughest sanctions yet on Russian oil. The incoming Trump administration is changing tack and talking about negotiations, but should tighten sanctions further and cause Russia real pain.
Russia forced to turn to foreigners and criminals as Moscow military recruitment plunges fivefold
Military recruitment in Moscow has dropped fivefold since its peak in mid-2024, forcing Russian authorities to rely increasingly on foreign mercenaries, criminals and debtors to bolster troop numbers.
Belarusian firm providing Russia with military-quality microchips
A Belarusian state-owned enterprise has been supplying Russia with microchips crucial for missile production, using Western-manufactured equipment, components and raw materials in violation of international sanctions.
Moscow Exchange, SPBX report record trading volumes in 2024 amid market volatility
Russia’s leading stock exchanges reported record increases in total trading volumes in 2024, which saw a Russian IPO boom that is expected to continue this year.