Russia
Kremlin to replenish National Welfare Fund by RUB1.3tn in June, enough to cover the budget deficit, despite oil revenue pressures
The Kremlin has replenished the National Welfare Fund (NWF) with a new RUB1.3tn ($14.9bn) injection in June, as the Ministry of Finance credited long-delayed foreign exchange proceeds and gold reserves purchased last year.
Russia’s military recruitment slows but costs surge past $4bn in first half of 2025
Russia’s contract military recruitment slowed in May and June after a spring surge, but the cost of signing up new soldiers continued to climb, according to analysis by Janis Kluge, fellow at the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP).
BRICS leaders gather in Rio to challenge Western dominance
Leaders from the BRICS group have convened in Rio de Janeiro for their 17th annual summit, casting the expanded bloc as a counterweight to Western institutions whilst grappling with internal divisions over key geopolitical flashpoints.
Southern Ocean current reverses for first time, signalling risk of climate system collapse
A major ocean current in the Southern Hemisphere has reversed direction for the first time in recorded history, in what climatologists are calling a “catastrophic” tipping point in the global climate system.
St Petersburg braces for historic flood as Neva River surges past warning levels
St Petersburg is bracing itself for the worst flood in 160 years as the water level in the Neva surges thanks to heavy rain.
Russia launches intense long-range missile strikes and drone barrage targeting Ukrainian infrastructure
Russia has launched the most intense missile and drone strikes on key Ukrainian infrastructure targets over the weekend that is growing in ferocity, focusing on the dwindling air defences installations, logistics hubs, and ammunition depots.
Russia becomes first country to formally recognise Taliban government in Afghanistan
Russia has formally recognised the Taliban administration in Afghanistan, becoming the first country to do so since the group seized power in August 2021, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on July 4.
Trump-Zelenskiy call discusses air defence ammo as US pauses some arms deliveries
US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy held a telephone conversation on July 4 and discussed the future defence cooperation and halt in delivery of American weapons.
Denmark takes over EU presidency, vows to support Ukraine’s accession
Denmark has taken over the European Union’s rotating presidency and pledged to support Ukraine's bid to join the bloc while warning it may seek to nix Hungary’s EU voting rights if it continues to veto the vote.
Russia becomes first country to officially recognise Taliban in Afghanistan
Russia has become the first country to officially recognise the Taliban government in Afghanistan, with the Islamic Emirate calling it a "brave decision."
Russian labour market crunch shows signs of easing as firms scale back hiring and wage growth
Russia’s chronic labour crisis is showing signs of beginning to ease, as new data show a slowdown in wage growth and hiring, particularly in the civilian and construction sectors, Kommersant reported this week.
“No progress” on Ukraine in Trump’s call with Putin
US President Donald Trump expressed disappointment following a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 3, where the two leaders made “no progress” on bringing the conflict to an end.
Putin congratulates Belarusian President Lukashenko on Independence Day
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko on Belarus’s Independence Day on July 3, highlighting their long-standing cultural ties and emphasising their common fight against the Nazis in WWII.
Russia's service PMI falls back into the red in June for the first time in a year to 49.2
Russia’s service sector fell back into the red at the end of the second quarter as the S&P Global PMI index fell to 49.2 in June from 52.2 in May, below the 50 no-change benchmark.
Ukraine, allies put on a brave face as US weapons supplies stop
Washington halted the delivery of missiles used in air defence and ammunition to Kyiv on July 1, claiming its own stocks were dwindling causing consternation in Kyiv which is battling to hold off massive Russian drone and missile barrages.
Private jets emitted more climate pollution than all Heathrow Airport flights in 2023
A new analysis from the International Council on Clean Transportation reveals that emissions from private jets reached up to 19.5mn tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2023 – marking a 25% rise over the past 10 years.
KYIV BLOG: Never enough arms and ammo for Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been calling for western arms from day-one of the war and has never received enough soon enough.
Despite robust international support, Ukraine “running out of space” to cope with additional economic stress – IMF
The International Monetary Fund has warned that Ukraine’s ability to absorb further economic shocks is rapidly diminishing as the war with Russia enters its fourth year and reform momentum in Parliament slows, says the IMF in a staff report.
Azerbaijan arrests eight Russians as diplomatic crisis deepens over Yekaterinburg killings
Killings of two Azerbaijani brothers by the Russian FSB in Yekaterinburg sparked the most serious confrontation between Baku and Moscow since independence.
Russian forces take full control of Luhansk for the first time, advance in other new regions
Russian forces have reportedly taken full control of the region of Luhansk and a village in Ukraine’s east-central Dnipropetrovsk region, marking the first such advance in the area since the war began, reported Reuters, citing Russian media.