Russia
Ukraine’s strategy of hitting Russian oil refineries is working
Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil refineries are doing what oil sanctions failed to do: reducing the Kremlin’s income from oil production, limiting its supply of fuel for the army and pushing up domestic prices, without driving up oil prices.
EU turning a blind eye to Russian LNG flowing through its terminals
Europe has been turning a blind eye to a fifth of Russia’s LNG output that is flowing through EU ports, either to be consumed by member states or sent on to customers around the world, in what is a lucrative trade for the Kremlin.
Putin accuses ‘arrogant’ West of risking global war at 2024 Victory Day celebrations
The West is risking inciting a global conflict, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed during his speech on Red Square at Moscow’s Victory Day celebrations.
Dollar remains dominant in global trade, but global tensions are fragmenting the world, says IMF
The global economic landscape is undergoing a transformation not seen since the end of the Cold War. Soaring geopolitical tensions have seen the world fragment into large trading blocs based on economic and national security concerns.
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Turkey signs LNG deal with US supermajor ExxonMobil placing question mark over Russian gas supplies
Ankara has ambition to make country an energy supply powerhouse based on re-exports.
Russia hits Ukrainian power facilities in six regions with intense missile attack, imports from EU won't cover winter demand
Russian forces launched an intense missile attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure in six regions on May 8. Half of Ukraine’s power facilities are now out of action to the point where European imports won't cover this winter's demand.
RBI caves into pressure to give up Strabag deal
US authorities had raised the threat of sanctions, leading the Austrian central bank to warn RBI against the deal.
Relokanty: Is Russia’s loss Central Asia’s gain?
Maximising the benefits of Russia’s surprising exodus.
A private company is building Belarus President Lukashenko a luxurious bolthole in Russia's Sochi – investigation
A private company linked to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is reportedly constructing a luxurious bolthole with hotel, restaurant and chalets in Russia’s mountainous village of Krasnaya Polyana, near Sochi, a joint investigation found.
New India-Europe transit corridor set to challenge IMEC, Suez routes
The battle of the corridors is heating up as India promotes a new India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) route that will connect the subcontinent with Europe by traversing the Middle East over land then sea to the EU via Haifa in Israel.
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Energy transition more likely to be delayed with dire consequences, says WoodMac
The world could be heading for a 3-degree C warming trajectory as political headwinds slow the energy transition, says a new report by Wood Mackenzie.
The Kremlin scores propaganda points with a display of captured tanks and armour ahead of the Victory Day parade
An exhibition of captured military trophies has opened in Moscow, ahead of the May 9 annual Victory Day parade, showing off Nato armour and vehicles captured by Russian forces in the Ukraine conflict.
Russian hackers target Kosovo over support for Ukraine
PM and president's websites temporarily offline in hacker attacks linked to Defence Minister Ejup Maqedonci's criticisms of Russia.
KSE: Sanctions tracker - Russia’s external environment improves in April
External environment improves for Russia – March trade surplus doubled to $16.8bn compared to average values in January-February; current account surplus rose to $13.4bn.
New Ukraine funding deal gives EU members opt out on military spending using CBR frozen funds
Neutral EU member states will be able to opt out of a plan to use profits from Russia’s central bank frozen assets to purchase weapons for Ukraine.
Russia’s poorest regions amongst the biggest winners from the war spending
Russia’s heavy military spending is acting as an income inequality equaliser. A raft of Russia’s poorest regions are the biggest winner from the militarisation of the Russian economy, as state money pours into fixing up regional factories.
Raiffeisen says pressure to cut Russian loanbook will complicate exit
Austrian lender suspends full-year target numbers after the ECB warning.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry calls on world to reject the legitimacy of Putin’s presidency
Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it does not recognise Vladimir Putin as the democratically elected and legitimate president of Russia the day before he was due to be inaugurated for the fifth time.
Nothing concrete has yet emerged from nuclear plant talks with Russia, says Uzbekistan
Tashkent has received proposals from other countries, though as things stand there are no talks on alternatives to Russian bid, UzAtom director says.
Russia’s government to change following Putin inauguration
Russian President Vladimir Putin will be sworn in for his fifth term in office on May 7 and, according to the Russian constitution, the government must resign.