Russia
Russia’s economy stabilising but growth to slow – CBR macro survey
Russia’s economy is stabilising with the spread in predictions of what’s coming later this year narrowing, the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) reported in its monthly macroeconomic survey. However, growth will also slow this year to 2.1%.
COMMENT: Armenia's decisive turn towards the West
There’s a high probability that a new geopolitical balance can be established in the South Caucasus where Russia will finally be absent.
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Czechia paid five times more for energy imports from Russia than it spent on aid to Ukraine
The amount of money Czechia spent on Russian energy imports until the end of 2023 could finance more than three weeks of Russian fighting in Ukraine.
Russia's AvtoVAZ to start exporting Lada cars to Iran in 2024
Russian carmaker AvtoVAZ is set to return to the Iranian market after a 25-year hiatus, the company’s president, Maxim Sokolov, has said, ignoring Middle East tensions.
Fresh evidence suggests that the April 2022 Istanbul peace deal to end the war in Ukraine was stillborn
Fresh evidence indicates that the peace deal was probably too ambitious and, by failing to include the West in the talks, was stillborn.
Russia’s $13.4bn current account surplus in March second highest since 2007
Russia posted a $13.4bn current account surplus in March, more than double February’s $5.5bn and the second highest level for a March since 2007.
Pro-Kremlin Voice of Europe resumes operations from Kazakhstan
Media platform that has promoted far-right EU politicians was expelled from Czechia last month.
Russian peacekeeping forces reportedly leaving Nagorno-Karabakh
Withdrawal would be a significant shift in the post-conflict landscape of the South Caucasus.
Russia's finance ministry re-engineers tax system
By tinkering with the tax system, the Russian Ministry of Finance has created enough cash to pay for the war in Ukraine.
Russia pushes Iran to release its sailor from captured Israeli container ship
Iranian authorities said they would provide Russian embassy officials with access to its citizen who was captured as part of the crew of the Israeli-owned MSC Aries.
Russia’s war economy boosted by rising oil prices
Brent crude oil prices remained near a six-month high this week, hovering around $90 per barrel amidst fears of an oil price spike driven by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
US Speaker Johnson releases preliminary details of a new $43bn Ukraine aid package
US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has released preliminary details of a new aid package for US allies that he says could be put to a vote this week.
UK, US ban trading in Russian aluminium, copper, nickel
The London Metal Exchange (LME) and Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) have blocked the trade of aluminium, copper, and nickel produced by Russia, the UK government accounced late on April 12.
Tajik foreign minister hits out at Russia’s apparent torturing of terrorism accused
"Use of torture in form of bodily mutilation unacceptable. Price of confessions extracted this way well known to everyone," says Sirojiddin Muhriddin.
Iran's attempt at a "Goldilocks retaliation" strike on Israel was designed to fail, but tensions remain high
Iran launched its first ever direct military attack on Israel on April 13 after decades of proxy war hostilities. As the dust settles the following morning, the attack seems to have failed with only seven missiles penetrating Israel’s defences.
Estonia’s interior minister set to classify Moscow Patriarchate church as terror organisation
Estonian Interior Minister Lauri Laanemets said he is set to propose to the country’s parliament Riigikogu that they declare the Moscow-based Orthodox Patriarchate a terrorist organisation.
How much damage can Ukraine’s drone attacks on Russian oil refineries do?
Since the beginning of the year, Ukrainian drones have attacked over two dozen Russian oil refineries and several oil depots in the first sustained campaign against Russia’s oil product producing facilities.
Global warming and war redraws undersea internet cable connections map
A 14,500-kilometre subsea cable project in the Arctic will redraw the international data traffic route, offering a strategic alternative away from vulnerable European cables that have already come under attack by the West’s enemies.
BOFIT: Russia’s overall economic performance steady in February; construction investment has supported wartime growth
The central factor supporting Russian economic growth last year was the sharp increase in fixed capital investment. Increased budget spending was also used to finance investments.
PANNIER: Caspian military drills that exclude Russia and Iran have some people in Moscow asking questions
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan going ahead with “Birlestik-2024”. Russian consternation is growing.