Ukraine

Sanctioned sister of billionaire Usmanov waives right to benefit from family trusts

Ben Aris in Berlin March 28, 2024

The sanctioned sister of Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov has voluntarily and irrevocably waived her right to receive benefits from two family trusts set up years ago by the Uzbek-born tycoon in a bid to have sanctions on her lifted.

COMMENT: Overheating in Russia and Turkey, but CEE recovering

Ben Aris in Berlin March 27, 2024

The economies of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), which experienced a period of stagnation last year, are poised for a modest revival in 2024, but both the Russian and Turkish economies are already overheating.

EU tariffs on Russian grain imports to the EU will have little impact

Ben Aris in Berlin March 25, 2024

The introduction on high tariffs on the import of Russian grain to the EU will have virtually no impact, as the volume of Russian grain arriving in the EU is so small and is not worth a lot of money.

THE BELL: Russians have never lived as well as they do today

The Bell March 24, 2024

Russian President Vladimir Putin would have probably won the elections even if they had been free and fair, as Russians have never lived as well as they do today. The economy would have powered Putin to victory.

Bulgaria moves closer to deal on selling Russian-made reactors to Ukraine

bne IntelliNews March 24, 2024

Reactors originally intended for Belene NPP project now likely to sold to Ukraine to compensate for loss of Zaporizhzhia NPP to Russia.

Almost 1.5mn Ukrainians plunged into darkness as Russia targets power infrastructure

bne IntelliNews March 24, 2024

Almost 1.5mn Ukrainians were plunged into darkness over the weekend as Russia continued what has been described as the biggest barrage of missile strikes against its energy infrastructure since the start of the war over two years ago.

Putin links Ukraine to Moscow terror attack

bne IntelliNews March 23, 2024

Speaking on March 23, 18 hours after the attack that killed at least 115 and wounded hundreds more, Putin stated that the gunmen responsible for the shooting had been caught, and claimed that they were in a car on the way to the Ukrainian border.

Russia to begin new mobilisation for siege of Kharkiv, say reports

bne IntelliNews March 23, 2024

Russia's Defence Ministry is reportedly gearing up for a significant escalation in the conflict in Ukraine, with plans to deploy an additional 300,000 troops, according to sources cited by the independent outlet Verstka.

Ukraine’s power infrastructure in danger from Russian missile barrage

Ben Aris in Berlin March 23, 2024

Ukraine suffered a second day of intense bombing of its power stations, plunging half a dozen regions into darkness, as the Kremlin tries to take advantage of Kyiv’s dwindling supply of air defence ammo.

Kremlin calls conflict with Ukraine ‘war’ for first time

bne IntelliNews March 22, 2024

For the first time, the Kremlin has called the conflict in Ukraine a “war.” Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov admitted the fight was a war in an interview with a leading Russian newspaper, using the word that until now was illegal.

US urges G7 to issue $50bn bonds backed by CBR frozen money income, EU agrees to seize the profits

bne IntelliNews March 22, 2024

The US has urged its G7 allies to issue a $50bn bond backed by the profits earned from the $300bn of frozen Central Bank of Russia (CBR) money held in Europe.

An epic insurance brawl over Russia’s seizure of planes is going nowhere

bne IntelliNews March 21, 2024

An epic brawl in the aviation insurance business is going nowhere as Western firms try to recover something from the Russian government, which seized billions of dollars’ worth of leased planes impounded by Russia.

UBN: Russia could take the Baltic states in 48 hours

Andrew Pryma of UBN in Kyiv March 21, 2024

Russian forces must only make an offensive push for 250km to cut the Baltic states from Europe.

One year on: Russia’s budget deficit already at end of year forecast level

Ben Aris in Berlin March 21, 2024

This time last year and a cheer went up from amongst Ukraine’s supporters. The twin oil sanctions were moving into place and it looked like they were going to work as Russia’s oil revenue collapsed and the budget deficit blew out.

Slim hopes of EU enlargement progress ahead of European Parliament elections

bne IntelliNews March 20, 2024

EU members are pushing for the start of accession talks with Bosnia at this week’s EU Council, but wider progress unlikely before June elections.

Seed of dissent: EC imposes fresh restrictions on Ukraine agriculture exports under European farm lobby pressure

Ben Aris in Berlin March 20, 2024

The European council agreed to add several new agricultural products to a list that reimposes tariffs and quotas on Ukraine agricultural product imports to the EU, voting on a surprise decision to expand the list.

A surprise EU proposal to expand agricultural ”emergency brake” import restrictions will cost Ukraine €1.7bn

Ben Aris in Berlin March 19, 2024

EU countries have overnight agreed to impose new restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural imports that will cost the cash strapped country €1.7bn and hurt its ability to fight the war against Russia.

Russia says it wants to create ‘buffer zone’ in Ukraine

bne IntelliNews March 19, 2024

Speaking on March 18, following President Vladimir Putin's re-election victory speech, where he broached the idea, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that a zone between Russia and Ukraine was the best way to protect Russians.

KYIV BLOG: EU finalises €5bn Ukraine Peace Fund contribution that will see little new money sent to Kyiv

bne IntelliNews March 18, 2024

EU ambassadors agreed to back a new €5bn Ukraine Assistance Fund on March 13, part of the EU's off-budget European Peace Facility (EPF) that is used to partially reimburse member countries for the weapons they provide to Ukraine.

Europe has €56bn shortfall to meet Nato 2% of GDP spending pledge

bne IntelliNews March 18, 2024

European nations within Nato are facing a €56bn shortfall in meeting the alliance's defence spending pledge of 2% of GDP this year, the Financial Times reported on March 16.

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