Russia
Surging US and Russian LNG exports push gas prices to 18-month low
LNG prices in Europe have dropped to their lowest levels in 18 months, thanks to surging supply and subdued demand across the continent.
Situation along Afghan-Tajik border “not stable” – Dushanbe
Tajikistan asks for Russian help to thwart Islamic militant attacks.
Russia turns to gold reserves as sanctions squeeze deepens
Russia has begun to sell off its strategic gold reserves to offset the growing budget deficit brought on by Western sanctions, falling oil prices and economic problems that are getting worse, according to Kyrylo Shevchenko, former Governor of the Nat
ECB refuses to back EU’s plan for €140bn Ukraine loan
The European Central Bank has refused to support a €140bn EU loan package intended for Ukraine, dealing a significant blow to a controversial initiative that sought to finance Kyiv using a cash pile from the investment of Russian frozen assets.
AI-generated image of Assad in Moscow exposed as fake as Kremlin stays silent
Fake AI image of Assad in Moscow's Red Square goes viral as Kremlin refuses to disclose any information about ousted Syrian leader's whereabouts nearly a year after his flight from Damascus.
Russia-EU trade turnover falls to historic low as sanctions bite
Trade between Russia and the European Union has plummeted to its lowest level on record, as sanctions, energy decoupling, and sanctions bite, Izvestiya reported on December 2.
Russian military claims capture of Pokrovsk and Vovchansk, but Ukraine says fighting continues
Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov told President Vladimir Putin that Russian forces had seized the cities of Pokrovsk in Donetsk region and Vovchansk in Kharkiv region during a visit by the Russian leader.
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US offers Maduro exit to Russia as Trump confirms talks
The United States has presented Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro with an option to depart his country for Russia or another destination of his choice, a senior Republican senator revealed on November 30.
Russian manufacturing contracts for sixth straight month to 48.3 in November as output drops sharply
Russia’s manufacturing sector continued to contract in November, marking the sixth consecutive month of decline, as output levels fell at the fastest pace since April 2022 and new orders continued to weaken, S&P Global reported on November 28.
US-Ukraine delegations meeting in last chance to coordinate peace talk positions before US-Kremlin meeting
US officials met with a Ukrainian delegation in Florida to thrash out a timetable for presidential elections, the possibility of land swaps between Russia and Ukraine and other issues that remain unresolved on November 30.
Kazakhstan tells Ukraine to cease "unacceptable" attacks on its main oil export facility on Russian Black Sea coast
Drone strikes are “harming bilateral relations”, warns Astana.
General Zaluzhnyi attacks Zelenskiy’s administration in apparent bid for the presidency
Ukraine’s former commander in chief and now ambassador to the UK General Valerii Zaluzhnyi lashed out at the Zelenskiy administration in what appears to be the start of a bid to take over as president.
US-Ukraine meet in Florida to talk peace plans
The United States is preparing to resolve all outstanding territorial issues with Ukraine in advance of high-level negotiations in Moscow, Axios reported, citing unnamed sources familiar with the talks.
Kyiv hits Russia’s sanction-evading shadow fleet in Black Sea off Turkey
Ukraine has intensified its campaign against Russia’s oil trade by striking two tankers linked to Moscow’s sanction-evading maritime network in the Black Sea.
Latvia mulls ripping up railway tracks leading to Russia
With border tensions unlikely to ease in the foreseeable future, dismantling the rail links is one of several potential security measures.
Putin admits he’s behind massive truck snarl-ups on Russia-Kazakhstan border
Tells press conference he ordered random roadside checks in crackdown on illegal imports.
Russian middle-class investors have $14bn of frozen stocks abroad
Millions of Russian citizens who invested in foreign stocks and bonds before the war in Ukraine remain locked out of their assets, three years after sweeping Western sanctions froze Russian-linked holdings across global financial markets.
KYIV BLOG: Principles vs Pragmatism
This is the most concerted effort to end the war in Ukraine since the failed Istanbul peace deal in 2022. But after the initial optimism, the chance of a deal going through are fading.
US-Russian crew arrives at International Space Station for eight-month mission
US astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts dock at ISS for 242-day mission featuring 40 experiments and two spacewalks. Colleagues welcomed Expedition 74 crew with a homemade cake.
Russia corporate debt burden risks rise, 17 leading companies in trouble
Russia’s corporate debt crisis is rising faster than expected, with the number of leading companies that represent two fifths of GDP in increased danger of going bankrupt, according to the Central Bank of Russia (CBR).