Russia

Putin says the Ukraine war "might not have happened" if Trump was president in 2022, as the two leaders flirt ahead of a mooted meeting

Ben Aris in Berlin January 24, 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin the 2022 "crisis in Ukraine" might never have happened had Donald Trump been US president at the time, AFP reported on January 24.

Trump says he wants to meet Putin “as soon as possible”, as Zelenskiy lobbies Davos for support

Ben Aris in Berlin January 24, 2025

US President Donald Trump said that he wants to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin "as soon as possible" to broker an end to the war in Ukraine, speaking to delegates at the World Economic Forum in Davos by video link on January 23.

Human rights groups urge Zelenskiy to protect North Korean soldiers captured in Ukraine

bno - Taipei Bureau January 24, 2025

Human rights organisations advocating for North Korean citizens have called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to refrain from repatriating two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia.

Indian energy supply unaffected by US sanctions on Russia

bno Chennai bureau January 24, 2025

India’s energy security remains steady despite new US sanctions targeting Russia.

Trump sets 100-day deadline for Ukraine peace, Zelenskiy seeks US guarantees

bne IntelliNews January 23, 2025

US President Donald Trump has tasked his special envoy for Russia and Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, with ending the war in Ukraine within 100 days.

Russia arrests Colombian fighter in occupied Kursk as mercenary crackdown widens

bne IntelliNews January 23, 2025

A Colombian citizen has been detained near the village of Alexandria in Russia's Kursk region on charges of terrorism and mercenary activity, as both Moscow and Kyiv grapple with the growing presence of foreign fighters in their ranks.

Putin faces mounting economic challenges amid pressure for Ukraine peace talks

bne IntelliNews January 23, 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin is under increasing pressure to address Russia’s deepening economic woes as US President Donald Trump intensifies calls for a negotiated end to the war in Ukraine.

Sanctions have created opportunities for Chinese tech companies in Russia

bne IntelliNews January 23, 2025

Chinese IT companies are rapidly expanding their footprint in Russia, capitalising on new opportunities created by the ongoing war and extreme Western sanctions that have banned tech exports to Russia.

Trump issues anti-wind executive order

bne IntelliNews January 23, 2025

President Donald Trump quickly issued an unexpectedly sweeping executive order that prevents federal government involvement in permitting of all offshore and onshore wind projects, including on private onshore land.

Trump warns Putin of severe economic measures without swift Ukraine peace deal

bne IntelliNews January 23, 2025

US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin, threatening severe economic measures unless a peace agreement is reached to end the conflict in Ukraine.

Lukashenko mulls building a second nuclear power plant

bne IntelliNews January 22, 2025

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko is mulling the idea of building a second nuclear power plant (NPP) to improve the country’s energy security and earn more money from exports to Russia.

India on the brink of a new oil shock

bno - Taipei Bureau January 22, 2025

India is facing the very real threat of an oil shock as new US sanctions targeting Russian crude come into force.

Trump withdraws US from Paris Agreement

Newsbase January 22, 2025

President Donald Trump wasted no time withdrawing the US from the Paris Agreement merely hours after being sworn-in on January 20.

Putin and Xi reaffirm partnership just hours after Trump’s inauguration

bne IntelliNews January 21, 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping publicly reaffirmed their nations’ “no limits” partnership during a phone call on January 20, shortly after Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th president of the US.

Russia and Armenia seek to ease strained relations

Ani Avetisyan in Yerevan January 21, 2025

Foreign ministers meet in Moscow after Yerevan announced plans to join EU and signed strategic partnership with the US.

Bali shuts down "Russian Village"

bno - Surabaya bureau January 21, 2025

The Gianyar Regency Government of Bali officially closed PARQ Ubud, also referred to as "The Russian Village," on January 20 for breaching local regulations.

Cocaine smuggling into Russia has risen TENFOLD since invasion of Ukraine

bne IntelliNews January 21, 2025

The volume of cocaine seized by Russian authorities has surged since the country launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, reflecting a significant shift in international smuggling routes and techniques.

COMMENT: Trump demands Europe import more US LNG, as the EU proposes banning Russian LNG completely. Neither will happen.

Ben Aris in Berlin January 21, 2025

US President Donald Trump wants Europe to buy more US gas or face tariffs, and ten EU member states have again called for an end to all Russian imports. Neither of these things are going to happen. Europe remains hooked on Russian gas.

Russia’s 2024 harvest comes in below expectations on bad weather and supply chain woes

bne IntelliNews January 21, 2025

Russia’s agricultural harvest came in below expectations in 2024, due to poor weather conditions and supply chain problems, reports the Bank of Finland institute for Emerging Economies (BOFIT).

Saving the Caspian Sea for Central Asia and Kazakhstan

Vadim Ni in Almaty January 20, 2025

The Caspian Sea has long been a cornerstone of life for Central Asia, especially for Kazakhstan, where it plays a critical role in supporting local economies, biodiversity and communities.

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