Russia
US Treasury Secretary Bessent blasts “Russian propagandist” special envoy Dmitriev in Washington PR debacle
A trip to Washington by the Kremlin’s special business envoy Kirill Dmitriev days after the US imposed new oil sanctions turned into a debacle after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent blasted him as a “Russian propagandist.”
COMMENT: Europe’s “fake it till you make it” war approach cannot hold off Russia’s trillion dollar war machine
In their speeches on the war in Ukraine, European leaders appear like a video clip looped on repeat. Standing before the cameras they declare new packages of support for Kyiv and threaten new measures to pressure Russia as if it was still 2022.
US expands oil sanctions on Russia
US President Donald Trump imposed his first sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies on October 22, the state-owned Rosneft and the privately-owned Lukoil in the latest flip flop by the US president.
Russia test fires its Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile
Russia’s Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile has no analogues in the world, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, as the Kremlin escalates the unfolding missile arms race with Ukraine another notch.
Russia claims to surround Pokrovsk
Russia’s chief of the general staff Valery Gerasimov triumphantly reported to Putin that 31 Ukrainian battalions have been encircled in Pokrovsk and 18 battalions in Kupyansk, the hottest spot in the war.
Bulgaria tightens control over Lukoil sale after fresh US sanctions on Russia
Bulgaria’s parliament passed new legislation tightening state control over the sale of Russian oil major Lukoil’s assets in the country, after Washington imposed fresh sanctions on Russia’s top energy firms.
Russia will remain defiant against US sanctions pressure, Putin claims
The sanctions come at a time when Russia’s two largest energy buyers, China and India, have shown signs of reducing their oil imports from Russia.
Russia rules out seizing EU assets but warns of retaliation if confiscations proceed
Russia will not seize European Union assets currently operating within its borders, Russian Deputy Finance Minister Alexei Moiseev has said.
China’s state-owned oil giants halt Russian crude purchases in response to US sanctions
China’s state-owned oil giants have paused their purchase of Russian crude oil in response to recent US sanctions targeting Moscow’s two largest oil firms, Rosneft and Lukoil
Emerging Europe’s growth holds up but risks loom, says wiiw
Fiscal fragility, weakening industrial demand from Germany, and the prolonged fallout from Russia’s war in Ukraine threaten to undermine growth momentum in parts of the region.
India, US near major trade deal cutting tariffs to 15–16% if New Delhi will limit Russian crude imports
India and the United States are close to finalising a long-awaited bilateral trade deal that could sharply lower tariffs on Indian exports to about 15–16% from the current average of 50%
Slovak PM Fico to unblock 19th round of sanctions in exchange for EU’s concessions to car industry
During a parliamentary session in Bratislava, Fico reportedly admitted he uses the support for sanctions as a "pressure tool".
Hungarian foreign minister says "many actors" worked to prevent Budapest summit
The White House has suspended plans for a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest.
White House halts plans for Trump-Putin summit in Budapest
Anonymous White House official tells AFP there are “no plans” for Trump to meet Putin “in the immediate future”, effectively shelving a Budapest gathering that Trump had described as imminent only days earlier.
EU decision to ban Russian gas transit raises alarm in Serbia
Belgrade warned that the EU's decision to halt imports and transit of Russian natural gas from 2026 poses a serious threat to its energy security, with senior politicians calling the move "catastrophic".
Slovak Foreign Minister Blanár reiterates support for Ukraine’s EU bid
Juraj Blanár says Ukraine is "ready in a way" for accession, but notes objections from some EU member states.
Kremlin says leaders’ good relations helped Budapest secure summit
Hungary is expected to host a second summit between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump on Ukraine after their talks in Alaska in August did not lead to a breakthrough.
_2_1761012864.jpg)
India’s opposition slams Modi over Trump’s Russia oil claim
Indian National Congress leader Jairam Ramesh in an X post criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for staying silent over US President Donald Trump’s repeated claims that India would cut back on oil imports from Russia.
EU sets 2028 deadline to end Russian gas imports under phased ban
European Union energy ministers have approved a plan to end all Russian gas imports by 2028, introducing a phased ban on new and existing contracts.
EU mulls partial membership plan to ease enlargement and bypass veto risks
Move is aimed at moving forward with enlargement and overcoming resistance from EU members such as Hungary, but reaching consensus to be a challenge.