Russia
Serbia in talks with Russia on long-term gas deal
Energy Minister Dubravka Dedovic Handanovic says Serbia is in advanced negotiations with Russian energy giant Gazprom.
As a potato crisis sweeps CIS countries, Russia halts potato imports from Georgia
Russia ceased importing potatoes from Georgia in July, ending nine consecutive months of uninterrupted shipments.
T-Technologies posts 83% jump in revenue and near-doubling of net profit for Q2 2025
T-Technologies, formerly Tinkoff Bank and now the Russian technology group developing a financial and lifestyle ecosystem, reported a sharp increase in revenue and profits for the second quarter and first half of 2025.
Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries drive up petrol prices, shortages looming
Russian wholesale gasoline prices are soaring to record levels following a series of Ukrainian drone strikes on critical refinery infrastructure. Analysts warn that Russia is facing fuel shortages in the coming weeks, Meduza reported on August 21.
US will play minimum role in Ukraine’s security guarantees – Politico
The Pentagon’s top policy official Elbridge Colby says the US will play a minimal role in any Ukraine security guarantees, Politico reported on August 21.
Western reliance on peacekeepers and arms sales in lieu of real security guarantees doom Russo-Ukraine peace talks to failure
The coalition of the willing plan to send “reassurance forces” to Ukraine and buy Kyiv $100bn worth of new US weapons in lieu of giving Kyiv real collective security guarantees will doom imminent Russo-Ukraine peace negotiations to failure.
Russians have mixed feelings about Stalin, but only 2% condemn him
In May of this year the world was shocked by the Moscow City government decision to unveil a grand bas-relief of Stalin at the Taganskaya metro station in the heart of Moscow.
CENTRAL ASIA BLOG: Might Russia be kicked out of Kazakhstan’s nuclear building programme entirely?
Of three NPP contracts made available by the Central Asian country, two have gone to China. The winner of the other one, Russian state corporation Rosatom, is, meanwhile, struggling with financing issues.
Peace turns on possible new Western security deals for Ukraine
Mixed results for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy following the historic meeting with US President Donald Trump and seven European leaders on August 18 in the White House.
Ukraine goes into production of Flamingo ICBM
Flamingo is part of Ukraine's broader push to develop independent strike capabilities, as it has been sorely lacking in missiles that can strike targets deep in Russia’s hinterland.
Russian bank deposits fall further as August withdrawals accelerate
Russian bank customers have continued to pull funds from their accounts, with another RUB17.7bn ($193mn) withdrawn as of August 15, according to new figures released by the Russian Central Bank.
High stake talks in Washington between Trump, Zelenskiy and EU leaders
Following the underwhelming Alaska summit, US president Donald Trump has invited five European leaders, NATO, and the EU to the Oval Office as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to close a deal that could end the war on August 18.
Putin demanded complete control of Donbas from Trump in Alaska talks
President Vladimir Putin demanded that Ukraine give up complete control of the Donbas in talks with Trump, but said he was prepared to freeze the conflict in the remaining two regions of Kherson and Zapariszhzhia the Financial Times reported.
No deal in Alaska: Putin looks strong, Trump looks weak
No deal to end the war in Ukraine was reached at the historic meeting between US president Donald Trump and president Vladimir Putin at a three-hour summit in Alaska on August 15 that ended up making the Russian leader look stronger than ever.
US to offer Russia access to Alaskan rare earth minerals at Alaska summit - Daily Telegraph
The United States is preparing to propose granting Russia access to rare earth minerals in Alaska during the forthcoming summit between President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin, The Daily Telegraph reported on August 13.
Russia scraps mandatory foreign currency sales for exporters as rouble strengthens
The Russian government has reduced to zero the requirement for mandatory repatriation and sale of foreign currency earnings by exporters, thanks to a stronger ruble and stable foreign exchange conditions, Vedomosti reported on August 14.
Russian PM on official visit to Kyrgyzstan, one of Moscow’s “closest partners”
Small Central Asian country appears to have become important to Moscow for sanctions-dodging re-exports and financial flows.
Kazakhstan pulls ahead of Russia for GDP per capita
Development a serious blow to Russian prestige.
Sanctions on Russia push India to send diesel to China for first time since 2021
India’s Nayara Energy, which has ties to Russia’s Rosneft, is shipping diesel to China for the first time in more than four years, as European Union sanctions disrupt its petroleum exports
Annual inflation in Russia slowed to 8.79% in July
Annual inflation in Russia eased to 8.79% in July from 9.4% in June, despite a month-on-month acceleration in consumer price growth, according to Rosstat, Vedomosti reported on August 13.