Russia
Russia restricts Apple FaceTime service citing terrorism concerns
Russia restricts Apple FaceTime citing terrorism concerns, following August blocks on WhatsApp and Telegram voice calls as Moscow tightens control over foreign communications platforms.
Britain imposes sanctions on Russian military intelligence over Salisbury poisoning
Britain sanctions entire GRU military intelligence agency after inquiry concludes Putin approved 2018 Salisbury nerve agent attack that killed British civilian Dawn Sturgess.
ASH: Ukraine funding - what a s**t show
Excuse my French but the EC’s push to assure Ukraine’s financing, and to keep it in the war, despite the US pulling back, is turning into a bit of a shit show.
EU adds Russia to the FATF’s money laundering blacklist
The European Union has finally taken a nuclear option of adding Russia’s name to the official blacklisted as a high-risk country for money laundering and terrorism financing that will add to its financial system headaches.
Putin speaks to media ahead of India visit
Russian leader Vladimir Putin has set out a broad agenda for his much awaited trip to India, signalling continuity in Russia’s strategic partnership with New Delhi and offering rare insight into ongoing exchanges with Washington over Ukraine.
India advances $2bn submarine lease as Putin arrives in New Delhi
According to reports, India’s naval leadership has signalled that the commissioning of a new attack submarine is imminent, without elaborating.
Trump: Putin wants to do a deal, but next steps unclear
After being debriefed on the Moscow meeting between US special envoys and Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump told reporters that the Russian leader wants to do a deal, but the next steps were “unclear.”
Hungary to challenge EU plans to ban Russian oil and gas in court
Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto says plan to ban EU member states' imports of Russian oil and gas from 2027 would "undermine Hungary's energy security".
Slovak Economy Minister Saková claims Bratislava negotiated extension of Russian gas imports
Slovakia has a valid contract with Gazprom until 2034 and opposes EU plans to phase out Russian fossil fuel imports by 2027.
Russian oil exports reshuffled as non-sanctioned firms offset decline from Lukoil and Rosneft
US investment bank Goldman Sachs reports that the oil exports by Russia’s recently sanctioned energy giants, Lukoil and Rosneft, have fallen by 1.1mn barrels a day, while those of non-sanctioned companies are up the same amount.
Russian embassy warns tourists to avoid photography in Iran
A warning from the Russian embassy in Tehran against photography is fuelling speculation of an undisclosed incident involving tourists. While tourism officials cite standard security protocols for military sites, the timing raises questions.
Serbia’s sole oil refinery shuts down after US sanctions block crude oil supply
NIS, majority-owned by Russia’s Gazprom group, has been unable to secure new crude shipments since the sanctions took effect on October 9.
Russia's services sector PMI expands in November despite muted private sector growth
Russia’s services economy registered a modest expansion in November, according to new survey data from S&P Global, even as the broader private sector showed signs of stagnation.
Key talks between the US and Russia to end the war in Ukraine inconclusive but positive
Key talks between the US and Russia to end the war in Ukraine on December 2 ended inconclusively but made “some progress.”
LONG READ: De-dollarisation gathering momentum, driven by geopolitics and ballooning debt fears
De-dollarisation is gathering momentum, but the process of switching to settling global trade in multiple currencies is going at a glacial pace. The problem is that once glaciers start moving, they are impossible to stop.
COMMENT: Putin's India visit signals push for major overhaul in relations
In FY2024-25 Russia's bilateral trade with India was propelled almost entirely by New Delhi's voracious appetite for discounted Russian crude
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.