President Vladimir Putin has grown increasingly concerned about distortions in Russia’s wartime economy, just as Donald Trump pushes for an end to the Ukraine conflict, five sources with knowledge of the situation told Reuters. Russia’s economy, driven by exports of oil, gas and minerals, grew robustly over the past two years despite multiple rounds of … Read more
From a nondescript seventh-floor office at 135 Bonham Strand near Hong Kong’s financial district, at least four companies are operating with a shadowy mission: facilitating the illicit trade of Western technology to Russia. Shell companies at that address have acquired millions of restricted chips and sensors for military technology companies in Russia, many of which … Read more
Russia on Friday dismissed new U.S. sanctions over the war in Ukraine, saying that the United States would never defeat Moscow, while the boss of Russia’s fastest growing natural gas company quipped the sanctions were a badge of success. The United States on Thursday targeted Russia’s future energy capabilities, sanctions evasion and a suicide drone … Read more
The UK on Monday announced new sanctions in response to “Russia’s attempts to destroy Ukrainian national identity,” targeting those involved in the “forced deportation” of children from Ukraine to Russian-controlled territory. Foreign minister James Cleverly announced the 14 sanctions ahead of a speech at the UN Security Council (UNSC) as part of a session on … Read more
Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile launching system. Representational file image. | Photo Credit: AFP In what could possibly have an impact on Russian arms supplies to India as the war in Ukraine drags on, Western sanctions on Moscow are impacting payments to Russian defence companies as well as reducing their access to semiconductors, according to the … Read more
Moscow has expelled 18 employees of the European Union’s delegation to Russia in retaliation at Brussels’ expulsion of 19 Russians earlier this month, the foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday. The EU on April 5 declared the 19 Russian diplomats personae non gratae for “engaging in activities contrary to their diplomatic status” and … Read more
Guterres said the Paris climate accord’s goal was “on life support” because countries aren’t doing enough to drive down emissions. Countries scrambling to replace Russian oil, gas and coal supplies with any available alternative may fuel the world’s “mutually assured destruction” through climate change, the head of the United Nations warned Monday. UN Secretary-General Antonio … Read more
The United States and Britain are boycotting some Kimberley Process meetings because they are chaired by Russia, in a sign of how geopolitical rifts due to Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine are affecting international diamond certification efforts. The Kimberley Process, set up in 2003, is an 85-nation body that certifies rough diamond exports and monitors members’ … Read more
By Stanislav Markus U.S. President Joe Biden and other world leaders are setting their sights on Russia‘s oligarchs as they seek new ways to punish Vladimir Putin – and those who have enabled him and profited from his reign – for waging war in Ukraine. Biden singled out wealthy oligarchs in his State of the … Read more
NASA, however, shrugged off Rogozin’s comments that US sanctions on Moscow over Ukraine could “destroy” the two countries’ teamwork on the ISS. Amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the chief of Moscow’s space programme has warned that sanctions imposed on the country could lead to the International Space Station (ISS) losing orbit and crashing. Roscosmos Director-General … Read more