If the US and China reach any kind of agreement over their future cooperation, Russia’s actions in Ukraine will be 100% fruitless.
We think they will, based mainly on economic assumptions.
The place of Russia in the future world will be more or less determined by a deal between Washington and Beijing.
We think they will, based mainly on economic assumptions.
The place of Russia in the future world will be more or less determined by a deal between Washington and Beijing.
Amidst the swift American withdrawal from Afghanistan we have been repeating that, as ugly as it looked, this was a totally right call from Biden.
We assume that it’s clear what were American rush and hurry all about.
The actions of the US in Europe would’ve been much more limited now if it was still stuck in Afghanistan, where China could create a lot of trouble now via its proxies.
Great call. Probably at the expense of Democratic loss in 2024, but that’s what national interest is sometimes all about.
We assume that it’s clear what were American rush and hurry all about.
The actions of the US in Europe would’ve been much more limited now if it was still stuck in Afghanistan, where China could create a lot of trouble now via its proxies.
Great call. Probably at the expense of Democratic loss in 2024, but that’s what national interest is sometimes all about.
Western sanctions against Russian elites have sent shock waves around the former Soviet republics.
For example, Kremlin’s partners in Kazakhstan have been silent since the very beginning of action in Ukraine and haven’t offered Moscow any public support.
Good for them and their billions in Europe and America.
For example, Kremlin’s partners in Kazakhstan have been silent since the very beginning of action in Ukraine and haven’t offered Moscow any public support.
Good for them and their billions in Europe and America.
Financial Times came up with a good piece about Putin’s elites written by Anatole Lieven. Western public usually focuses on billionaires as a source of power in Russia which is a grave mistake.
Oligarchs altogether do not exercise any kind of political power in Russia.
The deal “you do not mess with politics, we let you enjoy your life” between Putin and the oligarchs had been made long time ago.
Siloviks, or people from the state repressive apparatus, were real decision-makers in Russia until recent days. Now their role has also been reduced.
We have written about “Oldmen from Sovbez” about a year ago.
Oligarchs altogether do not exercise any kind of political power in Russia.
The deal “you do not mess with politics, we let you enjoy your life” between Putin and the oligarchs had been made long time ago.
Siloviks, or people from the state repressive apparatus, were real decision-makers in Russia until recent days. Now their role has also been reduced.
We have written about “Oldmen from Sovbez” about a year ago.
Israel Foreign Minister Yair Lapid: "Israel will not be a route to bypass sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States and other Western countries".
British authorities are getting ready to suck Roman Abramovich dry, Israel won’t interfere.
British authorities are getting ready to suck Roman Abramovich dry, Israel won’t interfere.
BBC came up with a text about Roman Abramovich who has always been a small fish in British pond.
British journalists elaborated on corrupt Sibneft deal, episodes of fraud and even kidnapping of a Chinese businessman to make Chinese company CNPC withdraw from Slavneft auctions in the early 2000s.
According to our sources, a couple of other Russian oligarchs are desperately trying to strike a deal with British authorities.
Abramovich will be done in a couple of months and stripped of his Portuguese citizenship. We will follow his and other oligarch cases closely.
British journalists elaborated on corrupt Sibneft deal, episodes of fraud and even kidnapping of a Chinese businessman to make Chinese company CNPC withdraw from Slavneft auctions in the early 2000s.
According to our sources, a couple of other Russian oligarchs are desperately trying to strike a deal with British authorities.
Abramovich will be done in a couple of months and stripped of his Portuguese citizenship. We will follow his and other oligarch cases closely.
Natalia Poklonskaya keeps on pushing forward a positive narrative amidst official militarism.
’’Times of snitching must be gone’’, Poklonskay wrote in her telegram-channel today, clearly referring to the practice of punishing or canceling Russians who are against the confrontation in Ukraine.
Good point and another positive political step for Poklonskaya.
’’Times of snitching must be gone’’, Poklonskay wrote in her telegram-channel today, clearly referring to the practice of punishing or canceling Russians who are against the confrontation in Ukraine.
Good point and another positive political step for Poklonskaya.
Former Russian Deputy PM, current head of FIDE Arkady Dvorkovich’s statement against confrontation in Ukraine enraged the head of Russia’s space agency Dmitry Rogozin.
Rogozin accused Dvorkovich of intentionally destroying Russian civil aviation by putting Russians on Boeings and Airbuses instead of buying Russian aircraft.
American astronaut Scott Kelly once said that Rogozin is a child who should flip burgers in McDonalds or Burger King.
Rogozin himself had been in charge of civil aviation while also being Deputy PM. He must’ve forgot.
So, what’s up with Russian aircraft industry, Mr.Rogozin?
Rogozin accused Dvorkovich of intentionally destroying Russian civil aviation by putting Russians on Boeings and Airbuses instead of buying Russian aircraft.
American astronaut Scott Kelly once said that Rogozin is a child who should flip burgers in McDonalds or Burger King.
Rogozin himself had been in charge of civil aviation while also being Deputy PM. He must’ve forgot.
So, what’s up with Russian aircraft industry, Mr.Rogozin?
After making an anti-war statement yesterday Arkady Dvorkovich was made an offer he couldn’t refuse.
So, today Dvorkovich claimed that he hates nazism and has no respect for companies that withdrew from Russia after February, 24.
We could explain Dvorkovich’s change of heart.
An anti-war statement was made by Dvorkovich - Head of FIDE. Today’s statement – by Dvorkovich – Head of Skolkovo.
What a damn shame.
So, today Dvorkovich claimed that he hates nazism and has no respect for companies that withdrew from Russia after February, 24.
We could explain Dvorkovich’s change of heart.
An anti-war statement was made by Dvorkovich - Head of FIDE. Today’s statement – by Dvorkovich – Head of Skolkovo.
What a damn shame.
According to Russian insiders, Elvira Nabiullina will be gone from Central Bank by April. Her Deputy Vladimir Chistyukhin and Alexei Kudrin could replace Nabiullina who clearly doesn't want to have anything in common with current approaches of Kremlin towards the country and its economy.
We assume that Kudrin won't come in without knowing that at least some of the sanctions will be lifted.
We assume that Kudrin won't come in without knowing that at least some of the sanctions will be lifted.
A year ago, on April,1, we have written that "the war in Ukraine was imminent immediately after Democrats came to power in America".
To be honest, we had a little hope that Russian won't go for it till the very end, but things went in unfortunate way for your country.
Great call, although you are surely not happy with it.
To be honest, we had a little hope that Russian won't go for it till the very end, but things went in unfortunate way for your country.
Great call, although you are surely not happy with it.
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Battlefield Ukraine
Russian military forces are building up near the border of Ukraine, while Ukrainian troops are moving towards the breakaway Donbass region. The fighting between Ukraine and Donbass has already resumed.
US Joint Chiefs Chairman General…
Russian military forces are building up near the border of Ukraine, while Ukrainian troops are moving towards the breakaway Donbass region. The fighting between Ukraine and Donbass has already resumed.
US Joint Chiefs Chairman General…
Russian tech giant Yandex accordingly plans to sell its Yandex.News and Yandex.Zen services to VK holding.
Yandex has denied the deal, which would make perfect sense under current circumstances.
VK is controlled by Yury Kovalchuk and managed by Sergei Kirienko's son. Overall the media-empire of Kovalchuk includes several assets: First Channel, Fifth Channel, Izvestia, RBC, Ren-TV, KP.
After banning practically all the independent media, Kremlin is actually in a desperate need to control the media narrative at least in a Chinese way.
So, there will be some moves made by Kovalchuk, who is now one of the few people with regular personal contact with Putin.
Yandex has denied the deal, which would make perfect sense under current circumstances.
VK is controlled by Yury Kovalchuk and managed by Sergei Kirienko's son. Overall the media-empire of Kovalchuk includes several assets: First Channel, Fifth Channel, Izvestia, RBC, Ren-TV, KP.
After banning practically all the independent media, Kremlin is actually in a desperate need to control the media narrative at least in a Chinese way.
So, there will be some moves made by Kovalchuk, who is now one of the few people with regular personal contact with Putin.
Although Arkady Dvorkovich literally begged for mercy after he made a statement against confrontations, it hasn’t worked out.
Ruling United Russia demanded today to fire Dvorkovich “with shame” from his leading position in Skolkovo Fund, calling him “a nation traitor”.
We are seeing how Russia’s political language is drifting towards 1930s. The Witch Hunt is on.
Ruling United Russia demanded today to fire Dvorkovich “with shame” from his leading position in Skolkovo Fund, calling him “a nation traitor”.
We are seeing how Russia’s political language is drifting towards 1930s. The Witch Hunt is on.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen met with counterparts in Europe and Asia today to formally launch a multilateral task force that seeks to take action against the assets of Russian oligarchs.
US and EU will show Russian people what nationalization means. Abramovich is the headliner, others will follow.
It will be epic.
US and EU will show Russian people what nationalization means. Abramovich is the headliner, others will follow.
It will be epic.
Alpha oligarch Mikhail Fridman was unable to pay the £200 bill after a minor surgery, Times reports. Bank cards of Fridman are blocked.
Fridman and Petr Aven have previously stepped down from London-based investment group LetterOne after the EU imposed sanctions.
Their stakes will be frozen, with no rights as shareholders or dividends.
Fridman says that sanctions against oligarchs make no sense because they have zero influence on Putin’s decisions, and it’s true.
On the other hand, it’s also true that Russia is where it is not only because of Putin.
Fridman and Petr Aven have previously stepped down from London-based investment group LetterOne after the EU imposed sanctions.
Their stakes will be frozen, with no rights as shareholders or dividends.
Fridman says that sanctions against oligarchs make no sense because they have zero influence on Putin’s decisions, and it’s true.
On the other hand, it’s also true that Russia is where it is not only because of Putin.
Russia had paid $117 million in coupon payments on Wednesday on two dollar-denominated sovereign bonds.
The funds had yet to be received by holders of the bonds, but it looks like Russia will be given an opportunity to manage its sovereign debt in spite of severe financial sanctions.
This is a good sign actually. We strongly oppose any long-term Western plans to turn Russia into a pariah unless Kremlin chooses so.
If the military part of the Ukranian conflict is over by May, then there will be a possibility of restoring some Western businesses in Russia, too.
The vast majority of them are planning to return.
The funds had yet to be received by holders of the bonds, but it looks like Russia will be given an opportunity to manage its sovereign debt in spite of severe financial sanctions.
This is a good sign actually. We strongly oppose any long-term Western plans to turn Russia into a pariah unless Kremlin chooses so.
If the military part of the Ukranian conflict is over by May, then there will be a possibility of restoring some Western businesses in Russia, too.
The vast majority of them are planning to return.
Konstantin Ernst, CEO of state-owned First Channel, is leaving the Board of Directors of MTS, one of Russia's telecom giants. Ernst has been sanctioned by UK, EU and Canada.
We guess that a lot of poor Russians are happy with sanctions and their effect on some of the country's riches.
The West has done what they were expecting Kremlin to do for years.
We guess that a lot of poor Russians are happy with sanctions and their effect on some of the country's riches.
The West has done what they were expecting Kremlin to do for years.
Elvira Nabiullina will be the Head of Bank of Russia for another five years.
She is not happy with it, but there is a good Russian saying: enter is one rouble, exit is two. She just cannot leave, that’s it.
She is not happy with it, but there is a good Russian saying: enter is one rouble, exit is two. She just cannot leave, that’s it.
Returning to the calculations of Branco Milanovic on the amount of Russian private billions stacked in the West — there are also about $213bln in Switzerland.
So, there is no need for Putin or anyone else to look for “traitors” and “fifth column” elsewhere when about $1trln of money from Russia is in the US and Europe.
The problem is clear, it’s just about changing the model.
So, there is no need for Putin or anyone else to look for “traitors” and “fifth column” elsewhere when about $1trln of money from Russia is in the US and Europe.
The problem is clear, it’s just about changing the model.