Russia & Ex-Soviets

Russian Economy Is Getting Hit, So Are Foreign Investors

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Russian Economy Is Getting Hit, So Are Foreign Investors

Stocks down, bonds down, ruble down, interest rates up: the pinpricks of the sanction spiral are painful – for foreign investors.

The “Sanction Spiral” Elegantly Spirals Out of Control

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on The “Sanction Spiral” Elegantly Spirals Out of Control

The White House attacks Russian financial markets and oil, publicly and behind-the-scenes, Merkel suffers from “moral cowardice,” Russia develops the “Putin Doctrine” and threatens Estonia, and a crescendo of sanctions and counter-sanctions erupts. What gives?

Obama’s Fantasy: Using US Energy ‘Boom’ Against Russia

by Oilprice.com •  • Comments Off on Obama’s Fantasy: Using US Energy ‘Boom’ Against Russia

The release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve took down the price of oil in the US, but not in the rest of the world, and didn’t impact Russia. New measures are bandied about – ludicrous attempts by the government to flex some muscle.

Kremlin: If The US Tries To Hurt Russia’s Economy, Russia Will Target The Dollar

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Kremlin: If The US Tries To Hurt Russia’s Economy, Russia Will Target The Dollar

The first official warning shot was fired before an all-out assault on the dollar system begins. Not by a Putin advisor that can be brushed off, but by Alexey Ulyukaev, Russia’s Minister of Economy and former Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank. A major escalation.

Russia Blocks Access to Major Independent News Sites And Blogs

by Electronic Frontier Foundation •  • Comments Off on Russia Blocks Access to Major Independent News Sites And Blogs

Russia has escalated its use of its Internet censorship law to target news sites, bloggers, and politicians under the slimmest excuse of preventing unauthorized protests and enforcing house arrest regulations.

German Exporters Fire Warning Shot About Russia “Sanction-Spiral,” Banks At Risk

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on German Exporters Fire Warning Shot About Russia “Sanction-Spiral,” Banks At Risk

It took a while. But it had to come, the public warning shot – after some ferocious lobbying behind closed doors. No one in Germany is allowed to get in the way of the sacrosanct exporters. The German economy, to the chagrin of neighboring countries, is based on them.

From Now On, No Compromises Are Possible For Russia

by Contributor •  • Comments Off on From Now On, No Compromises Are Possible For Russia

By Valentin Mândrăşescu: Washington’s defaulting on an agreement with Russia about Ukraine’s future, and the prospect of NATO troops in Ukraine, convinced Putin and much of the Russian elite that there’s no point in negotiating with the US. Big risks lie ahead.

Aid for the Ukraine “Will Be Stolen” – Former Ukrainian Minister of Economy

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Aid for the Ukraine “Will Be Stolen” – Former Ukrainian Minister of Economy

The US offered the Ukraine $1 billion in aid, the EU €11 billion. The IMF is working on its aid package. All to shift losses from lenders, bondholders, hedge funds… to taxpayers. But it won’t rescue the economy. Because it’s a cesspool of corruption and plundering oligarchs.

“Targeted” Sanctions, A Triumph For Russian Isolationists

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on “Targeted” Sanctions, A Triumph For Russian Isolationists

Regarding Russia’s Ukrainian campaign, Speaker of the House Boehner did what President Obama had done: posturing. “It’s time to stand up to Putin,” he said. NATO met. The UN Security Council met. EU Foreign Ministers met. Sanctions, that’s the common denominator.

Iran, Russia Ruffle US Feathers With Oil Swap Deal

by Oilprice.com •  • Comments Off on Iran, Russia Ruffle US Feathers With Oil Swap Deal

Iran and Russia are in talks about a potential $1.5 billion oil-for-goods swap that could boost Iranian oil exports by 50%, which didn’t go over very well in Washington.