Rosneft

This Country Is Too Close to America’s Adversaries for Comfort

Amid the hubbub over last weekend’s Doha Forum, one detail was largely overlooked: the attendance of former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. Iranian officials, current...

To Build Leverage for Peace, Enforce Oil Sanctions on Russia

American and Ukrainian officials spent the weekend in Geneva revising a peace plan that initially tilted heavily in Russia’s favor. The real challenge now is getting the Kremlin to accept terms that...

China Keeps the Axis of Aggressors Afloat With Oil Imports

Beijing continues to import oil from key U.S. adversaries. According to TankerTrackers, China imported 8.31 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil in October, only slightly lower than its September...

Russian Bank CEO Informs Putin of “Shrinking Portfolios” As War Against Ukraine Continues

Lending Declines: The head of Russia’s largest bank told Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting on November 10 that some of its portfolios are shrinking as a result...

Russian PM’s Visit to China Highlights Need for Firm U.S. Sanctions Enforcement

Beijing and Moscow have made a “strategic choice” to advance their partnership despite the “turbulent external environment,” Chinese leader Xi Jinping declared as he hosted Russian Prime Minister...

Polish Fighter Jets Intercept Russian Spy Plane Over Baltic Sea

Plane Flew Without Flight Plan or Transponder: Polish MiG-29 fighter jets intercepted a Russian Il-20 spy plane over the Baltic Sea on October 29 and escorted it out of the area....

The Effectiveness of Trump’s New Russia Oil Sanctions Depends on Stringent Enforcement

The Trump administration imposed sweeping new measures targeting Russia’s two biggest oil companies on October 22. The sanctions apply to Rosneft and Lukoil, along with 34 of their subsidiaries, and...

U.S. and EU Include Key Oil Companies in New Sanctions Targeting Russia

Rosneft and Lukoil Targeted: The United States imposed sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies as President Donald Trump expressed frustration with Russian President Vladimir...

Possible Futures for Russia’s CEEW Playbook

Kyiv Ramps Up Campaign Against Putin’s Man in Ukraine

Ukrainian authorities last week charged Kremlin-connected oligarch and pro-Russia opposition lawmaker Viktor Medvedchuk with high treason. The move represents a major escalation of Kyiv’s recent campaign...

Russia

Treasury Targets Maduro’s Oil Lifeline

The U.S. Treasury Department last week sanctioned a subsidiary of Russian energy giant Rosneft for its leading role in illicit exports of Venezuelan oil. With this much-anticipated step, the Trump administration...

Russia-Saudi Rapprochement?

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Saudi Arabia on Monday. During the visit, the two sides signed numerous agreements, most notably on oil and investment. Even as Moscow and Riyadh differ in their...

Sanctioning and Rebuilding Venezuela

World’s Top Chess Player Slams Europe Council For Ending Sanctions on Russia

"Worse betrayal than Munich 1938," he said.

Vlad the conqueror

Putin plays a weak hand well.

Russia’s Gas Web Ensnares Europe

New pipeline projects throughout the Middle East could boost Russian influence there while also ensuring the country’s role as the prime supplier of energy to Europe.

The unstoppable envoy

Richard Grenell has made a career of confounding expectations. That hasn’t changed since becoming U.S. ambassador to Germany last year. On...