Russia & CIS

Russia is expanding access to its remote regions by modernizing its aviation infrastructure. Of the country's 226 civil airfields, at least 75 are scheduled for reconstruction by 2030. For travelers, these upgrades translate to increased flight frequencies and lower ticket prices, as updated runways can accommodate larger, more modern aircraft. The impact is already visible in cities like Orenburg, where airport upgrades have nearly tripled passenger capacity, making the region's steppes more accessible. Remote Destinations: Siberia and the Far East Current efforts are heavily concentrated in Siberia and the Far East, where fast-track terminal construction is being used to replace deteriorating infrastructure. This reduces the logistical difficulty and high costs previously associated with visiting these areas.

Russia has transferred some of the largest European retail chains and industrial assets under external management, while retaining a lever of pressure on the West through the threat of full nationalization. Major Western retailers will no longer control their businesses in Russia In September, Russia placed the assets of French retailer Auchan, German Metro Cash & Carry, Swiss company Nestlé and US distribution group Aptar under external management. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov directly linked the measures to the actions of European states. The Kremlin said Germany, France and other EU countries were "actively involved in military operations" against Russia by supporting Ukraine and approving strikes on Russian economic infrastructure. The introduction of external management has been presented as a reciprocal response to the seizure of Russian state and private assets in the West.

The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade plans to reduce the cost of the MC-21 medium-haul airliner, which currently stands at 7.5 billion rubles. The goal is to lower the price by several billion rubles in constant prices to ensure the aircraft is financially attractive to airlines by the time mass deliveries begin. Minister Anton Alikhanov stated that the price reduction will be achieved without compromising quality or reliability. The strategy involves optimizing internal processes within the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and diversifying the supply chain by engaging alternative second- and third-tier suppliers. This repricing effort will cover the entire value chain, from raw material procurement to final assembly. Economist Artem Loginov told Pravda. Ru that while the state covers initial development costs, the aircraft must eventually be sustainable through market mechanisms and strict component cost control to compete with global manufacturers.

Russia has revised its oil export forecasts upward, projecting shipments to reach 244.7 million tons by 2026. This updated macroeconomic forecast from the Ministry of Economic Development indicates a recovery in export volumes despite international pressure and existing agreements. The new figures, reviewed by the cabinet on September 24, show an increase of 7.5 million tons compared to previous estimates for 2026. For context, the ministry expects 230.8 million tons in 2025. Macroeconomist Artem Loginov told Pravda. Ru that this upward revision suggests infrastructure constraints are easing and discounts on Russian grades have stabilized, allowing companies to plan shipments more accurately. The shift in volume is closely tied to the redirection of flows toward India and China and the expansion of port capacities in the East.

Russia's projected budget deficit for 2027 is expected to reach approximately 2% of GDP, according to President Vladimir Putin. This figure marks an increase from the 1.2% of GDP outlined in the current law. To address the growing fiscal pressure, the Ministry of Finance has increased activity in the domestic market, recently issuing new bonds to raise capital. Financial analyst and PhD in Economics Mikhail Belyayev told Pravda.Ru that while a 2% deficit is not inherently critical, the primary risk lies in sluggish economic growth, which limits the state's ability to meet its obligations. Belyayev characterized the deficit as a loan from the future that must be covered through tax revenues, the privatization of assets, or income from unitary enterprises. The analyst noted that securing these reserves is difficult given a projected economic growth rate of just 0.5–1%. Belyayev attributed this stagnation to the Central Bank's restrictive monetary policy.

Russia has undergone a profound transformation in the structure of its economy over the past five years. The shift accelerated under unprecedented Western sanctions, forcing the country to rely increasingly on its own domestic market, investment resources and technological capabilities. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said the Russian economy had successfully absorbed the sanctions shock while undergoing a major change in the sources of GDP growth. Net exports, once a much more important contributor, now account for almost three times less of the growth structure. Domestic demand has taken their place as one of the economy's principal engines. The transformation has also strengthened Russia's position in global economic rankings. Measured by purchasing power parity, the country now ranks fourth in the world, behind China, the United States and India. Moscow is now preparing the next stage of the transformation, with investment, technology, productivity and domestic demand at its center.

On September 1, the Bank of Russia will put the digital ruble into circulation, making it available to every Russian in the autumn. The color of its logo is already known, along with details of how the new form of the national currency will work. What Is the Digital Ruble? As Alla Bakina, director of the Bank of Russia's National Payment System Department, explained to RIA Novosti, the digital ruble is the same ruble that people use in everyday life, only in a new form. "The digital ruble is essentially the same as a cashless ruble, only it will be held in the user's wallet on the Bank of Russia's platform. People have different habits. Some are accustomed to using cards, others use electronic wallets, while others use payment services and so on. The digital ruble is another additional means of making transfers and payments,” Bakina said.

President Vladimir Putin has ordered the reconstruction of damaged facilities at a fundamentally new technological level. Over the past month, Wildberries logistics facilities in several Russian regions have come under drone attacks. Putin instructed the government to introduce a programme for reconstructing damaged warehouses, stressing the need to modernise and substantially upgrade them. His remarks were reported by the Kremlin press service. "Logistics and warehouse capacity, of course, needs to be restored, including with state participation. In this regard, I ask the government to adopt an appropriate programme. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure that damaged facilities are restored at a fundamentally new technological level,” the president said at a meeting of the Council for Strategic Development and National Projects devoted to implementing the plan for structural changes in the Russian economy through 2030.

An official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday said they have coordinated with authorities on the augmentation of security in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russians possess a “genetic code of winners” during a meeting with Sakhalin Region Governor Valery Limarenko, who briefed the president on support measures for participants in the special military operation and their families. Limarenko said he sees among the people a determination to do “everything for victory.” “That is what our people are like. They have the genetic code of winners.”

The Board of Directors of the Bank of Russia voted at its July 24 meeting to lower the key interest rate by 25 basis points to 14%, according to the regulator's official statement. This marks the tenth consecutive meeting at which the central bank has eased monetary policy. Over the past two meetings, however, the pace of easing has slowed to 25 basis points, compared with previous reductions of 50 basis points. The central bank said Russia's economy expanded at a moderate pace during the second quarter of 2026. "Significant price growth and higher inflation expectations during the summer months were largely driven by one-off factors. Estimates of underlying inflation remain within the range of 4–5% on an annualized basis. Credit growth slowed slightly in June," the regulator said in its statement.

medi GmbH & Co. KG: Bayreuth (ots) - Die Weiterentwicklung evidenzbasierter Behandlungskonzepte für Menschen mit Lymphödem stand im Mittelpunkt des zweiten Compression APAC1 Summits (COMPAS), das vom 27. bis 29. März 2026 in Sydney stattfand. Organisiert wurde die ...

Des frappes russes nocturnes et dans la matinée ont fait cinq morts et touché un site de stockage de déchets nucléaires, selon les autorités ukrainiennes dimanche, alors que le président Zelensky doit rencontrer à Londres les dirigeants français, britannique et allemand.

The Council had suspended certain elements of the EU visa rules in 2024.

The G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, met on 18 and 19 May 2026 in Paris, France. They were joined by the Heads of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank Group (WBG), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Financial Stability Board (FSB), the International Energy Agency (IEA), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as Chair of the Multilateral Development Banks’ Heads Group, and the African Development Bank (AfDB). They also held consultations with Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors from Brazil, India, Kenya and South Korea. 

Press briefing ahead of the upcoming Agriculture and Fisheries Council will take place on 20 May 2026 at 14.00.

Press briefing ahead of the Eurogroup meeting will take place on 20 May at 15.30.

Der Rat hat beschlossen, die restriktiven Maßnahmen gegen das ehemalige Al-Assad-Regime um ein Jahr, d. h. bis zum 1. Juni 2027, zu verlängern und sieben Organisationen von der Liste zu streichen.

Der Rat hat Schlussfolgerungen angenommen, in denen ein stärkerer EU-Ansatz in Bezug auf Fragilität, Entwicklungszusammenarbeit und nachhaltige Entwicklung in den Partnerländern gefordert wird.