25 Feb, 12:34

VTB forecasts Central Bank key rate to remain at 21% through rest of year

According to Dmitry Pianov's presentation, Russia’s GDP will grow by more than 2% in 2025

MOSCOW, February 25. /TASS/. The Bank of Russia will keep its key rate at 21% per annum through the rest of this year, VTB expects.

"We project that it will last through 2025, though we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. So I don’t think that we will live with such rates throughout the whole of 2026, meaning we are at the peak of tightness in the monetary policy," VTB First Deputy Chairman of the Management Board, Chief Financial Officer Dmitry Pianov said during a call with investors when commenting on the key rate.

According to his presentation, Russia’s GDP will grow by more than 2% in 2025, while inflation will remain within the 7-10% range.

Earlier, the Bank of Russia upgraded its key rate forecast for 2025-2026. The regulator expects the key rate to hover around 19-22% by the end of 2025, according to its mid-term outlook.

Trump hoping US trade deals with number of countries to be made within 90 days

"We will cut those deals as soon as we possibly can, country by country," White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt noted

RDIF CEO describes talks with Witkoff as productive

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with US special presidential envoy at the Presidential Library in St. Petersburg

Yesterday, 17:07

Explosive device defused under car of Chuvashia's former military commissar

The explosives were uncovered thanks to a CCTV camera that triggered an alarm when someone approached the vehicle

Yesterday, 18:12

Zelensky slaps sanctions on 18 firms, 130 people, including Russians

Sanctions traditionally include an asset freeze in Ukraine, cancellation of licenses, a ban on the transfer of intellectual property, termination of trade agreements, as well as stripping of all Ukrainian state awards

Yesterday, 15:42

Houthis report another attack on US aircraft carrier in Red Sea

According to the Houthi spokesman, "in recent hours," rebel forces have delivered a series of strikes on the US aircraft carrier with the use of cruise missiles and drones

22 Aug 2022, 14:22

Ukraine blacklists Pink Floyd founder Roger Waters over Crimea remarks

According to a statement on the website, its administrators interpreted the musician’s remarks about Crimea as "an attack on the territorial integrity of Ukraine"

Yesterday, 18:02

Deal between Trump, Zelensky impossible, Medvedchuk believes

He said that Washington's greed is clouding its judgement in the Ukrainian conflict

Yesterday, 16:06

Kremlin explains closed nature of Putin-Witkoff meeting

Dmitry Peskov that after the greeting in the presence of the media, the sides immediately proceeded to the talks

Yesterday, 18:03

EU could use Russia's frozen assets as bargaining chip in Ukraine talks — analyst

According to Mariano Gambaro, a return of Western banks to Russia could also be brought up in the potential talks

Yesterday, 10:00

Press review: Russia, US move past Biden’s legacy as Kiev assures NATO of fight readiness

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, April 11th

Yesterday, 02:35

Chinese company acquires strategic chemical plant in France supplying Defense Ministry

Wanhua Chemical Group offered to invest €10 mln into the plant’s production but also proposed to reduce the workforce from the current 300 employees to just 50-60

France, UK preparing military intervention in Odessa — Foreign Ministry

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova dismissed the proposed "coalition of the willing" as nothing more than "a meme"

Yesterday, 18:14

US, Iran unlikely to resurrect 2015 nuclear deal — media outlet

If the US and Iranian sides can come to terms on the acceptable scale of Iran’s nuclear program during their talks in Oman, they could hold direct discussions and talk about the technical details of the agreement in the future, said Ali Vaez, a US expert on Iran and Middle Eastern affairs

Yesterday, 12:48

Russian troops liberate four communities in Ukraine operation over week — top brass

The Ukrainian military lost more than 10,000 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the week of April 5-11, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported

8 Oct 2024, 20:34

US assessed chance of Russia using nuclear arms in Ukraine at 50% in 2022 — US journalist

According to a new book by Bob Woodward, an American veteran investigative journalist and an associate editor of The Washington Post, in 2022 there was a phone call between Pentagon chief, Lloyd Austin, and the then Russian defense minister Sergey Shoigu

Two days ago, 12:14

Russian army hits two Ukrainian repair sites with Geran UAVs — politician

According to Vladimir Rogov, one of the strikes hit a large industrial facility used by the Ukrainian army to repair military equipment

10 Dec 2020, 17:20

Media: Hainan increases production of eco-friendly alternative for plastic

The province has seven fully biodegradable food factories

Yesterday, 18:01

US sees Witkoff talks in Russia as step toward Ukrainian settlement — White House

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt did not provide additional details about these contacts

8 Sep 2020, 10:43

Moscow City Court sentences war historian to 12.5 years for high treason

The prosecutor asked the court to sentence the defendant to 17 years at a high security prison

Russian stock market indices rising on Friday — market data

Freedom Finance Global believes the MOEX Russia Index will move within the corridor of 2,750 - 2,850 points on Monday

Yesterday, 16:04

Expert sees Trump's push to bring manufacturing back to US failing

According to Alexander Firanchuk, even if America decides to keep its tariffs in place for the majority of countries, it will take a long time to transfer part of the production to the United States

Yesterday, 15:25

Bank of Russia lowers official dollar rate to 84 rubles for April 12-14

The official euro rate was increased by 1.61 rubles to 96.2163 rubles

Yesterday, 11:40

German Defense Minister expects no peace in Ukraine in foreseeable future

The Bundestag had previously approved the disbursement of €11 billion until 2029 to assist Kiev, in addition to the already promised aid

Yesterday, 10:08

French troops plan operations against Russia on border with Ukraine, Moldova — media

According to Colonel Guillaume Schmidt, the unit's commander, troops need to be prepared to continue combat actions even when satellite signals are jammed

Yesterday, 17:26

Kiev forces attack ambulance car in Kharkov Region injuring civilian

"The drone exploded in the airspace on it is approach to the vehicle," Vitaly Ganchev reported

Yesterday, 14:14

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Gavrilyuk resigns

Ivan Gavrilyuk has held the post since May 2024

Yesterday, 05:34

Ukraine sustaining `colossal casualties’ in Oleshnya in Kursk region — security officer

The Ukrainian army has been struggling to control sectors of the settlement of Oleshnya toward which a group of paratroopers from near Yunakovka had been dispatched

Yesterday, 14:44

Putin calls for close integration of all Russian naval reconnaissance capabilities

As the Russian president pointed out, "precisely advanced technological solutions and the Navy’s balanced development in all strategic directions" will enable Russia to effectively cope with the tasks of ensuring the protection of the country’s interests in the World Ocean

Yesterday, 08:44

US Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff arrives in Russia — Kremlin spokesman

The Kremlin would provide information in due course if Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Steven Witkoff, Dmitry Peskov said

Yesterday, 11:07

RDIF CEO Dmitriyev meets with Trump’s envoy Witkoff in St. Petersburg

Kirill Dmitriyev had accompanied the US Special Presidential Envoy to his car before both departed

Two days ago, 15:33

Trump's trade wars will strengthen 'economic symbiosis' of Russia and China — envoy

Boris Titov noted that Donald Trump has put the trade war with the entire world on hold, focusing on the confrontation with China

Witkoff’s flight takes off from St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo

The plane left Russia’s airspace and entered Estonia at 11:11 p.m. Moscow time

MFA shocked by Ukraine offering ‘safaris’ to foreign nationals

Maria Zakharova stressed that "the Kiev regime has long turned war into a business"

Two days ago, 16:13

US duties against China increased to 145% — CNBC

According to the source, 125% import duties in respect of Chinese products announced by US President Donald Trump on Wednesday do not account the 20% tariff set earlier by the US leader for allegedly insufficient efforts of Canadian, Mexican and Chinese governments in combating fentanyl spread

Yesterday, 18:52

Senegalese president may visit Russia in 2025 or 2026 — top diplomat

Yassine Fall described her talks with her Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, as substantive

Yesterday, 12:49

US exploits Zelensky to gain access to minerals, then kicks him to curb — Russian MFA

"Zelensky’s curators used him and are now wiping their dirty and blood-covered hands of him," Maria Zakharova wrote

Witkoff calls recognition of Russian regions fastest way to broker ceasefire in Ukraine

In the meeting with US leader Trump, US Presidential Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg pushed back against US special envoy, saying that Ukraine, though willing to negotiate some terms related to disputed land, would never agree to unilaterally cede total ownership of the territories to Russia

Yesterday, 00:25

UK considers deploying troops to Ukraine for five years

According to the plan under discussion in London and Paris, Western forces may be sent to Ukraine following a settlement of the conflict, acting as a "deterrent force" purportedly to prevent the resumption of hostilities

US to take control of Gazprom pipeline in Ukraine — Reuters

US and Ukrainian officials met on the draft proposal in Washington on Friday, the source said

Yesterday, 16:16

German politician urges to support US effort on achieving peace in Ukraine

Earlier on Friday, upon arriving at the NATO headquarters for a meeting of a contact group on arms supplies to Ukraine, acting German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius vowed more military aid to Ukraine in the years to come

Yesterday, 13:33

Russian foreign debt grew to $312.4 bln as of April 1, 2025 — Central Bank

The foreign debt of the Russian Federation increased from the start of 2025 by $22.1 bln or by 7.6%

Yesterday, 16:11

FACTBOX: Mankind sends 631 people into space in recorded history

The world record for most time spent in space is held by Russian cosmonaut and Hero of Russia Oleg Kononenko, who has spent 1,110 days, 14 hours, 57 minutes in space over five missions

Yesterday, 17:11

Putin-Witkoff meeting continues for now — Kremlin

The beginning of the meeting, Dmitry Peskov emphasized, was "businesslike"

Two days ago, 16:05

US oil supplies to China set to decline to almost zero due to Trump tariffs — Bloomberg

Crude supplies from the US "are by no means vital to China" - in the early months of this year added up to roughly 1% of the Asian nation’s total imports, according to data from analytics firm Vortexa Ltd, the agency reported

Yesterday, 16:51

Ukrainian defense minister announces electronic warfare coalition

The new coalition is the 9th created by the contact group, after the air defense, F-16, drone, maritime and other coalitions

Europe tries to stay in Ukraine picture with peacekeeper talk — diplomat

According to Mikhail Ulyanov, such units cannot be called peacekeeping forces because they "will be sent from non-neutral countries that have openly sided with Ukraine"

Yesterday, 11:54

China’s foreign minister blasts US ‘arbitrary’ moves at meeting with IAEA chief

Wang Yi called for preventing humanity from "returning to the jungle world"

Yesterday, 15:24

CIS foreign ministers meeting approves border cooperation program for rest of decade

According to a TASS correspondent, the draft of a program for medium-term cooperation was approved at an expanded session of the CIS Foreign Ministers Council

Russian forces strike Ukrainian tactical missile enterprise over past day — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted roughly 435 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed four US-made armored vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day

Yesterday, 17:19

Civilian dies after Ukrainian drone attack on his truck in Belgorod Region

According to the report, another man received grave wounds after a shelling attack on the village of Mokraya Orlovka

Yesterday, 16:36

US ambassador to Kiev to resign due to contradictions with Department of State — expert

Nikolay Novik said that Over the past few months, Bridget Brink has faced pressure from officials in Washington who expressed dissatisfaction and doubts about her ability to maintain the necessary strategy regarding Ukraine

Yesterday, 14:28

Iranian president asks Khamenei to change his position on talks with US — newspaper

According to the report, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei set some conditions for talks

US ready to seek compromise in talks with Iran, special envoy says

US' position begins with dismantlement of Iranian nuclear program, Steve Witkoff said

Yesterday, 17:30

Russian statistical service increases GDP growth estimate to 4.3% in 2024

The GDP deflator index gained 9.3% year on year

Two days ago, 13:34

Zhuravka liberation brings Russian troops closer to Ukrainian army’s hub in Sumy Region

Yunakovka is a logistics hub for the Ukrainian army to supply its combat group in Russia’s borderline Kursk Region

Two days ago, 18:01

Apple ships 1.5 mln iPhones out of India to avoid US tariffs — Reuters

According to sources, Apple has chartered six cargo planes to ship 600 tons of gadgets

Yesterday, 09:00

Trump administration understands that Zelensky hates Russians — Lavrov

"The Trump administration has this understanding and it has repeatedly stated in public that Zelensky will have to accept the loss of land," Russia’s top diplomat said

Yesterday, 14:11

Georgia fended off two calls to join Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022 — PM

Irakli Kobakhidze stressed that Tbilisi "had to enter into a political tug-of-war to defend Georgia’s national interests"

Two days ago, 17:35

Ansar Allah leader says US could not weaken Houthi military capabilities

"The Americans could neither ensure secure navigation for the Israeli adversary, nor halt projectile and drone attacks against it," the Houthi leader stressed

Yesterday, 16:07

Pistorius says Germany can’t give Ukraine more Patriot air defense systems

Germany is the second-largest supplier of weapons to Ukraine after the US

Yesterday, 08:46

Russia’s defense chief inspects Battlegroup West in special military op zone

Andrey Belousov chaired a meeting at the Battlegroup West’s command post where military commanders briefed him on the current situation, the maintenance of troops in the special military operation zone and enemy activity in the zone controlled by the battlegroup

Yesterday, 18:15

WTO consultations on US tariffs going as usual — Russian envoy

"During these consultations, the Chairman of the General Council will inform us about the WTO efforts in this areas as regards the analysis of the potential consequences of the escalation of strain in international trade," Nikolay Platonov noted

Yesterday, 19:11

Russia’s export duty on wheat to be $26.55 per metric ton from April 16

The floating duty on Russian grain exports is effective from June 2, 2021

Yesterday, 12:10

Lavrov promises access to alternative payment platforms to non-members of BRICS

"There is an opportunity to form payment platforms independent of external influence, one example being the financial messaging system of the Bank of Russia," the Russian foreign minister said

Yesterday, 11:33

IN BRIEF: What is known about latest Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure

A lead engineer at a plant in the LPR suffered injuries

Two days ago, 20:55

US may banish Chinese companies from American stock exchanges — Fox Business journalist

Shares of more than 300 Chinese companies are traded on the American stock exchanges, including Alibaba, Sinopec, JD.com and NetEase

Yesterday, 18:52

Over 15 countries submit new trade deal offers to US — White House

On April 2, US President Donald Trump announced the introduction of import duties on products from 185 countries and territories

Yesterday, 03:40

Judge orders release of 11 Russians detained in Tunisia — lawyer

According to attorney Olfa Hajri, they have been officially released

Yesterday, 17:44

International Trade Center forecasts global trade dip due to mutual duties

"Global trade could shrink by 3%, with significant long-term shifts in trade patterns and economic integration," Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton noted

Yesterday, 15:30

Chisinau should think twice before expelling Russian ambassador — diplomat

"Russia can always respond asymmetrically and its response could affect the economy, the Moldovan diaspora, or even worse," Mihai Popsoi said

Yesterday, 17:35

Annual inflation in Russia reach 10.34% in March — statistics

Consumer prices ticked up by 0.65% month on month, according to statistics

Yesterday, 17:11

Lavrov arrives in Turkey for diplomatic conference

The top Russian diplomat came from Almaty after a meeting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers

Yesterday, 11:05

The Times says UK deeply involved in Ukrainian conflict

The newspaper said that the country’s military specialists were secretly deployed to Ukraine in order to equip airplanes with the missiles and train Ukrainians in their use

Yesterday, 18:40

Little chance of direct confrontation between Russia, EU, NATO — Russian diplomat

According to Mikhail Ulyanov, European countries "are used to live in comfortable conditions and can hardly imagine themselves as a party to a conflict"

Yesterday, 17:18

Germany's defense minister 'surprised' by reports weapons sent to Kiev not good enough

Boris Pistorius pointed out that he was "in constant contact with Ukrainian partners" and was not aware of complaints about German combat systems

Possible US-Iran conflict to entail dire consequences — Russia’s deputy foreign minister

Andrey Rudenko clarified that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty between Russia and Iran is not a military alliance

Yesterday, 18:27

Trump open to trade deal with China — White House

The tariff rate for China "remains where it was yesterday, at the 145% level," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted

Yesterday, 18:57

Orban accuses Ukraine, EU of seeking to drag Hungary and Slovakia into war with Russia

The Hungarian prime minister made the statement following talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey

Trump hoping US trade deals with number of countries to be made within 90 days

"We will cut those deals as soon as we possibly can, country by country," White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt noted

Yesterday, 04:27

Early injection, large LNG supplies may help Europe avoid depleting gas reserves in winter

It is crucial to begin filling the storage facilities as early as possible and any unscheduled technical shutdowns could potentially put additional pressure on the injection season, ENTSOG said

Yesterday, 12:56

Russia aims to strengthen its standing as major space player — Roscosmos

"Our current and future successes are possible only thanks to those who are passionate about learning and working, who dream of space and literally reach for the stars," Director General Dmitry Bakanov underlined

Yesterday, 17:20

Orban, Erdogan discuss using TurkStream to bring gas to Hungary — Budapest

"The parties discussed the issue of ensuring Hungary's energy supply in the south of the country," the statement reads

Russian soldiers in Guyevo were confronted by Ukrainian elite units

Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that units from the battle group North had liberated Guyevo

Lithuania's territorial claims against Russia justify Moscow's actions — Kremlin

Earlier, the Lithuanian president referred to Kaliningrad as part of "Little Lithuania"

Yesterday, 03:34

Xi Jinping to visit Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia on April 14-18

Chinese leader will visit Kuala Lumpur and Phnom Penh at the invitation of Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar and Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni

Yesterday, 18:23

Polar Lithium may use concession to build road to deposit

The mining and concentration plant at the deposit is planned to be built and put into operation by 2031

Yesterday, 10:24

Lavrov advises Central Asian countries to 'outlast' Kaja Kallas in her position

"It will probably be much easier than tolerating damage to their own people," the top Russian diplomat noted

Two days ago, 13:35

Urals oil price drops below $50 per barrel first since June 2023

The price of Urals oil was last below $50 per barrel on June 12, 2023

Yesterday, 14:03

Turkey set for further development of relations with Russia — president

The Turkish leader also noted that he has close contacts with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and US leader Donald Trump on the Syrian issue

Yesterday, 17:30

Ukrainian delegation arrives in USA for negotiations — NYT

The delegation is headed by Taras Kachka, Deputy Minister of Economy and Ukraine’s trade representative

Yesterday, 14:35

Time for EU to make room for Turkey — Erdogan

"The statements and criticism that Turkey is allegedly moving away from its goal of joining the European Union have no basis in fact," the Turkish president said

Russia open to communication with US over Ukraine conflict — Putin

According to the Russian leader, the most important thing is to eliminate the root causes of the crisis

30 Oct 2021, 22:09

Russian, French top diplomats discuss situation in southeast Ukraine

The ministers also discussed in detail the schedule of future contacts

Houthis report carrying out strikes on two military targets in Tel Aviv

"Yemen’s armed forces have carried out a military operation, attacking two Israeli military targets in the occupied district of Jaffa," the movement’s military spokesman Yahya Saree said

Yesterday, 14:32

Kallas, EU bodies out of talk on sending troops to Ukraine — UK defense minister

John Healey noted that preparations for a mission in Ukraine were well advanced

Two days ago, 13:07

Russia to harshly respond to Japan's participation in supplying Kiev with weapons — MFA

Maria Zakharova emphasized that any steps by Japan to directly or indirectly participate in supplying Ukraine with arms and military equipment would be regarded as unequivocally hostile

German politician calls for resuming gas supplies from Russia in response to US tariffs

"Stock markets are plummeting and there is a real threat of a global financial crisis," Sahra Wagenknecht said

Yesterday, 01:09

Plane in Washington Airport clips another aircraft with members of Congress on board

According to the airline, the first aircraft was carrying four crew members and 76 passengers, while the second had four crew members and 67 passengers on board

Yesterday, 03:51

Head of Siemens division and his family died in Hudson River helicopter crash — TV

In addition to the Agustin Escobar family, the 36-year-old pilot was also killed

Yesterday, 14:52

Putin begins meeting with US special envoy — Kremlin

The sides are to discuss the normalization of ties between Moscow and Washington and some aspects of the Ukrainian settlement

Yesterday, 13:56

Russia to allocate over $98 bln for naval development in next 10 years — Putin

The Russian president also noted that before the meeting he had a separate conversation on the issue with Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov