4 Apr, 07:35

Brent oil price drops below $69 per barrel, first time since March 11

The continued drop in oil prices follows an April 3 statement by OPEC, which announced that eight OPEC+ member countries would accelerate production growth in May to 411,000 barrels per day, up from the initially planned 135,000 barrels per day

MOSCOW, April 4. /TASS/. The price of Brent crude oil futures with June delivery on the London-based ICE exchange fell below $69 per barrel for the first time since March 11, 2025.

As of 10:00 a.m. Moscow time, Brent was down 1.55%, trading at $69.05 per barrel. By 10:18 a.m., the Brent futures contract had extended its losses to 1.97%, reaching $68.76 per barrel, while the May 2025 WTI crude futures contract declined by 2.14%, trading at $65.52 per barrel.

The continued drop in oil prices follows an April 3 statement by OPEC, which announced that eight OPEC+ member countries would accelerate production growth in May to 411,000 barrels per day, up from the initially planned 135,000 barrels per day.

According to experts interviewed by TASS, the decision aligns with the current balance in the oil market. The situation is favorable enough for the alliance to begin restoring previously reduced production volumes, despite the ongoing decline in prices.

Trump admits tariff exceptions for some countries

"Yeah, obviously, it could be a couple of exceptions, you know, but I would say 10% is the floor," the president noted

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, 13:56

Russian foreign trade surplus down to $14.8 bln in March 2025 — Central Bank

The current account surplus in March 2025 amounted to $10.7 bln, compared to $6.7 bln a month earlier

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, 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

Senegal conducting negotiations on joining BRICS — MFA

Senegal is able to play a positive role in the association, the country’s Foreign Minister Yassine Fall 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

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, 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

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, 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, 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

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

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

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

Russia’s Battlegroup East destroys over 165 Ukrainian troops in 24 hours

The enemy also lost two armored combat vehicles, a Paladin self-propelled artillery system, two cars, a RADA radiodetector, one AN/TPQ-50 counterbattery radar station, three fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles, and nine unmanned aviation control posts

Trump admits tariff exceptions for some countries

"Yeah, obviously, it could be a couple of exceptions, you know, but I would say 10% is the floor," the president noted

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

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, 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

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

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, 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

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, 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

Su-35S jet provides protection for Russian aviation in Kursk Region — Defense Ministry

"According to reconnaissance reports, the targets were successfully engaged," the ministry stated

Ukraine loses up to 305 troops, one tank in responsibility area of Battlegroup South

An armored combat vehicle, ten cars, two field branch artillery weapons, and three ammunition depots were destroyed as well

Yesterday, 14:33

Advanced hardware makes up 100% in Russia’s naval strategic nuclear forces — Putin

Russia should maintain this share in the future as well, the head of state emphasized

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, 20:11

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"

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

Battlegroup Dnepr destroys up to 85 Ukrainian troops, armored vehicle in 24 hours

M113 armored vehicle, five cars, a self-propelled artillery system, a counterbattery station, two electronic warfare stations, and two ammunition depots were also eliminated

Yesterday, 21:32

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, 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, 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, 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

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, 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

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"

Russia’s Battlegroup Center destroys over 425 Ukrainian troops in 24 hours

Ukrainian army also lost six armored combat vehicles, including М113 and VAB armored fighting vehicles, as well as a Humvee armored combat vehicle, three cars, and five pieces of artillery

Yesterday, 14:14

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Gavrilyuk resigns

Ivan Gavrilyuk has held the post since May 2024

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

West battlegroup destroys over 220 Ukrainian troops, three Starlink satellite antennas

Damage was inflicted on troops and equipment of units of three mechanized, one assault brigades and one territorial defense brigade of the Ukrainian army near Kamenka, Kupyansk, Borovaya, Novoye, Makeyevka, Yampole, and Kirovsk

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

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, 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, 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

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

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, 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

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"

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

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

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

Yesterday, 20:59

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

Yesterday, 20:48

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, 23:11

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, 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, 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

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, 17:11

Putin-Witkoff meeting continues for now — Kremlin

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

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, 18:02

Deal between Trump, Zelensky impossible, Medvedchuk believes

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

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, 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, 20:30

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, 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, 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

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

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

MFA shocked by Ukraine offering ‘safaris’ to foreign nationals

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

Yesterday, 22:37

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

Kellogg suggests Ukraine could be divided between West, Russia like postwar Berlin

UK and French troops could adopt zones of control in Ukraine’s west, forming a "reassurance force" for allegedly preventing the resumption of combat operations whereas Russia could control the east of the country, US Presidential Special Envoy said

Yesterday, 22:15

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, 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

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, 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

Kellogg says he was not referring to partitioning of Ukraine

"I was speaking of a post-cease fire resiliency force in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty," US Presidential Special Envoy said

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

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, 19:27

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, 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, 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

Chinese citizens not fighting in Ukraine — Russian MFA

"China’s position on settlement in Ukraine is quite balanced, and we are grateful to our friends for that," Andrey Rudenko noted

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, 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

Yesterday, 15:41

Ukraine gets 400,000 artillery rounds so far in 2025 as part of Czech-led plan — minister

The Czech Republic is one of the countries that do more to provide assistance to Ukraine

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, 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

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

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, 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

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

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, 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, 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

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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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