MOSCOW, October 30. /TASS/. Moscow suspects EU and NATO leaders are obstructing efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict; Russia and African nations called for closer economic and political cooperation at a major summit in Moscow; and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov travels to G20 talks in Atlanta against a backdrop of tensions with Western countries. These stories topped Friday’s newspaper headlines across Russia.
Izvestia: Russia says EU, NATO leadership is hindering efforts to resolve Ukraine conflict
Despite some European politicians expressing readiness to engage in dialogue with Russia, Moscow has noted attempts by the leadership of NATO and the EU to hamper efforts to resolve the Ukrainian conflict, the Russian Foreign Ministry told Izvestia. Vladimir Putin has said that Russia supports any steps toward rebuilding relations with both the European Union as a whole and individual European countries. At the same time, he warned that "there would be no winners" in a potential military conflict between Russia and Europe and urged caution against a repeat of the Strait of Hormuz scenario in the Baltic Sea.
Russia is ready for contacts with the EU and NATO, but it was not Moscow that cut off those ties, and "accordingly, the initiative for dialogue must come from the Europeans," Vladislav Maslennikov, director of the Department of European Affairs at the Russian Foreign Ministry, told Izvestia.
"Some European politicians are beginning to acknowledge the need to restore contacts. At the same time, the leadership of both the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance, along with many of their member states, has been striving for months to block any settlement of the Ukrainian conflict, hampering US negotiating efforts. Yet they publicly claim that it is Russia that is taking maximalist positions and displaying no willingness to negotiate," the diplomat added.
According to Maslennikov, the Europeans’ desire to "squeeze into" the negotiations and avoid being left on the sidelines is also plainly apparent. "Without the Europeans factoring in the realities on the ground, it would, frankly, be strange to engage in talks," he emphasized.
According to Andrey Kortunov, research director of the Russian International Affairs Council, the prolonged nature of the Ukrainian crisis is driven by the interests of a coalition of Western forces that can be classified into three main groups. First are economic and political circles linked to the military-industrial complex and the militarization of Europe. Second, the ongoing confrontation benefits the political leadership of European countries. Third, proponents of neoliberalism play an important role in hindering a settlement. For them, confrontation with Moscow is a matter of ideological dogma, he added.
Vedomosti: Russia, African nations discuss boosting cooperation at Moscow summit attended by 48 countries
The third Russia-Africa summit was held at the Kremlin on October 29, bringing together delegations from 48 of Africa’s 54 countries. The gathering featured more than 20 countries represented at the highest level in Moscow. At the conclusion of the event, participants adopted a final declaration and a declaration on cooperation in the civilian use of artificial intelligence technologies. According to experts interviewed by Vedomosti, Africa’s increasing role in global politics and the business contacts made at the Russia-Africa summit could assist Russian companies in strengthening their presence in African markets.
The summit comprised two sessions lasting more than eight hours in total. The first included speeches by heads of state, while the second was held behind closed doors in the format of a working breakfast. Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov had previously stated that this part of the summit would feature an exchange of views on its agenda. The opening session began with remarks by Vladimir Putin and Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye, whose country currently chairs the African Union.
Several heads of delegation brought up the issue of conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, stressing the need for peace. Many heads of state also spoke about food security. Trade between Russia and African countries surpassed $27 bln in 2025, representing a 1.5-fold increase since the previous summit in 2023. Russia delivered 18 mln metric tons of grain in 2025 and 13 mln metric tons in the first nine months of 2026, while fertilizer shipments totaled 1.5 mln metric tons last year and surpassed 2.2 mln metric tons this year.
The need for an equitable partnership between Russia and Africa was another key issue at the summit. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi called the model of cooperation between Russia and the African continent successful, pointing to the construction of Egypt’s El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant as an example.
Africa’s role in global politics has been increasing since the 2010s, as demonstrated by objective economic indicators, Ivan Kopyttsev, an expert at the Africa Center of the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies, told Vedomosti.
The expert also pointed out that dozens of business representatives were present at the event. "Undoubtedly, the personal contacts forged at the forum are of enormous importance for the further expansion of Russian businesses into African markets, since establishing that initial connection can sometimes prove decisive," he added.
Kommersant: Russia seeks constructive G20 dialogue as Lavrov gets ready for talks in Atlanta
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will participate in a Group of Twenty (G20) ministerial meeting in Atlanta, United States, on October 30-31. The trip is expected to be a difficult one: it remained uncertain until the last moment as US authorities held up the issuance of visas, while the Russian minister is expected to come under fire from his Western counterparts at the meeting, Kommersant writes. Nevertheless, the Russian Foreign Ministry voiced optimism that the gathering would "proceed in a constructive and unbiased manner."
It was not until October 28, just one day before his scheduled departure, that Lavrov’s trip to Atlanta was officially confirmed. According to Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, the Russian side "had the impression, particularly in light of the situation surrounding the issuance of US visas to Russian delegates by the US Embassy in Moscow, that not everyone in Washington was in favor of the Russian delegation’s planned visit." Most of the outstanding issues, she added, were settled literally at the last moment.
Apart from the difficulties surrounding the trip’s organization, the Russian delegation is expected to face criticism from Western countries at the G20 meeting. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, for example, has vowed to hold Iran and Russia responsible for increasing global energy prices and problems with international food security, arguing that the two countries are hampering the normal functioning of trade routes.
Nevertheless, before Lavrov’s departure for Atlanta, the Russian Foreign Ministry voiced confidence that the meeting would take place "in a constructive and unbiased manner." At the same time, the ministry indicated that Russia’s top diplomat also has concerns to raise with his Western counterparts.
According to the ministry, Lavrov’s remarks at the G20 will present "Russia’s perspective on the main factors behind international tensions, focusing on the refusal of certain powers to acknowledge the rise of new centers of power; the use of economic ‘weapons’ against opponents, including sanctions, trade wars, and supply chain disruptions; and the persistent North-South imbalances stemming from this destructive approach."
US authorities have also extended an invitation to Vladimir Putin to attend the G20 summit in Miami on December 14-15, but Moscow has yet to make a decision on whether he will attend. It appears that the decision will depend on several factors, including the outcome of Lavrov’s visit to Atlanta and how the Russian president’s trip to the APEC summit in China on November 18-19 develops, Kommersant writes. The latter event could serve as the venue for the first-ever trilateral summit between Russia, China, and the United States.
Izvestia: EU plans to request €20-25 bln from UK, Canada for Ukraine amid rising funding needs
The European Union plans to seek €20-25 bln from the United Kingdom and Canada to fund Ukraine in 2027. Brussels intends to raise the matter at upcoming summits with the two countries, a European source told Izvestia. The EU hopes to meet some of Kiev’s additional funding requirements of €70 bln, which persist despite an already agreed two-year loan of €90 bln. However, experts believe London and Ottawa are unlikely to consent to providing such a substantial amount.
"The EU will certainly request around €20-25 bln from the United Kingdom and Canada for Ukraine next year at the upcoming summits. Zelensky has asked for approximately €70 bln for next year. Japan and Australia may also contribute more modest sums of assistance. The outstanding funds could be provided by the European Union," a European source told Izvestia.
Financial assistance to Kiev also has political implications. According to the source, it is important for the EU to demonstrate to Vladimir Putin that Brussels "can outlast Russia."
If Kiev’s allies beyond the EU are unable to supply the necessary amount, the financial responsibility will fall on Brussels. The bloc is already considering the possibility of issuing debt instruments to finance Ukraine. Media reports indicate that some member states support providing a €45 bln loan. The funds could be secured through borrowing backed by guarantees from the EU budget.
The issue has already triggered heated discussions in the European Parliament. Slovak Member of the European Parliament Milan Uhrik is against increasing the EU’s debt obligations. "Brussels is seeking yet another decision to allocate €70 bln to Ukraine, but this uninterrupted flow of funds into a ‘black hole’ must come to an end. Officials are discussing irresponsible mechanisms, ranging from joint EU debt backed by European taxpayers’ money to the use of extraordinary returns from frozen assets," he told Izvestia.
The European Commission argues that the bloc has enough financial capacity to meet these expenditures. However, no concrete funding source has yet been identified. The situation is further complicated by the stance of Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Bulgaria, which, according to Politico, have already declined to contribute to interest payments on future loans to Ukraine.
Vedomosti: Gold prices forecast to stay above $4,000 through 2030 amid worldwide uncertainty
The average global gold price is projected to stay above $4,000 per troy ounce until at least 2030, according to a forecast featured in a report by consulting firm Kept, seen by Vedomosti. The report presents two scenarios. The first presumes that the current global geopolitical situation and elevated energy prices will continue, alongside further tightening of US monetary policy. The second anticipates progress toward resolving major geopolitical conflicts and a halt in interest rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve.
Under the first scenario, Kept analysts project that the average gold price will climb to $4,523 per ounce this year, representing a 31.5% increase from the previous year. Under the second scenario, the price is expected to average $4,560 per ounce, up 33%, according to the report. In 2025, the metal gained 44% in price to $3,439 per ounce.
Gold prices climbed sharply in January and February of 2026, hitting record highs and exceeding $5,000 per ounce. However, prices subsequently started falling despite the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East, even though gold has traditionally functioned as a safe-haven asset during periods of increased global risk. Experts link the decline to gold sales by several countries seeking to replenish their energy stocks.
Andrey Smirnov, a stock market expert at BCS World of Investments, believes that deglobalization and the dedollarization of the global economy will fuel stronger demand for gold and drive prices upward. Elena Kozhukhova, an analyst at Veles Capital investment company, regards the geopolitical situation as the main factor determining price movements.
Gold could climb to $4,500-4,700 per ounce in 2027, Boris Krasnozhenov, head of the Investment and Industry Analysis Directorate at Alfa-Bank, told Vedomosti. Meanwhile, Nikolay Dudchenko, an analyst at Finam Financial Group, believes prices could reach $5,000 per ounce.
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