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☆ 2 of the world's biggest oil producers are looking for new ways to power their economies
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-22 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Oil prices ended down 7% last week and are lower this year-to-date, despite Middle East tensions. Oil prices have been depressed this year because China — the world's largest oil importer — is in a prolonged economic downturn. Last year, they each accounted for 11% of the world's oil supply. This means that Saudi Arabia is looking to corner a larger market share instead of targeting higher profit margins by restricting output. Advertisement"But the problem is when oil prices spike, it sends oil companies searching for temporarily profitable oil," he added, referring to the US shale boom as the most recent example.

Persons: —, Abishur Prakash, Prakash, Anton Siluanov, Matthew Huber, we're, Huber Organizations: Service, —, Financial Times, International Energy Agency, Brent, US West Texas, Syracuse University, Saudi, Trump, OPEC Locations: Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, Toronto, Israel, Iran, Europe, OPEC

☆ Russia confirms it's going to make it more painful for companies to quit the country
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-17 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia has confirmed plans to raise a tax on foreign companies quitting the country. AdvertisementRussia has confirmed it will make it more expensive for foreign companies to quit the country. In March, RBC reported companies leaving Russia had already paid 35.7 billion rubles, or about $387 million, into Russia's budget. The process of leaving Russia is often complex, thorny, and costly. AdvertisementIn March, a Reuters analysis found that foreign companies had incurred costs of more than $107 billion in writedowns and lost revenue.

Persons: —, Anton Siluanov, Siluanov, McDonald's, Alexei Moiseyev, Yuri Nikolaev, Nikolaev, LeaveRussia Organizations: Service, RBC, Partners, Kyiv Institute of Economics Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Russian, writedowns, West

☆ War, reforms and a possible successor? Here's what we could see from 6 more years of Putin
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Analysts share their views on what we can expect now that Putin has strengthened his grip on power, with the Ukraine war, domestic economic reforms and a possible government reshuffle key factors to watch. Having cleared more of a procedural hurdle than a real test of his policies and popularity in the election, Putin will have more freedom to advance contentious reforms at home, analysts note. Russian President Vladimir Putin delivering an annual address to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, at Moscow's Gostiny Dvor, in Moscow on Feb. 29, 2024. MOSCOW, RUSSIA - JANUARY 8: (RUSSIA OUT) A woman eats hot corn while walking along the Red Square near the Kremlin, as air temperatures dropped to -18 degrees Celcius, January,8 2024, in Moscow, Russia. However, with the dynamics of the war now shifting in Russia's favor, Putin might feel more confident with the reshuffle.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Natalia Kolesnikova, Vladimir Putin's, Putin, embolden Putin, Liam Peach, Jose Colon, Anton Siluanov, Tursa, Adeline Van Houtte, Donald Trump, Dmitry Peskov, Peach, he's, Sergei Shoigu, Sergei Lavrov, Mikhail Mishustin, Dmitry Medvedev, Gavriil Organizations: Afp, Getty, Kremlin, Commission, Analysts, U.S, Capital Economics, Anadolu, Anadolu Agency, Economist Intelligence Unit, Federal Assembly, Russian Federation, New, Putin, Security Council, Sputnik Locations: Crimea, Red, Moscow, Russia, Russian, Central, Ukraine, Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, Eastern Europe, Europe, U.S, Russia's, MOSCOW, RUSSIA

☆ 2024 is already straining the seams of China and Russia's 'no limits' partnership
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

AdvertisementRussia's finance ministry has been discussing yuan loans with its China counterparts — but a delayed decision suggests the two countries' "no limits" partnership may be under strain. Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov told RIA state news agency in an interview published on Monday that Russia is discussing the issue with Chinese authorities. Russia's finance ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. However, two years after Russia started its ongoing war in Ukraine, Russia and China appear to be continuing to conduct business as usual. Three of China's Big Four state banks have halted payments from sanctioned Russian financial institutions, Russia's Izvestia news outlet reported on February 21.

Persons: Anton Siluanov, Siluanov, Vladimir Putin, Dong Jinyue, SCMP Organizations: China, Russian, Business, Beijing, Street, China Morning Post, BBVA Research, Russia Locations: Russia, China, Moscow, Ukraine, Madrid, Russian

LONDON (AP) — Russia's State Duma took a step forward Wednesday towards approving its biggest-ever federal budget which will increase spending by around 25% in 2024, with record amounts going on defense. Part of the Russian budget is secret as the Kremlin tries to conceal its military plans and sidestep scrutiny of its war in Ukraine. Analysts suggest Russia is in third place globally for defense spending behind China and the United States, which spends around $850 billion a year. The main driver of that growth is Russia's war in Ukraine, which is now as important to the Kremlin economically as it is politically. If there is a reduction in military spending, or a need to reduce spending which impacts living standards, it could send shockwaves through the Russian economy and significantly impact ordinary people.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, ”, Richard Connolly, Farida Rustamova, Maksim Tovkaylo, Alexandra Prokopenko, Anton Siluanov, “, Connolly, they’ve, ” Prokopenko, Prokopenko, — — David McHugh Organizations: —, Duma, Kremlin, Royal United Services Institute, Independent, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, Russian Central Bank, Finance, Defense, Central Bank Locations: — Russia's, Russia, Ukraine, London, China, United States, Russian, West, India, Berlin, Frankfurt

☆ Russian state won't take part in organising frozen asset 'exchange'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 9 (Reuters) - Russia's finance ministry on Thursday said the state would not take part in organising frozen asset 'exchanges', instead leaving that up to financial market players. International sanctions against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine have blocked many Russian investors' access to securities held in jurisdictions outside the country, while Russian countermeasures have frozen Western funds within. "The decree ... creates legislative opportunities for conducting the "exchange" of frozen assets, the state will not take part in organising the exchange itself," the finance ministry said. Organising exchanges was down to brokers and other securities market participants, it said. "The decree refers to the use of foreign investors' funds in type-C accounts."

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina, Nabiullina, Anton Siluanov, Siluanov, Darya Korsunskaya, Alexander Marrow, Toby Chopra, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Wednesday, Moscow, Central Bank Governor, Finance, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Ukraine

☆ EU summit turns its eyes away from Ukraine despite a commitment to stay the course with Zelenskyy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

It was a good thing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had his videoconference address to the European Union summit pre-slotted for the opening session. They didn't come back to the issue of Russia's war in Ukraine again before Friday's closing day of the summit. Not only have the geopolitics in general shifted, some of the EU politics in particular are no longer as kind to Zelenskyy. There is also a four-year 20-billion-euro ($21 billion) military and security package in the pipeline. "If we don't help Ukraine, then what is the alternative, really," Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, Mike Johnson, Israel, Robert Fico, Viktor Orbán, Orbán, Anton Siluanov, Boris Pistorius, Fico, Orban, Kaja Kallas, Leo Varadkar, Putin Organizations: European Union, EU, U.S ., Slovak, Ukraine, Russian, U.S . Congress, IRIS, " Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Moscow, Europe, Slovakia, Germany, France, Hungary, Zelenskyy, Russian, United States, Brussels, Estonian, Russia

BRUSSELS (AP) — It was a good thing Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelenskyy had his videoconference address to the European Union summit pre-slotted for the opening session. They didn't come back to the issue of Russia's war in Ukraine again before Friday's closing day of the summit. With Ukraine funding in jeopardy in the U.S. Congress, Zelenskyy is looking to leave the financial lifeline to Europe open. “If we don’t help Ukraine, then what is the alternative, really,” Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said. Why do you think that you’re safe then?”Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has the answer.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mike Johnson, Robert Fico, Viktor Orbán, Orbán, ” Orbán, Anton Siluanov, Zelenskyy, “, ”, Boris Pistorius, Kaja Kallas, Leo Varadkar, Putin, ” ___ Geir Moulson, Sylvie Corbet, Justin Spike Organizations: Ukrainian, European Union, EU, U.S ., Ukraine, Russian, U.S . Congress, IRIS, ” Locations: BRUSSELS, Israel, Ukraine, Moscow, Europe, EU, Slovak, Germany, France, Slovakia, neigboring Hungary, Zelenskyy, Kyiv, Russian, United States, Brussels, Estonian, Russia, Berlin, Paris, Budapest, Hungary

But Russia's Accounts Chamber, which oversees budget execution, warned on Monday there were risks the Urals price would fall below $60 in 2024-2026. Russia's forecast sees economic growth of 2.3% in 2024, well above estimates of 1.1% from the International Monetary Fund and 0.5%-1.5% from the Bank of Russia. CHANGING TUNEAt Russia's flagship economic forum in St Petersburg in June, Siluanov said increasing expenditure was difficult, as budget spending had already increased by 1-1/2 times from 2019 to 2022. Now, even as the government outlines plans for spending to jump to 36.7 trillion roubles in 2024, he is more relaxed. Renaissance Capital's Donets and Melaschenko said Russia could create temporary taxes, permanently increase rates of VAT, or adjust Russia's budget rule to permit more spending of energy revenues.

Persons: Evgenia, Anton Tabakh, Vladimir Putin, Anton Siluanov, Denis Popov, Yevgeny Suvorov, Suvorov, Sofya Donets, Andrei Melaschenko, Dmitry Polevoy, Siluanov, Melaschenko, Alexei Sazanov, Sazanov, Konstantin Sonin, It's, Sumanta Sen, Mark Trevelyan, Alexander Marrow, Catherine Evans Organizations: U.S ., Russian, REUTERS, Washington, Finance, International Monetary Fund, Bank of Russia, Capital, Reuters Graphics Russia, University of Chicago, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, West, St Petersburg

☆ Who is in Putin's delegation to China - and who stayed in Moscow?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives for the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China, October 18, 2023. Sputnik/Dmitry Azarov/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin is currently on a visit to China, his second only trip outside the former Soviet Union since the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Who is in the Russian delegation with Putin - and who stayed in Russia? Before Putin left for China, he was shown at a meeting with defence and spy chiefs at his Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow. The following top officials are thought to be in Russia.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Azarov, Alexander Novak, Sergei Lavrov, Yuri Ushakov, Maxim Oreshkin, Dmitry Peskov, Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina, Anton Siluanov, Maxim Reshetnikov, Dmitry Shugaev, Yuri Chikhanchin, Dmitry Chernyshenko, Igor Morgulov, Igor Sechin, Alexei Miller, Alexei Likhachev, Andrei Kostin, Igor Shuvalov, Leonid Mikhelson, Oleg Belozyorov, Kirill Dmitriev, Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Nikolai Patrushev, Alexander Bortnikov, Dmitry Medvedev, Anton Vaino, Sergei Kiriyenko, Mikhail Mishustin, Viktor Zolotov, Sergei Naryshkin, Guy Faulconbridge, Muralikumar Organizations: Forum, Sputnik, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Soviet Union, Putin, Kremlin, Central Bank Governor, Federal Service for Military, Gazprom, VEB, Russian, Russian Direct Investment, Russia Security, Federal Security Service, Russia's Foreign Intelligence, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Ukraine, Russia, CHINA, North Korea, China BUSINESSPERSONS, Moscow, Russian

In 2021, the year before Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine, defence spending totalled 3.57 trillion roubles, 14.4% of total spending. In 2022, the share of defence spending rose to 17.7%, data on Russia's electronic budget page showed earlier this year. That may mean that defence spending will also be significantly higher than first envisaged. Moscow doubled its target for defence spending in 2023 to 9.7 trillion roubles, Reuters reported exclusively in August, citing a government document. EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE FREEZEAs defence spending in 2024 triples from pre-invasion levels, the share of spending on "national security", which covers funding for law enforcement agencies, is also rising, set to reach 9.2% in 2024, the documents showed.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Mikhail Metzel, Anton Siluanov, Siluanov, Donets, Dmitry Peskov, Darya, Alexander Marrow, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Sputnik, REUTERS, Defence, Reuters, CIS, Renaissance, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Kremlin, Ukraine, Russian

☆ An oligarch who predicted that Russia may run out of money next year is surprised the economy has held up so far
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Oligarch Oleg Deripaska told the FT he was surprised at Russia's economic resilience. Deripaska, who is worth $2.3 billion, said demand from the global south is supporting Russia's economy. It's an about-turn for Deripaska, who, in March, said sanctions-hit Russia may run out of money next year. Anton Siluanov, the country's finance minister, told the CGTV channel last month he expects the Russian economy to grow by at least 2.5% this year. "Out of the next billion people who're about to be born, 70% will be in this region," Deripaska told the FT. "Let's face reality.

Persons: Oligarch Oleg Deripaska, Deripaska, —, oligarch Oleg Deripaska, It's, Anton Siluanov, it's Organizations: Service, Financial, New York Times, International Monetary Fund, US, European Union, Russia Locations: Russia, Ukraine

Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said Russia would return to following its budget rule in 2024, envisaging an oil price of $60 per barrel. The government was discussing budget plans for the next three years. Bloomberg News reported that Russia is also planning a huge hike in defence spending next year, swelling to 6% of GDP from 3.9% in 2023 and 2.7% in 2021. Siluanov said Russia planned to raise domestic borrowing to more than 4 trillion roubles annually to fund its deficits. Siluanov said Russia's NWF would hold 6.7 trillion roubles by end-2024, down from 13.7 trillion roubles, or 9.1% of GDP as of Sept. 1.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Denis Manturov, Alexei Krivoruchko, Mikhail Metzel, Mikhail Mishustin, Mishustin, Anton Siluanov, Siluanov, Russia's, Vladimir Soldatkin, Darya Korsunskaya, Alexander Marrow, Mark Trevelyan Organizations: Sputnik, REUTERS Acquire, Finance, National Wealth Fund, Bloomberg News, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Izhevsk, Russia, Ukraine MOSCOW, Moscow, Ukraine

☆ Russia will increase foreign currency sales 830% as deadline for Eurobond repayment nears
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia's central bank said it will increase its foreign currency sales by 830% later this month. The sales will help Russia repay a $3 billion Eurobond that is due on September 16. The offloaded foreign currency will also help calm ruble volatility, the central bank said. Between September 14 and 22, the Bank of Russia will sell 21.4 billion rubles worth of foreign currency a day into the domestic market, up 830% from a planned 2.3 billion. This will total 150 billion rubles worth of foreign currency, or $1.5 billion.

Persons: Wagner, Elvira Nabiullina, Anton Siluanov Organizations: Service, Bank of Russia, Bolshevik, Kremlin, Moscow Times, Reuters Locations: Russia, Wall, Silicon, Russia's, Moscow, Ukraine

☆ Russian central bank head wants currency controls to remain limited
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Sept 1 (Reuters) - Russian Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina said on Friday that controls on foreign currency flows should not pose difficulties for economic actors, and should remain limited to their role as a mirroring operation. Now, currency control measures, in my opinion, should remain primarily those that are of a mirror nature, reciprocal in nature," Nabiullina told a banking conference. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, addressing the same banking forum, said his ministry and the central bank were seeking consensus on currency control. Siluanov said that previously, the Central Bank had been stricter on the issue, and the Ministry of Finance more liberal, but that it was now the other way around. It has, however, recovered since the central bank pushed up rates on Aug. 15 by 3.5 percentage points to 12%.

Persons: Russian Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina, Nabiullina, Anton Siluanov, Siluanov, Kevin Liffey, Conor Humphries Organizations: Russian Central Bank Governor, Central Bank, Ministry of Finance, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine

☆ Russian finance minister expects 2023 GDP to grow by 2.5% or more, agencies report
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MOSCOW, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Russia's economy is set to grow by 2.5% or more in 2023, while inflation is expected to be around 6%, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov was quoted on Saturday as saying. The central bank forecasts GDP growth of 1.5%-2.5% this year. He forecast inflation would return to the target of 4% in 2024. The central bank has forecast it will fall to 5.0%-6.5% this year. "We together with the Central Bank will be taking all measures to bring inflation down to our targeted level," Siluanov said.

Persons: Anton Siluanov, Siluanov, Ksenia Orlova, Mark Trevelyan Organizations: Central Bank, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW

A Russian state flag flies over the Central Bank headquarters in Moscow, Russia, August 15, 2023. International sanctions against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine have blocked many Russian investors' access to securities held in jurisdictions outside the country, while Russian countermeasures have frozen Western funds within. "Interested foreign investors would be given the opportunity to buy 'blocked' foreign securities from Russian investors in exchange for funds held in type-C accounts," the central bank said. "The participation of investors (both Russian and foreign) in this process will be voluntary." Finance Minister Anton Siluanov on Tuesday asked President Vladimir Putin to support the plans, starting with the unblocking of about 100 billion roubles ($1.06 billion) in frozen funds belonging to retail investors.

Persons: Shamil Zhumatov, Clearstream, Anton Siluanov, Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Polevoy, Alexander Marrow, Devika Organizations: Central Bank, Bank of, REUTERS, Wednesday, Moscow, Thomson Locations: Russian, Moscow, Russia, Bank of Russia, Ukraine, Europe, Locko

☆ Higher debt burden 'inevitable' as Russia spends on military bloc -finance ministry
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Russia's current level of debt is 22.8 trillion roubles, or 14.9% of gross domestic product (GDP), Deputy Finance Minister Irina Okladnikova said on Tuesday, naming 20% of GDP as the upper boundary of the safe debt limit. "We understand that in the current situation, we will increase debt, it is a hopeless situation," said Okladnikova at a meeting in Russia's upper house of parliament. "Therefore, we will increase debt, but we will try to remain within safe limits," Okladnikova said. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said 2024 budget spending would be cut by around 450 billion roubles - 10% of so-called 'unprotected' spending - to free up money for other priorities. "We have budget expenditure of a little more than 29 trillion roubles," he said, with just 4.5 trillion in line for cuts, implying around 450 billion roubles (4.97 billion) slated for redistribution next year.

Persons: Irina Okladnikova, Okladnikova, Anton Siluanov, Siluanov, Darya, Alexander Marrow, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv

☆ Putin says Russian economy faring better than expected
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Lidia Kelly | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 5 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said late on Tuesday that the Russian economy was performing better than expected after Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin reported to him that gross domestic product growth and inflation have been surprisingly positive. GDP growth may exceed 2% this year and consumer price inflation may not rise above 5% in annual terms, Mishustin told Putin at a meeting at the Kremlin. The International Monetary Fund expects the Russian economy to grow 0.7% this year. "Our results, at least for the time being, let's say, cautiously, are better than previously expected, better than predicted," Putin said, according to a transcript on the Kremlin's website. On Tuesday, Mishustin told Putin that he had confidence that if there was no force majeure circumstances, the economy would perform well this year.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Mikhail Mishustin, Mishustin, Putin, Kyiv's, Russia's technocrats, Vladimir Vladimirovich, Anton Siluanov, Lidia Kelly, David Gregorio, Michael Perry Organizations: Kremlin, Monetary Fund, Reuters, Moscow, Monetary, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Melbourne

☆ In Kremlin stunt, Putin and girl, 8, lobby minister for budget funds
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Sputnik/Alexander... Read moreJuly 4 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted an eight-year-old girl in the Kremlin on Tuesday and got her to join him in a bizarre phone call to his finance minister to ask for a budget grant for her home region. The Kremlin released video of Putin welcoming the girl, Raisat Akipova, in the latest of a series of appearances since a brief armed mutiny last month that seem designed to show him as caring, concerned and in control. Putin responded, before telling the girl: "We've got 5 billion roubles for Dagestan" - a sum equivalent to $55.6 million. Putin chuckled with amusement during the conversation and a similar call that he made with Raisat to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. The visit was a sequel to a visit by Putin to Dagestan last week when, unusually, he mingled with a large crowd of people.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Raisat Akipova, Alexander, Read, Putin, Anton Siluanov, We've, Raisat, Mikhail Mishustin, Siluanov, Wagner, Mark Trevelyan, Gareth Jones Organizations: Kremlin, Sputnik, Finance, Thomson Locations: Derbent, Republic of Dagestan, Moscow, Russia, Kremlin, Dagestan

☆ Russia admits there are 'problems' with energy revenues plunging over 50% in the first quarter of 2023 — and blamed them on 'all these discounts': report
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Siluanov blamed "all these discounts" for causing a 50% slump in energy revenues in the first quarter of 2023, per the FT. Russia exported an average of 7.7 million barrels of crude oil each day in 2022. Willing buyers of Russian oil include China and India, which now account for about 90% of Russian oil purchases, commodities analytics firm Kpler said in April. India and Chinese oil buyers, too, demand huge discounts for their Russian oil purchases. Russia's flagship Urals crude is trading at around a $20 per barrel discount to benchmark US and Brent crude oil currently.

☆ Russia’s battered wartime economy is still chugging along as it taps its wealth fund, raises taxes, and ramps up imports
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Shares of First Republic dropped more than 40% in pre-market trading today, while JPMorgan stock ticked 2.9% higher. Let's check in on Russia's wartime economy. To the surprise of many forecasters, Russia's economy has held up better than expected as it carries on into the second year of its war on Ukraine. And leaked documents, first reported by the Washington Post, suggest that Russia can fund its war for at least another year. Specifically, US intelligence says Moscow can rely on its sovereign wealth fund to help pay for its war efforts, as well as higher corporate taxes and ramped-up imports.

☆ Russian finmin: Hitting budget deficit of 2% of GDP depends on oil and gas - agencies
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MOSCOW, April 28 (Reuters) - Russia's forecast of a 2023 budget deficit of no more than 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) remains in force but much depends on oil and gas revenues, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov was quoted as saying on Friday. "So far, these benchmarks are unchanged, but to say that it will be exactly 2%, this means giving incorrect estimates. Let's see what will happen to oil and gas revenues," Interfax quoted him as saying. Russia's energy revenues have been hit by Western sanctions including an oil price cap, although Siluanov said non-energy revenues were holding up well. The minister was also cited as saying that Russia would begin exchanging sovereign Eurobonds for rouble-denominated OFZ treasury bonds by the end of the year.

☆ Russia posted a $29 billion deficit in the first quarter as energy revenue plummets — and it could spell trouble for the country's military bills
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia's spending jumped 34% in 1Q to 8.1 trillion rubles, or $99 billion, amid the Ukraine war. However, energy revenues plunged 45% to 1.6 trillion rubles due to boycotts and sanctions. As a result, Russia posted a deficit of 2.4 trillion rubles in the first quarter of 2023. Government income declined nearly 21% to 5.7 trillion rubles during the quarter compared to a year ago, per data released by Russia's finance ministry on Friday. This comes after the European Union — a major customer of Russian energy — banned Russian crude oil starting December 5.

☆ Economic asphyxiation puts Russia in China’s orbit
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Pierre Briancon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Cut off from foreign markets by sanctions, Vladimir Putin’s government is at pains to finance budget deficits that would have been manageable in peacetime. The financial difficulties are pushing Russia further into the sphere of influence of China’s President Xi Jinping, who visits Moscow this week. Dipping into the fund, though, will push Moscow further into China’s financial orbit, Russian economist Alexandra Prokopenko has noted. In the short term, financial hope for Russia can only come from a significant increase in oil and gas prices. Trade between China and Russia increased by 34% last year as Chinese imports of oil and gas jumped 50%.

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