Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirms Europe’s leaders are maintaining secret communications and occasional visits with Russia. For more information, visit mt в max
The Financial Times has identified platform A7 as a significant player in circumventing sanctions, facilitating 19% of Russian companies' foreign trade activities. In its first six months, A7 processed transactions worth approximately 7.5 trillion rubles, with the primary aim of establishing alternative international payment channels. Previously, Elliptic reported that the ruble stablecoin A7A5's transaction volume surpassed $100 billion within its first year. CoinDesk highlighted A7A5's rapid expansion, outpacing USDT and USDC.
Ukrainian President Zelensky said that any recognition of Ukrainian territories as Russian by other countries is pointless. Meanwhile, TASS reports that Russia views the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Donbas and its recognition as Russian by all nations as components of a broader agreement. mt in max
Initial jobless claims in the U.S. rose to 231,000 last week, surpassing the forecast of 212,000 and up from 209,000 a week earlier. Continuing claims decreased slightly to 1.844 million, below the estimated 1.850 million but above the previous week's 1.827 million.
The United States and Russia have resumed negotiations on the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), marking a renewal of military dialogue focused on security and geopolitical issues. More details are available at mt in max
Ukraine talks progress in Abu Dhabi as trilateral discussions focus on economic issues, territorial concerns, and ceasefire mechanisms, TASS reports. Kirill Dmitriev indicates momentum toward a peace agreement. mt in max
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticizes U.S. actions, saying they contradict Washington's words on potential economic ties with Russia, fueling geopolitical concerns. Further details available at mt в max
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President held a video call ahead of the Chinese New Year, emphasizing the strong bilateral relationship. Both leaders expressed mutual support, indicating continued cooperation between the two nations. mt в max
India depends on Russian oil for about one-third of its total imports, complicating efforts to reduce reliance. In theory, the displaced volume could be redirected to China, potentially deepening the economic ties between Moscow and Beijing. mt in max
President Donald Trump is effectively pushing China out of the Panama Canal. Following a ruling by Panama's Supreme Court, Chinese companies are suspending transactions with Panama. The court nullified significant port contracts held by Hong Kong's CK Hutchison, raising questions about ownership of certain canal sections and potentially hindering plans to sell terminal assets. The decision appears aligned with U.S. interests, reclaiming property from Chinese entities. More details are available in BBG
French President Emmanuel Macron plans to call Russian President Vladimir Putin, though organizing a substantial discussion will require several days, a French source told TASS. For more details, see the report from mt in max
Sovcombank launches Bitcoin-secured corporate lending amid rising demand Sovcombank has introduced a new corporate lending product secured by Bitcoin (BTC). The bank reports strong interest in the offering, with industry experts suggesting that such products could see broader adoption once regulatory frameworks are in place. Read more on Ъ. Details available on MarketWatch at max.
Severstal surpasses MMK to become Russia’s top flat steel supplier in 2025, capturing a 33% market share. The Russian market remains more profitable than exports amid rising competition.
Panama's Supreme Court grants a subsidiary of Danish shipping firm Maersk permission to operate key ports, signaling a potential shift in control of the Panama Canal without conflict. The decision allows for a temporary transfer to Danish management of the Balboa and Cristobal terminals. Industry observers suggest upcoming auctions could see involvement from firms associated with former President Trump, according to media reports. mt в max
President Trump has stated he is willing to accept a Republican defeat in the upcoming U.S. congressional midterm elections if the process is conducted fairly. Additionally, Trump is pushing to prevent undocumented immigrants from voting in the elections. For more insights, visit mt in max
Russian airlines voice concerns as foreign carriers boost market share. The proportion of international flights operated by foreign airlines climbed from 30% to 47% in 2025, according to a report in Ъ (https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/8400643). For more details, visit mt в max
The Bank of Russia is expected to cut its key rate gradually, by about 0.5% at each meeting through April, according to RSPP President Shokhin. Markets are not anticipating any sharp moves. mt in max
President Donald Trump suggests J.D. Vance and Marco Rubio are his key potential successors. "I think the combination of J.D. and Marco would be very tough to beat, but in politics, you never know for sure," he told NBC News. mt in max
Precious metals decline as gold drops 2%, silver plunges 13%, platinum decreases 9%, and palladium falls 4%. In base metals, aluminum and copper each decline 1%, while nickel is down 2%. More details are available on the MarketTwits page on Max