#Russia: #Roublefalls back in volatile #trade after early surge

Russian currency is being hurt by falling oil prices and Western sanctions over Ukraine

The Russian currency is down some 40 per cent against the dollar this year.An employee uses a machine while counting Russian ruble banknotes at a private company’s office in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia. Photograph: Ilya Naymushin/Reuters

A recovery in the rouble ran out of steam on Tuesday as oil prices slid, wiping out early gains driven by modest foreign-currency sales on the final day of trading before the New Year holidays... (Read more)

EXTERNAL EXPANSION LTD., www.externalexpansion.net

#Russia: #Roublerecovers as authorities step up support

Currency climbs in value as threat to country’s financial stability eases

An employee counts Russian ruble banknotes at a private company’s office in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia. Photograph: Ilya Naymushin/Reuters

Russia’s rouble strengthened on Friday after finance minister Anton Siluanov confirmed his ministry had sold foreign currency and on expectations that exporters will step up dollar sales... (Read more)

External Expansion Ltd. (www.externalexpansion.net)

#Ireland: Talking #Turkey as a market to replace #Russia

Ireland is not currently looking to Turkey as a replacement market for Russia. But should we be?

Eastern promise: Istanbul – Enterprise Ireland opened an office in the city in January

Stephen Starr

Irish food exporters are up against it. The Russian ban on EU and others’ foodstuffs over the conflict in Ukraine has had another negative consequence: a scramble with EU neighbours for access to replacement markets... (Read more).

External Expansion, www.externalexpansion.net,

#Russia: #ForeignMinister Voices Bleak Forecast for Russia-U.S. Relations

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  Lavrov, left, pictured here with then Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski in 2010, spoke at length on Monday about Russia’s relations with the U.S., which have been blighted by a series of unresolved issues between the two nations.
  Photo: Polishmfa / flickr

The prospect of assuaging the rift in U.S.-Russia relations appeared dimmer Monday after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov predicted that the dire state of bilateral ties would persist for a long time... (Read more)

External Expansion, www.externalexpansion.net,

Ukraine fears Russia plans "frozen conflict" for troubled east

Putin insists Kiev must negotiate with rebels in east, not with Russia

A burnt trolley bus lies on a square near a railway station in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine yesterday. Reuters/Maxim Shemetov

(Read more)

External Expansion, www.externalexpansion.net,

European markets shrug off rising concern about Ukraine

European Central Bank may announce new stimulus measures at meeting this week

European markets cautiously set aside warnings that Russia’s conflict with Ukraine was sliding out of control on Monday. Photo: PA

(Read more)

External Expansion, www.externalexpansion.net,

#Russia calls tune in crisis #Europe hoped to wish away

Months of weakness and disunity among Ukraine’s allies have left it exposed to Kremlin aggression

Pro-Russian separatists walk towards a destroyed war memorial at Savur-Mohyla, a hill east of the city of Donetsk yesterday. Photograph: Maxim Shemetov/Reuters

(Read more)

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#Russia: Most Russians Support #FoodImportBan, Poll Shows

Most Russians support the ban on some foreign food imports imposed by President Vladimir Putin this month in retaliation to Western sanctions over Ukraine, a survey published Friday showed... (Read more)

External Expansion, www.externalexpansion.net,

#Denmark: Drop in Russian Beer Sales Hurts Carlsberg

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  Carlsberg's full-year net profit was expected "to decline by mid- to high-single-digit percentages."
  
  Photo: Carlsberggroup.com

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Beer sales in Russia, Ukraine and other Eastern European countries are down and expected to keep falling as political tensions weigh on the region's economy, brewer Carlsberg said Wednesday... (Read more)

External Expansion, www.externalexpansion.net,

Russian sanctions start to bite as growth forecasts are downgraded

Lending restrictions are not causing immediate panic but, with food shortages and price rises, the winter outlook is grim.

Six months after the confrontation over Ukraine first blew up, the damage is starting to be counted in dollars, euros and roubles. And as Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov met his counterparts from Ukraine, Germany and France, he will have been aware that it is Russia that has most to lose from a protracted economic stand-off with the west....

(Read more)

External Expansion, www.externalexpansion.net,

Germany Puts Curbing Russia Ahead of Commerce

BERLIN — Over recent months, something significant has happened in Europe: In the crisis over Ukraine, Germany has assumed leadership not just in its familiar fashion of trying to coax Russia away from belligerence and bluster, but also in standing firm and imposing sanctions on Moscow even if they hurt German business.

(Read more)

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Russian Foreign Ministry Slams EU For Lifting Ukraine Military Export Ban

The European Union applied "double standards" in lifting a ban on military exports to Ukraine, in a move that could contribute to internal repression in the conflict-torn country, Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a strongly worded statement...

(Read more)

Russia: Ukrainian Gas System Unlikely to Find U.S., EU Investors

Ukraine's move Friday toward attempting to sell nearly 50 percent in its gas pipeline system to EU and U.S. investors does not mean that Western buyers will rush to take up the offer, as the system's value depends on a steady supply of Russian gas, energy analysts told The St. Petersburg Times...

By Ivan Nechepurenko. The St. Petersburg Times. Published: July 5, 2014. (Click here to complete new)

Ukraine-EU Economic Accord Marks a Turning Point

Peterson Institute for International Economics. Anders Aslund — June 27, 2014
(Click here to original interview)
Anders Åslund explains why Putin's threats of retaliation against Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia will hurt the Russian economy and its reputation among potential investors.