Global Scans · Russia · Weekly Summary

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WHAT'S NEXT?: Russia is becoming an independent geopolitical actor. Russia will seek to maintain the world's strategic balance of power. A resurgent Russia is likely to continue to stir up trouble across much of Central and East Europe and the Middle East. It remains to be seen whether a rapprochement is possible with the U.S. And, Russia's economy is expected to return to modest growth in late 2016 and 2017, further strengthening its hand.

• [New] If talks collapse, Russia's cod sector could face shortages and a sharp rise in prices. SeafoodNews
• [New] The situation for cod in Russia could worsen quickly if Moscow and Oslo fail to reach an agreement on Barents Sea cod quotas. SeafoodNews
• [New] If sanctions result in a large reduction in oil purchases from Russia, it could cause a steeper drop in production than we are forecasting and put upward pressure on oil prices. EIA - Energy Information Administration
• [New] We assume sanctions on Russia will primarily increase the costs and risks of shipping Russia's oil, which we expect will lower the prices Russian oil producers receive. EIA - Energy Information Administration
• [New] Underpinning prices are expectations that Russian wheat production will be down considerably from previous forecasts. Successful Farming
• [New] European officials promise that Ukraine will continue to receive European weaponry and support in order to become a steel porcupine capable of deterring Russian aggression. Caliber.az
• [New] The European Commission has meanwhile put forward a Defence Readiness plan to rearm Europe before the end of the decade, when some intelligence agencies believe Russia could be in a position to attack another European country. Euronews
• [New] The Trump administration unveiled sanctions against Russia's major state-affiliated oil firms Rosneft and Lukoil last month, a move that could expose their foreign buyers - including customers in Central Europe, India and China - to secondary sanctions. financialpost
• [New] The European Union and United Kingdom in October announced sanctions on third-party refiners of Russian material from 2026, including by targeting specific terminals and refineries. The Guardian
• [New] More than 1,400 people from 36 African nations are known to be fighting for Russia in its war against Ukraine, urging governments to warn their citizens against joining a conflict where they are quickly killed. Al Jazeera
• [New] Russia is deliberately endangering nuclear safety in Europe. The Guardian
• [New] Hungary will purchase nuclear fuel from the US-based Westinghouse Electric Company to power its Paks nuclear plant, which has until now relied on Russian-supplied nuclear fuel. SKY
• [New] The analysis of company data goes on to reveal how US oil and gas production is now forecast to continue growing - by 2035 to double that of its next closest rival, Russia. SKY
• [New] Chancellor Friedrich Merz's ruling coalition has effectively removed borrowing constraints for defence spending, and the conservative leader has pledged to transform the Bundeswehr into Europe's largest conventional army to deal with the increasing threats from Russia. gCaptain
• [New] Ukraine will seek more air defence, drones and ammunition; Russia will try to compensate its manpower and supply deficits, possibly via foreign contractors. Medium
• [New] The ongoing battle for Pokrovsk may mark a strategic turning point: if Russian forces succeed in fully seizing it, they could gain a logistics and railway hub that opens further advances. Medium
• [New] Russia could mount a small, quick, regionally limited strike on NATO territory as early as tomorrow, though any move would depend on Western allies' posture. Just Security
• [New] Russia is betting that less ambitious engagements with smaller units that can metabolize large numbers of casualties will eventually break Ukrainian resistance. Geopolitical Futures
• [New] Russian nuclear submarine technology will make North Korean threat more palpable. The Asia Cable
• [New] The intensification of Western sanctions against Russian oil has injected fresh uncertainty, with Russian export volumes threatened by maritime restrictions and price cap enforcement. Grand Pinnacle Tribune

Last updated: 15 November 2025