President Trump has yet to impose new sanctions on Russia despite Moscow’s failure to meet the August 8 deadline to cease hostilities in Ukraine. A high-level summit is planned for August 15 in Alaska between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a peace deal. Trump has hinted that a potential deal might involve territorial swaps, possibly aiming to regain some land for Ukraine. While Putin proposed a ceasefire in exchange for Ukraine’s eastern regions, the Russian leader has shown little interest in halting the war, believing his forces have the advantage.
Read More
Shopping Trends team members are not affiliated with the journalists at CTV News. The team operates independently and may earn a commission through the use of provided shopping links. Further information about the team’s structure and purpose is available for interested readers. This commission structure does not influence the content presented.
Read More
Ukraine wins historic $5 billion award against Russia—and Europe starts making Moscow pay it. This headline, a beacon of positive news in a sea of often grim reports, is certainly something to discuss. It’s a significant victory for Ukraine, and it seems like Europe is finally gearing up to make Russia feel the economic sting of its actions. This award, this financial smackdown, is a strong message.
The core idea here is that Russia faces potential economic collapse. Even a transition to a wartime economy may not be enough, as the West, especially Europe, is focused on isolating them. Ukraine has sacrificed so much, and the support they are receiving will hopefully make a real difference.… Continue reading
By the end of July, Russia’s federal budget deficit surged to 4.9 trillion rubles ($61.4 billion), exceeding the government’s full-year target by over 30%. This increase is largely attributed to reduced oil prices, which significantly impacted revenues. While expenditures grew substantially, outpacing revenue growth, leading to a decline in real terms. Several experts attribute the economic challenges to sanctions and trade disruptions, while some suggest the falling oil revenues could potentially impact Russia’s ongoing war efforts.
Read More
Paulo Figueiredo, a Brazilian right-wing influencer, and Eduardo Bolsonaro have been spearheading a campaign in the US to sanction Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, alleging censorship of conservative voices. This lobbying effort appears to have yielded results, including the revocation of US visas for Moraes and his allies, and eventually formal sanctions. However, Figueiredo’s influence is under scrutiny as a company of his is named in a bankruptcy case related to a fraud scheme. Figueiredo, who is also allegedly involved in the launch of the social network Gettr, views these actions as a way to strengthen the pro-Bolsonaro movement in Brazil.
Read More
Russia’s oil and gas revenues experienced a significant decline in July, marking the third consecutive month of decreased income, falling by almost 30% year-on-year. This decline is attributed to decreased mineral extraction tax (NDPI) revenue, with Gazprom’s exports to Europe reaching historic lows. The EU’s sanctions, including a lowered price cap on Russian oil, are contributing to this downturn, forcing the Kremlin to revise its revenue projections. To offset these losses, Russia is reportedly drawing from its National Wealth Fund.
Read More
Putin still has no intention of stopping the Ukraine war, and frankly, that’s hardly surprising. It’s become painfully obvious to everyone, except perhaps a few people who seem to live in an alternate reality. From a purely strategic viewpoint, the whole thing seems incredibly counterproductive. It’s hurting his own demographics, depleting his military’s resources, and providing the West with invaluable insights into how the Russian military actually functions. It’s even prompted large countries to rearm, increasing the very threat he supposedly wants to eliminate.
It’s hard to understand the logic behind this, beyond the obvious. It feels like a terrible waste of life, a pointless bloodshed.… Continue reading
Revealing that the very nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia, says India on Trump’s tariff remarks. This situation is, to put it mildly, complicated, and it’s easy to see why the comments on tariffs and trade with Russia are raising eyebrows. The core of the issue is this: India is facing criticism, particularly from Western nations, for its continued trade with Russia, yet these very same critics are, in various ways, also involved in economic exchanges with Moscow. It’s a classic case of “do as I say, not as I do,” and it’s understandable why India is pointing this out.… Continue reading
In response to US actions, Russia has criticized the imposition of sanctions and tariffs, labeling them a “neocolonial agenda” driven by Washington’s inability to accept a multipolar world. Maria Zakharova, a Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman, stated that these measures constitute “politically motivated economic pressure” against nations pursuing an independent path. Russia asserts that these actions contravene free trade principles and are supported by BRICS nations, vowing to deepen cooperation to resist these sanctions. The Russian response followed Donald Trump’s threat to raise tariffs on India, accusing them of selling Russian oil for profit and supporting the war in Ukraine.
Read More
India Will Buy Russian Oil Despite Trump’s Threats, Officials Say, and honestly, it shouldn’t be a shock to anyone with a grasp of global economics. The simple fact is, a dollar bill, or in this case a barrel of oil, doesn’t just sit around gathering dust. The underlying reality of the situation is that India is able to secure much needed oil at a lower market price, which essentially removes some demand from the overall global supply of oil.
The narrative around Russian oil has been pretty consistent. It’s always been available for sale, though sometimes at a lower price point.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood