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Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Vladimir Putin given stark 'on the verge' warning by top minister
Russia's economy could be 'on the verge' of a recession, according to one of the top officials in Vladimir Putin's Kremlin - Russia's economy remains on a war footing Vladimir Putin received a stark warning from one of his own ministers as Russia's economy remains on a war footing. The Russian Economy Minister Maxim Reshetnikov said that Russia 's economy is 'on the verge' of transitioning to a recession. 'We have a cooling stage,' Reshetnikov said at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, calling the numbers bedding his comments like looking at a 'rearview mirror'. He said: 'According to current business perceptions, we are already, it seems, on the verge of a transition to a recession.' Reshetnikov said that a recession was not inevitable and would depend on decisions taken by the Kremlin. Putin, in a speech at the forum, mentioned the recession warnings but emphasised that 'it mustn't be allowed'. Putin said Russia has managed to curb inflation and ease its reliance on energy exports. He pointed out that manufacturing industries have posted steady growth, allowing the country to reduce its reliance on oil and gas exports. 'The perception of Russian economy as based on raw materials and dependent on hydrocarbons exports have clearly become outdated,' Putin said, adding that the economy grew by 1.5 percent in the first four months of 2025 and inflation has dropped from double digits to 9.6 percent. Putin has used the annual forum to highlight Russia's economic prowess and encourage foreign investment, but Western executives have shunned it after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in 2022, leaving it to business leaders from Asia, Africa and Latin America. The economy, hit with a slew of Western sanctions, has so far outperformed predictions. High defence spending has propelled growth and kept unemployment low despite fuelling inflation. Large recruiting bonuses for military enlistees and death benefits for those killed in Ukraine also have put more income into the country's poorer regions. But over the long term, inflation and a lack of foreign investments pose threats to the economy. Economists have warned of mounting pressure on the economy and the likelihood it would stagnate due to lack of investment in sectors other than the military. Putin said the growth of military industries helped develop new technologies that have become available to the civilian sector. He vowed to continue military modernisation, relying on lessons learned during the fighting in Ukraine. 'We will raise the capability of the Russian armed forces, modernize military infrastructure and equip the troops with cutting-edge equipment,' Putin said. But Russian Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina said that the factors that had helped Russia with sustained growth could no longer be relied upon. On June 19, The Moscow Times said that Nabiullina said Russia had been growing on the back of 'free resources'. This includes its bank reserves, liquid assets in the country's wealth fund, industry and labour. Such resources are now reaching their limit, Nabiullina said. 'We grew for two years at a fairly high pace because free resources were activated," she said. "We need to understand that many of those resources have truly been exhausted."
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russian authorities start issuing fines for photos and videos of Ukrainian drone strikes
The authorities in Russia's Kaluga and Tula oblasts have begun fining local residents and journalists for posting photos and videos of Ukrainian drone strikes on social media. Source: The Moscow Times Details: The Kaluga Oblast government reported that by early June, 42 cases of violations of the ban on sharing information about the aftermath of drone crashes had been filed with the courts. Two of the violations had been committed by media outlets and five by local residents. Three of the cases involved comments on social media. The remainder were filed against administrators or owners of Telegram channels, VKontakte pages and personal accounts. In Kaluga Oblast, the fines for violating the ban range from RUB 3,000 to 200,000 (approx. US$38 to US$2,500). Meanwhile, in Tula Oblast, only one fine has been issued so far. At the end of May, a local resident was ordered to pay RUB 25,000 (around US$316) for posting a video of a Ukrainian drone attack on the city of Aleksin on Telegram. Background: A drone recently hit the Azot chemical plant in Novomoskovsk, Tula Oblast, causing a fire. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Miami Herald
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Ukraine Braces for Putin's Retaliation
A NATO official has echoed President Donald Trump's warning that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will seek revenge for Ukraine's drone strikes on Russia's military airfields. Following his phone call with the Russian president, Trump said Putin "will have to respond" to the attack on airfields, which Kyiv said damaged 41 aircraft including heavy bombers and A-50 spy planes. As Trump's envoy has warned the strikes risked escalation in the war, an unnamed NATO official told The Moscow Times that Russia would take "retaliatory actions" against Ukraine for its "Spiderweb" drone operation. Experts have told Newsweek that, in response, Putin is likely to step up drone and missile attacks. Newsweek has contacted the Kremlin and the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry by email for comment. Ukraine heralded the strikes on Russian airfields as far away as Siberia as a blow to Russia's military capabilities. Pro-Russian Telegram channels have expressed anger at the lack of protection at the sites, but the comments by Trump and his envoy will add to anticipation over what Putin will do in response. Trump said on the social-media platform Truth Social on Wednesday that, during his phone call with Putin, the leaders had discussed Ukraine's attacks on airplanes. The U.S. president said Putin said "very strongly" that he would have to respond to Kyiv's drone attacks without specifying what this would be nor whether he had urged restraint. Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, had earlier told Fox News that Ukraine's attack on "part of their national survival system, which is their … nuclear triad," had significantly increased the risk of escalation. An alliance official told The Moscow Times before NATO's defense ministers meeting in Brussels that Putin will use the attacks to justify additional heavier strikes and stall negotiations. Cédomir Nestorovic, academic co-director at the ESSEC Institute for Geopolitics & Business, told Newsweek that, in response, Russia could launch massive drone attacks on Ukraine, but probably not the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile that Putin has boasted about, nor any nuclear missiles. Aurélien Colson, from the same institute, told Newsweek that Putin's response will be primarily military, but his options are limited to missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities. Zev Faintuch, head of research and intelligence at security firm Global Guardian, told Newsweek that Ukraine's attack might slow the massive aerial bombardments of the major Ukrainian cities. However, the only way to bring the Russians to the negotiating table would be to halt their advances on the battlefield, he added. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said Wednesday that Putin used his call with Trump, in which they also discussed the train derailments in Russia that Moscow blamed on Kyiv, to portray Ukraine falsely as uninterested in peace and as a bad actor. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: "President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields." A NATO official said to The Moscow Times: "There will certainly be retaliatory actions that Russia will take. And there will be defensive things that Russia will do." Aurélien Colson, academic co-director at the ESSEC Institute for Geopolitics & Business, said: "(Putin) will probably launch another larger air attack on Ukrainian cities and infrastructures, through missiles and drones," adding that "going nuclear at the tactical level is excluded," due to China's opposition to such a move. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said on Wednesday: "Putin's statements to Trump are also likely aimed at distracting from Russia's own disinterest in negotiations and continued preparations for a prolonged war effort." Amid speculation over how Putin might respond to his worst week of 2025, the Russian president told his senior officials on Wednesday that he was no longer interested in negotiating with Ukraine, saying, "How can we negotiate with those who rely on terror?" Tatiana Stanovaya, founder of R. Politik, a political analysis firm focused on Russia, posted on X, formerly Twitter, that Western audiences may view Ukraine's attacks as strengthening Kyiv's negotiating position, but the effect "will likely be the opposite." Stanovaya said such attacks will only reinforce Putin's determination to dismantle the Ukrainian state and that he will respond "by becoming more hard-line and less compliant." Related Articles Welcome to the Age of Dumb Kissinger | OpinionTrump Set to Square Off With New German Chancellor Merz on Trade, UkrainePutin Suffers His Worst Week of 2025Putin Tells Trump the Kremlin 'Will Have to Respond' to Ukraine Attack 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Ukraine Braces for Putin's Retaliation
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A NATO official has echoed President Donald Trump's warning that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will seek revenge for Ukraine's drone strikes on Russia's military airfields. Following his phone call with the Russian president, Trump said Putin "will have to respond" to the attack on airfields, which Kyiv said damaged 41 aircraft including heavy bombers and A-50 spy planes. As Trump's envoy has warned the strikes risked escalation in the war, an unnamed NATO official told The Moscow Times that Russia would take "retaliatory actions" against Ukraine for its "Spiderweb" drone operation. Experts have told Newsweek that, in response, Putin is likely to step up drone and missile attacks. Newsweek has contacted the Kremlin and the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry by email for comment. File photo: Russia's President Vladimir Putin sits at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow, on June 4, 2025. File photo: Russia's President Vladimir Putin sits at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow, on June 4, It Matters Ukraine heralded the strikes on Russian airfields as far away as Siberia as a blow to Russia's military capabilities. Pro-Russian Telegram channels have expressed anger at the lack of protection at the sites, but the comments by Trump and his envoy will add to anticipation over what Putin will do in response. What To Know Trump said on the social-media platform Truth Social on Wednesday that, during his phone call with Putin, the leaders had discussed Ukraine's attacks on airplanes. The U.S. president said Putin said "very strongly" that he would have to respond to Kyiv's drone attacks without specifying what this would be nor whether he had urged restraint. Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, had earlier told Fox News that Ukraine's attack on "part of their national survival system, which is their … nuclear triad," had significantly increased the risk of escalation. Imagery captured on June 3, 2025, by the U.S. satellite firm Planet shows Russia's Olenya air base, one of five bomber bases targeted by a Ukrainian drone raid on June 1, 2025. Imagery captured on June 3, 2025, by the U.S. satellite firm Planet shows Russia's Olenya air base, one of five bomber bases targeted by a Ukrainian drone raid on June 1, 2025. Planet Labs PBC An alliance official told The Moscow Times before NATO's defense ministers meeting in Brussels that Putin will use the attacks to justify additional heavier strikes and stall negotiations. Cédomir Nestorovic, academic co-director at the ESSEC Institute for Geopolitics & Business, told Newsweek that, in response, Russia could launch massive drone attacks on Ukraine, but probably not the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile that Putin has boasted about, nor any nuclear missiles. Aurélien Colson, from the same institute, told Newsweek that Putin's response will be primarily military, but his options are limited to missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities. Zev Faintuch, head of research and intelligence at security firm Global Guardian, told Newsweek that Ukraine's attack might slow the massive aerial bombardments of the major Ukrainian cities. However, the only way to bring the Russians to the negotiating table would be to halt their advances on the battlefield, he added. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said Wednesday that Putin used his call with Trump, in which they also discussed the train derailments in Russia that Moscow blamed on Kyiv, to portray Ukraine falsely as uninterested in peace and as a bad actor. What People Are Saying President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: "President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields." A NATO official said to The Moscow Times: "There will certainly be retaliatory actions that Russia will take. And there will be defensive things that Russia will do." Aurélien Colson, academic co-director at the ESSEC Institute for Geopolitics & Business, said: "(Putin) will probably launch another larger air attack on Ukrainian cities and infrastructures, through missiles and drones," adding that "going nuclear at the tactical level is excluded," due to China's opposition to such a move. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said on Wednesday: "Putin's statements to Trump are also likely aimed at distracting from Russia's own disinterest in negotiations and continued preparations for a prolonged war effort." What Happens Next Amid speculation over how Putin might respond to his worst week of 2025, the Russian president told his senior officials on Wednesday that he was no longer interested in negotiating with Ukraine, saying, "How can we negotiate with those who rely on terror?" Tatiana Stanovaya, founder of R. Politik, a political analysis firm focused on Russia, posted on X, formerly Twitter, that Western audiences may view Ukraine's attacks as strengthening Kyiv's negotiating position, but the effect "will likely be the opposite." Stanovaya said such attacks will only reinforce Putin's determination to dismantle the Ukrainian state and that he will respond "by becoming more hard-line and less compliant."
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Another Russian military engine plant is on fire
A fire has broken out at the Avtodizel engine plant in Russia's city of Yaroslavl on the night of 3-4 June, engulfing the workshop producing 12-cylinder engines. Source: The Moscow Times Details: The fire covered an area of 400 square metres, the Russian Emergency Ministry's regional office reported. No casualties were recorded. It took firefighters over an hour and a half to extinguish the blaze. The cause has not been disclosed. The Moscow Times notes that the Yaroslavl Motor Plant (YaMZ) is one of Russia's largest manufacturers of diesel engines and gearboxes. In May 2024, YaMZ was placed under US sanctions for producing diesel engines for the Russian forces. The outlet also recalls that late in the evening of 2 June, an explosion and fire broke out at the Zavolzhye Motor Plant (ZMZ) in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast. According to the regional labour inspectorate, the incident was caused by the ignition of a truck carrying a tank in one of the plant's workshops, where chemical substances were stored. In 2003, ZMZ – a plant specialising in petrol and diesel engines – received a government contract to develop a family of competitive multipurpose diesel engines with capacities of 2.2 to 3.4 litres. The plant's director stated they would be suitable for a wide range of vehicles, including military equipment. Background: In February, unidentified drones attacked Russian cities of Rostov, Novomoskovsk, and Engels overnight. An industrial facility caught fire in Russia's Kaluga Oblast, and a refinery in the city of Volgograd was also struck. It was also reported that, on the night of 3 February, drones targeted fuel and energy facilities in Astrakhan and Volgograd oblasts. On 15 January, a diesel hydrotreating unit caught fire at a Lukoil oil refinery in Volgograd. The blaze broke out at unit No.18, one of the facility's two diesel hydrotreating lines, which has a daily capacity of 9,500 metric tonnes. Earlier, Ukrainian intelligence reported that a warehouse in Russia's Alabuga special economic zone caught fire. It stored 65 fuselages, engines, navigation systems and thermal imaging cameras intended for producing 400 Shahed-136 attack drones – all of which were destroyed. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
