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Russia Today
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African state strips French nuclear giant of uranium mine
Niger's military government has announced plans to nationalize Somair uranium, a local venture operated by French state-owned nuclear fuels company Orano, amid an escalating dispute between the miner and the West African nation. The authorities cited alleged illegal actions by Orano as justification for their decision, adding that the most recent mining agreement between Niger and the French mining giant expired in December 2023. The Somair uranium mine in the northern Arlit region has been in operation since 1971. 'Faced with this irresponsible, illegal, and unfair behavior by Orano – a company owned by the French state, which has been openly hostile toward Niger since July 26, 2023 – the government of Niger has decided, in full sovereignty, to nationalize Somair,' national broadcaster RTN reported, citing a statement issued after a meeting of the Nigerien Council of Ministers on Thursday. 'This nationalization will allow for healthier and more sustainable management of the company and, consequently, optimal enjoyment of the wealth from mining resources by Nigeriens,' the government said in a press release published by the Niger Press Agency. Relations between Niger and France have deteriorated since the African country's military coup in July 2023, leading to a break in defense cooperation and the expulsion of French troops previously deployed to combat jihadist insurgents in the Sahel. The transitional authorities have been reviewing foreign mining concessions as part of a wider regional push by governments, including allies in neighboring Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali, to boost revenues from the extractive sector. Last December, Orano claimed that the government in Niamey had taken operational control of its Somair uranium mine, in which the French company holds a 63.4% stake and the Nigerien state owns the remainder. In May, it reported that Nigerien security forces had raided the offices of its local subsidiaries, seized equipment and arrested one of its directors. Orano said it has filed 'several international arbitration proceedings' against Niger. On Thursday, however, Niger accused Orano of disconnecting Somair from the company's global IT network on December 4, effectively shutting down operations and unilaterally terminating all licenses without notice. Niger is the world's seventh-largest uranium producer, accounting for approximately 5% of global output, according to the World Nuclear Association. The country's uranium exports are a significant source of fuel for France's nuclear reactors, supplying about 15%-17% of the uranium used in French electricity generation.
Russia Today
an hour ago
- Politics
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More Russian POWs brought back from Ukraine
Russia and Ukraine exchanged more prisoners of war on Friday, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. A similar swap was carried out the previous day. The ministry's statement did not specify the number of troops returned by each side but did contain footage of more than a dozen Russian soldiers boarding a bus. Both exchanges were conducted based on an agreement that Moscow and Kiev reached during their direct talks in Istanbul earlier this month, the ministry noted. In both cases, the Russian soldiers were transported to Belarus, where the ministry said they were offered psychological and medical care before being returned to Russia for rehabilitation. Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky also reported the exchange while likewise declining to provide any numbers. The humanitarian exchanges since the June 2 negotiations have also included repatriation of the remains of slain soldiers. Russia has returned the remains of over 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers and received 57 in return.
Russia Today
an hour ago
- Business
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NATO split over 5% spending commitment
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has rejected NATO's proposal for member states to increase military spending to 5% of their GDP, calling the idea 'not only unreasonable but also counterproductive.' Following US President Donald Trump's demands for a 5% target, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has called for every bloc member to raise military spending to 3.5% of GDP and commit a further 1.5% to wider security spending. 'Spain will continue to fulfill its duty in the years and decades ahead and will continue to actively contribute to the European security architecture. However, Spain cannot commit to a specific spending target in terms of GDP at this summit,' Sanchez wrote in a letter to Rutte that emerged on Thursday in the media. 'It is the legitimate right of every government to decide whether or not they are willing to make those sacrifices. As a sovereign ally, we choose not to.' Spain currently falls well behind other Western nations, allocating only about 1.3% of its GDP to military spending – significantly below NATO's 2% target. Rutte previously called for cuts to social programs across the EU in order to fund the increased military outlays. Since assuming office in January, Trump has intensified demands that the bloc's European members spend more on defense and has repeatedly accused them of failing to shoulder the burden equitably. Earlier this month, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled his cabinet's plan to significantly increase military spending. The move was backed by Rutte, who claimed that Russia could be ready to target NATO countries within the next five years. Leaders of the bloc are expected to agree to increase defense spending to contain the alleged threat. Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed the rhetoric about the threat posed by Russia to NATO as an 'inconceivable lie' used by Western governments to justify tax increases and the diversion of public funds to the military-industrial complex. Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Thursday, Putin warned that this kind of military posturing only escalates global tensions while diverting resources from social and economic development. The Times reported on Wednesday that the upcoming NATO summit, scheduled for 24-25 June in The Hague, is expected to be unusually brief with just one working meeting lasting two and a half hours. The outlet reported that the format of the summit was altered in light of Trump's dislike of lengthy diplomatic meetings.
Russia Today
an hour ago
- Business
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Russia on verge of recession
Russia's economy is on the brink of entering a recession, Economic Development Minister Maksim Reshetnikov warned on Thursday. Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Russia's economy has operated under unprecedented Western sanctions aimed at isolating the country. Despite the restrictions, it has shown resilience, outperforming forecasts. GDP grew by 4.1% in 2023 and 4.3% in 2024, making Russia the world's fourth-largest economy by purchasing power parity (PPP), which adjusts for cost-of-living differences across countries. 'The figures show a cooling, but all our data is essentially a rearview mirror,' Reshetnikov said during a panel at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2025). 'Based on current business sentiment and indicators, we are, in my view, already on the brink of entering a recession.' The minister stressed that a recession was not a foregone conclusion, later telling reporters that whether it could be avoided would largely hinge on policy choices, particularly interest rate decisions. 'I didn't predict a recession. I said we're on the brink. From here on out, everything will depend on our decisions,' he said. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov described the state of Russia's economy as 'cooling,' but assured that 'summer always follows winter.' Central Bank Head Elvira Nabiullina characterized the current phase as an 'exit from overheating.' 'Our demand-side economy was expanding, while the supply side lagged behind — that's what caused the overheating and inflation. It's fairly straightforward,' she explained. Earlier this month, the Bank of Russia cut its key interest rate by 100 basis points to 20%, citing a slowdown in inflation. It marked the first rate reduction since 2022 when the central bank adopted a tight monetary policy to stabilize the economy amid a wave of Western sanctions. The central bank projects that Russia's economic growth will slow to 1-2% in 2025, down from 4.1% in 2024, as a result of its monetary policy, while the government maintains a more optimistic outlook, expecting growth of 2.5% next year.
Russia Today
an hour ago
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Hungary offers to host Ukraine peace talks
Hungary's offer to host peace talks aimed at ending the Ukraine conflict remains valid, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Thursday. Hungary has maintained a dissenting position within the EU since the conflict escalated in February 2022, advocating for dialogue while most other member states have pledged only to continue military support to Kiev. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), Szijjarto reaffirmed Budapest's commitment to a peaceful resolution and said Hungary is prepared to host negotiations. He said he communicated the proposal to senior Russian and Ukrainian officials days after the outbreak of the hostilities, adding, 'This offer is there, is valid, we have not withdrawn that.' Hungary would be willing to organize a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart, Donald Trump if such a meeting were requested, Szijjarto claimed. He praised the recent improvement in relations between Moscow and Washington, following the change in the US administration. 'Our clear historic experience is that whenever the US and Russia are able to maintain a civilized relationship, it's always better for Central Europe,' he said. Trump has declined to continue US military aid to Ukraine and has suggested that both Washington and Moscow could benefit from restoring bilateral ties. His efforts to mediate a truce between Russia and Ukraine contributed to the countries restarting direct negotiations in Türkiye, talks that Kiev abandoned in 2022 to focus on its military campaign. Szijjarto noted that European nations that once called for Ukraine's victory are now urging an unconditional ceasefire. He said that many of those countries previously criticized Budapest for promoting diplomacy, arguing that the shift highlights their loss of credibility. At a recent round of talks in Istanbul, Russia proposed two options for a conditional ceasefire, asserting that either would prevent Ukraine from regrouping and resuming hostilities, unlike an unconditional truce. The proposals involved either a Ukrainian withdrawal from territories claimed by Russia or a halt to military mobilization and Western arms deliveries. Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky has rejected both and demanded direct talks with Putin. The Russian president said this week that he is open to such a meeting to finalize a peace agreement, but cautioned that Zelensky is not legally authorized to sign any treaty. Zelensky's presidential term expired last year and no successor has been elected, raising Moscow's concerns about any agreement the Ukrainian politician might sign.
