This week has seen two significant events take place involving Asian regional Foreign Ministers. The Russia-ASEAN and East Asia Forum took place in Manila, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Foreign Ministers Council took place in Cholpon-Ata. Both are significant events and we cover their geopolitical, security and trade implications in much detail. These are essential reading for anyone involved in Eurasian and South Asian affairs. As a result of these summits, the Russian Foreign Minister has also been able to hold bilateral meetings with the Foreign Ministers of China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Laos. We provide the latest bilateral data and developments between Russia and each of these countries. Elsewhere, we discuss the new ‘Water Silk Road’ which could give China access to the Russian Arctic and the Northern Sea Route, the development of South Korea’s Yeosu Gwangyang Port to do the same, Indonesia’s imports of Russian oil and how Kazakhstan wants to digitize its busiest highway to Russia in order to double its freight capacity.

There have been several influential developments this week, the first being a Global South initiative regarding AI Development that seeks to regulate the industry. In addition, China has stated it will retaliate if the United States levies tariffs upon it for buying Russian oil, a situation that has apparently swayed US Senators not to do so. North Korea’s Foreign Minister has been in Moscow holding talks with President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov – we provide a deep dive into how that strategic relationship is likely to progress and the implications. Finally, an important Russia-Latin America conference has taken part in Sao Paulo – with a likely significant impact in South American relations – increasingly concerned about US hegemony. Elsewhere, the Russia-Egypt Industrial Zone at Port Said has decided upon its operational structure, with the zone expected to open in 2030, the Northern Sea Route has established its first summer sailing season schedule, Russian Gold Merchants are setting up shop in India, Russian online cinema providers open up in Tajikistan, and a prominent, if arrogant, European media company rips off our unique content. We name and shame.

With Western ‘economists’ still advising that the Russian economy is close to collapsing, we provide expert analysis refuting this. We analyse Russia’s January-May foreign trade in extensive detail, examine the development reaction behind Russia’s fuel shortages, and discuss the shift from commodities to technological exports as evidenced by the recent INNOPROM event. All these paint a very different economic picture as to how Russia is actually performing. Elsewhere, Russia has been very busy in Africa this past week with the Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, visiting numerous African Presidents. We examine each of these meetings in detail. Finally, we look at more Russia-India de-dollarisation and Russia outbound investment to Indonesia. The truth is out there.

Russian diplomacy has had a busy week with the foreign minister in Africa, important trade meetings with Indian and Indonesian ministers in Yekaterinburg, Eurasian Economic Union trade discussions with China and Mongolia, and the Russian Pacific Fleet arriving for naval exercises in Qingdao. In addition, we note Armenia has made an about-turn once again to promote trade, while we feature an examination of the trade and investment prospects in the Russian Far East.

This weeks news is all about expansion. The joint Russia and India joint military trade is seeing production exports spilling out across Southeast Asia, while expansion trends are evident with improved financial links between Central Asia and the Middle East. Eleven new members of the Eurasian Development Bank is symptomatic of new trade corridors and finance opening up. In Africa, Russia is opening four new Embassies, Iraq is considering BRICS membership, while Turkmenistan has re-joined Russia gas supplies after a ten year hiatus. Elsewhere, we discuss Russia’s embrace of multiculturalism at a time when it has become divisive in the West.

It’s been a big week this past few days with significant Russian trade and European political changes afoot. In Russia, we look at how changes in cryptocurrency laws are set to revolutionise Eurasian trade – and probably usher in a new global finance evolution. The BRICS – responsible for nearly 50% of all global grain trade – are decoupling grain trade away from the West, while Russia has made substantial progress with Southeast Asian infrastructure, finance and trade via ASEAN. These are all significant changes happening right now that will impact global trade and investment flows tomorrow. Global supply chains are being remade. President Putin has been invited this week to important upcoming events in Asia, despite Western attempts to label Russia as ‘isolated’, while we look at the Russian and indeed international credentials of the new incoming British Prime Minister. Meanwhile, LatAm wants to increase trade with the Eurasian Economic Union while Mexico is looking to the Russian Far East for Seafood. It is sometimes hard to keep track – however the new multipolar society is gathering pace. We suspect that certain elements in the West remain as Ostriches - with their heads buried in the sand - despite what is plainly evident. The world is changing ever more rapidly.

There have been several important developments this week, including the on-going Russia-ASEAN summit being held in Kazan - an event that firmly places the ‘Pivot to Asia’ as a structural reality. We provide a detailed overview. We also provide a detailed analysis of the announced deals from last week’s SPIEF 2026 - with investments worth hundreds of billions to the Russian economy from around the world. Clearly, Russia’s ‘isolation’ is a Western myth. We also examine the US-Iran Peace Agreement and discuss the wholesale logistics and Eurasian transport evolutions that the war has introduced. Nearly all benefit Russia, not to mention Central Asia, albeit possibly as an unintended consequence. In addition, there have been important, high-level meetings involving Russian trade and infrastructure investment in Africa, the Eurasian Economic Union, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and India, in addition to an intriguing London High Court commission into repairing the Nord Stream pipelines.

The main event this week is President Putin’s speech at SPIEF 2026 – we carry what he said in full and provide our detailed analysis. It is essential reading for anyone wanting to understand today’s Russian strategic development thought. We also examine Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s visit to North Korea and the implications for Russia, as well as deep dive Russian meetings held with the President of Tanzania, the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh. We also examine the latest investments by Chinese and Indian companies in Russia, look at the reasons why INSTC trade between Russia and Iran has boomed, and new visa free access to markets elsewhere in significant Asian economies.

The annual SPIEF forum in St.Petersburg is currently underway with a sizeable US delegation attending – we provide an event overview and the official programme. We also feature an extensive breakdown of Putin’s State visit to Kazakhstan, which includes plenty of detail concerning infrastructure and economic developments in Central Asia -and especially China-Russian connectivity issues. This also features an overview of discussions amongst the Eurasian Economic Union Supreme Council, which we expand upon to discuss the position Armenia now finds itself in. We also feature insights into the high-level meetings of the Commonwealth of Independent States that took place in Ashgabat, as well as the North Caucasus Investment Forum. These are essential articles for those interested in Central Asian affairs. Elsewhere, we feature an overview of what really happened during the French/UK arrest of a ‘Russian’ ship in the North Atlantic and the problems this poses, as well as substantial maritime agreements Russia has made with Indonesia and Vietnam. Also noteworthy are trade developments with India, the new digital transport drone developments between Russia and Kazakhstan, and the trends in Russia’s IPO market demand.

This week we take a deep dive, unique look into how Russia is becoming partially integrated into China’s development plans, across multiple sectors of China’s 15th Five Year Plan for 2026-2030. It is of fundamental interest to all China development analysts and regional investors. We also feature the latest connectivity developments in cross-border rail, road and aviation infrastructure services between the two countries. Russian trade liberalisation continues with agreements under discussion in North Africa, the Middle East and Indonesia, while important collaborations have been arranged with India (rare earths) and Vietnam (maritime). Elsewhere we look at the latest efforts to develop trade with North Korea, the pending Aeroflot SPO and significant energy discussions with Brazil.

The main news event this week concern Putin (and Trumps’) visits to Beijing. We provide the very latest intelligence on what was discussed and agreed in Putin’s meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and make comparisons between the Russian and American visits. We also look at the Putin-influences hanging over Trump’s own summit. We also examine the latest BRICS Foreign Ministerial meetings that took place in New Delhi and have been somewhat overshadowed by what took place in Beijing. Nonetheless, those discussions too are of huge global geostrategic importance. We continue a deep-dive of the Russian economy – vital news for market and investment analysts and discuss the latest in Russia’s legal battles against Euroclear as regards Russia’s frozen Euro billions. Elsewhere we feature Russian trade and developments news from Europe, the United States, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa. A lot has been going on – with ours the only media portal to cover all the pertinent Russia angles.

We have some detailed Russia analysis this week, with an economic overview of the Russian economy and its impact on a possible end to the Ukraine conflict. We also deep-dive Putin’s wide ranging Victory Day speech given on May 9 and the global implications of what was said. Internationally, we examine the key role the Caspian Sea is now taking in terms of Russia-Iran logistics, with NATO powerless to prevent its development. We also look at the frozen regions of Europe, with Putin meeting with the Presidents of Republika Srpska, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Russia has also been engaging with ASEAN leaders this week, we examine the increasing trade and investment with Malaysia and Laos. Elesehere, we feature developments affecting Eurasia, Africa, and Latin America.