Russia & Caucasus

Intense fighting has devastated the city of Bakhmut in Ukraine.
31 July 2023
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visit a North Korean exhibition of military equipment in this image released by official media on July 27, the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice. (KCNA via Reuters)
N Korea at crossroads

North Korea turns to Russia, China as Asia enters 'Cold War 2.0'

Guests at war anniversary highlight Pyongyang's dwindling diplomatic options

30 July 2023
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto speaks with Nikkei Asia in Tokyo on July 26. 
Interview

Hungary won't be obstacle to Sweden's NATO bid: foreign minister

Szijjarto offers neutral venue for future Ukraine-Russia talks

27 July 2023
The yuan was used in 49% of China's cross-border transactions made by companies and institutional investors in the April-June quarter, topping the dollar's share for the first time.
Currencies

Yuan exceeds dollar in China's bilateral trade for first time

April-June figure driven by capital market liberalization and Russian trade

25 July 2023
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Russian President Vladimir Putin take part in a signing ceremony for an agreement on the construction of the Rasht-Astara railway in Tehran on May 17.
International relations

Iran grows wary of Russia amid Moscow's support for UAE in island spat

Recent friction sparks anger, rare critical public statements from Tehran

23 July 2023
Moscow said the exercise will involve naval combat, ship escort drills and live artillery fire. (Photo courtesy of the Russian Defense Ministry via Reuters)
Indo-Pacific

China and Russia kick off military exercises in Sea of Japan

Drills aim to counter U.S.-Japan-South Korea cooperation, improve joint operations

21 July 2023
A fighter from the Russian Wagner mercenary group trains Belarusian soldiers on a range near the town of Osipovichi on July 14 in this image taken from a handout video. (Belarusian Defense Ministry via Reuters)
20 July 2023
A combine harvests wheat in a field near Luhansk in Russian-controlled Ukraine on July 18.
Ukraine war

Russia's grain deal exit to gradually hit Asia food supplies

El Nino weather cycle of greater concern now as rice production slumps

19 July 2023
Exiled opposition activist Mikhail Khodorkovsky in Berlin on March 24, 2022.
Ukraine war

Russian ex-oil tycoon expects new rebellion to follow Wagner

Mikhail Khodorkovsky says it showed chance of democratic transition

19 July 2023
Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin superimposed in front of Wagner mercenary troops in Rostov-on-Don, Russia on June 24. (Source photos by TASS/Kyodo and Reuters)
Comment

Why Wagner revolt is such a nightmare to Xi Jinping

China fears Putin's demise could force a major shift in Indo-Pacific policy

16 July 2023
A man walks past a Geely Atlas Pro at a dealership in Moscow. Geely has seen sales volume soar in Russia this year.
Trade

Chinese cars and TVs stream into Russia after South Korean exodus

Hyundai, Samsung, LG pull back from market following Ukraine invasion

7 July 2023
Truckers wait near Pakistan's border with Afghanistan during a temporary closure in February. Islamabad authorized formal barter trade in June, aiming to ease pressure on foreign reserves.
Economy

Pakistani barter trade with Afghanistan, Iran, Russia stuck in neutral

Plan to ease forex pressure met with disinterest amid strained Taliban ties

6 July 2023
U.S. Treasury Department officials in June asked banks and regulators in Hong Kong to help identify high-tech American items from being shipped to Russia via the city. 
Semiconductors

U.S. Treasury warned Hong Kong banks on tech exports to Russia

Officials, others pressed to comply with curbs on shipments of 'dual-use' goods

6 July 2023
An oil tanker sails near Nakhodka, Russia: Crude oil from Russia accounted for about 40% of India's total feedstock imports for its refineries in May.
Opinion

India's Russian oil buying spree isn't anything to worry about

Discounts may not last, but New Delhi can always return to usual suppliers

6 July 2023
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends an online summit of leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization from the Kremlin on July 4.
International relations

Putin claims unity, Xi slams decoupling at India-hosted SCO talks

Online meeting comes days after Wagner uprising shook Moscow and the region

4 July 2023
The DJI Mavic 3 Cine Drone shown here could be used in Ukraine to gather intelligence on the battlefield, according to a Japanese expert. (Source photos by Getty Images and AP)
Ukraine war

Special report: Russia buying civilian drones from China for war effort

Moscow relying on 'dual use' equipment and third-party exporters

1 July 2023
Russia recently raised its growth forecast for this year, but the short-lived Wagner uprising and a slowdown in China could derail the fragile recovery. (Source photos by AP and Reuters)
Economy

China slowdown, Wagner rebellion overshadow Russian economy

Recent signs of improvement mask myriad weak points, experts say

28 June 2023
A Russian flag flies on board a ship during a rehearsal for the Navy Day parade in St. Petersburg, Russia.
International relations

Russian warships sail in waters just off Taiwan

Rare move comes as regional tensions already run high

28 June 2023
The outlook for liquefied natural gas is a key topic at the Energy Asia 2023 conference in Kuala Lumpur.
Energy

LNG 'inequality' bites as Europe takes supply from Asia

South and Southeast Asia returning to coal amid blackout risks from gas shortage

27 June 2023
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaking at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London on June 21.
Ukraine war

Europe weighs using frozen Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine

Von der Leyen says EU and Japan aim to 'upgrade' security ties at July summit

27 June 2023
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a welcome ceremony at the Kremlin on March 21. (File photo by Reuters) 
Ukraine war

China fears Russia chaos after Wagner uprising

Revolt seen as wake-up call for Beijing as a weakened Putin may trigger further insurgencies

27 June 2023
Participants celebrate a spring equinox festival in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The country is seeking to attract businesses leaving Russia. 
Ukraine war

Kazakhstan woos over 400 Western firms exiting Russia

Exodus by businesses lifts Central Asian economy

27 June 2023
Russian soldiers stand at the edge of a highway that leads to Moscow on June 24.
Ukraine war

Wagner uprising unnerves Russia's partners across Asia

Some leaders left to parse how to prevent challenges to their own power

26 June 2023
As the volume of sea urchin landings in Hokkaido drops, imports from Russia are increasing.
Trade

Japan's appetite for Russian fishery products remains strong

Sea urchin and crab imports hover at high levels despite Ukraine war

26 June 2023
The Russian flag flies in front of the Great Hall of the People during a visit to Beijing by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in May.
26 June 2023