The new Great Game in Central Asia > The Russian war machine’s scramble to secure an unlikely component for its ammunition – cotton pulp – looks to a new plant in Uzbekistan with ties to an Uzbek tycoon, Rustam Muminov, recently sanctioned by the UK and EU. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Enjoyed talking to Andrew Marr on LBC tonight about the EU meeting on whether to use frozen Russian assets to back a 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine. Crunch time

Five major lawsuits filed today against US chip manufacturers Texas Instruments, Intel, AMD and distributor Mouser in Texas for failing to stop their technology from getting into Russian missiles and Iranian drones killing and maiming Ukrainian civilians. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

I spoke with BBC World Service over the weekend about Ukraine’s attacks on two shadow fleet oil tankers linked to Russia in the Black Sea. Message from Kyiv: trade with Russia means you could lose your ship

Honored to moderate a panel at BAFTA last night after the screening of #Timestamp, a documentary about how Ukrainian schoolchildren are struggling during the war. With Christina Lamb and producers Olha Bregman and Zoya Lytvyn.

Great to be on @CNN.com albeit very early this morning to talk about the latest on Russia and Ukraine.

Bloomberg Scoop: “Here’s what I think would be amazing,” Witkoff then added. “Maybe he says to President Trump: you know, Steve and Yuri discussed a very similar 20-point plan to peace and that could be something that we think might move the needle a little bit” www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

How Jared Kushner helped draft the 28 point Ukraine peace plan www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

A rollercoaster on BBC 5 Live’s call-in show this morning discussing latest talks to bring peace to Ukraine. Had to respond to one caller who said the war in Ukraine was a civil war, not an invasion. Some Brits still in a Russian echo chamber

Putin's war chest is shrinking because of Trump's recent sanctions on Rosneft/Lukoil - not because of the toothless Senate bill threatening tariffs on buyers of Russian oil. Graham's bill has waivers galore, and Trump can already impose tariffs if he wants to www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

On @bbcworldservice Newshour I discuss Trump’s decision to give Hungary’s Viktor Orban a 1 year exemption from his recent Russian oil sanctions and why Hungary’s continued import of Russian oil is such a problem. With @OwenBennettJone clip below:

I went on BBC News Radio 4 today with Jonny Dymond to talk about the EU’s scramble to use frozen Russian central bank assets to back up a 140 billion euro loan to Ukraine, and why it’s taken so long. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Always a pleasure to go on Ukraine: The Latest from @telegraphnews.bsky.social with Dominic Nicholls and Francis Dearnley to talk about where we stand in the ecoomic war against Russia with Trump's latest oil sanctions. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/u...

Great to be on @NPR.org with Ayesha Rascoe to talk about the Trump administration’s new sanctions on Russian oil after Putin’s refusal to agree a ceasefire in Ukraine. Listen here www.npr.org/2025/10/26/n...

I went on Times Radio this morning to talk about Trump’s decision to impose sanctions on Russia’s two biggest oil producers, Rosneft and Lukoil. It is a significant turning point and the first time Trump has hit Russia directly with sanctions in his second term. This will squeeze Russia’s revenues

Trump finally sanctions Russia’s two largest oil producers Rosneft and Lukoil after Putin refused a ceasefire. This is a major turning point and hopefully will be backed up by threats of secondary sanctions on anyone that does business with them.

Another big turnout for our panel on Trump’s second tumultuous term at the Cheltenham Literature Festival moderated by the always sharp @hugorifkind.bsky.social Rifkind alongside @joshglancy.bsky.social and Katy Balls. We covered the world, from Gaza/Israel to Russia/Ukraine, tariffs and ICE.

We had 800 people sign up to attend our panel discussing Russia’s hybrid attacks on Europe and its devastating war in Ukraine at the Cheltenham Literature Festival with @olivermoody.bsky.social , Andrew Monaghan and Kataryna Wolczuk. Heartening to see such a good turnout @thetimes.com

Honored honored that my book, Punishing Putin: Inside the Global Economic War to Bring Down Russia, has been shortlisted for the 2025 SABEW Best in Business Book Awards for Business Reporting. A privilege to be included among such talented authors and journalists. sabew.org/2025/09/shor...

Looking forward to this panel on Russia’s threat to Europe at the Cheltenham Literary Festival next week with @olivernmoody @AndrewCMonaghan and Kataryna Wolczuk. Tickets here cheltenhamfestivals.org/events/the-spe… @cheltfestivals

Another epic 2.5 hours on @bbcworldservice this morning talking about the big news stories of the week, including Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Trump, Israel, Egypt and much more. Thanks to the excellent @rebeccakesby1 and @JosephTorigian for such an interesting show. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Fascinating discussion at the inaugural Hereford Military History Festival at the city’s beautiful cathedral with @Jess-Norman.bsky.social, Sir Robin Niblett and @TerryStiastny.bsky.social The conversation was dominated by Putin’s continued hybrid attacks on Europe.

My take on Trump’s latest change in rhetoric about Russia and Ukraine on @bbc5live.bsky.social. Watch his actions not his words

Really good discussion on @BBC Ukrainecast with @lucyhockings @vitalybbc and @mikey-kay.bsky.social to talk about the recent horrific attacks on Ukraine and possible new sanctions on Russia. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Great to take part in panels on economic and espionage battles at the Ukraine Freedom Summit in London with a good turnout despite the tube strike. @BorisJohnson called for seizing Russian assets for Ukraine. An impressive array of Ukrainian veterans made it a powerful gathering.

Sadly the Putin-Xi lovefest in Beijing with Modi and Kim has left Ukraine in an even worse position unless Europe steps up military aid and Trump imposes more US sanctions on Russia.

I really don’t understand why there’s not more outrage at Putin’s deliberate attacks on civilians in Ukraine. This time 14 killed including 3 children. The EU mission and British Council were also damaged in the 2nd largest attack this year. Meanwhile no sanctions www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Security guarantees are needed for any peace in Ukraine but the details remain vague, including whether Europe can muster enough troops, what exactly would they do, and the role of the US. Setting aside the fact that the Kremlin objects to European troops in Ukraine - why give Putin a veto?

Good to be on @msnbc.com with Alex Witt, @radiofreetom.bsky.social and Ambassador Steven Pifer to talk about the Trump-Putin summit. Longer segment here: www.msnbc.com/weekends-wit...

Please join me and my Bloomberg colleagues today at 3 pm UK time for a Live Q&A on what's next for Ukraine after the Putin-Trump summit www.bloomberg.com/sessions/202...

With Russia’s economy struggling, Putin is desperate to head off any additional US sanctions or secondary tariffs that will make financing the war even more difficult #russia #trump #putin #ukraine

Putin is going to Alaska to meet Trump as his economy falters, with stalling economic growth, slumping oil revenues and a widening budget deficit. He wants to head off further sanctions. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

At Russia's second largest bank - VTB - net interest income slumped 49% to $1.9 billion in the first half of 2025. Senior managers at the bank are signaling privately that the data don’t reflect the true seriousness of the situation. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Spoke with @anitaanand.bsky.social on @BBCRadio4 about Trump’s order to impose additional US tariffs of 25% on India for buying Russian oil. Better ways to hit Russia directly.

Trump signs order to impose additional 25% tariffs on India because of its purchase of Russian oil on top of 25% country specific tariffs. India has 21 days before additional tariffs come into effect. Curious he's not targeting China, which buys even more oil from Russia.

Behind the story of the Russian plot to kill Armin Papperger, the CEO of German defense giant Rheinmetall which is leading Europe's rearmament. It was a plot actively in the works but the plotters escaped. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

I went on @listentotimesradio.bsky.social with @neilbreakwell.bsky.social to talk about Trump’s deadline for Putin to agree a ceasefire.

I went on @BBCRadio4 with @BenChu_ to talk about whether Trump will impose secondary tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil. I don’t think he has the stomach for 100 pct tariffs on India and China. There are better ways to tighten the economic screws.

Unbelievably tragic. Derk Sauer was a legend who blazed a trail for free and fearless journalism in Russia and helped launch the careers of so many. I wouldn’t be where I am now without him. What a loss. www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/07/31/d...

Great to be on @BBC Ukrainecast with @vicderbyshire.bsky.social to talk about Trump’s tariff threat if Putin doesn’t agree a ceasefire. As I argue in my book, Punishing Putin, Russian oil was never effectively sanctioned. I doubt Trump will follow through on his threat. lnkd.in/euii6zfJ

Bessent clarifies Trump's messy statement on tariffs if Putin doesn't negotiate. “Any country who buys sanctioned Russian oil is going to be subject to up to 100% secondary tariffs,” Bessent said. So not Russian uranium, which the US still buys from Moscow. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Strong new EU sanctions targeting Russia's shadow fleet, lowering the price cap on Russian oil, blacklisting more banks and an Indian oil refinery. But the US really needs to join to make this effective. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Top executives at least three of Russia's systematically important banks have privately discussed seeking a state bailout within the next year if the level of bad loans continues to worsen. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Great to be on the BBC with @BBCMaryam.bluesy.social this week to talk about Trump’s threat of tariffs to bring Putin to the negotiating table. More tariff political theater when there are sanctions he could impose right now.

Trump finally realizing he’s been played: “We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin, [if] you want to know the truth,” Trump said. “He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.” www.politico.com/news/2025/07...

Trump says he’ll send more defensive weapons to Ukraine — a reversal just after the Pentagon halted shipments. Still no new sanctions on Russia, even as he insists he’s “not happy” with Putin. Not even willing to talk tough. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

The Dutch secret service warn that Russia is intensifying its use of banned chemical weapons in Ukraine while the Kremlin invests heavily in its chemical weapons program. www.aivd.nl/actueel/nieu...

The Pentagon is giving Putin what he wants by halting military aid to Ukraine. Putin is even more unlikely to negotiate. www.nbcnews.com/politics/nat...

Russia faces a credible risk of a systemic banking crisis in the next 12 months. Banks have estimated that their bad debts run to trillions of rubles and are taking steps to manage the increased risk leading to early signs of a credit crunch www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

A Russian attack on NATO would cost the world $1.5 trillion. Not beyond the realm of possibility with Putin saying “wherever the Russian soldier treads is ours.” www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...