How industrial standards help explain Russia's economic motives for invading Ukraine

May 17, 2022
International standards can be tools of globalization. They can also keep other countries locked within an economic orbit.
A Ukrainian soldier guards a road near the Russian border in April 2014, just weeks after Russia invaded and annexed Crimea. After the invasion, Ukraine rejected Russia’s industrial standards and opted for Europe’s instead.
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How much has Putin’s war damaged Russia's economy?

May 2, 2022
As sanctions take their toll and Russia's leader writes off Western markets, analysts count the costs for the nation's people and businesses.
As Russia's war on Ukraine continues, ordinary Russians face economic burdens.
Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP via Getty Images

Russia cuts off gas exports to Poland and Bulgaria

Apr 27, 2022
The economic showdown between Russia and the EU enters a new phase
Russia's energy giant Gazprom exports gas to Poland and Bulgaria. As of today, the two countries are completely cut off.
Nikolay Doychinov/AFP via Getty Images

With Russia's "selective default," some investors see opportunity

Apr 11, 2022
Investing in Russian debt while it's cheap can pay dividends but comes with uncertainty and reputation risk.
Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, left, with President Vladimir Putin. Siluanov said Russia would sue if the West forces the country to default on its foreign debt.
Olga Maltseva/AFP via Getty Images

Add beer to the list of products that Russia's invasion of Ukraine is making more expensive

Apr 5, 2022
Ukraine and Russia are two of the world's top barley exporters.
A bartender pours a beer in Austin, Texas. Supply chain issues, a poor crop year and the war in Ukraine have all contributed to higher barley prices.
Sergio Flores/AFP via Getty Images

Could the U.S. have weakened its financial clout by using it to sanction Russia?

Apr 4, 2022
Probably not, but Russia and China are likely to keep looking for ways to avoid U.S.-controlled financial infrastructure.
The U.S. has a lot of leverage in the global financial system — at least for now.
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Germany enacts emergency natural gas plan after Russia demands payment in rubles

Stephen Richter of The Globalist says Germany is "paying dearly" for its dependence on cheap Russian energy.
Forty percent of Germany's natural gas comes from Russia. Above, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
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For public good, not for profit.

Europe, moving away from Russian natural gas, looks to the U.S.

Mar 30, 2022
Europe was already grappling with an energy crisis. The war has made that crisis worse.
Above, a compressor station for a natural gas pipeline in Germany. Prior to the war in Ukraine, Russian natural gas made up 55% of Germany’s imports. That’s down to 40% so far this year.
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For Russians, McDonald's was once a symbol of modernity. Its closing feels like a step backward.

Mar 23, 2022
When the golden arches opened, Russians marveled at how it differed from local restaurants: friendly service and plastic packaging.
When McDonald's opened in Moscow in 1990, Russians looked at it as "a window to a different world," says Konstantin Sonin, a University of Chicago professor who grew up in Russia. Above, the Pushkin Square restaurant.
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White House warns companies of growing cyberattack risk

Mar 22, 2022
While big energy and financial firms are better defended than they used to be, other critical industries are still vulnerable.
President Joe Biden warned companies against potential Russian cyberattacks this week. Experts say the U.S. is unprepared for such cybersecurity threats.
Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images