What could Putin and Trump agree on in Budapest? PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we cover the surprise announcement of a second summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, asking why now and what kind of agreement they might reach. Putin-Trump 2.0: Hungary calling The saga of the Putin-Trump talks is entering its second cycle. After yet another round of
Interest rates set to stay higher for longer PRO Members Public
Hello! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy, written by Alexander Kolyandr and Alexandra Prokopenko and brought to you by The Bell. Our focus this week is on how the Central Bank will have to keep higher interest rates in place for longer, raising the prospects of stagflation.
Europe without Russian gas PRO Members Public
The EU has taken another technical step towards completely phasing out Russian oil and gas by 2028, with EU ambassadors formally submitting the proposal to member states for consideration, Reuters reported. The details should be resolved at a ministerial meeting before the Oct. 20 vote. * The big news is that
Havana Syndrome: Could Russia’s roads go full Cuban? PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we look at how a hike in car import fees is becoming one of the government’s most unpopular domestic policies in years, and prompted predictions that decades-old Western cars could soon be lining Russian roads. Planned hike in cost of foreign cars triggers rare public backlash
Tax crackdown on Russia’s small businesses PRO Members Public
Hello! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy, written by Alexander Kolyandr and Alexandra Prokopenko and brought to you by The Bell. This week we discuss the government’s tax crackdown on small businesses, its possible effects and what could be motivating it. We also look at the
Slaughtering a sacred cow: How the IT-sector lost its tax breaks PRO Members Public
To top up the budget, the government decided not only to hike VAT and taxes on small and medium businesses. For the first time, it is trimming its system of support for the IT industry, one of the few sectors regarded as strategically important and that has long enjoyed a
How Putin’s allies benefit from internet shutdowns PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we report on how businesses loyal to the Kremlin are winning out as mass internet blackouts become a feature of daily life for millions of Russians. On again, off again: How the authorities keep their friends online after switching off the internet With Russia having got used
Russia’s budget at risk of economic reality PRO Members Public
Hello! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy, written by Alexander Kolyandr and Alexandra Prokopenko and brought to you by The Bell. This week we continue our analysis of next year’s budget, digging into how economic reality could upset its overly optimistic assumptions. Russia overlooks sanctions and
When Will Russia Run out of Money? The Bell Webinar — September 30, 2025 PRO Members Public
As Russia is drafting its budget for the next year, and the Central Bank is trying to balance inflation and growth, we examine the current state of Putinomics and discuss its future. Join us for a timely discussion as our experts dive into the details of Russia’s 2026 budget
Western firms face Russian asset risks — Italy shows the scale PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we look at how Russia could retaliate if Europe moves ahead with plans to more boldly use Russia’s frozen assets to fund Ukraine. With Western companies sure to be in the firing line, we calculate how much firms from just one country, Italy, stand to lose.
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The Bell was founded in 2017 by journalists Elizaveta Osetinskaya, Irina Malkova and Peter Mironenko as a news outlet independent from the Russian authorities, after its founders have been sacked as top editors at the largest Russian news website RBC because of pressure from the Kremlin.
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