He says the relationship between the U.S. and China remains a very strong one. Is that how you see it. I may see a little more, let's say, dynamism in the US-China relationship over strength.But thank you so much for having me. I think it is interesting. I mean, even when we think about how Secretary Bessen described exactly those trade talks, he seemed to say they didn't talk much about trade, that this was mostly about this tick tock framework deal.And even even that alone speaks to, I think, some of the ...

For the second time in less than a week, Russian drones were spotted within NATO airspace. This time in Romania on Saturday. The European Union called it a reckless escalation by the Kremlin, raising tensions and threatening security in Eastern Europe weeks after Vladimir Putin, of course, had his high-profile summit in Alaska with our president.And he was also in Beijing. Joining us now, NBC's Danielle Hamjin and Michael McFall, former US ambassador to Russia and MSNBC international affairs analyst. And Da ...

Fresh US proposals to sanction buyers of Russian energy are putting the EU on the spot: Here's your Evening Briefing https://t.co/v9F15nXjj5 ...

The European Union is weighing sanctions on companies in India and China that are enabling Russia’s oil trade as part of an upcoming package of fresh restrictions, according to people familiar with the matter https://t.co/3dwxDIqcM2 ...

(Bloomberg) -- Indian lender UCO Bank has received government approval to facilitate trade payments for Nayara Energy Ltd., according to people familiar with the matter, nearly two months after the refiner was sanctioned by the EU and subsequently shunned by large financial institutions. Senior executives from the mid-sized state-owned lender recently met with top finance ministry officials, the people said, asking not to be identified as the discussions are private. They were asked to take the lead in ex ...

A sanctioned tanker carrying Russian oil has neared an Indian port operated by Adani and will likely be one of the last blacklisted vessels to unload there after a ban took effect https://t.co/COoPIxX74R ...

A sanctioned tanker carrying Russian oil has neared an Indian port operated by Adani and will likely be one of the last blacklisted vessels to unload there after a ban took effect https://t.co/ru6w6BKdbH ...

Donald Trump said he’s prepared to move ahead with "major" sanctions on Russian oil if NATO countries do the same. The US president said in a post on his Truth Social site that he's ready "to do major Sanctions on Russia when all NATO Nations have agreed, and started, to do the same thing, and when all NATO Nations STOP BUYING OIL FROM RUSSIA." His comments come as many European countries have cut back or stopped purchasing Russian oil, but some NATO allies, such as Hungary, have blocked more stringent prop ...

Core Insights - The rise of barter transactions in Russia's foreign trade is a response to Western sanctions, with companies exchanging goods like wheat for Chinese cars and flax seeds for building materials [6][8][15] - The Russian economy is showing signs of strain, with the central bank indicating a technical recession and high inflation, despite claims from President Putin that the economy has outperformed expectations [3][4] - The U.S. and its allies have imposed over 25,000 sanctions on Russia, aiming to undermine its economy and support for President Putin [4] Barter Transactions - Barter transactions are becoming more frequent as companies seek to circumvent sanctions that disconnect Russian banks from dollar and euro transactions [9][10] - Specific transactions include the exchange of Chinese cars for Russian wheat and flax seeds for household appliances [13][14] - The overall value or volume of barter in the Russian economy remains unclear due to the opacity of these transactions, but trade sources indicate a growing trend [7][9] Economic Context - Russia's foreign trade surplus decreased by 14% in the first half of the year, with exports down by $11.5 billion to $232.6 billion [11] - The government and central bank have not provided specific data on barter transactions, suggesting that they are included in overall trade figures if reported lawfully [12] - The current barter system is seen as a symptom of de-dollarization and liquidity issues among trading partners [8] Industry Responses - Chinese companies are exploring barter as a solution to settlement issues that hinder bilateral trade [16] - Some traders are using alternative payment methods, including payment agents and cryptocurrencies, to navigate the sanctions landscape [19][20] - The historical context of barter in the 1990s highlights the chaotic nature of such transactions, driven by economic instability and inflation [17][18]

Senator, I want to talk to you about Russia, which I know you've been very focused on. This week, NATO planes, as you well know, shot down Russian drones in Polish airspace. On Saturday, Romania scrambled fighter jets after a Russian drone entered its airspace.You said this week, quote, "We've tried the red carpet approach. It ain't working." Is it time for President Trump to directly punish Putin. >> No. It is time for Europe to get behind President Trump to punish Putin's customers.Putin has been sanction ...