March 11:
A new round of U.S. sanctions has honed in on a novel target: one of Russia's most prominent ideologues. The BBC reports that ultra-nationalist political scientist Alexander Dugin - the intellectual godfather of the updated concept of "Eurasianism" that has been embraced in recent years by Russian president Vladimir Putin and other Kremlin officials - is among the individuals targeted by new penalties issued by the Obama administration.
March 12:
The United States is poised to take on a more active role in the Ukraine conflict. Al Jazeera reports that the U.S. is now poised to provide some $75 million-worth of "non lethal" aid to the Ukrainian government. Among the equipment to be supplied are Humvees, drones and other "non-lethal defensive" arms, which are intended to enhance the capabilities of Ukraine's armed forces in their ongoing fight against Russian-supported rebels in the country's east.
March 13:
Russia's growing military activity is increasingly posing a threat to the security of the United States and Canada, a top U.S. military official has said. In his testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Admiral William Courtney, the commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), noted that Moscow's military modernization program - including its plan to deploy "long-range conventionally armed cruise missiles" from warships and long-range bombers - is expanding the Kremlin's range of conventional strategic options, and has detrimental implications for the United States. "Should these trends continue over time, NORAD will face increased risk in our ability to defend North America against Russian air, maritime and cruise missile threats," Courtney said in remarks carried by CNN.
Even as Western nations expand their economic pressure on Russia, the country is receiving new attention - and investment - from Asia. A case in point, Russia Beyond The Headlines reports, is Japanese carmaker Toyota, which is now in the process of expanding its presence in the country. In early March, the carmaker confirmed that it will double the production capacity of its manufacturing plant in St. Petersburg from its current rate of 50,000 annually to reach 100,000 vehicles per year. The announcement comes on the heels of surging demand for the car brand among Russians.
March 15:
Russia's economic fortunes continues to dim. The Moscow Times reports that the country's Central Bank now forecasts that the Russian economy could constrict by nearly six percent in 2015 as a result of Western sanctions and low oil prices. The contraction, the Bank notes, will be significantly lessened - to 3.5 to 4 percent - if the world price of oil rises $10 per barrel from its current rate of $40 to $45. Russia's currency reserves, according to the Bank, are now at an eight-year low of $357 billion.
March 16:
As Russia's economic fortunes have dimmed, so have plans for the development of newest holding. According to The Moscow Times, the Russian government might be forced to delay highway construction in Crimea due to budget constraints. The Kremlin has already been forced to cut its budgetary spending by 10 percent across the board because of low oil prices and economic sanctions. However, Russian officials say, other projects on the Peninsula - such as the laying of electrical cable - continue to move forward.
Want these sent to your inbox?
Subscribe