The pace of growth in the Russian economy, part of the once fast-moving Brics bloc of developing countries, slowed to 1.1% in the first three months of 2013.

• April 17, 2013

Belarus and Russia will stage a joint military exercise on Belarusian territory in September, allegedly to rehearse a defense against a Polish attack on the country.

• April 17, 2013

Russia and Cuba are preparing a joint energy project. Russia will provide a loan of 1.2 billion euros and help Cuba modernize four units of thermal power plants.

• April 16, 2013

U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday set up two rounds of talks in coming months in a bid to move past a fight over human rights and seek common ground on issues such as Iran, Syria and North Korea.

• April 16, 2013

The latest assessment of Ukrainian natural gas reserves was lower than expected, Regal Petroleum said in its latest update.

• April 16, 2013

India and Tajikistan Monday discussed the situation in Afghanistan where international forces are set for a drawdown next year, and agreed that the global community should strengthen Afghanistan's capacity to maintain peace, stability and prosperity of its people.

• April 15, 2013

The influential British business newspaper The Financial Times reports that amid the rush from rival banking nations to attract Russian cash stuck on the stricken island of Cyprus, one name stood out: Latvia. Cypriot lawyers with Russian customers say Latvian banks contacted them within hours of the announcement of a bailout for the Mediterranean island, writes LETA.

• April 15, 2013

Ukraine could bring in more international majors to explore its hydrocarbon fields on production-sharing terms and become a net gas exporter by 2025, Energy and Coal Minister Eduard Stavytsky said.

• April 15, 2013