Russia says the deployment of Turkish forces in Iraq without Baghdad's approval is “unacceptable.”

• December 8, 2015

Oil prices plummeted to their lowest levels since the depths of the global recession in February 2009 as investors braced for a flood of Iranian oil in an already glutted market.

• December 8, 2015

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says that Ankara may find alternatives to buying Russian oil and gas as bilateral relations deteriorate over the downing of a Russian warplane.

• December 7, 2015

Russia, Iran, and Iraq have quashed a plan reportedly being eyed by Saudi Arabia to lift sagging global oil prices through collective cuts in oil output.

• December 7, 2015

Kazakhstan has become the 162nd member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

• December 7, 2015

A Snapshot of Key Developments in the External Relations of the Russian Gas Sector
By Dr Jack Sharples, EGF Associate Researcher on the external dimensions of Russian gas and Lecturer in Energy Politics at the European University of St Petersburg

• Gazprom and the EU: Gazprom prepares auction for gas exports to Baltic states; Lietuvos Dujos subsidiary in talks over contractual gas supplies from Gazprom in 2016; Polish PGNiG hoping for discount from Gazprom as talks continue despite arbitration; Poland’s LNG terminal set to receive first delivery; Gazprom reportedly considering selling stake in Interconnector pipeline
• Nord Stream: ENGIE increases its stake in Nord Stream II to 10 percent as the sides mark the 40th anniversary of the first contract for Russian gas deliveries to France; OMV CEO pledges that Nord Stream II will be built in accordance with 3rd Energy Package
• Turkish Stream: New Turkish government changes stance in gas negotiations with Russia, proposing that issues of gas prices and Turkish Stream be de-coupled; Negotiations over Turkish Stream suspended following crisis in Russia-Turkey diplomatic relations
• Ukraine: Naftogaz not planning on further pre-paid purchases of Russian gas before end of 2015, keeping options open for Q1 2016; Situation in Crimea impacts Ukrainian energy supplies
• Asia: Russian Supreme Court registers Gazprom appeal over Third Party Access to Sakhalin gas pipeline; Gazprom Deputy Chairman travels to Beijing for meeting with representatives of CNPC and PetroChina to discuss progress in the Power of Siberia project
• Other: Russian Ministry for Natural Resources plans auction for Murmanskoye gas field, Gazprom and Rosneft expected to compete

• December 7, 2015

Issue # 84
12/07/2015
Ukrainian president says Donbas facing environmental catastrophe.
Read more in ARMED CONFLICT IN EAST UKRAINE READ MORE

• December 7, 2015

Russia has received an official refusal from the U.S. government to provide guarantees for Ukraine's liabilities, Russian news agencies reported on Saturday, citing Russia's Finance Ministry.

• December 5, 2015