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On today's show:
Place 10 – Putin’s statements in the economical forum
At the east economical Forum, Russian president Vladimir Putin talked extensively about Russian economy and improvement of the Far East.
Putin's key statements:
- If the base rate is reduced rapidly, prices will rise.
- The Central Bank fights inflation and tries to return to known and desirable indicators – no higher than 4-55%.
- The Russian economy must become a advanced wage economy. It's not an empty phrase, it's not a populism.
- In Russia, poorness levels fell from 11.3% to 7.2% in 2014–2024.
- There is no stagnation in the Russian economy. She needs a soft, peaceful landing.
There is nothing worrying about the level of Russia's budget deficit, as the burden on debt is low. - Russia's budget expenditure is increasing, among others, in the improvement of infrastructure, education, defence and armed forces.
We must work on the gross side of the budget, but not at the expense of the taxation burden. - The Russian Central Bank enjoys large designation in the global financial community.
As Vladimir Putin spoke at the plenary session of the planet economical Forum. Most Important
Read more - I propose to introduce from 1 January 2027 a single preferential strategy for business in the Far East and the Arctic.
- The Far East's gross regional product doubled in 10 years, from 4 to 11 trillion rubles.
- The leaders of the investment in capital lasted for 10 years: Yakucja (4.5 trillion rubles), the Amur region (4 trillion rubles) and the Sakhalin region (2.6 trillion rubles). They account for 55% of all investments in the Far East national District.
- In the last 10 years port capacity in the Far East has practically doubled. It presently amounts to almost 380 million tonnes of cargo per year.
- We will make the Transarctic Corridor.
- "The planet will be multipolar": Putin's global statements at the planet economical Forum plenary session
- The advanced salaries of physical workers are a affirmative fact.
- I am affirmative about the thought of introducing artificial intelligence to the creation of a budget.
Place 9 - Sunflower oil plants in Russia are closed
The production of sunflower oil in Russia declined importantly – by the end of August 2025 it amounted to 6.94 million tonnes, which means a decrease of 11% compared to the erstwhile year.
The full production of vegetable oils in the country decreased by 7% year-on-year, reaching 9.47 million tonnes, as reported by OleoScope,
This decline is the consequence of closing processing plants whose profitability in February 2025 reached a level of minus 20%, as Dmitry Krasnow, Managing manager of the Competency Center in the Reksoft Consulting Agricultural and Industrial Complex, reported.
Mikhail Malcev, Executive manager of the Union of Oil and Fat Industries, points out that the processing sector has fallen into crisis due to rising sunflower seed prices, stagnation of planet oil prices, strengthening ruble and advanced export duties.
Alexey Podobedov, co-founder of Natural Products, admitted in spring that oil factories have been working on failure for over six months, and their goal is to last until the fresh season.
In the fresh agricultural year, which started on 1 September 2025, the marketplace can accomplish a price balance between natural materials and finished products, says Malcev.
The Oil and Fat Producers Association predicts that vegetable oil production will increase by 7.5% over the next 12 months, to 10.5 million tonnes.
Krasnow stresses that the sunflower increasing area has increased by 13% year-on-year, which, under favourable weather conditions, can increase the harvest from 16.9 million tonnes to 18 million tonnes and thus increase the processing level.
Sunflower oil exports have fallen by 11% in the last 12 months, to 4.72 million tonnes, according to OleoScope.
Place 8 – In the U.S. Department of defence was renamed the Department of War
U.S. president Donald Trump signed an executive regulation that changes the name of the Department of defence to the Department of War – a name not utilized since 1947.
As the Financial Times reports, citing the White home spokesman, the decision aims to show “readyness and determination” to face US opponents and to item the country’s military power.
The regulation allows the usage of the name "Department of War" as an additional title in authoritative correspondence, public statements and during the ceremony, and Secretary of defence Pete Hegseth will be able to be named Secretary of War.
Trump and Hegseth have been promoting the thought of changing the name for weeks, arguing that the "Department of War" better reflects the offensive character of the US Army, recalling victories in planet War I and planet War II.
"I don't want to just focus on defense. We want a defense, but we besides want an attack," Trump said
The decision fits into Trump's broader strategy, which has changed the names of institutions since the beginning of its term, e.g. the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, and restores the historical names of military bases. Although a change of name requires legislature approval, the White home is considering alternate ways of rebranding without voting, which could trigger legal disputes
Place 7 – Coalition of the willing
French president Emmanuel Macron, after a gathering of the “voluntary coalition” in Paris, announced that 26 states had expressed their willingness to send military quotas to Ukraine or to support a mission to guarantee safety after the end of the war, as reported by TASS.
The mission, referred to as peaceful, would start after the ceasefire or the peace agreement was signed, and its aim is to support Ukraine through the presence of troops on land, sea and air, as Macron stressed in a press conference with the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenski.
He stressed that it was not about fighting a war with Russia but about strengthening peace and sending strategical signals, with the deployment of forces planned in peculiar zones alternatively than on the front line, and details inactive being established. The initiative is to act as a deterrent to Russia's possible re-aggression and supply long-term support for Kiev.
Macron announced that if Russia continues to avoid peace talks, Europe and the US will impose additional sanctions, especially on the oil and gas sectors, as agreed with Washington.
In parallel, discussions on a broader military-political plan on safety guarantees for Ukraine, joined by 35 countries, and preparatory work, carried out in cooperation with the US and NATO, confirms the readiness of the coalition.
Macro pointed out that it is crucial for safety to keep a strong Ukrainian army without restrictions in arms and numbers and the readiness of allies to usage safety forces.
Place 6 – Putin rejects dialog with Ukraine
At the east economical Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok, held from 3 to 6 September 2025, Russian president Vladimir Putin stated that it was “practically impossible to scope a peace agreement with Ukraine”.
This comment was made in the context of ongoing negotiations on the end of the war in Ukraine, which are complicated due to divergent positions of the parties
Putin's message fits in with his earlier declarations, e.g. dated December 30, 2024, erstwhile Russian abroad Minister Sergei Lavrow stated that Russia would not negociate until Ukraine resigned from claims to its own territories.
Putin repeated that Russian conditions, based on the alleged Istanbul Agreements of April 2022.
Putin's message of "practical inability" of the agreement with Ukraine shows a tightening of Russia's position in the face of ongoing negotiations. This could be a strategy to put force on Ukraine and the West to accept Russian conditions.
- Putin, portraying Ukraine as a relentless party, tries to shift work for deficiency of advancement in negotiations to Kiev,.
- Putin's message is intended to make the planned bilateral gathering with Zelenski, which Trump is trying to organize. Russian political scientist Ivan Preobrazenski estimated that the Kremlin is not curious in talks with Ukraine as long as Russia maintains military advantage, and conditions specified as gathering in Moscow are intentionally unacceptable.
- Ukraine, supported by Europe, rejects Russian territorial demands and neutrality, making it possible to scope a comprehensive agreement in the short word that is not realistic
Place 5 – Trump household property grows
U.S. president Donald Trump's household noted a spectacular financial success thanks to the cryptocurrency of planet Liberty Financial (WLFI), which brought them about $6 billion 1 day after the start of the token trade $WLFI on September 1, 2025.
This value exceeded the sum of all Trump real property assets, making cryptocurrency the most valuable component of their investment portfolio
World Liberty Financial, founded in 2024 during Trump's election campaign, is led by his sons: Eric, Donald Jr. and Barron, who execute the roles of co-founders while the president himself is simply a "honorary co-founder".
The company raised more than $550 million from the token sale before the stock marketplace debut, and Trumps additionally gain 75% of the gross from future sales after exceeding the threshold of $30 million, which could have brought them hundreds of millions of dollars.
In addition to WLFI, Trumps invested in memecoins of $TRUMP and $Melania. Token $TRUMP, launched before the inauguration of the president in January 2025,
These memecoins, though more speculative, besides contributed to the growth of the family's assets, although their value is variable and since its debut $TRUMP lost 85% of its maximum price.
Before being active in cryptocurrency, Trump's assets were mainly based on properties managed by Trump Organization. This company is known for projects specified as Trump Tower
According to estimates, Trump's minimum real property value is $1.3 billion, although accurate valuation is hard due to a deficiency of financial transparency Trump Organization.
Trump's engagement in cryptocurrency raises concerns about conflict of interest, peculiarly in the context of Trump's deregulation of the cryptocurrency industry.
The president issued regulations to support the improvement of cryptocurrency, including the creation of a strategical cryptocurrency reserve, and pardoned the founders of the BitMEX exchange
In 1 day, the Trump household gained more from the WLFI cryptocurrency than their multi-year real property investments. Although tokens are presently blocked and their value is variable, profits on paper are $5–6 billion, surpassing the estimated value of their real property portfolio. The cryptolutes, including the $WLFI, $TRUMP and $Melany, have become a key component of their assets, which reflects the strategical change in their approach to investment, but besides raises questions about ethics and transparency.
Place 4 – Historical anti-recordCurrency sales
The Central Bank of the Russian Federation reported that in August 2025 net sales of abroad currencies by the 29 largest exporters, i.e. the difference between sold and purchased currencies, amounted to just 6.2 billion dollars, which is the lowest consequence in the past of publishing these data.
Compared to July, erstwhile net sales reached $9 billion, the decrease was almost a third, and in regular terms a quarter.
The August score was 22% lower than the average of the erstwhile 3 months, according to TASS.
In mid-August, the Russian government restored the work to sale abroad currency to 43 large exporters, although their list, like the composition of 29 companies monitored by the Central Bank, remains classified.
The regulator emphasizes that exporters have always sold currencies well above government requirements – in 2025 the sales share did not fall below 80%, while the threshold was 36%.
The decrease in net sales is explained by the expanding share of ruble in export revenues, which peaked at evidence 55.5% in June, and the accumulation of abroad currencies to repay liabilities to banks.
However, Alfa Bank's chief economist, Natalia Orlova, puts forward a bold thesis that the strengthening of the ruble in the first half of 2025 resulted from the conversion of abroad exchange loans drawn by exporters in Russian banks, allowing them to gain on the exchange rate increase.
However, repayment of these liabilities could shortly increase request for abroad currencies, which could affect the market.
In August, the ruble strengthened against the dollar (by 1.8%) and yuan (by 0.9%), despite the limited currency sales by the largest exporters.
The full supply of currencies from companies (excluding banks) increased in August by 21.6% to $30.4 billion, which is the highest level since December 2024.
At the same time, request for currencies from companies increased by 29.5%, reaching 2.7 trillion rubles, which besides represents a maximum since December 2024.
The Central Bank is linked to this increase with the revival of imports, which intensified in late July.
In turn, the Russians limited purchases of abroad currency.
In August, net purchases in stock and OTC markets fell by 25% compared to July, to 89.2 billion rubles, returning to the average level of 2025 (83.4 billion rubles). Since the beginning of the year, citizens have purchased currencies for 673 billion rubles, or 1.6 times little than in the same period of 2024 (1.1 trillion rubles).
The Russian bank maintained restrictions on abroad currency withdrawal until March 9, 2026. The Central Bank besides extended the ban on banks collecting commissions from citizens for issuing currency from accounts or deposits. The regulator's press service informed about this.
The payout limit is USD 10,000 or equivalent in euro, regardless of the currency of the deposit or account.
Place 3 – simplification of interest rates in Poland
The Monetary Policy Council (PRP) decided to reduce the interest rates of the National Bank of Poland by 0.25 percent points.
According to the NBP Communication, from 4 September 2025 the main mention rate will be 4.75% on an yearly basis.
The another interest rates were set at the following levels: pawnshop rate – 5.25%, deposit rate – 4.25%, re-discount rate – 4.80% and discount rate – 4.85% on an yearly basis.
This is another interest rate simplification this year.
At its gathering in July 2025, the MPP besides reduced its rates by 25 basis points
Earlier, in May 2025, a greater simplification was decided – by 50 basis points,
The RPP decision is part of activities aimed at supporting the economy in the face of changing economical conditions, including decreasing inflationary pressure.
Interest rate reductions may affect lower credit costs, which is crucial for borrowers, but may besides reduce bank deposit rates.
Place 2 —Trump demands the cessation of imports of oil by Hungary and Slovakia
U.S. president Donald Trump requested EU leaders to halt importing Russian oil, which he claims supports Russia's war in Ukraine, informed Reuters agency, citing a origin in the White House. Trump besides called on Europe to exert economical force on China for their support for Moscow. These demands were made during the gathering of the “coalition of the willing” led by French president Emmanuel Macron, which afraid assistance to Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Pieskov called the US action "illegal threats". In July 2025, the EU and the US signed an agreement whereby Europe undertook to quit Russian oil and gas by 2027, replacing US LNG with $750 billion. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen stressed that Europe inactive imports besides much Russian hydrocarbons.
In August, Trump imposed 50 percent duties on India for continuing to acquisition Russian oil, which exacerbated trade tensions from fresh Delhi. According to the fresh York Post, the US is committed to full involving the EU in Washington's sanctions, offering more safety guarantees for Ukraine instead.
Place 1 – US will end defence aid programmes for Baltic countries
The United States has begun to phase out safety assistance programs for east European countries bordering Russia," reported the Financial Times, citing sources at the Pentagon.
Last week, officials informed European diplomats that Washington would halt backing training programs and equipping the army of those countries that would be on the frontlines in the event of a conflict with Russia.
The decision may consequence in cutting the funds by hundreds of millions of dollars, although approved funds will be available until September 2026.
Between 2018 and 2020, US military aid programmes in Europe were allocated $1.6 billion, which accounted for about 29% of U.S. full spending on abroad defence assistance during this period.
The main beneficiaries were Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, according to the U.S. Government work Office.
The abroad Military Financing program, enabling the acquisition of large weapons specified as aircraft, ships or tanks, will not be covered by cuts.
The White home claims that the decision was consulted with European countries and is due to the request for a greater European work for its own defence.
However, sources of the Financial Times indicate that the governments of the region were amazed by this step and anticipate explanations from Washington.
The decision forms part of Trump's administration strategy, which seeks to reallocate resources to the Indo-Pacific region in order to halt China and reduce the hazard of conflict over Taiwan, as recommended by the Pentagon advisor Elbridge Colby.
This decision has caused concern among the Baltic countries, which strengthen their borders with Russia and Belarus, building fortifications specified as "dragon teeth" or fences.
The U.S. decision may affect the regional safety dynamics, especially in the context of ongoing tensions related to the conflict in Ukraine and the increasing NATO activity on the east flank.
