Putin picks Trump over Iran

Hello and welcome to the first edition of our new English-language newsletter—your essential guide to Russian politics and economics. Written by Farida Rustamova and Margarita Liutova, it will arrive in your inbox every two weeks.

This time, our main stories are:

• Why the Kremlin has decided that relations with the United States are more important than helping Iran in its time of need

• The state seizure of Moscow’s Domodedovo airport after a stand-off lasting more than two decades—and what it means for Russian business

We also look briefly at one of the largest street demonstrations in Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin’s decision to create a Russian version of China’s WeChat, and the Finance Ministry’s desperate efforts to adapt the budget to fluctuating oil prices.

⏳This newsletter contains 2,072 words – it will take about 10 minutes to read.