EBRD downgrades outlook on Russia’s GDP growth for 2026 to 0.5%

EBRD downgrades outlook on Russia’s GDP growth for 2026 to 0.5% The 2026 forecast for Russia’s economic growth has been revised down by 0.3 percentage points relative to the previous forecast published in JuneLONDON, September 24. /TASS/. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has downgraded its outlook on Russia’s GDP growth for 2026 to half a percent, according to the Bank’s Regional Economic Prospects report. The 2026 forecast for Russia’s economic growth has been revised down by 0.3 percentage points relative to the previous forecast published in June. The 2027 outlook has also been revised down by 0.3 percentage points to 0.7%. According to the report, Russia’s "external position has remained robust on the back of higher oil prices," though defense spending has been increasing. Russia has been a member of the EBRD since 1992. The London-headquartered bank suspended investment in Russian projects after the European Union and the Unites States imposed sanctions against Moscow in 2014. World oil pricesPrice of Brent oil up above $106 per barrel on ICE first since September 17As of 11:08 a.m. Moscow time, the Brent price was up by 1.88% at $105.02 per barrelRead moreTrump keeps Kiev concessions secret, says deal with Russia comingThe meeting with Zelensky took place on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General AssemblyRead moreUkrainian delegation holds talks with US envoys on UNGA sidelinesAccording to Vladimir Zelensky, the talks took place after his meeting with TrumpRead moreOnly Russia acting openly in talks on Ukraine — DPR headOnly Russia is acting consistently, Denis Pushilin saidRead moreSmuggled Western arms from Ukraine end up in Africa, Middle East — Russian envoyYulia Zhdanova explained that weapons and military equipment are being transported by sea from Ukraine to countries in the Middle East and Africa via port infrastructure in the Odessa regionRead moreFrench politicians’ claims about Russia’s weakness absurd, false — de GaullePierre de Gaulle noted that Russia’s economy grew by 10% between 2023 and 2025 and that the Russian Armed Forces control more than 20% of the territory of the former UkraineRead moreRussian air defenses down 35 Ukrainian drones during daytimeOn-duty air defense forces intercepted Ukrainian UAVs over seven Russian regionsRead moreRussian diplomat slams Trump’s instructions on US nuclear tests as threat to moratoriumWhenever Washington accuses other countries of activity allegedly incompatible with the CTBT, it means that the Americans are once again looking to withdraw from their international commitments, Maria Zakharova notedRead morePress review: US may impose sanctions on ICC as AfD may push for early electionsTop stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, September 22ndRead moreRussia’s weekly inflation at 0.06% on September 15-21 — statistics serviceAccording to Rosstat, consumer prices in Russia have risen by 0.13% since the beginning of SeptemberRead moreLavrov describes UN General Assembly as key forum for dialogueThe Russian foreign minister and President of the 81th Session of the UN General Assembly Khalilur Rahman "emphasized the need to improve the political climate and restore a mutually respectful dialogue within the framework of this body"Read moreRussia’s industrial output flat in January-August 2026 — statistics serviceThe highest year-on-year growth rates were recorded in the manufacture of transport equipment, including aircraft and shipbuilding in the reporting periodRead moreIN BRIEF: Russia's massive strike on defense facilities, logistics centers in Kiev, OdessaThe Defense Ministry specified that the Russian Armed Forces struck an industrial facility in Kiev that manufactured components for long-and medium-range UAVs and prepared ground robotic systems for deploymentRead moreRussia reserves right to proportionate response to NATO, EU actions — diplomatAccording to Yulia Zhdanova, any military facilities of NATO and EU nations in Ukraine that are used to strike Russian territory are legitimate military targets for the countryRead morePress review: Trump, Zelensky signal Russia deal interest as Moscow eyes fresh US dialogueTop stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, September 23rdRead moreUS invites President Putin to G20 Summit in December in Miami — RubioThe US Secretary of State believes that it is an opportunity for Vladimir Putin to engage not just with the US President but with other world leaders as wellRead moreIf Europeans hadn’t cheated, Ukraine could have remained within 1991 borders — LavrovThe Russian top diplomat noted that the Europeans had failed to suppress their age-old instinct to lie and try to achieve their goals by criminal meansRead moreFSB detains Moscow resident for planning to blow up motorcade with high-ranking officialThe detainee planned to carry out a terrorist attack in the Moscow RegionRead moreOil refineries, ports emerge as main customers for interceptor UAVs — expertAccording to Mikhail Filippov, the Ukrainian armed forces have also been targeting facilities that are not included in the list of critical infrastructure, forcing owners to bear additional costs to protect their facilitiesRead moreIN BRIEF: What is known about Hungary’s refusal to join Carpathian EightHungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar noted that while Hungary had been invited, it did not participate in the initiative, citing "valid reasons" for the decisionRead moreEx-Ukrainian soldiers fighting alongside Russians capture group of Ukrainian servicemenThe Maxim Krivonos Battalion was formed three years ago from former Ukrainian servicemenRead moreIran not to resume US talks, reopen Hormuz until Washington meets its terms — officialSecretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei noted that the current seven conditions are fundamentally different from the previous onesRead moreKiev uses high-ranking foreign guests as ‘human shields’ — Russian delegate in ViennaYuliya Zhdanova recalled that the Moscow had repeatedly warned foreign nationals, including diplomats and their families, of the need to leave Kiev due to the beginning of systematic strikes on Ukrainian military-industrial complex facilities, command and decision-making centersRead moreNuclear arms unlikely to be deployed in Lithuania soon despite parliament consent — expertRuslan Pankratov said there is a gap between repealing Article 137 and the actual arrival of nuclear weapons on Lithuanian soilRead moreTrump greets Xi at aircraft stairs after his arrival in USThe Chinese Foreign Ministry previously said the leader’s state visit to the US will run from September 23 to 25Read moreRussian exports to Egypt up 15.6% to $5.9 bln in January-JulyExports from Russia to Egypt totaled $5.9 billion in the reporting periodRead moreLavrov begins talks with OSCE secretary-generalThe meeting is held behind closed doors at the UN HeadquartersRead moreLavrov holds talks with Egyptian foreign ministerAhead of the bilateral meeting, Sergey Lavrov and Badr Abdelatty took part in a ceremony to unveil a memorial plaque honoring deceased permanent representativesRead moreUpcoming winter in Ukraine could trigger irreversible processes, expert warnsOleg Popenko said that preparations for the heating season had completely failedRead moreGrossi delayed visit to ZNPP amid security threats from Kiev — diplomatRussian Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov said the IAEA Director General and members of his team planned to visit the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant in late AugustRead moreNo breakthrough in US-Iran contacts yet, but exchange of ideas continues — RubioAccording to the US Secretary of State, the United States always remains open to talking to almost anyone in the world about a conflict, or a crisis, or some disagreementRead moreLavrov discusses explosive situation in Persian Gulf with Arab League chiefThe sides also discussed the crisis situations in the area of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Lebanon and SyriaRead moreTrump administration favors continued dialogue with Russia — presidential envoyKirill Dmitriev commented on a statement by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the US administration had invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the December G20 summit near MiamiRead moreRussian forces take multi-level approach to striking targets in Ukraine — expertAlexander Stepanov noted that a key aspect of the Russian strikes against Ukraine’s industrial sector is the systematic nature of the elimination of the Kiev regime’s military-industrial potentialRead moreWitkoff, Kushner confirm US’ interest in resolving Ukrainian conflict — LavrovSteve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited Moscow on September 5Read moreMicrosoft ends cooperation with ICC over US sanctionsLead counsel at the ICC Geert-Jan Alexander Knoops said that the move made the work of lawyers involved in court proceedings more difficultRead moreLavrov holds meeting of CSTO foreign ministers on sidelines of UN General AssemblyThe sides stressed "the importance of further strengthening cooperation between the CSTO and the UN"Read moreRussia-US new Summit Talks initiative not on agenda — US Secretary of State RubioAccording to the US State Secretary, a lot of work has to be done before such a meeting could take place and yield a resultRead moreLimited Ukraine ceasefires cannot lead to settlement — RubioThe US Secretary of State believes that it still potentially alleviates some of the global pressuresRead moreGlobal copper shortage may reach 10 mln metric tons over next decade — expertAccording to Pavel Petrov, a persistent copper shortage is emerging globally and will continue until at least 2030Read moreLavrov jokes about Swiss foreign minister being fired over photo with himThe sides discussed preparations for the ministerial meeting in Lugano, Switzerland, on December 3-4 this yearRead moreRussian diplomat sees alarming trends of crisis nature within IAEAMikhail Ulyanov specified that the organization's General Conference was unable to agree on key technical resolutions for the second consecutive yearRead moreRussia views any military cargo for Kiev as legitimate target — diplomatMaria Zakharova added that Vladimir Zelensky is "touring the world in search of support"Read moreDamaged oil depot in Rostov Region, fire at Krasnodar Region facility: drone attacksThere were no casualtiesRead moreUkraine loses nearly 1,400 troops in special op zone over past 24 hours — Defense MinistryRussian Battlegroup North units took control over the Krasny Yar and Potikhonovo settlements in the Kharkov Region in the course of the special military operation over the past dayRead morePakistan Air Force strikes 10 drone launch, storage sites in Afghanistan — ministerAttaullah Tarar said that Afghan drones entered Pakistani airspace on WednesdayRead moreRussian stocks up as main trading session opensThe yuan exchange rate was down by 2.8 kopecks at 12.673 rublesRead moreZelensky arrives in US hoping to push for halt in strikes — expertAlexander Stepanov of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration says the Kiev regime urgently needs a respite rather than seeking full-scale peace talksRead moreRussia’s Lancet systems, strike UAVs destroy Ukraine’s foreign artillery systemsReconnaissance teams detected a camouflaged M109 Paladin self-propelled howitzer and two Bogdan self-propelled howitzersRead moreLiberation of Dobropolye to disrupt Ukrainian forces’ logistics in Kramatorsk — DPR head"The main supply route to the Kramatorsk-Slavyansk metropolitan area from the Dnepropetrovsk Region runs through Dobropolye," Denis Pushilin saidRead moreUkrainian army lacks forces to cover front line in Donbass — former Ukrainian soldierBorzy specified that, despite attempts to maintain the defensive line using drones, the Ukrainian armed forces continue to lose groundRead moreOver 400 ships pass through Bab el-Mandeb in 10 days, Houthis sayThe Ministry of Transport and Public Works in the Houthi-formed government said that navigation "is proceeding smoothly and safely for international commercial vessels, with the exception of Saudi Arabian ships"Read moreRussian, Algerian foreign ministers discuss steps to strengthen partnershipThe officials also exchanged views on current regional issuesRead moreRussia opens 137 schools of creative industries in 68 regionsDeputy Culture Minister Zhanna Alekseyeva said the history of Russian cities needs a modern interpretation to attract younger touristsRead moreRussia says to seek investigation into US violations of UN obligations"Unfortunately, the current secretary-general of the world organization consistently evades implementing these resolutions and the relevant provisions of the 1947 Agreement on the Central Functions of the UN," Kirill Logvinov saidRead moreIN BRIEF: Foiling official's motorcade bombing, Kiev agent detention in CrimeaMoscow resident was a member of a terrorist organization, while 18-year-old Kerch resident was detained on suspicion of treasonRead moreRussia to respond in kind if US conducts full-scale nuclear tests — MFARussian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stressed that Moscow will keep following this approach consistentlyRead moreCanada prepares for possibility of military invasion by US — prime ministerMark Carney told The New York Times that the country's authorities had spent the past year on the preparationsRead moreLavrov, Egyptian foreign minister discuss Persian Gulf crisis — Russian MFAThe sides also discussed the need to maintain the strong momentum of political dialogue and expand trade and economic cooperationRead moreQuest for lasting peace, but no pauses in special operation — Lavrov’s remarksUkraine could have remained within the borders of 1991, if Europeans hadn’t engaged in fraud, the minister addedRead moreUkrainian troops almost completely driven out of Klinovoye by Russian forces — expertAndrey Marochko added that Russian forces are also developing their offensive toward Druzhkovka from the side of KurtovkaRead moreUnited Russia activists to keep criminals away from power in Bryansk We must say ‘No’ to those who want to deprive our children of their futureRead moreRussia’s total gas output up 3.4% to 446.5 bcm in January-August — statistics serviceNatural gas production over the eight-month period totaled 379 bcm, up 3.8% year-on-yearRead moreRussia helps India overcome energy fallout from US aggression against Iran — MFARussian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko emphasized the peaceful use of nuclear energyRead moreIN BRIEF: Key statements from Putin’s meeting with governmentThe head of state urged officials to explain to the public in greater detail what the digital ruble is and what advantages it offersRead moreChina, US need to pave way for peaceful coexistence — XiThe Chinese president said he hopes "to have an in-depth exchange of views with President Trump on key issues concerning our countries and the global situation"Read moreNew US sanctions not to affect India’s oil purchases from Russia — expertIndia will negotiate with the US from a position of strength and that strength will see that President Trump gives waiver to India, Professor at the School of International Relations at Nalanda University Arvind Kumar emphasizedRead moreIran opposes restrictions on access to peaceful nuclear technology — PezeshkianThe Iranian president emphasized that the issue of the country's nuclear program must be resolved not on the battlefield, but through a mutual agreementRead moreIndia to begin mass production of new laser anti-drone system — newspaperThe platform underwent successful testing in August 2025Read moreNew projects to export gas to China being actively advanced — Russian MFARussian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said that Russia and China have long developed robust energy cooperation that is becoming increasingly stronger each yearRead moreErdogan tells Zelensky attacks on merchant ships in Black Sea 'unacceptable'The Turkish president emphasized that steps must be taken to ensure the safety of shipping in the Black SeaRead moreRussia distances itself from two items on UN General Assembly agendaThey concern the 'temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine' and the 'international residual mechanism for criminal tribunals'"Read moreRussian forces strike Ukraine’s logistics centers, energy facilities, defense enterprisesThe Russian Armed Forces also hit a dry cargo ship carrying military supplies en route to the port of OdessaRead moreUS chooses not to join anti-Russian statement on Ukraine at UNThe statement was read out by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey SibigaRead moreLavrov holds talks with Rubio in New YorkThe talks began with no opening remarks for the press and continued in a closed formatRead moreIN BRIEF: Kremlin statements on European Russophobic stance, possible Putin-Trump meetDmitry Peskov emphasized that high-level negotiations on the Ukrainian settlement, including those between Russia and the US, would be meaningless without prior preparation at the expert levelRead moreRussia’s annual inflation at 6.22% as of September 21, ministry saysInflation stood at 0.06% for the week of September 15-21, 2026Read moreNorth Korea’s status as nuclear state to remain irreversible — news agencyForeign Minister Choe Son Hui commented on the results of a trilateral meeting between the top diplomats of the US, Japan and South Korea, as cited by the Korean Central News AgencyRead moreResidents of town near London may hold referendum on leaving UKThe town is Crowborough, which has a population of nearly 22,000, The Daily Telegraph reportedRead moreLavrov, Lebanese prime minister discuss developments in Middle EastRussia reaffirmed its principled position in support of the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of this friendly countryRead moreEstonian MFA calls talk of Russian attack on NATO unfoundedEstonian Foreign Ministry Secretary General Jonatan Vseviov urged other NATO countries to "calm down"Read moreUS fears conflict to ‘metastasize’ beyond Ukraine — RubioAccording to the US State Secretary, the American side raises this issue in multiple meetings in multiple countriesRead moreDonbass Dome air defense system destroys nine Ukrainian UAVs over DPR in past dayThe Ukrainian drones were targeting civilian infrastructureRead moreRussia not to pause special military operation for talks in any format — LavrovThe Russian top diplomat stressed that Europe wanted to gain a respite and replenish the depleted military arsenals of the Kiev regimeRead moreRussia’s Defense Ministry reports use of Tsirkon missiles in nighttime strike on UkraineThe ministry compared the massive strike to the Ninth WaveRead moreRussia’s top female tennis star Andreeva advances at 2026 Singapore OpenMirra Andreeva is now set to play in the next round of the tournament against Canada’s 6th-seed Leylah FernandezRead moreDigital ruble launch went in line with plan — Bank of Russia’s ChiefElvira Nabiullina said that citizens and businesses now have a new, additional tool for payments and settlementsRead moreLavrov, Syrian foreign minister discuss unresolved crises around republic's bordersThe officials agreed to maintain contacts at various levelsRead moreSt. Petersburg International Forum of United Cultures begins for eighth timeDeputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said earlier that this year the number of participants reached 2,500, excluding the youth programRead moreRussia grateful for Putin invitation to attend G20 summit in US — KremlinSpokesman Dmitry Peskov added that Moscow will discuss "the possibility of accepting the invitation" with the American sideRead moreRussian air defenses show unmatched efficiency repelling Sept 20 attack on Moscow — expertIgor Potapov emphasized that this level of effectiveness was achieved through the coordinated performance of the Russian air defense forces, the interaction between the regional and Defense Ministry’s capabilitiesRead moreRussian forces strike Ukrainian metallurgical, chemical industry sites — top brassRussian forces used sea-launched hypersonic Tsirkon missiles during a massive nighttime strike against targets in UkraineRead moreFinnish politician says NATO should return to its 1990s borders to reach peace in Ukraine"The west will re-arm Ukraine if any peace deal were made," Armando Mema saidRead moreUS, China to extend trade de-escalation arrangements — US Treasury secretaryAccording to Scott Bessent, the extension of the Busan Agreement will remain in force through January 10 next year Read moreLavrov meets with Rubio on UN General Assembly sidelinesDuring the meeting, the Russian top diplomat pointed to the need to mend Moscow-Washington relationsRead moreRussia’s agriculture exports to Malaysia soar five-fold in January-August 2026The top three agricultural products by value in the reporting period included rapeseed oil, other agricultural goods and soybean oilRead moreUS does not intend to control Venezuelan oil revenues indefinitely — RubioAccording to the US State Secretary, the current mechanism is designed to ensure the money went to benefit the Venezuelan peopleRead moreRussian stock indices up as main trading session closes on Moscow ExchangeThe yuan exchange rate rose by 10 kopecks to 12.7 rublesRead moreBank of Russia purchases yuan worth $22 mln with settlements on September 22The Bank of Russia carries out purchase and sale operations on the domestic market in the currency section of the Moscow Exchange in the yuan-ruble instrumentRead moreUS envoy Whitaker dismisses claims of Russia’s alleged conflict plans against NATOThe US Permanent Representative to NATO urged against overreacting to drone incidents in European countriesRead moreLavrov voices support for Cuba amid US blockade at meeting with country’s top diplomatSergey Lavrov reaffirmed unwavering support for Havana's legitimate demand for an immediate and complete end to the US trade, economic and financial blockadeRead more