EU Leaders Discuss Ukraine, Belarus; Russia's UST Holdings Fall Amid Sanctions Risks

LOCAL NEWS

• Russian military activity along the border with Ukraine, Nord Stream 2 and the situation in Belarus will be discussed by EU leaders at a summit to be held in Brussels today.
  • EU’s Michel said they would discuss how best to counter the hybrid attack initiated by Belarus and the build-up of Russian military power along borders with Ukraine.
  • Any further military aggression against Ukraine will have enormous consequences and a serious cost in return." Michel noted Putin’s calls for security guarantees, but refused to comment, taking no position on the matter yet
• Russia's holdings in US Treasury bills in October fell by $ 198m vs the previous month - to $ 3.720 billion. Total holdings stand at $554m against $204m a month earlier.
  • Meanwhile, investments in short-term securities decreased to $3.166bn from $3.714bn. comes amid threats of sanctions and Russia’s push to de-dollarise to shield against the measures
• Ukrainian President Zelensky says he wants to use the situation around Nord Stream 2 to hold talks with Putin and hopefully make some progress over tensions in the Donbass and implementation of the Minsk agreements.
  • Notes Ukraine also advocates holding talks in several formats including the Normandy four. Says, however, He was not certain Putin would hear him
• Gazprom’s exports to the EU in 2021 may fall to about 145bcm, the lowest volume in six years; total exports to non-CIS countries may grow by 3%, ensured by increasing supplies to China