"Russian imports are expected to rise month on month in August," it said. "A significant amount of ESP sales for August delivery for both northwest Europe and Central and Eastern Europe is expected to counteract the effect of reduced contractual nominations."

Russia's international reserves rose to USD520 billion in July 2019, the highest level since the global financial crisis, and will increase further to USD537 billion in 2019 and USD591 billion by 2021 supported by continued current account surpluses (5.2% of GDP in 2019 easing to 2.5% in 2021) and the sterilisation of above-budgeted oil revenues. Reserve coverage will rise to a robust 13.6 months of CXP by end-2019 and remain close to this level in 2020-2021, at more than double the forecast 'BBB' median. The international liquidity ratio (466% in 2019) is the highest in the 'BBB' rating category.

The 1,230-km (765-mile) Nord Stream 2 pipeline, now under construction, has come under fire from the United States and several eastern European, Nordic and Baltic countries, which say the conduit will increase Europe’s reliance on Russian gas.

Russia expressed its readiness to cooperate with Turkey in its oil and gas explorations in the eastern Mediterranean.

"Nuclear energy is the only absolutely stable (and always available) source of electricity without carbon emissions. Therefore, we hear more and more voices, including from environmentalists, who claim that nuclear energy should play a more important role in the future energy mix. Personally, I am certain of this."

"As a part of Rosatom's integrated offer, TVEL Fuel Company will provide Rooppur NPP with up-to-date efficient nuclear fuel with successful operation experience at the reference power units. Negotiating this contract, TVEL has maximally met the customer requirements in regard of fuel supply terms. I am confident that the contract will be strictly accomplished and our fuel will once again demonstrate the high level of Russian nuclear technologies”, Natalia Nikipelova, President of TVEL JSC, commented.

“Russia’s nuclear power industry is continuing to develop and increase its contribution to the country’s overall energy mix. So, we need to make sure that the management of spent nuclear fuel is reliable, sustainable, safe and secure,”

The bill would sanction vessels that lay Russian energy export pipelines at least 100 feet below sea level.

The new rules cast doubt over the commercial operation of Nord Stream 2, which argues that it has been unfairly targeted by fast-tracked legislation to stall the project.

Russia has said it wants to cut substantially its gas flows to Europe via West-leaning Ukraine by doubling the capacity of the existing Nord Stream trunk via the Baltic Sea and laying gas pipes to Turkey and onwards through the Black Sea.