Press Review: Ukraine and the EU Sideline Peace, while the US Blacks Out Kyiv's Missile View

Russian Press Top News for Thursday, October 15

Moscow, October 15. /TASS/. Ukraine and the European Union continue to show that they are not pacifists. US no longer warns Kiev about Russian missile attacks. And German authorities are facing increasing pressure over the Nord Stream explosion investigation. The stories made headlines across Russia on Thursday.

Izvestia: Ukraine and the European Union keep peace off the table

The course of action pursued by Kiev and its European allies does nothing to bring the talks on Ukraine closer. The European Union is discussing a new package of sanctions against Moscow and may try to undermine the recent diesel deal between Russia and the United States, moves that Moscow sees as contradicting its claims of readiness to join peace talks, Izvestia writes.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galozin told the newspaper: "There is currently no basis for negotiations with Britain, Germany and France, as they seem content to negotiate with Moscow through a series of meaningless ultimatums and sanctions packages."

The European Union is going to continue its policy of maximum military and diplomatic support for Kyiv, regardless of the cost. In addition, European elites will continue to strengthen relations between Ukraine and the EU in various ways, noted European studies expert Mikhail Kucherov.

Meanwhile, efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine remain deadlocked. It is worth noting that the United States seems to have taken a different approach than Europe, resuming some pressure on the Kiev regime. First, there were media reports that Washington had threatened to stop sharing information with Ukraine's armed forces, followed by reports from the Ukrainian military of disruptions and restrictions affecting satellite Internet services.

Oleg Karpovich, head of the department at the Diplomatic Academy of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, noted that the pressure on Kiev is primarily aimed at ending strikes at Russian oil refineries and stabilizing diesel prices. However, the parties are too far apart to reach an agreement. The expert emphasized that the United States has repeatedly criticized the people it supports, but this has never led to any long-term solutions.

Kucherov said that if Russia and the United States create a joint peace plan, the EU is unlikely to accept it because the bloc's interests are now diametrically opposed to Moscow's. Europe may instead seek to strengthen its coalition of the willing and its own peace initiative.

Shifting to a truly effective settlement process requires the United States to put pressure on its allies in Europe. It is the Europeans who show no desire to talk with Russia and seek to increase support for Kiev and prevent the normalization of relations between Moscow and Washington.

Kommersant: America no longer warns about Russian missile attacks on Kiev

Ukrainian officials claim that Kiev has not received any data from the United States about the launch of Russian ballistic missiles for at least two days. On October 14, Ukraine also reports that Kommersant writes, disruption of Starlink services.

Reports surfaced on October 9 that the United States could halt arms and intelligence exchanges with Ukraine unless Kiev stopped attacks on Russian refineries. On October 12, the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that they had not received US early warning information about ballistic missile attacks. As a result, air raid sirens in Kiev were not activated until after the strike. The same thing happened the next day.

Ilya Kramnik, a researcher at the Center for North American Studies at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences, explained that early warning data allows air defense systems to prepare by identifying the direction of an attack and its possible targets.

The expert said: "If early warning information is not available, enemy missiles can be detected only after entering the range of air defense radars, which significantly complicates defense operations. The radars must remain permanently on, which increases the risk of their destruction. In addition, the continuous operation of these systems wears out." He added that this will exacerbate the existing problems in Ukraine's air defense.

Regarding Starlink disruptions, Kramnik said that these disruptions will affect the offensive capabilities of the Ukrainian military. The 160km/h speed limit means Kiev cannot use Starlink terminals on drones. This reduces Ukraine's ability to attack targets inside its 1991 borders, Kramnik explained, because Starlink services are not available on Russian territory.

"This is a rather powerful way of pointing out the need to accept certain conditions for participation in the peace process. However, it remains to be seen whether this will work as intended," the expert concluded.

Media: German authorities are facing increasing pressure over the Nord Stream explosion investigation

A member of the Bundestag told Izvestia that the Alternative for Germany party plans to send the German government further investigations into the explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines. Meanwhile, the trial of the accused in the first row of this case has started in Hamburg. According to the prosecutor's office, the act of vandalism was carried out at the order of Kiev.

This trial has attracted unprecedented attention for several reasons. First, this case concerns one of the largest acts of international sabotage in modern history. Second, the accused is a citizen of Ukraine, a country that Berlin has been actively supporting, both with funding and weapons, for several years.

However, even if evidence of government involvement in the attack is found, Germany is unlikely to change its policy on aid to Kiev, said Fyodor Basov, a senior researcher at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences. In his view, the attack on the Nord Stream pipelines can be classified as an act of self-defense. However, the trial has just begun, the expert added, making it too early to assess its possible political implications.

The German authorities are in a difficult situation. Acknowledging Ukraine's involvement in the attack confirms Moscow's assertion that Kiev's leadership is a security threat to Europe as a whole. On the other hand, Denis Denisov, an expert at the Russian government-run University of Finance, noted: On the other hand, concealing the findings of the investigation undermines the key principles of the rule of law and judicial transparency in Germany. As long as Berlin tries to sit on the fence, its official policy towards Kiev will not change.

However, European officials will ultimately have to choose which path to take, Denisov said. They must officially admit that Ukraine is to blame for undermining the competitiveness of European producers and creating systemic energy security problems for Europe. This political science expert emphasized: Instead, European politicians can turn a blind eye to this issue once again, ignoring the huge damage that has been done to their citizens. The latter scenario could cause a further fall in the popularity of Germany's ruling coalition.

Rossiyskaya Gazeta notes that the case has great political significance for Berlin, and there are serious doubts whether the court can remain impartial. Earlier, the court ordered the pipeline operators, Nord Stream AG and Nord Stream 2 AG, from participating in the settlement. Even the Germans do not believe that the truth will be revealed. Experts doubt that the court will prove that the attack was authorized by government officials.

Nzawisimaya Gazeta: Houthi attacks threaten to cause another global economic shock

While attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz continue, Yemen's Houthis threaten more attacks on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities. Attacks on the Middle East's largest oil producer will further damage the global outlook, Nzawisimaya Gazeta writes.

Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, warned that the economy of Saudi Arabia is important both for the region and for the whole world, which is why the current developments can affect everyone without exaggeration. "If more attacks target oil pipelines, processing facilities or export terminals, it will be harder to make up for the supply shortfall," Freedom Global analyst Vladimir Chernov said. This could raise fuel prices and transportation costs, accelerate global inflation and slow the global economy."

As for Russia, the International Energy Agency estimates that the country's total oil export earnings rose by $3.58 billion in September amid higher global oil prices. However, these gains may be short-lived. "A prolonged crisis weakens global demand. In the current situation, Russia may benefit from a temporary increase in prices, but it would be wrong to consider further tensions as a beneficial factor," Chernov said.

Oleg Abelov, head of analysis at investment company Rickam Trust, agrees that the Houthi attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure have given Russia a short-term windfall. However, these benefits are offset by discounts, sanctions, Ukrainian strikes and structural economic problems, the expert added.

Meanwhile, Finam analyst Nikolai Dochenko does not rule out that Houthi attacks could further escalate violence and bring the United States into the conflict. If the Americans intervene, American ships and installations in the Red Sea region may be attacked, which will also keep oil prices high, the expert said.

Izvestia: Logistics problems hamper Russian food export prospects

Russia's agricultural trade gained significant momentum in the January-August 2026 period, with food exports growing faster than imports. However, the increase is mainly driven by favorable global prices, while serious damage to export terminals at the end of the summer raises questions about whether the current trend will continue, Izvestia writes.

According to the World Bank report, the average price of food in the first eight months of the year has increased by 6.7% compared to 2025. Alexander Firanchuk, a leading researcher at the Presidential Academy's International Trade Laboratory, observed that an increase in dollar earnings does not necessarily mean a corresponding increase in the actual volume of exports.

South Russian transportation infrastructure was seriously hit at the end of summer. Darya Snitko, head of Gazprombank's economic forecasting department, confirms that the export of agricultural products has decreased significantly since August due to the disruption of transportation through Black Sea ports.

Disruption of the usual and cheapest sea route forces traders and manufacturers to look for alternative routes. The cargoes are directed to rail transport and the ports of the Baltic and Caspian seas. Forced diversion of flows increases transportation costs and reduces profits, even amid high global prices. Food exports are unlikely to return to previous levels until port operations in the south of the country are fully restored and shipping processes are normalized, Franchuk said.

In short, Russia's agricultural sector is currently in a state of uncertainty. On the one hand, the increase in the price of fertilizer and energy caused by the Middle East crisis has prepared the world market for expensive Russian exports. But on the other hand, damage to port infrastructure is an obstacle that cannot be solved by financial measures alone. Russia's ability to resume profitable food exports depends largely on how quickly Black Sea terminals can be rebuilt and whether shipping companies can optimize more expensive alternative delivery routes.