The main events by the morning: April 26

• 406 companies are officially registered in the so-called «Russian offshore», and this number is growing rapidly. According to the Ministry of Economic Development, 307 companies are registered on Oktyabrsky Island, and 99 on Russky Island. This is a significant increase compared to 2022, when only 140 companies were registered offshore.

• The European Union has chosen a new target within the framework of sanctions against Russian LNG – NOVATEK. According to Bloomberg, the European Union is contemplating the possibility of imposing sanctions on the Arctic LNG-2 gas project, as well as the plants situated in Ust-Luga and the Murmansk region. As part of the sanctions, it will be prohibited to re-export Russian LNG, but it will be possible to purchase it for the domestic market.

• U.S. Secretary of State Blinken held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. During the talks, Wang Yi said that the United States should not cross the «red» lines regarding China's sovereignty and security. China itself has always adhered to the «principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation» and is not going to deviate from this principle.

• Trump's advisers are considering the possibility of retaliatory actions against the desire of countries to abandon the use of the dollar in international trade. Among the options for counteraction measures, export controls, the imposition of fines, accusations of currency manipulation and the application of tariffs are being discussed.

• The Houthis plan to expand their operations against Western ships. The group is exploring new options to increase attacks against Israeli, American and British ships in the Red Sea. The media reports that the number of attacks in the Indian Ocean will increase as their missile and air capabilities increase.