How Vladimir Putin hopes to transform Russian trade

The war in Ukraine has already diverted the flow of Russian goods. Countries that have not signed up to Western sanctions, led by China and India, have replaced lost trade with the West. As patchy infrastructure in the country’s east limits exports to Asia, goods often have to go by a circuitous route, through Black Sea and Baltic ports, and via the Suez Canal. Russian officials worry about blockages along the route, and that NATO’s sway over crucial arteries, such as the Bosporus, could permit extra restrictions. In a bid to boost exports and shield commercial ties from interference, Russia is thus investing in connections with friendlier countries. “The North-South Transport Corridor should become an example of the broadest international co-operation,” Mr Putin has proclaimed.