Vladimir Putin is set to remain in the forefront of Russian politics as the head United Russia and as Prime Minister. Aleksandr Pikaev, political analyst from the Institute for World Economy and International Relations, gives his reaction.

Weapons deals as well as oil and gas contracts are set to dominate President Putin’s visit to Libya. Vladimir Orlov, the director of the Centre for Policy Studies in Moscow, looks at trade ties between the two countries.

Russia will start using government money this week to protect its banks from the effects of the global credit squeeze. Neil Withers, advisor to the chairman of the Vozrozhdenie Bank, explains the thinking behind the initiative.