Threats to Nord Stream 2, Manizha in the Eurovision final. Highlights of the night

Washington has decided on its plans for Nord Stream 2, which shares turned out to be the most profitable for investors, Manizha's performance at Eurovision, how many Russians cannot leave because of debts - the main news in the RBC review

How Washington plans to delay Nord Stream 2

On the evening of May 18, Gazprom shares rose sharply after a report by the Axios portal, whose sources said that the Biden administration had decided not to impose sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project. Politico data that appeared later confirms this information, but, apparently, Washington does not intend to abandon plans to at least delay the implementation of the project.

The State Department will soon send its mandatory 90-day report to Congress listing the entities involved in the Nord Stream 2 project that are expected to be sanctioned. According to Axios sources, the State Department acknowledges that Nord Stream 2 AG (the legal entity in charge of the project) and its CEO are engaged in sanctions activities. However, the department will refuse to apply these sanctions, citing US national interests.. The reason is that Biden does not want to spoil relations with Germany, which actively supports the project. According to Axios and Politico, four vessels participating in the construction of the gas pipeline and four companies associated with them should be subject to sanctions. Sources of publications believe that restrictive measures against them will delay the construction of the gas pipeline. And this may allow the project to be delayed until the September elections in Germany, at which, according to Politico, the Green Party, which opposes the construction of Nord Stream 2, will have a chance to win additional seats in the Bundestag.

The most profitable companies in RUSSIA for shareholders

The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) evaluates the world's leading companies on total shareholder return (TSR) annually. Eight Russian companies were among the leaders: according to the compilers of the list, many of them got through the crisis more confidently than their foreign competitors.