The article presents analytical assessments by leading experts of the situation on the world energy markets in the context of increased sanctions from the collective West against Russian energy companies, energy exporters and total logistical, financial and other restrictions in relation to all market participants under the threat of secondary sanctions. The analysis of the geopolitical and economic consequences of the impact of these sanctions on the world market participants, conducted by experts, allows us to substantiate new trends in the development of the sector.

The author analyzes the history and current state of China’s implementation of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative in Central Asia. The interim results of the initiative implementation are considered, first of all, in relation to the fuel and energy sectors of the post-Soviet Asian states. The article also studies the impact of a complex of problems and regional features that hinder the economic cooperation of Central Asian states with Chinese companies in the oil and gas and energy sectors on the implementation of the said initiative. A separate object of analysis was the content and impact of the growing negative public sentiment regarding cooperation with China in a number of countries in the region. The main prospects of economic cooperation between China and the Central Asian countries in the conditions of the observed rapid growth of global geopolitical and geoeconomic turbulence are also considered.

Mongolia finds itself in extreme need of energy resources, including pipeline supplies of natural gas despite having considerable natural resources. During the latest presidential election, the slogan «Mongolia is the owner of its wealth» became the motto of the election campaign of the candidate from the Mongolian People’s Party U. Khurelsukh. The elected President, with the help of the Vision 2050 program, intends to give an impetus to the development of infrastructure (construction and modernization of railways in the east and west of the country) and highways for the development of industrial production. All these factors should contribute to the future transformation of Mongolia from a state exporting raw materials (mainly the mining industry), into an exporter of the industrial products. The author focused on the domestic political situation in the republic, changes in the Constitution and the economic situation during the pandemic of the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19). According to the authoritative Mongolian public organization Sant Maral, as of April 2021, the economic situation in the country was assessed by the majority of respondents (from 38 to 45 %) from Ulaanbaatar, other aimags (administrative units of the first level) and residents of rural areas as unsatisfactory.

In this situation the new leadership of Mongolia is focused on bringing the country out of economic stagnation with the participation of a new political team (U. Khurelsukh from the Mongolian People’s Party became President in June, 2021) and the development of economic potential in the implementation of major industrial and infrastructure projects. In order to provide energy for industry and further economic development, joint Russian-Mongolian cooperation began in 2020 to justify the construction of Power of Siberia – 2 and Soyuz Vostok pipeline gas, which will provide natural gas supplies to China through the territory of Mongolia. Thus, Mongolia will not only become a transit country for natural gas, but, given the appropriate political support from the state, will get an opportunity to ensure its national well-being and socio-economic development of the population.

This article is dedicated to the study of the role of German political foundations in the framework of the energy policy of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) in Central and Eastern Europe. The activities of German political foundations and their local partners in the energy field in Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary are analyzed using the examples of the Konrad-Adenauer and Friedrich-Ebert foundations. It was found that Germany’s interests in the energy sector are focused on intensifying efforts to switch to renewable energy sources and ensure energy independence and security. In practical terms, this is expressed in the politicization of all energy-connected issues.

The author concludes that the German political foundations are quite effective in promoting the mentioned national interests of the FRG in the relevant area at the private and state levels. This is due to their many years of work on building a “influence networks”, adapting their main narratives to the vision and interests of specific countries without losing their original content and competent prioritization and distribution of available resources. The most active work is being carried out in Poland and Hungary, both in countries of particular importance for Germany as “access points” to the post-Soviet space, as well as in terms of the location of the main part of oil and gas pipelines from the Russian Federation on their territory. In the Czech Republic the main emphasis is made on maintaining the current level of Germany’s influence with the possibility of separating the country from the Visegrad Group format in the medium-long term.

The article provides a brief overview of the distribution of the main migration flows in a global context and the factors influencing the formation of the global migration pattern. The author analyzes main trends characteristic of the Eurasian migration system and the data that indicates the presence of a systemic relationship between its key participants. It is noted that the stability of the Eurasian migration system was facilitated by targeted efforts within the framework of regional integration structures to regulate labor migration, create conditions for a coordinated migration policy and the formation of a common labor market, and protect the rights of labor migrants and their families. The consistent development of bilateral cooperation in this area, the improvement of the relevant contractual and legal framework, as well as Russian migration legislation played a significant role for better distribution of migration flows. The article also studies specific directions for improving the system of administration of migration processes and moving towards the creation of a common labor market in the region.

The author discusses the main trends in the economic development of the border regions of Russia and Kazakhstan in the context of trade and investment interaction between the two countries. Cross-border Russian-Kazakh cooperation has not yet fully contributed to the development and modernization of the economies of the regions of the two countries. Half of the Russian regions bordering the Republic of Kazakhstan and most of the Kazakh regions bordering the Russian Federation developed more slowly than both countries as a whole. Such a lag is largely due to the inland location of these regions of the two countries, which are located far from large domestic and foreign markets, another negative factor is their predominantly resource-based economy. The author offers specific recommendations for strengthening trade and economic cooperation between the border regions of the two countries, taking into account the impact of new large-scale anti-Russian sanctions.

The authors look into the legal aspects of non-tariff measures of foreign trade customs regulation. The subject of the study is the basic regulatory document for the EAEU member countries, which stipulates non-tariff measures of customs regulation. The author emphasizes the negative effects of bans and restrictions on the access of Russian goods to foreign markets. The article also includes a list of restrictive measures applied by various countries to Russian goods.

The author analyzes the dynamics and types of non-tariff regulation measures in relation to Russian goods. The analysis shows that in 2014–2021 the number of non-tariff regulatory measures aimed at Russian goods continued to grow and anti-dumping measures were the most common ones. Currently, the mechanism of non-tariff policy in the Russian Federation is gradually adapting to sanctions from foreign countries.

The author reveals the problems in the sphere of application of non-tariff regulatory measures within the framework of the EAEU. As a result of the analysis, the main directions for identifying and eliminating restrictions on Russian-made goods have been outlined. It is important to emphasize the necessity to maintain the openness of trade flows and the functioning of supply chains, as well as to prevent the adoption of measures that create unnecessary barriers to trade. Improvement of non-tariff regulation of foreign trade activities should be based on bringing the regulatory framework of the EAEU member states in line with the rules and norms of the WTO.