Business

Vladimir Putin has been forced to shut down part of a liquefied gas production plant near the Arctic city of Murmansk.

The Belokamenka facility, completed last year with plans to employ 15,000 people, has been abandoned due to Western sanctions.

This partial shutdown is a significant blow to Vladimir Putin and the Russian economy, which relies heavily on revenue from gas and oil exports.

Separately, Vladimir Putin will not attend Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony next month, Moscow has announced.

The Kremlin confirmed that the incoming U.S. president has not invited his Russian counterpart to the event, which will take place in Washington on January 20.

However, the billionaire has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping, despite the fact that the future White House occupant has threatened to impose tariffs.

(QG - Source: The Telegraph / Fox News / Picture: © Pixabay)