Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s overtures over the last week, aimed at meeting Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, have so far been met with dismissiveness from Moscow.

Azerbaijan increased natural gas supplies to Europe through the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), a segment of the Southern Gas Corridor, from its giant Shan Deniz offshore gas field by 42 percent in April compared to March, TAP said.

Azerbaijan shipped 253,076 tonnes of oil via Russia in January-April this year, Russia's Central Dispatch Office of the Fuel and Energy Complex, said in a report.

Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power signed an agreement to build a 1,500 MW wind farm in the country’s northwestern Karakalpakstan republic, which is expected to become the largest in Central Asia, the Energy Ministry said.

Georgia's National Bank's president said bank lending is expected to increase 7.5 percent year-on-year in 2021.