Category: Press Review

  Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Turkey, US on brink of clash in Syria over Kurds Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Wednesday that Ankara had completed preparations for an operation to destroy terrorists active to the east of the Euphrates River and would not trust Washington’s promises anymore. Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes that the operation could result not only in the full elimination of the Kurdish units, but also in a direct clash between Turkish and US forces. Ankara’s key demand for Washington is to seize weapons, which the Pentagon had provided to the Kurds citing the need to fight terrorism. If US weapons remain in the…

  Media: Russia to set up military base in the Caribbean Moscow is gearing up to establish a long-term military presence in Latin America and the current mission of the Tu-160 strategic bombers to Venezuela is part of this plan, Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes. According to military envoys, Russian authorities have made a decision (and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro did not object) to deploy strategic aircraft to one of Venezuela’s islands in the Caribbean Sea, which has a naval base and a military airfield. Ten years ago, Russian experts and Armed Forces commanders had already visited the island of La Orchila, located 200 kilometers northeast of…

  Media: France’s Yellow Vest protests spill over to Europe Attempts to blame the demonstrations engulfing Europe on Russia are ridiculous, say experts questioned by Izvestia. People have taken to the streets because of unresolved domestic issues. A wave of spontaneous protests, which started in Paris, has now swept into Belgium, Germany, Holland, Serbia, Montenegro and other countries on the continent. “Rising fuel taxes became the straw that broke the camel’s back. People are frustrated not only with taxes but with the overall situation as well, for their purchasing power is declining and their economic situation is worsening,” Sergei Fyodorov, a Leading Research Fellow at…

  Izvestia: Kerch Strait incident not hindering progression of Nord Stream 2 The construction of Nord Stream 2 is being carried out strictly according to its approved schedule, the company’s official representative operating the project Nord Stream 2 AG Jens Muller told Izvestia. He noted that by the end of November, around 300 km of pipeline had been laid along the bottom of the Baltic Sea. According to Russian Senator Vladimir Dzhabarov, as for US attempts under various pretexts to undermine the construction of the gas pipeline, they are being made to clear the market for supplies of American shale gas. The European Parliament, in…

  Izvestia: EAEU leaders agree on common energy market Leaders of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member-states have reached an agreement on a common oil and gas market. That will make it possible to secure a $9 mln increase in the GDP of the five countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in St. Petersburg. He also called for the union’s greater economic sovereignty and pointed to the need to reduce dependence on the US dollar and other foreign currencies, Izvestia writes. The event was abundant in issues on the agenda and packed with emotions, thanks to…

  Kommersant: Russian top brass lambasts dubious US-led ‘war on IS’ in Syria Russia’s Foreign Ministry and the General Staff on Wednesday stated that the actions of Washington and the US-led coalition are aimed at splitting Syria and once again accused Washington of turning a blind eye to the increasing activity of the Islamic State (terror group, outlawed in Russia). The US has called Russia’s statements a dangerous game and suggested ending the Astana format of talks on Syria. Russia’s Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov outlined Moscow’s stance on Syria at a briefing for foreign military attaches on Wednesday, emphasizing that the US military…

  Izvestia: Moscow not planning to return permanent representative to NATO Russia does not see the need to return its official envoy to NATO, since almost all lines of interaction with the alliance are currently frozen, two sources in diplomatic circles told Izvestia. Representatives of Russia’s Federation Council and the State Duma also confirmed this position. In turn, NATO noted that they are interested in dialogue with Russia, but the level of the Russian representation depends on Moscow. In January 2018, President Vladimir Putin dismissed Russia’s Permanent Representative to NATO Alexander Grushko and appointed him Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Now the Russian diplomatic mission…

  Izvestia: Qatari exit from OPEC poses no market risks Qatar’s decision to leave OPEC on December 3, marks the first case of an Arab nation’s withdrawal from the organization. Doha has been in OPEC for 57 years, almost since its inception. Qatar’s withdrawal from OPEC effective January 2019 will not put pressure on the oil market or prices, according to experts interviewed by Izvestia. The influence of this state on the global balance of supply and demand is minor, regardless of its participation in the cartel. According to experts, the trade war between the United States and China, which is slowing growth rates in…

Kommersant: US persuades EU, NATO allies that Russia is ‘violating’ INF Washington has apparently convinced its NATO allies that Russia ‘violated’ the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, Kommersant writes. NATO members’ top diplomats are due to hold a meeting on Tuesday, the first such event after the US announcement on leaving the 1987 treaty, to adopt a statement condemning Moscow’s steps. Earlier, the leaders of some European countries lashed out at US President Donald Trump’s decision and called for reconsidering it. In order to persuade its NATO allies, Washington decided to take a step, which it had avoided for five years, namely to share intelligence…

Media: Trump calls off meeting with Putin over Kerch Strait standoff US President Donald Trump has once again confirmed his reputation as one of the most unpredictable world leaders. Less than 48 hours prior to his talks in Argentina with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the US leader canceled the meeting. He made the decision based on a report about the November 25 incident off the Crimean Peninsula, which involved Russian and Ukrainian navy ships, Kommersant writes. However, Center for Political-Military Analysis Director at the Hudson Institute and Valdai Discussion Club expert Richard Weitz told the paper that the two presidents should talk in any case,…

Kommersant: G20 expectations – Is Trump beating around the bush? Russian President Vladimir Putin is not losing hope of meeting with his US counterpart Donald Trump at the two-day G20 summit in Argentina, which is opening on Friday, Kommersant writes. Earlier, Putin’s vis-a-vis did not rule out that the talks could be cancelled over the November 25 Kerch Strait standoff, when Ukraine’s vessels breached the border and were promptly detained by Russia. According to a source close to the Trump administration, Moscow insists on discussing the resumption of bilateral contacts in business, culture and science, and also on launching talks on strategic stability, including extending…

  Kommersant: West takes cautious line on Russia over Kerch Strait provocation The decision to impose martial law in ten Ukrainian regions for 30 days is coming into force on Wednesday, November 28. However, the first effects of the move endorsed by the Ukrainian parliament were felt as early as Tuesday, when more than 70 Russian nationals were denied entry to Ukraine at Kiev’s airports. “The expulsion of Russian citizens has been going on for the second day in a row, with an average of five or six Russians removed from each flight,” a source to the Belarusian national airline Belavia told Kommersant. Meanwhile, the…

Media: What awaits Ukraine after the Kerch Strait provocation The Kerch Strait crisis has become the focus of attention both in Moscow and Kiev, as well as in other capitals. The Russian FSB said that Ukrainian naval ships had entered Russia’s territorial waters “on Kiev’s direct order,” while “Ukrainian Security Service officers coordinated the provocation.” In Kiev, the Rada approved President Pyotr Poroshenko’s decree declaring martial law, though many lawmakers believe the Ukrainian leader’s move is aimed at disrupting the election scheduled for March 2019, Kommersant writes. Both Kiev and Moscow are absolutely certain they are right. A source in the Russian intelligence services told…

  Izvestia: Ukrainian Kerch Strait provocation ends in failure The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said it has irrefutable evidence that a provocation was staged by Kiev in the Black Sea. On the morning of November 25, three Ukrainian Navy ships illegally crossed the Russian border in the Kerch Strait area, violating international maritime law. The vessels that invaded the territorial waters of Russia have been detained, according to the FSB. Armed force was used in order to compel the ships to stop. In this case, the Russian side had every reason to provide such a response, military experts told Izvestia. To prevent repeated provocations…

Kommersant: Senior diplomat believes Azov Sea tensions being stoked for more sanctions In recent weeks, Kiev, Brussels and Washington have been stepping up accusations against Russia of militarizing the Sea of Azov, obstructing free navigation, encroaching on Ukraine’s interests and violating international maritime law. Thus, once again Moscow is being threatened with more sanctions. Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin told Kommersant that he believed the issue was created artificially as a pretext for more restrictions against Russia. “The issue was planted in the media intentionally. The current regime in Kiev, in coordination with its foreign backers and patrons, found another anti-Russian subject from thin air.…

Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Russia offers plan to remove Iranian forces from Syria, Netanyahu says Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered his assistance to the United States and Israel in reducing Iran’s presence in Syria in return for easing anti-Iranian sanctions, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Knesset behind closed doors. Based on deductions, Putin suggested this to US President Donald Trump when they briefly met in Paris during the events marking the 100th anniversary of the World War I Armistice, Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes. Although Russia’s Foreign Ministry has not confirmed that this discussion was held at this level, this does not mean that the Russian…

Media: Russia slams US senators’ attempt to meddle in Interpol election No country has the right to veto the Interpol General Assembly’s democratic choice, an Interpol official told Izvestia, confirming that Chief of Russia’s National Central Bureau of Interpol and Interpol Vice-President for Europe Alexander Prokopchuk was one of two candidates for the Interpol presidency. The election of a new Interpol president is scheduled to take place on November 21. Prokopchuk will compete against Interpol Interim President Kim Jong Yang of South Korea. However, the Interpol official pointed out that the president was not the formal head of the organization, led by the secretary general…

Media: TurkStream completion to strengthen energy cooperation Putting the TurkStream gas pipeline into operation will greatly boost energy cooperation between Moscow and Ankara and will also help ensure Europe’s energy security, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during his visit to Istanbul, where a ceremony marking the completion of the TurkStream natural gas pipeline’s offshore section took place. The project’s implementation will provide Russia with access to new markets and a reliable transit route, while for Turkey, the pipeline is strategically important, according to experts cited by Izvestia. Director General of the National Energy Institute Sergei Pravosudov pointed to the South Stream pipeline project, which was…

Media: Moment for settling Russia-Japan Kurils dispute long gone Finding a solution to the territorial dispute and signing a peace treaty between Russia and Japan would be an impressive step and a symbolic end to the discord between the two countries, Vedomosti writes. However, now the handover of two small South Kuril Islands is unlikely due to political and image reasons because the moment has been lost. The South Kuril Islands issue requires a meticulous effort by both sides due to the difficult historical twists and turns related to the ownership of the territory, the paper says. The current situation dates back to August 1945…

  RBC: What issues will Putin raise at his next annual news conference? Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold his annual year-end news conference for Russian and foreign journalists on December 20, two sources close to the presidential administration told RBC. According to Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin will inform journalists about the date of the upcoming news conference “in due time.” Putin has held his annual news conferences to sum up each year’s results since 2001, with a break when he served as Prime Minister from May 2008 to May 2012. The shortest of these news conferences lasted for 1 hour and…

  Izvestia: Russian-Japanese ventures on Kurils in limbo over jurisdiction deadlock Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe discussed stepping up peace talks at a bilateral meeting in Singapore on Wednesday. They agreed to bolster efforts on solving the territorial dispute. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Izvestia that the two leaders had also touched upon bilateral projects on the South Kuril Islands. An agreement on joint economic activity on the islands was reached back in 2016, but the sides have not yet started implementing it. The busy schedule of the Russian and Japanese leaders in Singapore on the sidelines of the Russia-Association…

Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Moscow pivots towards Asia, as European ties sour Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Singapore to participate in the Russia-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) conference and the East Asia Summit (EAS). The Singapore-hosted events have brought together the prime ministers of China, Japan and India, while US President Donald Trump is nowhere to be seen, substituted by Vice President Michael Pence. The media’s attention is focused on the Russian leader, which will give him an opportunity to call on partners to invest in projects in Russia’s Siberia and Far East, as well as strengthen regional stability, Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes. Having faced US…

  Izvestia: Will the European Intervention Initiative become NATO’s new rival? Italy, Norway and Sweden might join an ‘EU army’ in the near future, three sources in Rome and Paris told Izvestia. The European Intervention Initiative is a military club of 10 European countries, established last week in Paris. According to the newspaper, at first the alliance was seen as an attempt to create a counterbalance to NATO, but there were those who doubted its expediency. Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron reanimated the idea of an ‘EU army’ that would act in a more sovereign way, freeing it from the grip of the United…

  Izvestia: Putin, Trump agree to continue communication The celebration of the 100th anniversary of the World War I Armistice and the opening of the Paris Peace Forum on November 11 has important humanitarian and political implications, Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Konstantin Kosachev told Izvestia. More than 70 leaders participated in the event, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump. The celebrations in Paris are vital both for France and for the guest participants, former Russian Ambassador to France Alexander Orlov told Izvestia. “This event is also important for us, as you remember, because of the…

  Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Trump fires Jeff Sessions dealing blow to ‘Russia meddling’ hysteria Right after the midterm election, US President Donald Trump swiftly reshuffled his administration’s personnel, firing Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Experts believe that by making this move, Trump sought to put an end to the probe into the so-called “Russian meddling” allegations, which he has branded as “a witch hunt,” Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes. Director of the Franklin Roosevelt US Policy Studies Center at Moscow State University Yuri Rogulev said that Trump’s decision to sack Sessions after the midterm elections was pragmatic and well thought-out. Trump must have listened to what his advisers said,…

  Kommersant: Midterm election outcome to hamper Russian-US ties After the November 6 US midterm elections, each side declared victory, Kommersant business daily writes. The Republicans secured a more sizeable majority in the Senate, while the Democrats gained control over the House of Representatives. In any case, according to experts questioned by Kommersant, the standoff between the executive and legislative branches in the United States will grow, which is bound to reignite the narrative on the Trump-Russia collusion allegations. The need to come to terms with Congress may force Trump to drop his plans on normalizing ties with Moscow, which is not a priority for…

Media: Putin, Trump to meet briefly in Paris, full-fledged summit put off A meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump in any format will yield positive results, if the parties are committed to searching for a compromise, Chairman of the Russian Federation Council’s (upper house of parliament) Foreign Affairs Committee Konstantin Kosachev told Izvestia. “Any meeting is important and can have a positive impact on the current state of affairs and development of bilateral relations. The importance of such contacts is determined by its participants’ approach, so even a brief conversation can have a meaningful effect. It is hard to…

  Kommersant: Russia to address UN over diplomatic property seized in US Moscow will raise the issue of Russia’s diplomatic property seized in the US at the UN General Assembly in the near future, a source in the Russian Foreign Ministry informed Kommersant. Russia earlier sent 120 formal enquiries and notes of protests to the US describing Washington’s actions as “a gross violation of international legal obligations.” According to Russian diplomats, Moscow is also pushing ahead with its efforts to file lawsuits with US courts. Currently, it is known that the White & Case LLP international law firm will be representing Russia’s interests. “We cannot…

  Kommersant: How Russia’s countersanctions against Ukraine impact trade Moscow’s sanctions against Ukraine would not only freeze the assets of those targeted, but would also hit bilateral trade. Kommersant wrote. The Russian titanium corporation VSMPO-Avisma and consumers of railway wheels in Russia may suffer. The newspaper wrote. Sources told Kommersant that new people can either be added to the list or some names on it could be crossed out. Meanwhile, Ukraine reacted to the Russian measures calmly, the newspaper added. Source in the government told Kommersant that Moscow’s sanctions list was a tit-for-tat response to similar restrictions imposed by Ukraine against Russia. It is based…