Russia Monitor Articles
Biden-Putin Meeting: Kremlin Has Reasons To Be Pleased
After a video link with U.S. President Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin said that Moscow would submit its proposals for a security dialogue with the United States in a few days. Biden said he would announce the date of a meeting of five major NATO allies and Russia, to discuss the future of Russia’s concerns relative to NATO. All signs are that the December 7 meeting opened a new chapter in U.S.-Russia negotiations, where the Kremlin chooses what to discuss.
Putin’s India Visit Means Arms and Energy Deals
While Russian President Vladimir Putin went to New Delhi for talks, many focused on a batch of military deals that mean more Russian weapons and equipment for India. But the two countries are also reinforcing their ties through energy cooperation. Not incidentally, while in Moscow in September, the Indian energy minister was encouraged to invest in Vostok Oil, Rosneft’s giant energy project in the Arctic.
Russian Anti-Satellite Missile Test Causes U.S. Concern
Russia is developing air defense systems in space, which does not violate its arms control treaties with the United States. The country is enhancing its strategy for taking down U.S. satellites in the event of a conflict, believing this would curb America’s military advantage in this respect.
Gazprom Reports Record Results On Surging Gas Prices
Eye-watering gas prices are equivalent to a massive increase in profits for gas companies, including Gazprom, which accounts for a third of all gas imports into Europe. The tense situation in the energy market is profitable for the company and the Russian state authorities in general. In fact, Gazprom’s bigger profits mean more money to the Russian federal budget.
Moldova Settles Debt For Gas To Russia
Moldovagaz, a Moldovan utility company, has paid for Russian natural gas it received in the last month and a half. The move came shortly before the deadline from Russia and just after Moldovan lawmakers voted amendments to settle the debt for recent deliveries.
Putin Fires Russian Prisons Chief After Torture Scandal
President Vladimir Putin has fired the head of Russia’s prison system, Alexander Kalashnikov, replacing him with Deputy Interior Minister Arkady Gostev (since 2012) as head of Russia’s Federal Prison Service (FSIN). The high-profile sacking of Kalashnikov followed the firing of prison officers involved in the case. The latest personnel reshuffle came in the aftermath of leaked videos showing rape and torture in Russian prisons.
Russian Oil Output Is Growing
Russia raised its oil output by 0.3 percent in November, marking another growth this year. Since early January, Russia saw its total output of some 8.3 percent. Russian oil and gas condensate output rose to 1.485 million barrels per day (bpd) in November 2021. The country is expected to see growth in the months that come amid unlocked output curbs as stipulated in a deal Russia committed itself to within the oil-producing cartel and its allies (OPEC+).
Russia Wins New Ally, Promising Cheap Gas
Russia uses gas supplies as a tool for pursuing its international policy. By offering cheaper energy, Moscow is expecting its customers to remain political friends, as was the case of Hungary, and now Serbia. The Kremlin is trying to lure other countries, including Moldova and Bulgaria.
A New “Green” Solution For Nord Stream 2
As Germany suspended the certification procedure for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline while the country’s new government is taking shape with the Green Party, Russia proposes hydrogen production to convince Berlin to give its green light to the contentious gas link. What might confirm that is the latest statement from the chief of the Russian trade bureau in Germany.
Russian Diplomatic Game Towards The Taliban Is Falling Apart
Moscow is making it clear it was not satisfied with the latest decision by the Taliban government in Afghanistan. Russia is seeking to exert further pressure on the authorities in Kabul to milden its stance. The Taliban’s overly radical approach is barring Moscow and Beijing from making the new Afghani government an internationally recognized actor.
Putin Receives Armenian And Azeri Leaders For Talks
The optimistic moods that the leaders of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan showed at a meeting in Sochi cannot dispel doubts about future peace in the South Caucasus. Russian President Vladimir Putin recalled Russia’s role as a mediator, but he could curb military tensions in the region for some time only.
Moscow And Minsk Militarize Migrant Crisis
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Belarus informed it would revise its 2021–2022 preparedness scheme while Nikolai Patrushev, a top Russian silovik, said Russia and Belarus would jointly respond to all provocations, also military. The reason is the migrant crisis that Moscow and Minsk are blaming the West for, which is yet another sign of ever-growing military ties between the two states.
Macron, Putin Discuss Belarus Border Tensions
Russia and France have increased contacts between their top officials. It is not only about a phone conversation between the presidents, but also a two-plus-two meeting in Paris, where French and Russian defense and foreign ministers met.
Telephones and Rockets. A new ‘Normandy format’?
Russian diplomacy has successfully dragged Germany and France into talks on the situation on the Belarusian border. Migratory pressure was more and more doomed to failure with each passing day in the face of effective defence of Poland’s borders, so the Kremlin is being helped — not for the first time — by Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron.
Warsaw Institute
