Russia Monitor Articles
Russia Delivers More LNG Supplies to Europe
European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson has proposed further reducing demand for the bloc along with a plan to completely phase out Russian LNG supply to Europe, saying companies should not renew long-term contracts once current ones end.
Schwedt Refinery Remains Within Germany’s Government’s Mandate
Germany’s Federal Administrative Court threw out a case brought by Russian oil company Rosneft against Berlin’s move to place its German subsidiaries under trusteeship and take control of the Schwedt refinery. The German government seized control of Rosneft Deutschland and RN Refining & Marketing last September. Both had a controlling stake in a refinery in Schwedt in eastern Germany.
Russian Oil Revenues and Exports Fall Amid Sanctions
February crude oil and product exports averaged 7.5 million barrels a day, the lowest since September 2022 and a drop by 0.5 million bpd from January 2023. The flow of money into the country from international oil sales fell to $11.6 billion in February, down 43 percent from a year earlier and down $2.7 billion from January 2023.
“Ideology of Conservatism”: Putin Reportedly Readies For 2024 Re-Election
The Kremlin has started preparing for the 2024 presidential campaign based on the theme of conservative isolationist ideology, seeking to get a better score than in 2018.
Russia’s Budget Deficit Soars Considerably As Energy Revenues Drop Sharply
The beginning of this year looks gloomy for the Russian federal budget. Russia’s monthly fiscal deficit reached a record high amid the EU-imposed ban on seaborne crude oil exports and the increasing operational cost of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The government is not likely to stick to the budget nor will it plug a budget shortfall. However, this does not prompt any disaster for Russia––at least now.
Putin Plans to Deploy Nuclear Weapons to Belarus: Political Move Not Military One
Russia will station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, President Vladimir Putin said. Not surprisingly, Moscow has long been bracing for that move. Furthermore, it is unlikely to change the military situation as Russia has already deployed nuclear weapons to its Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad. Putin’s remarks in the interview come as a political move amid its war against Ukraine and close ties to Belarus.
Syrian President Assad Arrives in Moscow Amid Ukrainian Sanctions and Russian Provocations in Syria
The visit of the Syrian dictator to Moscow coincided with an aggressive Russian campaign against the United States in Syria and Ukraine’s decision to blacklist some individuals and companies in Syria. The Middle Eastern country is strategically important to Moscow. Whatever happens in Ukraine, Russia will make efforts to maintain both political and military influence in Syria.
Russian Navy Boosts Presence in the Mediterranean
Russia Monitor is a review of the most important events related to Russian internal and external security, as well as its foreign policies. Date: Author: Grzegorz Kuczyński Russian Navy Boosts Presence in the Mediterranean A striking increase of ships...
Russian-Chinese Fossil Fuel Partnership: Putin Humiliated After Xi’s Visit to Moscow
That was not the Putin-Xi summit, but a visit a big brother paid to the younger sibling, the one that is weakening every single month. The Kremlin failed to secure robust support from China and had to swallow further economic concessions to Beijing. Russia is turning more and more into a fuel foothold for China.
Russia’s Lukoil and LNG Production in the Republic of Congo
Russia’s Lukoil energy company said a project in the Congo in which it is involved would begin producing liquefied natural gas (LNG) later this year.
Moldova Braces For Natural Gas Supply Shortage
The Russian energy giant Gazprom may completely halt the gas supplies to Moldova. The government in Chisinau is now planning ways to deal with such eventuality amid a months-long dispute over gas supplies and their price. Moldova sends the entire volume of gas it is receiving from Russia to the hydropower plant in Dniester in Transnistria, a breakaway governing region. Moldova then gets electricity in return.
Putin Pays Bizarre Visit to Occupied Ukraine
President Vladimir Putin made a surprise trip to war-ravaged Mariupol. The visit came after Putin visited Crimea to mark the anniversary of Russia’s annexation of the peninsula. Two days before, the International Criminal Court had issued a warrant for his arrest on war crimes charges. The dictator’s visit to the occupied areas of Ukraine stirred up major controversy.
Iran To Buy Russian Su-35 Fighter Jets
Not surprisingly, Iran has reached a deal to buy advanced Su-35 fighter planes from Russia, expanding a relationship that has seen Iranian-built drones used in Russia’s war on Ukraine. Both states have been in talks for months now to purchase fighter jets, a sign of ever-increasing military cooperation between Russia and Iran.
Russia Passes Law Fixing Urals Rate For Tax Calculations
Russia is struggling to stick to the federal budget in 2023. This year Moscow will see a modest cash inflow to the budget. Moscow will never get such a petrodollar lifeline as it got last spring. One idea to save the budget is through new tax calculations.
Warsaw Institute
