Russia Monitor Monthly 2/23
Content
17+1 Summit: The Difficult Future of the Initiative
A several-hour long virtual summit of the Heads of States of the 17+1 format members, i.e., the Central and Eastern European Countries and China, took place on February 9, 2021. For the first time in the history of the initiative, China was represented by the President of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Xi Jinping. It was another opportunity for Beijing to make its presence in the region known.
The Nord Stream 2 and energy security in Central Europe
“We support the approach that does not aim at sanctioning anyone but rather to level the playing field across energy suppliers in Europe,” Tomasz Kijewski, President of the Warsaw Institute tells CEENERGYNEWS, adding that true opposition to Nord Stream 2 is not about anti-Russian policy but it is a fight for fairness and competition on the European energy market.
A Future FSB Director? Putin Makes Personnel Decision
After a months-long hiatus, General Alexander Bortnikov, the director of the Federal Security Service (FSB), finally has the main deputy. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree appointing Colonel-General Sergey Korolev for the post of the first deputy director of the FSB.
Austrian Ex-Foreign Minister Gets Nomination for Russia’s Rosneft
Austria’s former foreign minister Karin Kneissl – as another European official – has been chosen for a seat on oil giant Rosneft’s board of directors. In August 2018, the Austrian politician made headlines when she invited Putin to her wedding.
Polish President Speaks with Xi Jinping
On Monday, March 1, 2021, the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda held a telephone conversation with the President of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Xi Jinping. The main topics of the talk included economic issues and efforts to fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Event Summary: Transatlantic Relations in the Biden Era
On 2 March 2021, Warsaw Institute think-tank co-hosted an online event with the American Affairs Journal. The discussion focussed on updating the stance of Poland, Europe, and the United States on their prospects for political and economic cooperation.
A Hero to Poles and Americans Alike
February 4 marked the 275th anniversary of the birth of Tadeusz Kościuszko – an outstanding military commander, patriot, and modern man, a hero to Poles and Americans alike. Tadeusz Kościuszko attached great importance to the notions such as freedom, tolerance, justice, and republicanism. Thomas Jefferson called him “the purest son of liberty.”
China and the “Malacca Dilemma”
The Strait of Malacca is the shortest sea route between the Middle East and East Asia, helping to reduce the time and cost of transportation among Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Its strategic location makes it a vital waterway for hydrocarbon, container and bulk cargo shipment.
Saudi Arabia and Russia Head for Another Clash on OPEC+ Oil Cuts
Saudi Arabia says an increase in oil output should be addressed cautiously despite a recovery in global oil prices. Officials in Riyadh will keep in force the oil cuts. Moscow, on the other hand, is indicating that it still wants to proceed with a supply increase.
Russia’s Audit Chamber Confirms Large Decline in Oil and Gas Budget Revenues
The Audit Chamber, Russia’s government spending watchdog, said the country saw a massive drop in budget revenues from selling oil and gas. In 2020, these were just a fraction of the federal budget while a relatively modest increase in non-related revenues failed to make up for this loss.
What Role for Russia in Armenian Turmoil?
The General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces has demanded the ouster of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, a move that exacerbated the political turmoil the country had plunged into after the defeat in the war with Azerbaijan. Thousands of opposition protesters take to the streets of Yerevan every day. However, Pashinyan is reluctant to step down.
“Strategic Partnership:” New Kyrgyz President Visits Russia
Russia as the first destination for new Kyrgyz president Sadyr Japarov was no surprise. The new leader of the Central Asian country had a mission to reassure his Moscow partners that the latest unrest – and lingering plans to amend the constitution to give more powers to the president – would not affect Russian political interests in Kyrgyzstan.
Gazprom Reappoints Alexey Miller for Further Five Years
There was again no truth in the rumor that the long-serving CEO of Gazprom was about to quit the Russian gas giant. The board of directors of Gazprom has reappointed Alexey Miller as the head of the group for a new five-year term. If Miller completes his tenure, he will be the longest-serving chief executive of Russian large state-run companies, with twenty-five years at the helm.
More Than Just Spies: Putin Mobilizes FSB Officers
Speaking at a meeting of top officials of the Federal Security Service, or FSB, Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed the agency for being efficient in disrupting the activities of foreign spies. He focused mainly on what he named “the policy of containment of Russia.” The president warned against foreign meddling in his country’s domestic affairs before the upcoming State Duma elections.
Not Only Nord Stream 2: What Will Biden Choose?
Just as the United States has not taken any firm measures against Russia amid the Navalny case or GRU-linked cyberattacks targeting Washington, Biden and his team now are not taking any action towards the Russian-German energy link as promised during the campaign – to the growing bipartisan disappointment.
Transatlantic Relations in the Biden Era
American Affairs Journal in cooperation with the Warsaw Institute think tank and The Warsaw Institute Review quarterly have an honour to invite you to our upcoming online debate “Transatlantic Relations in the Biden Era. Updating the Positions of the United States, Europe and Poland” on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, 1 PM (EST) | 7 PM (CET).
Lukashenko, Putin Change Their Strategies As Both Meet in Sochi
Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko for six-hour talks on Monday, February 22, 2021. They held an hours-long talk, mainly on some solutions on how to integrate Belarus and Russia. It is certain and now Lukashenko is just bargaining the price.
Armenia Invites More Russian Troops to Its Territory
After its humiliating defeat last fall, Armenia can only see Moscow as its guarantor of security. Yerevan is expressing concerns over the further military expansion of Azerbaijan and an ever-bigger influence of the Azeri-Turkish alliance in the Caucasus.
Belarus, Russia Sign Agreement to Ship Belarusian Exports through Russian Ports
Whether it likes it or not, the Belarusian regime is meeting further expectations from Moscow, most of which Vladimir Putin outlined to Alexander Lukashenko during the meeting in Sochi in September 2020. Back then, the latter politician secured full support from the Kremlin to thwart massive anti-government rallies, making some political and economic concessions instead.
US Sanctions Against Nord Stream 2 and the Policy of the European Union
Nord Stream 2 is a Russian energy project intended for Western Europe. The pipeline is located in such a way that it bypasses the transit countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Such a solution would enable Russia to limit the political factor, which includes the unstable relations in the region (for instance, the relations between Russia and Ukraine).
Warsaw Institute
