Russia Monitor Monthly 2/23
Content
Moldova Election: Sandu Smashes Russia’s Candidate
It was quite likely for Maia Sandu to win Moldova’s run-off after she defeated the incumbent Igor Dodon in the first round. What is yet surprising is the scale of the victory for Maia Sandu. The difference is so big that the Kremlin quickly disowned the outgoing president who lost the ballot. Now Russia will do much to prevent Moldova from making a tilt towards the European Union and the United States.
Event Summary: Challenges For Energy Security. Transatlantic Approach.
On Tuesday, November 17, Warsaw Institute had the pleasure to host a discussion entitled CHALLENGES FOR ENERGY SECURITY. TRANSATLANTIC APPROACH. Our honourable guest, H.E. Ambassador Virginia E. Palmer, was interviewed by Tomasz Kijewski of Warsaw Institute.
Russia’s Coronavirus Vaccine Race Continues
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, Russia has set itself a goal of producing a vaccine as quickly as possible, also to convince the whole world it managed to be a world first. Back in early August, Moscow announced it had approved the vaccine – despite mounting doubts whether it is effective. Will the World Health Organization succumb to Russian lobbying?
Xi Jinping’s speech at the 20th meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
The 20th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), bringing together Russia, the People’s Republic of China, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, took place online on November 10. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), gave a speech on this occasion.
America After the Election: What are the Consequences for Poland and the Countries of the Region?
Although in the United States the electoral madness and internal turmoil associated with the presidential election is likely to continue in the coming months, it is worth to consider what may be the future course of American policy towards Europe, especially in terms of the countries in its central and eastern part, including Poland.
Chinese Ambitions in the Semiconductor Industry
If a single branch of technology had to be identified as a decisive one for the future of the great power competition between China and the USA, it would certainly be semiconductors. They are the foundation for the development of digital economies and other key technologies such as artificial intelligence, 5G, 6G and quantum computers.
Russia Launches Cabinet Reshuffle Also In Energy Ministry
The reshuffle was the result of a routine ministerial rotation and not tied to the ministers’ performance, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Russia carried out the cabinet overhaul to improve its overall performance yet it is hard not to notice that Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin fired only those ministers that formed the previous cabinet.
Challenges For Energy Security. Transatlantic Approach | Online interview
Warsaw Institute and The Warsaw Institute Review are delighted to invite you to our event: “Challenges For Energy Security. Transatlantic Approach”!
Biden’s Presidency According to Chinese Forecasts
The recent US election and the very likely victory of Joe Biden in the run for the Oval Office have prompted experts, journalists and Chinese diplomats to consider what the new administration in Washington could mean for Beijing.
Russia Deploys Its “Peacekeepers” To Nagorno-Karabakh
Moscow’s diplomatic intervention saved Armenia from a total military defeat and its loss of breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh. The country found it extremely painful to accept the ceasefire, brokered jointly by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
AliExpress Sponsors a Polish Soccer Team
AliExpress, a Chinese e-commerce giant, signed a sponsorship agreement with the Polish soccer team Lech Poznań, as announced at the end of October 2020. This is the first sports marketing partnership worldwide for this company from the Middle Kingdom.
Russian Police and Intelligence Disagree Over What Really Happened To Navalny
Russian officials deliver somewhat contradictory statements about reasons for the sudden health crisis of Alexey Navalny. Specialized laboratories in the West determined that the Russian opposition figure was poisoned with a substance of the Novichok group. Moscow denies having been behind the crime yet is unable to precise a coherent version of events.
Polish-American Innovation Bridge (PAMI)
We are delighted to invite you to a Top500 Innovators – Polish-American Innovation Bridge (PAMI) online conference, taking place on November 19th and 20th, over which the Warsaw Institute is honoured to have media patronage.
How Russia Strengthened NATO’s Cyber Defence
Russia’s 2007 cyber-attacks on Estonia did not cause any long-term harm. What they did, however, is they helped NATO realise the vulnerabilities of a country’s digital presence.
Malabar Exercise, “Asian NATO” and Beijing’s Response
The Malabar 2020 Naval Exercise began on November 3 with the United States, India, Japan and, for the first time, Australia participating. They are therefore the maneuvers of the Quad group (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue), which could challenge the expansionist drive of China. Concerns about such initiatives were reflected in Beijing’s reaction in the media and the diplomatic sphere.
U.S. Election: What Is Russia Counting On?
The longer it takes to announce the winner of the U.S. presidential runoff, the better it looks from Moscow’s point of view – as Russia is setting its eyes on neither of the candidates in the 2020 vote.
Weak Rouble, Tight Budget: New Lockdown Would Smash Russian Economy
Issues like political spats, low crude prices and the second wave of the coronavirus strike a blow to the Russian economy. However, authorities have resisted a second lockdown despite a surge in new cases. Yet the Russian national currency is seeing constant drops in value.
Moldova Presidential Election: Russia Helps Dodon
Pro-Western opposition leader Maia Sandu secured a surprise lead against Moldova’s current president Igor Dodon. The Kremlin-endorsed incumbent leader eventually came second. A second round is set to take place in two weeks. The country’s former prime minister is likely to win the ballot, but Russia will do everything to keep Dodon in office.
The Dynamics of International Relations in the Middle East
The relations between individual countries, religious, paramilitary and terrorist organizations in addition to overseas powers can confuse even skilled observers, let alone laypeople. Nevertheless, it is worth noting some basic characteristics that shape the reality of the Middle East nowadays.
US Presidential Election from the Perspective of Poland and Central and Eastern Europe
In November 2020, the United States will elect a president. This is a significant event not only for America and the Americans themselves, but also for the whole world.
Warsaw Institute
