RUSSIA MONITOR MONTHLY 05/2021
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National mourning in China
This year, on April 4, during the Chinese day of the dead (Qingmingjie (清明节)), national mourning was established in honour of thousands of people who died in the coronavirus pandemic. This was a decision of the State Council of China, the highest executive body in the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
Interview: China, disinformation and “mask diplomacy”
Interview with Michał Bogusz, Ph.D., Chief Specialist of the China Research Programme at the Centre for Eastern Studies, about the current propaganda goals of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), its methods, and directions of its current disinformation campaign – to whose advantage and against whom it is designed.
China-U.S. Trade War: Origins, Course and Consequences
The COVID-19 pandemic, which has fanned out around the globe since early 2020, has drastically reshaped world policies. Amidst a fast unraveling humanitarian crisis and a massive blow to the global economy, the U.S.-China trade war is now of secondary concern. Yet, it is a result of structural geopolitical rivalries and will strike even more forcefully after the ongoing crisis is over.
COVID-19 Disinformation: Russia Sends “Aid” to the US
A statement by the U.S. Department of State shows that what Russia sent to Washington was not “humanitarian aid.” Moscow is looking to make a positive PR impression while undermining the effectiveness of Western efforts.
Is it time for “decoupling”?
The coronavirus pandemic is likely to inhibit globalisation processes and accelerate Washington’s efforts to decouple from China.
Personnel Changes in the Authorities of Warsaw Institute
In late March 2020, Ms. Julia Grzybowska was appointed the new President of Warsaw Institute, and Mr. Alexander Wielgos was nominated as the Vice-President. Mr. Krzysztof Kamiński, the former President, ended his duties and rejoined Warsaw Institute think tank as a Member of the Foundation Council.
China’s “corona” scam
According to reports of the US officials in the media, a secret report of the American intelligence service for the White House includes information that China is hiding the scale of the coronavirus epidemic in its country by understating the total number of infections and deaths.
Interview: Russia’s phony fight with pandemic
The director of the Eurasia programme at the Warsaw Institute, an expert on Eastern affairs, former analyst and journalist Grzegorz Kuczyński, in the interview about Russian disinformation during the pandemic and its interpretation.
Nord Stream 2 Stuck in the Waiting Room
Though the Russia-to-Germany gas link was frozen after Washington had introduced a batch of sanctions, there is still a chance to complete it. Both Berlin and Moscow so far have invested many financial and political means to defend their joint undertaking.
Kozak-Yermak Plan on Donbas: A Trap for Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is well aware of his dropping popularity ratings, is making efforts to reshuffle both the government and his presidential administration.
Russian Arms Industry Gets a Lifeline
Russia’s intense and long-term efforts to modernize its military inventory got the country’s arms industry into deep trouble. Some of the state’s flagship arms production plants are now in a difficult situation, thus the Kremlin seeks to help them by erasing their outstanding debts.
Russia Seeks Good Ties with Taliban
In its policy towards Afghanistan, Russia has long attempted to make U.S. and NATO military forces quit the country. What Moscow sees as a milestone is the U.S.-Taliban peace accord, saying it is ready to cooperate with Islamists once they seize power in the country.
Russia Suffers Major Setback in the Balkans
North Macedonia has officially become NATO’s 30th member. With the new North Atlantic Alliance member in the Balkans, Russia has seen a blow delivered to its policy aimed at banning former Yugoslav republics from joining Western blocs.
Geopolitics Unmasked: How COVID-19 became China’s Chernobyl
In an interview with The Warsaw Institute Review, Hanna Shen, a journalist and Polish media correspondent living in Taiwan, talks about the blatant neglect of the Chinese communist authorities, misinformation of the public opinion as well as the current situation in neighbouring Taiwan.
Russia’s Gazprom Lost in Court Battle with Poland’s PGNiG
Russian state-run gas giant saw yet another failure in a legal spat with a Central and Eastern European company. First, it lost a court battle with Ukraine’s Naftogaz and now Poland’s largest gas distributor PGNiG emerged victorious in its litigation with Gazprom.
Is This the End of Russia-Belarus Oil Spat?
Russia and Belarus have reached a temporary agreement for limited oil supplies. After months-long talks, Moscow agreed to drop any premiums to suppliers. The two countries came to a deal for crude flows after oil prices suffered a historic collapse.
Russia’s Coronavirus Cases Prompt Putin to Change Strategy
Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed that his country is no longer an exception amid the global coronavirus outbreak. Its closure of the border with China brought adequate, albeit short-term results, as most people affected with the novel virus came back from trips to Europe, in particular from popular tourist destinations like Italy or Spain.
Russian Oil Tycoon Embroiled in War, Sechin Becomes Public Enemy No. 1
Since March 6, the global oil market has seen an ongoing price war. And yet, Russia has witnessed a war going between CEO of Rosneft Igor Sechin and other oil firms that spoke against Russia’s withdrawal from the OPEC+ pact.
A Chinese message at the G20
The deliberations were initiated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which this year presides over the organisation. It was the first online summit in the history of the G20, as well as the first major multilateral event with President Xi Jinping since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
Putin’s Popularity Ratings Amidst Coronavirus Outbreak
Two Russian public opinion research centers have unveiled two different president’s popularity ratings. A survey by state-run VTsIOM found that Russian people consolidate themselves around state authorities in the time of crisis, thus as expected.
Warsaw Institute
