Russia Monitor Monthly 7/23
Content
Business or Security: Political Turmoil Between Berlin and Moscow
The killing of an ethnic Chechen dissident from Georgia in central Berlin could pose a severe threat to German-Russian ties.
Russia and Ukraine Reached Agreement on Gas Transit
Natural gas transit through Ukraine will be maintained. With the help of the European Commission and Germany, Russia’s Gazprom and Ukraine’s Naftogaz signed an agreement to settle their mutual claims.
With President Trump’s Signature, Russia’s Nord Stream 2 Is in Deep Trouble
U.S. President Donald Trump did not hesitate to sign into law the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020, a move that must have worried the Kremlin for two reasons.
Stabilization Efforts High on Agenda of Putin’s Annual News Conference
Russian President Vladimir Putin held on December 19 his annual news conference. This year the Russian leader yet put on a mask of a peaceful statesman, with little aggression in what he said and a more moderate rhetoric that prevailed.
The Bad Luck of Putin’s Spies
In seven different European countries, Russian agents have made the headlines: exposed and discredited. The spies from the East are nothing like James Bond.
Russian Oil Producer Rosneft Reshuffles Management
Russia’s most prominent oil firm has seen a series of personnel shake-up, a move that hints the company’s plans to strengthen its exploration and production divisions. These may also refer to Rosneft’s new gas plans.
30 years after the Romanian revolution
In December 1989 communism in Romania started to collapse. Even though it seemed that nobody could endanger Nicolae Ceaușescu, the dictator was shot after less than two weeks after the outbreak of riots.
New Gas Pipeline Geopolitics in Central and Eastern Europe
The current gas pipeline system in Central and Eastern Europe started to be built in the 1960s. Apart from commercial purposes, it was intended to make the countries of the Eastern Bloc reliant on energy supplies from the Soviet Union. Just like it was asserted in the Falin-Kvitsinsky doctrine, a Moscow-devised strategy that endeavored to substitute military influence with economic pressure.
Russia Is Terribly Afraid of Anti-Missile System
Recent statements from Russian military and Kremlin officials corroborate Moscow’s mounting fears over the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system in Europe.
Greenland: The Arctic Treasure of Denmark
The U.S. administration is noticeably intensifying its efforts to secure influence in Greenland, located in the Arctic.
Russian Government Pursues Insufficient Policy to Halt Population Decline
Russia’s overall population totaled 146.9 million in early 2019, as shown by official data. It is already known that this number will be lower next year.
Dilemmas of Chinese Presence in Central and Eastern Europe
Chinese presence in Central and Eastern Europe is part of the country’s broader policy toward the whole continent while fitting into Beijing’s possibilities to exert influence on what so far has referred to as the Western world.
Romania still outside the Schengen Area
Even though Romania is a member of the European Union since 2007, it is still outside the Schengen Area which allows border crossing without border control. Many myths have arisen about this matter during the last decade and it appears that the problem will not be solved soon.
Finnish counterintelligence: Russia is the biggest threat
The annual SUPO report states that Russia is the biggest threat. The activity of China and the threat posed by the jihadists (“lone wolves”) are of limited nature and relate only to restricted areas.
Ukraine’s New Language Law Receives Fierce Criticism: Will Zelensky Agree to Introduce Amendments?
The Venice Commission has joined the circle of voices critical of the laws affecting national minorities in this country adopted by the previous Ukrainian authorities.
Is the Russian Navy in Serious Trouble?
Of all the branches of the Russian armed forces, the Navy is considered the most underinvested.
Germany Echoes Russian Arguments, Criticizing U.S. Nord Stream 2 Sanctions Threat
German business circles active on the Russian market and holding business ties to Russian entities have lambasted a U.S. decision to impose sanctions against firms building the Nord Stream 2 energy pipeline.
A New Strategy for Promoting Poland Abroad
Nowadays, we can observe that the profile of a Polish immigrant, who travels around the world more and more frequently, speaks at least a few foreign languages and has a strong urge to improve his/her job qualifications, is constantly evolving.
Drones, Battle Tanks, Aircraft and Iskanders: Russia Advances Military Buildup in Kaliningrad
The Russian exclave of Kaliningrad is becoming a major military challenge for NATO. Already packed with army and weaponry, the Russian region is being additionally strengthened by more military measures, on land, in the air and on the water.
From War to Stabilization: Russian Plans for Syria
Recent changes in the Russian command and Moscow’s diplomatic efforts toward Syria show that the Kremlin has reshuffled its course in the Middle East country
Warsaw Institute
