Articles
Russian Gas Trap: Gazprom Curbs Gas Transit Capacity
The price of gas commodities contracted for November is now four times higher in Europe than last year. If this winter is similar to the last one, the European Union will face a major energy crisis. Gazprom is taking advantage of the whole situation to push for European concessions on Nord Stream 2.
Nord Stream 2 Divides Europe
Possibly by sending its gas through Ukraine, Russia could refrain from offering more generous support to pro-Kremlin rebel fighters while the Russian-German Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline could come as a threat to both energy and national security of many European states.
Defence24Day x SOFAST Conference
On June 29 and 30, 2021, the Defence24Day x SOFAST conference was held, the media partner of which was the Warsaw Institute. Among the invited speakers there were, among others Mariusz Błaszczak Polish Minister of National Defense, Paweł Soloch Head of the National Security Bureau, Wojciech Skurkiewicz Secretary of State in the Ministry of National Defense and the Polish Ambassador to NATO Headquarters Tomasz Szatkowski.
Event Summary: Poland after regaining independence – three partitioners – one country. Differences and similarities between particular partitions
On September 28, 2021, a debate took place with the participation of Karol Wołek – president of the Casimir the Great, the Association of Kazimierz Wielki, the Main Board of the Union of National Soldiers of the Armed Forces and the Amor Patriae Foundation, Artur Krzeszowiak – communication strategy specialist and expert at the Warsaw Institute, and Tomasz Kijewski, a graduate of, among others, international relations at the University of Lodz (scholarship at the Center for Transatlantic Studies in Maastricht, the Netherlands) and the National Security Study Program (PASS) at the European Center for Security Studies General Marshall (Garmisch-Partenkirchen / Washington DC).
Chinese Journalists Report on Meng Wanzhou Case
The conclusion of a deferred prosecution agreement between the US Department of Justice and Meng Wanzhou, Huawei’s CFO in Canada, allowed her to return to China and end the house arrest she had been under since December 2018. At that time, Meng Wanzhou was detained in Canada at the request of US authorities on suspicion of helping to violate sanctions on the Iranian government. The case of Huawei’s CFO has been widely reported by Chinese media.
Lukoil Pushes For Hydrocarbon Expansion In Kazakh Caspian Sea Block
Russia’s oil giant Lukoil would help Kazakhstan develop oil fields located in its portion of the Caspian Sea, according to Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The statement was made during the 17th Interregional Cooperation Forum of Kazakhstan and Russia held online on September 30.
Russia-Hungary New Gas Deal: Gazprom Halts Transit Through Ukraine
The Ukrainian Gas Transmission System operator said Russia’s Gazprom had suspended its gas transit through Ukraine from October 1, on the same day that a new gas deal between Hungary and Russia took effect. The agreement outraged Kyiv and triggered a diplomatic row between Ukraine and Hungary. This shows how Russia is seeking to make political use of gas pipelines that bypass Ukraine and Poland. Moscow is sparking conflict between the countries in the region while compromising Ukraine’s security and also that of other European states.
Sochi Meeting: Russia and Turkey Still Divided Over Syria
The long-awaited meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan that took place on September 29 in Sochi did not make any breakthrough in the Russia-Turkey ties. They look good despite tensions in Syria. It seems that Erdogan sought to use the meeting with Putin as a bargaining chip in his relations with Washington.
Tajikistan Could Thwart Russia’s Push Towards Taliban
The huge Vostok Oil project was a key issue of discussion when India’s oil and gas minister sat down for talks with Rosneft’s Igor Sechin. Shri Hardeep S Puri arrived in Vladivostok to take part in the Eastern Economic Forum. He made a stop-over in Moscow to meet Sechin before heading to the Russian Far East.
Russia vs Ukraine: Where Do “Red Lines” Run?
The idea of NATO membership for Ukraine is the worst-case scenario for Russia that staunchly opposes also the potential broadening of NATO infrastructure on Ukrainian territory. This time the Kremlin is using Alexander Lukashenko to attain its goals. The intention is to send a strong signal to the West that Russia and Belarus would recognize NATO military bases in Ukraine as a casus belli.
Tatarstan’s Top Oil Asset To Pay Dividends
Tatneft is paying out a dividend of 16.52 roubles per share for the results in the six first months of 2021, according to the company’s shareholders. On September 30, an extraordinary meeting of the company’s shareholders took place in Kazan, alongside a meeting of the board of directors chaired by the president of Tatarstan.
Russia Lunges Into Mali, Sends Wagner Group Mercenaries And Weapons
The Ukrainian Gas Transmission System operator said Russia’s Gazprom had suspended its gas transit through Ukraine from October 1, on the same day that a new gas deal between Hungary and Russia took effect. The agreement outraged Kyiv and triggered a diplomatic row between Ukraine and Hungary. This shows how Russia is seeking to make political use of gas pipelines that bypass Ukraine and Poland. Moscow is sparking conflict between the countries in the region while compromising Ukraine’s security and also that of other European states.
Russia Endures Fourth Wave of Coronavirus Pandemic
Russia is seeing a devastating health situation as one in two regions is grappling with a spike in new coronavirus cases. In the last days of September, Russia reported its highest coronavirus death toll. Undoubtedly, Russia is battered with a long-awaited fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
Wolf warriors against European hawks. Can the European Parliament spearhead EU foreign policy on China? – Podcast
Among the countries of the Visegrád Group, Hungary is perceived as having relatively close ties with the People’s Republic of China (PRC). However, the recent protests in Budapest, Hungary’s capital, over the construction of a branch of China’s Fudan University seem to show that the public is divided on the issue of Viktor Orbán government’s foreign policy.
