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☆ Gazprom: Russian oil giant posts first annual loss in 20 years as sales to Europe collapse
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Moscow — Kremlin-owned gas giant Gazprom plunged to a net loss of 629 billion rubles ($6.9 billion) in 2023, its first annual loss in more than 20 years, as sales to Europe plummeted in the wake of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Analysts had expected net income of 447 billion rubles ($4.9 billion) in 2023, according to Interfax news agency. The company made a net profit of 1.2 trillion ($13.1 billion) rubles in 2022, the year Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia’s gas exports to Europe, once its primary export market, have slumped largely because of the political fallout from the conflict in Ukraine. The company’s core profit, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization known as EBITDA, dropped to 618.38 billion rubles ($6.7 billion) last year from 2.79 trillion rubles ($30.4 billion) in 2022, according to Reuters’ calculations.

Persons: Alexei Miller, Vladimir Putin, Ronald Smith Organizations: Gazprom, Analysts, Reuters, BCS Global Markets Locations: Moscow, Ukraine, Russia, St . Petersburg, Europe

She loaded her carry-ons onto the conveyor belt at the security checkpoint and prepared to walk through the metal detector. “I just felt like they were searching for something.”At first, when they flagged her bags, Griner wasn’t too concerned. This was her eighth season in Russia; she paid taxes there and was familiar with the country and its laws. As soon as she felt the cannabis-oil cartridge stowed in a zippered inner pocket in her backpack, her stomach sank. Griner was told to wait while the agent took the cartridges for testing, along with her passport.

Persons: “, ”, wasn’t, Cherelle, Griner, Lindsay Colas, Colas, Alex Boykov, Boykov, snickered, peered, “ I’ve Organizations: Moscow Locations: Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Russia, Arizona, United States, Russian

☆ Moldova Is a Cautionary Tale for Ukraine - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Paula Erizanu | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

But it would clearly involve freezing the conflict, resigning Ukraine’s occupied territory to Russia in exchange for an end to the fighting. A small western neighbor of Ukraine, Moldova experienced Russia’s first post-Soviet war of aggression, which ended with a cease-fire agreement in 1992. The case shows that Russia simply cannot be trusted. Anyone calling for Ukraine to settle for one should heed Moldova’s cautionary tale. Russia stopped providing Moldova with gas, leaving people in cities to freeze in their apartments and cook their food outside on bonfires.

Persons: Pope Francis, Ukraine’s, Russia’s Organizations: Russian Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Moldova, Moldovan, Russian, Transnistria, Moscow

☆ Russia's military is allergic to the deep reforms it needs
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Can the Russian military can be reformed to better achieve Putin's revanchist aims? Yes, but the drastic changes will not be easy, an expert on Russia's military says. AdvertisementWhatever the outcome of the Ukraine war, one thing seems certain: the Russian military needs drastic changes. Indeed, Russia's tendency to seek top-down structural reforms matched with enduring characteristics of the Russian military suggest that a transformation of the Russian military will be difficult." Given that observers so misjudged Russian military capabilities prior to the Ukraine war, how can the West accurately determine whether reforms are occurring?

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, Katherine Kjellström Elgin, Putin, Elgin, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Center for Strategic, National Guard Service, Nazi, NATO, Elgin, Business, Russo, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Washington ,, Elgin, Moscow, Russia, Crimean, Soviet, Nazi German, Turkish, Forbes

☆ Far Right’s Ties to Russia Sow Rising Alarm in Germany
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Erika Solomon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

To enter a secret session of Germany’s Parliament, lawmakers must lock their phones and leave them outside. Because seated alongside them in those classified meetings are members of the Alternative for Germany, the far-right party known by its German abbreviation, AfD. In the past few months alone, a leading AfD politician was accused of taking money from pro-Kremlin strategists. And some of its state lawmakers flew to Moscow to observe Russia’s stage-managed elections. It worries me,” said Erhard Grundl, a Green party member of the Parliament’s foreign affairs committee.

Persons: “, ”, Erhard Grundl Organizations: Kremlin Locations: Germany, Moscow

☆ Turkey's opposition party just won the local elections. It could prompt a change in the country's relationship with Russia.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Turkey's President's AK Party lost major local elections in Istanbul and Ankara. AdvertisementThe Turkish party led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan suffered big losses in local elections held on Sunday. But an opposition victory in the majority of the largest Turkish cities would have "a dampening effect on President Erdoğan's prestige at home," they wrote. Advertisement"The extent to which President Erdoğan can exercise his personal power at home will be a crucial factor that determines Turkey's international behavior," they added. To be sure, the elections on Sunday were local — Erdoğan already won the presidential election in May, securing another term for five years.

Persons: Turkey's, —, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Ekrem Imamoğlu, Erdoğan, Vladimir Putin —, Putin, Marc Pierieni, Francesco Siccardi, Erdoğan's, Russia —, Hakan Akbas, Albright, Erdogan Organizations: Turkey's President's AK Party, Service, CHP, Reuters, AK Party, AFP, NATO, Erdoğan's AK Party, Turkish, Carnegie, West, Sunday, AK, Group, AK Party's Locations: Istanbul, Ankara, Russia, Turkey, Carnegie Europe, Ukraine, Moscow, Europe, —

☆ Opinion: Watch carefully what Putin does next
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Opinion Frida Ghitis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Literally and figuratively, Putin was telling Russians — who would soon vote in a presidential election — that he was the man to protect them. Once in office, attack after attack gave him the pretext to dismantle democracy brick by brick. Once in office, attack after attack gave him the pretext to dismantle democracy brick by brick. Patrushev, incidentally, now heads the national security council, and as I recently wrote, is a possible successor to Putin. The terrorist attack was a glaring failure by the president and his regime.

Persons: Frida Ghitis, Vladimir Putin, Boris Yeltsin, Putin, —, ”, Yeltsin, Nikolai Patrushev, Alexander Litvinenko, Denis Sinyakov, Moscow’s, beholden, Oleg Nikishin, Crocus Organizations: CNN, Washington Post, Politics, Frida Ghitis CNN, Crocus City Hall, ISIS, Putin, FSB, European Court, Human Rights, Kremlin, Chechen, Getty Locations: Crocus, Moscow, Ukraine, Washington, Chechnya, Russian, Ryazan, AFP, Russia, Beslan, ”

Listen and follow The DailyApple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon MusicWarning: this episode contains descriptions of violence. More than a hundred people died and scores more were wounded on Friday night in a terrorist attack on a concert hall near Moscow — the deadliest such attack in Russia in decades. Anton Troianovski, the Moscow bureau chief for The Times, discusses the uncomfortable question the assault raises for Russia’s president, Vladimir V. Putin: Has his focus on the war in Ukraine left his country more vulnerable to other threats?

Persons: Anton Troianovski, Vladimir V, Putin Organizations: Spotify, The Times Locations: Moscow, Russia, Ukraine

☆ Ukraine's losses on the battlefield could make the war more dangerous for Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty ImagesEarly on in the war with Russia, Ukraine's successes on the battlefield prompted warnings from defense analysts that Moscow — with its back against the wall militarily — could lash out, using a nuclear weapon on Ukrainian soil. Defense analysts noted that the more successes Ukraine saw, the more dangerous and unpredictable its opponent Russia could become as it sought to regain the initiative. That, in turn, would make the war much harder and more dangerous for Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his annual state of the nation address, on February 29, 2024, in Moscow, Russia. All this really threatens a conflict with the use of nuclear weapons and the destruction of civilization.

Persons: Oleksandr Syrskyi, —, Ignacio Marin, Christopher Granville, Alexander Ermochenko, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Vladimir Putin, Putin Organizations: Brigade, Anadolu, Getty, Moscow, Defense, Analysts, Global Political Research, TS Lombard, Service, Reuters, Ukrainian, NATO, West, Russian Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Donbas, Donetsk Oblast, Ukrainian, Avdiivka, Donetsk, Moscow, Russian, Volnovakha, U.S, Canada, Paris

☆ Russia was ridiculed at the start of the war. Two years on, it has reasons to be confident
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Internal political frictions and the replacement of popular military chief General Valerii Zaluzhnyi has also fueled concerns over military strategy going forward. "I think for Ukraine, there's really quite minimal difference between a president who can't deliver lethal aid and a president who won't deliver lethal aid. Russia's President Vladimir Putin listens while then-U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in Helsinki, Finland, in 2019. Russian President Vladimir Putin smiles while visiting an aviation plant on February 21, 2024, in Kazan, Russia. "The dispute over mobilization is happening at a time when most authorized U.S. military aid is close to exhausted and Congress has yet to pass a new aid package."

Persons: Moscow —, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, there's, James Nixey, that's, Putin, Donald, Trump, Nixey, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Brendan Smialowski, Alexei Navalny, Kurt Volker, he'd, Avdiivka, Volker, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, David Kirichenko, Kirichenko Organizations: Anadolu, Getty, Kyiv —, U.S, Russian, AFP, NATO, CNBC, Analysts, Institute for, Russia, Manpower, Kremlin, Center for, Armed Forces of, Bloomberg Locations: Ukrainian, Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Kyiv, Avdiivka, Eurasia, Helsinki, Finland, West, U.S, Russian, Kazan, Donetsk, Armed Forces of Ukraine

☆ Opinion | Putin Has Already Lost
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Rajan Menon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

As the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine approaches, it has become a commonplace that time favors President Vladimir Putin. For Mr. Putin, more concerned by Ukraine than any other country that arose from the wreckage of the Soviet Union, that alone is tantamount to defeat. If the fundamental purpose of Mr. Putin’s war was to keep Ukraine within Russia’s orbit — politically, culturally and economically — it has had the opposite effect. Ukraine’s leaders and citizens, particularly those from younger generations, have decided that their future lies with the West, not Russia. Everywhere you go, Ukrainians speak Western languages, particularly English, in seemingly ever greater numbers.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Moscow —, Carl von Clausewitz, Putin Organizations: Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Soviet Union, subordinating

☆ Tucker Carlson gets roasted for praising decades-old shopping cart tech in Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewFormer Fox News personality Tucker Carlson is posting videos of himself experiencing various aspects of daily life in Moscow — and a moment involving Russian shopping carts has led to him being roasted on social media. AdvertisementTucker is excited that the Russians have figured out a way to keep homeless people from taking shopping carts. Although the shopping cart locks in Carlson’s video are far more widespread in Europe, they’re also a common sight at German-owned Aldi’s US stores. AdvertisementAn Aldi shopping cart in New York City. The shopping cart at the grocery store I go to allows me to scan items as I put them in the cart while shopping," X user EgilsRobs wrote.

Persons: —, Tucker Carlson, Vladimir Putin, Carlson, “, ” Carlson, Tucker, R5pJSDEDsf, Ron Filipkowski, “ He’s, @Brandon_Newton1, they’re, Talia Lakritz, George Herbert Walker Bush, EgilsRobs Organizations: Service, Fox News, Business, Critics, Aldi, Walmart, Costco Locations: Moscow —, Europe, New York City, Russian, American, Canada, Australia, Russia, America, Moscow

stressing that the war could end tomorrow if Moscow withdrew hundreds of thousands of troops in Ukraine’s internationally recognized territory. Russia called the council meeting to again sharply criticize Western military aid to Ukraine. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya who read a joint statement underscoring Russia’s “hypocrisy” in criticizing lawful arms transfers to help Ukraine defend itself. But the Chinese ambassador criticized Ukraine for seeking to join NATO and warned Kyiv, without naming Russia, that this would deepen Moscow’s security concerns. “The negative impacts of the Ukraine crisis and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict have added snow to the icy cold global economy,” Zhang said.

Persons: —, Sergey Lavrov, ”, Robert Wood, Lavrov's, Vladimir Putin, that's, ” Wood, Sergiy Kyslytsya, underscoring, Ukraine’s, “, U.N, Zhang Jun, ” Zhang, Zhang, Lavrov, Wood, Malta's, Vanessa Frazier, ” Frazier Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, Kyiv, . Security Council, North Korea —, NATO, Russia, Palestinian Locations: United States, Moscow, China, Russia’s, Russia, Ukraine, Washington, London, Paris, Brussels, Ukraine’s, Iran, North Korea, Belarus, Israel, Gaza, Palestinian, U.S

When Iran launched a barrage of airstrikes this week into Iraq, Syria and Pakistan, it was not just showing off the reach and sophistication of some of its newest missiles but also staking a claim: This is a new era in which Iran can flex its muscles at will and, as an added benefit, bolster its credentials as an important arms supplier. In at least one of the attacks — a strike that Tehran claimed targeted the Islamic State terrorist group in Idlib, Syria — Iran appeared to make use of one of its longest-range and most advanced missiles, the Kheibar Shekan. Both the range and the apparent accuracy seized the attention of national security officials in Europe and Israel, as well as outside experts who track Iran’s technological advances. The combination of its newest missiles and its fleet of drones, which Russia has been purchasing by the thousands for use in Ukraine, has helped Iran become the producer of some of the most sophisticated weaponry in the Middle East. And Tehran’s willingness to intervene — as a supplier to its proxy forces in the region and to Moscow — may well complicate American calculations as the Pentagon considers the question looming over the widening Middle East conflict: Could it lead to a direct conflict with Iran?

Persons: — Organizations: Islamic State, Pentagon Locations: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Tehran, Idlib, Europe, Israel, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Ukraine says it needs China for any peace process with Russia; Davos overshadowed by ongoing war
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Ukraine presented its plan for peace in Switzerland on Sunday, on the eve of the World Economic Forum —but with Russia absent from the event, little tangible progress was made toward peace. Presenting Ukraine's 10-point "peace formula" in Davos to delegates from 83 countries, Ukraine's presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak said Sunday that China needs to be involved in future talks to end the war with Russia. But Russia and its ally China — seen to be one of the few countries that can influence Moscow — were not involved in the even co-hosted by Switzerland and Ukraine. Russia previously rebuffed Ukraine's peace plan, which calls for all Russian troops to leave Ukrainian territory, and described previous peace formula talks, to which it was not invited, as "absurd."

Persons: Andriy Yermak, China —, Moscow —, Ukraine's Locations: Ukraine, Switzerland, Russia, Davos, China, Moscow

A deal for a temporary cease fire was inching into view in Israel's war against Hamas, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tempered expectations by vowing that the war would continue even if a deal is reached. “We are at war, and we will continue the war,” he said. Israel has vowed to continue the war until it destroys Hamas’ military capabilities and returns all hostages. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose government maintains ties with Hamas officials, said Turkey’s foreign minister and intelligence chief were working with Qatari officials to negotiate releases. Hamas has released four hostages, Israel has rescued one, and the bodies of two were found near Shifa.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Israel, Gaza — Israel, NETANYAHU, ”, “, Mostafa Madbouly, ” Madbouly, Israel —, Hadas Kalderon, Kalderon, John Kirby, Kirby, “ We’ve, ” NETANYAHU, ‘, ” Netanhayu, Khalil al, Hayya, Valdis Dombrovskis, ” BIDEN, WASHINGTON, Joe Biden, ” “, ” Biden, Biden's, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Erdogan, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Tebboune, ” Tebboune, ” Erdogan, Israel’s, Asad, Assad, Qassim Abdul, Bassem, Tara Copp, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Sergey Lavrov, Lavrov, ” Lavrov, Ziad Makary, Farah Omar, Rabih Maamari, Kfar Kila, Laiqa Serhan, Reuters videojournalist, Abduallah, Qatar’s Al, Izzat, Ismail Haniyeh, Goren, Tal Chaimi, ” Netanyahu, Mosab Abu Toha, Hamza Abu Toha, Mosab, Hamza, ” Mosab Abu Toha, Abu, Abu Toha Organizations: Hamas, Senior, Palestinian, Troops, Health Ministry, West Bank, WAR, JERUSALEM, CAIRO —, Israel, White, National Security, Israel —, European Union, ” EU, HIT ISRAEL, Algerian, International Criminal, Hezbollah, Cabinet, MUSLIM, Arab League, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, United Nations Security Council, Lebanese, National News Agency, Reuters, Agence France, Jazeera, SEA DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Galaxy Leader, U.S . Navy, OFFICIAL, PEN, Yorker Locations: Israel, United States, Qatar, Gaza, Gaza City, Gaza —, Iran, Yemen, Egypt, Cyprus, israel, Israeli, EGYPT, CAIRO, TEL AVIV, HAIFA, Beirut, EU, STRASBOURG, France, TURKEY, ALGERIA, GAZA ALGIERS, Algeria, Turkey, Turkish, BAGHDAD, Iraq, U.S, al, Baghdad, Anbar, Syria, Zahra, Bassem Mroue, Washington, JERUSALEM, “, Russian, Moscow, Russia, LEBANON, ISRAEL, BEIRUT, Lebanon, Kibbutz Manara, Kfar, IRAN, YEMEN, United Arab, Tehran, American, Red, Persian, Hormuz, Shifa

☆ Putin meets 'dear friend' Xi in Beijing. Here are the top 3 takeaways
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Sergei Savostyanov | Afp | Getty ImagesChina President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin were all smiles when they met in Beijing. "Dear friend, I am very glad to see you again," Putin said in a statement ahead of his bilateral meeting with Xi Wednesday. Xi is also looking to Putin as China seeks to reinvigorate its economic foreign policy program. watch nowPutin traveled to Beijing, knowing Xi would guarantee his safety. Here are the main takeaways from the meeting, which underline why China and Russia share strong ties.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Sergei Savostyanov, Putin, Xi, AidData, Mary, Srettha Thavisin, Viktor Orban, Dmitry Peskov, Peskov, Wang Yi, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Biden, it's, Peng Liyuan Organizations: Sputnik, Forum, Afp, Getty Images China, Initiative, Xi, College of William, Moscow, European Union, EU, Rosneft, Gazprom, Tass, Soviet Union, Hamas, U.S, United, of, U.S . Department of Commerce, Getty Locations: Beijing, Ukraine, China, Russia, Thailand, Hungary, Israel, Gaza, Iran, United Nations, Saudi Arabia, Europe, U.S

RUSSIAN DEATH TOLL IN HAMAS ATTACKS RISES TO 4MOSCOW — Russia’s embassy in Israel said the number of Russian citizens killed in the latest Israel-Palestinian war has risen to four. Previously, two Russian citizens were believed to have been killed and four were missing, according to Anatoly Viktorov, Russian Ambassador to Israel. 2 RUSSIAN CITIZENS WERE KILLED IN HAMAS ATTACKS IN ISRAELMOSCOW — Russia’s ambassador to Israel said that two Russian citizens have been killed in of the latest Israel-Palestinian war. Viktorov said that four other Russian citizens remain missing. He said the embassy has no information confirming Hamas’ claim that several Russian citizens were among the hostages it has taken.

Persons: Israel pummeled, Elon Musk, Musk, Marina Ryazanova, Anatoly Viktorov, Abdel Fattah el, JERUSALEM —, Cross, Fabrizio Carboni, we’ve, ” Carboni, “, Volker Türk, Türk, ”, ” PUTIN, Vladimir Putin, Mohammed Al, Sudani, Putin, regrettably hasn’t, ” Putin, Leo, Khan Younis, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, INDIA'S MODI, Narendra Modi, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Modi, Modi, ISRAEL MOSCOW —, Israel, Anatoly Viktorov didn’t, hasn’t, Viktorov, MACRON, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Macron, Muqtada al, National Security Iyad, Bazm, Dmitry Peskov, Mahmoud Abbas, Peskov, it’s, Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s, Tarik Jazarevic, HAVE Organizations: ‘, Twitter, Tass, International Committee, ICRC, Associated Press, HUMAN RIGHTS, The United Nations, Palestinian, Tuesday, Iraqi, MSF, Shifa Hospital, Nasser Hospital, ISRAEL BERLIN, German Foreign Ministry, Indian, Israel’s, Israel, ISRAEL MOSCOW, Hamas, Ministry of Interior, National Security, Kremlin, WHO, The United, World Health Organization, United Nations, UNRWA, PARIS — France’s Locations: Israel, Gaza, U.N, ISRAEL, MOSCOW, Russian, Egypt, Palestinian, Geneva, GAZA, U.S, GAZA CAIRO, Gaza City, Khan, Shalom, GERMANY, Israeli, Germany, DELHI, India, FRANCE, MACRON HAMBURG, Iran, Hamburg, France, IRAQ, GAZA BAGHDAD, Sadr, Najaf, Iraq, RAFAH, Rafah, RUSSIA, Moscow, GAZA GENEVA, The United Nations, UN, BEIRUT

That means the relationship between the two nations is interlaced and complex and far more nuanced than much of the debate might have suggested. “We need a totally new approach to China,” DeSantis said in the first half hour of the debate. “We’re going to have economic independence from China, where we’re decoupling our economy.”But the two economies are in fact deeply intertwined, and still depend on each other despite rising tension. “The United States will, in certain circumstances, need to pursue targeted actions to protect its national security. “We benefit greatly from access to cheaper products, a wide array of products and products in some cases where China has a technological lead.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Doug Burgum, ” DeSantis, “ We’re, Janet Yellen, ”, Gina Raimondo, Yellen’s, ” Raimondo, ‘, “, Laxman, Jamie Dimon, Tim Cook, Eric Zheng, Burgum, Vladimir Putin, China —, Biden Organizations: CNN, Florida Gov, North Dakota Gov, Republican, US, Elon, Tesla, Starbucks, JPMorgan, Apple, American Chamber of Commerce, Geological Service Locations: China, ”, United States, Beijing, Shanghai, Moscow, Washington

☆ Europe's plan to wean itself off Russian fossil fuels by 2027 has a major flaw
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The EU wants to wean itself off Russian fossil fuels by 2027 and has cut its use of piped Russian gas dramatically. Even so, EU countries imported a record amount of Russian LNG this year, per Global Witness. Global Witness projects the EU's Russian LNG purchases in 2023 to total nearly 5.3 billion euros, or $5.75 billion. "Buying Russian gas has the same impact as buying Russian oil. In March, Kadri Simson, the EU's energy commissioner, called on member states to stop buying Russian LNG as it's a "reputational risk."

Persons: Moscow —, Adam Bennett, Bennett, Spain —, Jonathan Noronha, Gant, Kadri Simson, Teresa Ribera Organizations: Service, LNG, Moscow, Global, EU, Russia, Russian, Russian LNG, Commission Locations: Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Europe, Kpler, China, Japan, South Korea, Belgium, France, Netherlands, Spain

☆ Newly surfaced video of Wagner boss Prigozhin shows him joking about his own death days before his fatal plane crash
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A new video has surfaced of Yevgeny Prigozhin, where he claims to be in Africa in mid-August. In it, the Wagner Group leader says he's doing "fine" amid speculation over his wellbeing. The footage appears to be from just days before Prigozhin died in a plash crash near Moscow. Prigozhin's reference to a weekend in the second half of August indicates that the newly surfaced video was likely filmed around August 19 or 20, just days before he died in a plane crash. After initial reports of the plane crash surfaced, US officials said it wasn't surprising.

Persons: Yevgeny Prigozhin, he's, Prigozhin, Wagner, Anton Gerashchenko, Dmitry Utkin, Valery Chekalov, Vladimir Putin, Moscow —, Putin, Bill Burns, Joe Biden, Karine Jean, Pierre Organizations: Group, Service, Wagner Group, Wagner, Telegram, REUTERS, Pentagon, Ostorozhno, CIA, House Press Locations: Africa, Moscow, Wall, Silicon, Russia, St . Petersburg, Belarus, Kuzhenkino, Tver region, Ostorozhno Novosti

☆ Newly declassified US intel claims Russia is laundering propaganda through unwitting Westerners
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Katie Bo Lillis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington CNN —Russian intelligence is operating a systematic program to launder pro-Kremlin propaganda through private relationships between Russian operatives and unwitting US and western targets, according to newly declassified US intelligence. “At the end of the day, this unwitting target is disseminating Russian influence operation, Russian propaganda to their target public,” the US official said. In fact, the FSB directed his efforts and “almost certainly financed the project,” according to the declassified intelligence. The FSB does use similar tactics to influence political opinion within Russia, according to the intelligence. “The purpose of those protests really was … designed to sell it to the Russian people,” the US official said.

Persons: “, Maxim Grigoriev, Syria –, Bashar al, Assad, optees ”, Andrey Stepanenko, Natalia Burlinova, Anton Tsvetkov Organizations: Washington CNN, Russian, Russian Federal Security Service, CNN, UN, “, US, Embassy — Locations: Russian, Syria, Russia, United States, Ukraine, New York, Boston, Washington, Moscow —, Ukrainian

☆ Ukraine says it can shoot down Ka-52 attack helicopters but Russia needs to be stopped from making new ones
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ukraine has found recent success in shooting down formidable Russian Ka-52 attack helicopters. His comments come as Ukraine appears to be finding ways to defeat the Ka-52 helicopters, which would mark a notable achievement for Kyiv's forces that have struggled against these assets. A Russian Ka-52 military attack helicopter during practice flights at Chernigovka air base in Russia. But Ukrainian forces have seen recent success in shooting downing the aircraft, indicating an improved air-defense capability among front-line forces. Meanwhile, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed in a Thursday Facebook update that it "intercepted" the two helicopters Yermak referred to in his Telegram commentary.

Persons: Andriy Yermak, Yermak, Sergey Pivovarov, Ukraine's Organizations: Russian, Service, NATO, CNN, REUTERS, Kyiv, Russian Defense Ministry, Ukraine's, Staff of, Armed Forces, Facebook Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Ukrainian, Wall, Silicon, Russia, Donetsk, Asia, Russia’s Rostov, Moscow, North Korea, Iran, France, Bakhmut

☆ Russian officials are fuming after Ukraine isolated it in peace talks that even China attended: 'They're gossiping without us'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Kremlin officials are concerned Kyiv is outflanking them diplomatically, The Moscow Times said. In comments to The Moscow Times, four former and current Kremlin officials familiar with Russia's diplomacy were troubled. A former high-ranking Russian diplomat also expressed concern to The Moscow Times about Russia's isolation, but added that Moscow's participation in discussions was necessary for ending the conflict. In recent months, Russia and Ukraine have intensified their struggle to for diplomatic support for their versions of ending the war. Ukraine hopes to persuade nations by pointing to the devastating effect of Russia's war of the grain exports many countries depend on.

Persons: Kremlin wasn't, Moscow —, Stefan Wolf Organizations: Kremlin, Moscow Times, Service, Birmingham University Locations: Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, China, Kyiv, Wall, Silicon, Russia, Jeddah, Beijing, Moscow, Russian, West, Brazil, India, South Africa, Denmark

For two decades, Ilya Solkan served as the parish priest in a tiny Ukrainian village outside the capital, Kyiv. He baptized babies, blessed marriages and conducted funerals. The Orthodox church stood at the heart of the village and Mr. Solkan was central to its life. The removal of Mr. Solkan, a priest with no public profile beyond his home village, reflects the gradual rejection by much of Ukrainian society of a church that answers to Moscow — a process that has been accelerated by the war. Specifically, it speaks to the division between the two branches of Orthodox Christianity, the most predominant religion in Ukraine.

Persons: Ilya Solkan, Solkan, ” Organizations: ” Locations: Kyiv, Blystavytsya, Moscow, Christianity, Ukraine

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