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☆ The global food crisis is getting so bad that the EU now wants to reconnect a sanctioned Russian bank to the global financial system to keep the grain supply moving
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The EU wants to reconnect a sanctioned Russian bank to the global financial system. The bloc is trying to secure Putin's support to extend the Black Sea grain deal, which expires shortly. The concession wants to let the state-owned Russian Agricultural Bank handle payments related to grain exports. The news of the potential concession came just as Gennady Gatilov, Russia's envoy to the United Nations, told the pro-Kremlin Izvestia newspaper there are no grounds to maintain the "status quo" of the Black Sea grain deal. The European Commission and the Russian Agricultural Bank did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider.

Persons: —, SWIFT, Vladimir Putin's, Gennady Gatilov, Gatilov, Swift, Izvestia Organizations: Service, Financial Times, Russian Agricultural Bank, United Nations, Moscow, Kremlin Izvestia, UN Food and Agriculture Organization Food, European Commission Locations: Russian, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow

☆ Russia's envoy: No grounds to maintain grain deal status quo
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 3 (Reuters) - Russia's envoy to the United Nations in Geneva said there were no grounds to maintain the "status quo" of the Black Sea grain deal that is set to expire on July 18, the Russian news outlet Izvestia reported on Monday. In a wide ranging interview, envoy Gennady Gatilov told the outlet that the implementation of Russia's conditions for the extensions of the agreement was "stalling." "However, what we are seeing now does not give us grounds to agree to maintaining the status quo." Last week, the United Nations said it was concerned no new ships had been registered under the Black Sea deal since June 26 - despite applications being made by 29 vessels. The New Start Treaty, signed in 2010 is due to expire in 2026.

Persons: Gennady Gatilov, Gatilov, Izvestia, Vladimir Putin, Lidia Kelly, Lincoln Organizations: United Nations, Russian Agricultural Bank, United, Washington, Thomson Locations: Geneva, Russian, Russia, Ukraine, United Nations, Turkey, United States, Moscow, Washington, Izvestia Russia, Kyiv, Melbourne

☆ Reading the Tea Leaves on the End of the War in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Thomas E. Ricks | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The Russian invasion of Ukraine that began in February last year has led to the biggest war in Europe in many generations. Within a month of the war’s onset, it had already become “a [foul]-up of historic proportions,” as one veteran Ukraine correspondent recently put it. Five weeks after the invasion, Putin’s spokesman claimed that Ukraine’s military was “largely destroyed.”But a war intended to undercut Ukraine’s leaders and NATO has instead strengthened both. Less noticed in the West is how Russia’s war has also alienated former Soviet nations such as Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Just before the war, the Scottish American historian Niall Ferguson wrote that Ukraine would receive “no significant military support from the West” and speculated on the location of Putin’s victory parade.

Persons: —, Don, Vladimir Putin, Izvestia, Niall Ferguson Organizations: Wagner, NATO, Scottish, West Locations: Ukraine, Europe, Russian, Rostov, mull, Bulgaria, Romania, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Scottish American, Ukrainian

The incidents come one day after a drone attack on Moscow, for which Russia has blamed Ukraine. Kyiv has not yet commented on the drone attack or on Wednesday’s incidents in Belgorod and Krasnodar. Elsewhere on Wednesday, a drone attack was launched on Russia’s Bryansk region, state news agency RIA Novosti reported. Five people were killed and 19 injured in Ukrainian shelling of the village of Karpaty, in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory of Luhansk, the acting head of the self-declared Luhansk People’s Republic said on Telegram. Measures are being taken.”A damaged multi-storey apartment following a reported drone attack in Moscow on Tuesday.

Persons: Gladkov, Zaporizhzhia, Vladimir Rogov, ”, Mykhailo Podolyak, Dmitry Peskov, ” Peskov, Lev Sergeev, Reuters “, “, Strategic Communications John Kirby, “ We’re, ” Kirby, Biden, Vladimir Putin, ” Putin, Peskov, Ian Stubbs Organizations: CNN, Russian Ministry of Defense, RIA Novosti, RIA, Putin, Wednesday, Luhansk People’s, ”, Reuters, Russian, National Security, Strategic Communications, “ Kyiv, Russia Legion, Kremlin, Russia Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Belgorod, Shebekino, Krasnodar, Crimea, Moscow, Bryansk, Karpaty, Russian, Luhansk, Luhansk People’s Republic, Ukrainian, Zaporizhzhia, Russia's Belgorod Oblast Russia, ”, Vienna, Kyiv

☆ Factbox: What have OPEC+ producers said ahead of June oil policy meeting?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, May 30 (Reuters) - Mixed signals by major OPEC producers and their main allies have sparked volatility in oil prices ahead of an OPEC+ oil policy meeting set to take place this weekend. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Thursday he expected no new steps from OPEC+ in Vienna, Russian media reported. Novak later added in a statement that OPEC+ would make a decision on what is best for the oil market. Three sources with knowledge of current Russian thinking told Reuters last week Russia is leaning towards leaving oil production volumes unchanged. IRANIranian President Ebrahim Raisi told the secretary general of OPEC on Saturday that he hopes oil producers can calm the market, calling for the unity of OPEC members, Iranian media reported.

☆ Oil falls as Russia downplays additional OPEC+ cuts
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

An oil pumpjack pulls oil from the Permian Basin oil field on March 14, 2022 in Odessa, Texas. Oil prices fell on Thursday after Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak played down the prospect of further OPEC+ production cuts at its meeting next week. In the previous session, oil prices were supported by a warning from Saudi Arabia's energy minister that short-sellers betting oil prices will fall should "watch out" for pain. U.S. crude inventories fell by 12.5 million barrels to 455.2 million barrels as imports declined. Gasoline inventories dropped by 2.1 million barrels in the week to 216.3 million barrels, the EIA said, while distillate stockpiles fell by 600,000 barrels to 105.7 million barrels.

Persons: Alexander Novak, Novak, MUFG, Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden Organizations: Brent, . West Texas, Organization of Petroleum Exporting, Democratic, White, Energy, Administration, EIA Locations: Odessa , Texas, Saudi, Russia, OPEC, .

☆ The Russian navy's biggest warships are becoming its biggest headaches
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-24 | by ( Benjamin Brimelow | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Ongoing problems with the Russian navy's biggest warships illustrate that trend. This seems most evident with Russia's largest surface warships: its Kirov-class nuclear-powered battlecruisers, Admiral Nakhimov and Pyotr Velikiy, and the Admiral Kuznetsov, Russia's sole aircraft carrier. Admiral Kuznetsov in a floating dry dock in a shipyard in Murmansk in August 2010. Other Russian navy sources quickly denied the report to another state media outlet. Izvestia has also reported that the Russian navy is reforming the Kuznetsov's crew, which was mostly disbanded when the ship began its refit.

☆ Kremlin-funded university that trains Russia’s future leaders is firing all staff living outside Russia, in another sign of Putin crackdown: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russia's top university for public officials is firing all its employees living abroad, per a report. RANEPA is known as Russia's breeding ground for future ministers, civil servants, and governors. The move comes amid Russia's ongoing crackdown on public dissent, which has ramped up since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. RANEPA is known as one of the top destinations for Russia's public servants and administrative class, churning out future regional governors, civil servants, and ministers. The UK Ministry of Defence also commented on a likely ban on senior Russian officials quitting their posts on Thursday.

☆ Zakhar Prilepin: Russia says bombing of military blogger is 'a terrorist act'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Mariya Knight | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Russia has blamed the “Kyiv regime” and several Western nations for the bombing of military blogger Zakhar Prilepin’s car on Saturday. The claim was made by a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, but she provided no proof for the allegation. The incident follows the death of another Russian military blogger last month. The Russian Investigative Committee called the latest incident “a terrorist act” and said it plans to investigate the blast as such. Russian pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestia reported that Prilepin had surgery earlier on Saturday and is at the hospital in stable condition.

☆ Russia's energy dominance is fading with pipeline gas exports reportedly set to fall by 50% this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia's pipeline gas exports are set to halve this year, according to a report from a Kremlin-affiliated news outlet. Those losses are largely due to Russia slashing pipeline gas flows to Europe last year in retaliation for sanctions. Government forecasters predicted the Russia's pipeline gas exports could halve in 2023, the Kremlin-affiliated Russian news outlet Izvestia reported on Thursday. That will pile on to hefty losses Russia's gas industry already weathered in 2022, with state-owned Gazprom reporting the lowest volume of gas exports last year since the start of the century. Russia's oil and gas revenue crashed nearly 50% in January of this year alone, according to estimates from Russia's finance ministry.

☆ Russian Attack on Ukraine Kills at Least 12 People: Live Updates
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Marc Santora | Victoria Kim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Evidence is piling up about the steady disintegration of Russia’s vital natural gas export industry since the country’s invasion of Ukraine. With this success behind them, European leaders are contemplating widening their attack to include imports of liquefied natural gas from Russia. Russian L.N.G. energy commissioner, has urged members of the bloc and European energy companies to stop buying Russian L.N.G. On the other hand, having largely gone cold turkey on Russian pipeline gas, European leaders may calculate that “going without Russian L.N.G.

☆ Russia adding IKEA, Lancome and other luxury goods to parallel import list
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The mechanism allows Russian companies to buy goods from any company outside Russia, including from the country of the goods' origin, provided they were purchased legally. The Ministry of Industry and Trade's expanded list includes luxury brands, such as Lancome, Giorgio Armani and Yves Saint Laurent, domestic goods brands Wahl and Zanussi, and Japan's Nintendo (7974.T). A view shows the logo of IKEA on a closed store in Kotelniki outside Moscow, Russia July 5, 2022. REUTERS/Evgenia NovozheninaThe updated list was first reported by the Izvestia daily, which said that IKEA would be added towards the summer. "Izvestia has the correct list and it is now being registered with the Ministry of Justice," the ministry said in a statement.

☆ Russia's Medvedev says arms supplies to Kyiv threaten global nuclear catastrophe
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 27 (Reuters) - Russia's former president and an ally of President Vladimir Putin said in remarks published on Monday that the continued arms supply to Kyiv risks a global nuclear catastrophe, reiterating his threat of nuclear war over Ukraine. Dmitry Medvedev's apocalyptic rhetoric has been seen as an attempt to deter the U.S-led NATO military alliance and Kyiv's Western allies from getting even more involved in the year-old war that has dealt Moscow setbacks on the battlefield. "Of course, the pumping in of weapons can continue .... and prevent any possibility of reviving negotiations," Medvedev said in remarks published in the daily Izvestia. "Our enemies are doing just that, not wanting to understand that their goals will certainly lead to a total fiasco. Reporting by David Ljunggren and Lidia Kelly; Writing by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Kremlin's response to China's Ukraine peace plan tepid so far
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

China, which declared a "no limits" alliance with Russia shortly before Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine a year ago, called for a comprehensive ceasefire in Ukraine on Friday, touting its own peace plan. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in remarks published on Tuesday that Beijing's voice should be heard, but the nuances of the proposal are important. "Any attempt to formulate theses for reaching a peaceful settlement of the problem is welcome, but, of course, the nuances are important," Peskov told the Izvestia daily. Earlier, Peskov said any such initiatives that might bring peace closer were worthy of attention. "We are paying a great deal of attention to the plan of our Chinese friends," Peskov told reporters on Monday.

☆ Russia will not resume START nuclear talks until Washington listens to Moscow
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 28 (Reuters) - Russia will not resume participation in the START nuclear arms reduction treaty with the United States until Washington listens to Moscow's position, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in remarks published on Tuesday. Peskov told the daily Izvestia in an interview that the "attitude of the collective West", led by the United States needs to change towards Moscow. "The security of one country cannot be ensured at the expense of the security of another," Peskov said. He also said that NATO by arming Ukraine "acts as a single bloc no longer as our conditional opponents, but as enemies". Reporting by Lidia Kelly and Ronald Popeski; Writing by Lidia Kelly; Editing by Himani SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Russia's war on Ukraine latest: Battle around Bakhmut goes on in the mud
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/6] Ukrainian service members ride inside an infantry fighting vehicle near the frontline town of Bakhmut, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine February 25, 2023. * U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen paid a surprise visit to Kyiv to reaffirm U.S. support and economic aid to help Ukraine's war campaign. * China has "very clearly" taken Russia's side in the Ukraine war by providing diplomatic, political and economic support, the U.S. State Department said. FIGHTING* The military situation is becoming increasingly difficult around Bakhmut, the focal point of Russia's advances in eastern Ukraine, President Zelenskiy said. * A year into war, older refugees running out of hope* Life and death in Mariupol - a survivor's tale of war* Family mourns Bucha victim who became symbol of warPODCASTLearn more about the Ukraine war.

☆ Russian government approves sale of IKEA factories - deputy minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Brand owner Inter IKEA Group has previously said it was selling its four production units in Russia, in Tikhvin, Novgorod and Vyatka. The factories would continue to operate and the goods produced would be sold by Russian retail outlets. "The sales process is subject to a mandatory approval process," Inter IKEA said on Thursday. "We have agreed with potential buyers not to share any details with respect to them and the integrity of the sales process." IKEA, the world's biggest furniture brand, shut down its Russian stores last March and said it would sell factories, close offices and reduce its 15,000-strong workforce in Russia.

☆ Russia's Rosatom sees 2022 exports growth at 15% - report
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies Rosatom GK FollowDec 26 (Reuters) - Russia's Rosatom expects its 2022 exports growth at 15%, while its foreign order portfolio has remained stable at $200 billion, the state nuclear energy company's Chief Executive Officer Alexei Likhachev told the Russian Izvestia newspaper. The growth comes, among others, from contracts already being implemented, supplies of fuel, enriched uranium products, as well as conversion services, Likhachev said. It also includes the construction of 23 nuclear power units at projects in a dozen countries, he added. Rosatom has been in talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency about a safe zone around Ukraine's Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest, which Russian troops captured in March. In August, Rosatom and its Finnish partner Fennovoima have filed claims for billions of dollars in damages from each other over Fennovoima's decision to cancel a planned nuclear power plant in Finland.

☆ Russian envoy says British royals told to keep away from Russian embassy
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MOSCOW, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Russia's ambassador to Moscow said Britain's royal family had been recommended not to have any contacts with the Russian embassy in London, the Izvestia newspaper reported. Asked by Izvestia if there had been any contacts with King Charles III, Russian ambassador Andrei Kelin said: "No, and I know that members of the royal family are advised not to maintain or enter into contact with the Russian embassy." "This deprives them of understanding what will happen in a month and a year from now with Ukraine," Kelin said. He said that Russian businessmen, including the so called oligarchs who earned fabulous fortunes after the fall of the Soviet Union, no longer considered London to be a safe haven. "No one now would consider the United Kingdom to be a safe haven; it turned out to be a pirate haven," he said.

CNN —Moscow’s accusation that Ukrainian drones struck two airbases deep inside Russia has once again raised the febrile question of escalation nine months into the war. Footage on Russian media shows the aftermath of an alleged drone strike Tuesday at an airfield in Kursk, Russia. Ukraine has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the blasts, in keeping with Kyiv’s policy of official silence around attacks inside Russia or in Russian-occupied Crimea. But it is hard to know what else Russia could do to Ukraine that it has not already done. Let us first quickly discuss why a Russian nuclear strike seems off the table, at least for now.

☆ Russia is adding military training to its school curriculum, marking a reversion to a Soviet-era practice that teaches students how to handle rifles and perform first aid
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russian schools are adding a basic military training course to their curricula, per TASS. The course is a Soviet-era practice that teaches students first aid and how to use rifles. Mironov and deputy defense minister Valery Gerasimov have vocally supported reinstating military training in schools, with Gerasimov suggesting that students in the 10th and 11th grades be given 140 hours of training, per Izvestia. When we were engaged in military training at school, it worked only as a plus," said Adalbi Shkhagoshev, the deputy chairman of the United Russia party, per the outlet. The basic military training program was retired in 1993, two years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, per independent Russian news outlet The Moscow Times.

☆ Belarus security forces given wide powers to deal with external threats- foreign minister
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oct 14 (Reuters) - Belarus has given its security forces broad powers under to prevent or respond to provocations from neighbouring countries, Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei told the Russian Izvestia newspaper in an interview published on Friday. "There was information that some neighbouring states were planning provocations on, pretty much, the seizure of certain sections of the territory of Belarus." The counter-terrorist operation regime gives security forces broad rights, including detentions to verify identities, barring movement, wiretapping and control of all communication and unimpeded entry of agents on any premises. "(That's) in order to identify and localise threats in a timely manner, and, if necessary, adequately respond to any military manifestations against Belarus." Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting in Melbourne by Lidia Kelly; Editing by Raju GopalakrishnanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Mobile operator Veon may spin off Russian Beeline -Izvestia cites sources
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Veon operates its Beeline brand through its subsidiary Vimpelcom in Russia, a market that accounts for around half of the group's revenues. Veon also operates Beeline in Kazakhstan and Kyivstar in Ukraine. "We regularly evaluate our portfolio and look for investment or divestment activity that could create value for VEON's stakeholders," Veon said in a statement. Veon's shares have traded near record lows since tumbling after Russia sent its armed forces into Ukraine in February. In Amsterdam, Veon shares were up around 7% by 1052 GMT.

☆ Kremlin says its goals in Ukraine may be achieved through talks
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Oct 13 (Reuters) - The Kremlin was quoted as saying on Thursday that the goals of its "special military operation" in Ukraine are unchanged, but that they may be achieved through negotiations. "The direction has not changed, the special military operation continues, it continues in order for us to achieve our goals," Peskov was quoted as saying. "However we have repeatedly reiterated that we remain open to negotiations to achieve our objectives." Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Moscow was open to talks with the West, but the United States dismissed the statement as "posturing". Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Reuters; writing by Mark Trevelyan; editing by Guy FaulconbridgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ A Kremlin ally died falling down the stairs, report says — the latest in a series of unexplained deaths among prominent Russians
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Moscow Aviation Institute's former rector died in an accident on Wednesday, the facility said. Local media said Anatoly Gerashchenko, 72, died falling down several flights of stairs. It's the latest in a string of accidental or untimely deaths of top Russian figures. The Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI) university announced the death of Anatoly Gerashchenko, 72, saying he died "as a result of an accident." An unnamed source told Russian newspaper Izvestia that he died on the university's grounds, by falling "from a great height" down several flights of stairs.

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