DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Moldova denounces new Russian ban on fruit imports
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Alexander Tanas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCHISINAU, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Pro-European authorities in Moldova on Friday dismissed as groundless a ban imposed by Russia on imports of its fruit and vegetables, the latest display of deteriorating relations between Moscow and the ex-Soviet state. Russia's farm goods oversight agency, Rosselkhoznadzor, said on Thursday it was reinstating restrictions last imposed in 2022. It cited "continuous, systematic observation of elements subject to quarantine" and said Moldovan authorities had taken no action to right the situation. "The decision by the Russian authorities contradicts phytosanitary principles and is in no way grounded in real arguments," it said in a statement. We ship to 28 countries," Iurie Fala, Executive Director of the Moldovan Fruit Producers Association, told Reuters.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Maia Sandu, Charles Michel, Valentyn, ANSA, Sergei Lavrov, Lavrov, Fala, Alexander Tanas, Ronald Popeski, Sandra Maler Organizations: European, REUTERS, Rights, Moldovan, European Union, Moldovan Fruit Producers Association, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Rights CHISINAU, Moldova, Russia, Moscow, Soviet, Romania, Russian

☆ Russia accuses Bulgaria of malice over diplomatic overflight ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MOSCOW, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Russia accused Bulgaria of malice and stupidity on Thursday for refusing to allow Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's plane to fly through its airspace. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who is under European Union sanctions, said her presence on board the plane was the reason given by Bulgaria's foreign ministry for denying access to its airspace. Zakharova suggested that Russia could apply similar overflight bans to "thousands of NATO functionaries", and accused Bulgaria of creating "a dangerous precedent". Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania declared a boycott of the meeting in Skopje in protest of the Russian delegation's presence. Athens took all the steps required before allowing the overflight, the official added.

Persons: Sergei Lavrov's, Lavrov, Dmitry Peskov, Maria Zakharova, Zakharova, Felix Light, Mark Trevelyan, Kevin Liffey, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Organisation for Security, Cooperation, Kremlin, Russian Foreign Ministry, European Union, Bulgarian, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, Russia, Bulgaria, Greece, Europe, Skopje, North Macedonia, Russian, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Athens

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Baby among civilians injured in missile strikes on Ukraine; Russia causes a stir at security summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Moscow's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov both blamed the West for creating global insecurity and instability. The U.S. and its allies are seeking simultaneously to keep the OSCE alive and hold Russia to account for its invasion of Ukraine. The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said he understood unease about Lavrov attending the meeting in Skopje, North Macedonia. But he said it was a chance for Lavrov to hear broad condemnation of Russia's war in Ukraine. Estonia had been due to take over the annually rotating OSCE chairmanship but Russia blocked it for months.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Sergei Lavrov, Russia's Sergei Lavrov, Margus Tsahkna, Lavrov, Josep Borrell, Borrell, Dimitar Kovacevski, — Organizations: Organization for Security, Cooperation, Baltic, OSCE, Soviet, NATO, Tass, Russian, North Macedonia's, Kremlin Locations: Moscow's, Ukraine, U.S, Russia, Estonian, Brussels, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Skopje, North Macedonia, Malta

☆ OSCE Meeting Causes Rift Over Whether to Share Stage With Russia's Lavrov
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

The United States and its allies are seeking to simultaneously keep the OSCE alive and hold Russia to account over its invasion of Ukraine. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna told reporters at a meeting with his counterparts from other NATO member states. Estonia had been due to take over the annually rotating OSCE chairmanship but Russia spent months blocking it. A last-minute deal for neutral Malta to take over the chairmanship must also be formally approved at Thursday and Friday's OSCE meeting in Skopje, hosted by the current chair North Macedonia. I think that is simply wrong," Latvian Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins told reporters at the NATO meeting.

Persons: Andrew Gray, Francois Murphy, Ingrid Melander, Russia's Sergei Lavrov, Margus Tsahkna, Lavrov, Tsahkna, OSCE Michael Carpenter, Antony Blinken, Vladimir Putin, Helga Schmid, Krisjanis Karins, Humeyra Pamuk, William Maclean Organizations: Organization, Security, Cooperation, OSCE, Central Asia, Ukrainian Foreign, AS, United, U.S, Macedonian, United Nations General Assembly, NATO Locations: Ingrid Melander BRUSSELS, VIENNA, Baltic, Ukraine, Russia, Balkans, Central, United States, Estonian, Estonia, Malta, Skopje, Macedonia, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Moscow, West, New York, Latvian

[1/3] Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov disembarks from a plane upon his arrival at an airport ahead of a meeting of foreign ministers of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Skopje, North Macedonia, November 30, 2023. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna told reporters on Wednesday in Brussels where he attended a NATO meeting. The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said he understood unease about Lavrov attending the meeting in Skopje, North Macedonia. But he said it was a chance for Lavrov to hear broad condemnation of Russia's war in Ukraine. I think that is simply wrong," said Latvian Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins.

Persons: Sergei Lavrov disembarks, Russia's Sergei Lavrov, Margus Tsahkna, Lavrov, Josep Borrell, Borrell, Dimitar Kovacevski, OSCE Michael Carpenter, Antony Blinken, Helga Schmid, Krisjanis Karins, Humeyra Pamuk, Aleksandar Vasovic, Ronald Popeski, Francois Murphy, William Maclean, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Organisation for Security, Cooperation, Russian Foreign Ministry, REUTERS Acquire, Organization for Security, Baltic, OSCE, Soviet, NATO, Tass, Russian, North Macedonia's, Kremlin, AS, Ukraine, United, U.S, United Nations General Assembly, Thomson Locations: Europe, Skopje, North Macedonia, BRUSSELS, VIENNA, Ukraine, U.S, Russia, Estonian, Brussels, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Belarus, United States, Moscow, West, New York, Latvian

☆ Russia says it has got lots of requests for meetings with Lavrov at OSCE meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks during a joint press conference with Venezuela's Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto in Moscow, Russia, November 16, 2023. Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Russia's foreign ministry said on Wednesday it had received a lot of requests for one-on-one meetings with Sergei Lavrov, Moscow's top diplomat, on the sidelines of an OSCE meeting in North Macedonia. "I can confirm that there are a lot of requests for bilateral meetings," Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, told reporters. "There will be multilateral meetings in multilateral formats, and bilateral meetings are planned as well," she said. She said that the foreign ministry will provide details on Lavrov's schedule in Skopje later.

Persons: Sergey Lavrov, Yvan Gil Pinto, Alexander Zemlianichenko, Sergei Lavrov, Lavrov, Maria Zakharova, Lavrov's, Dmitry Antonov, Guy Faulconbridge, Andrew Osborn Organizations: Russian, Venezuela's, Rights, OSCE, Organization for Security, Cooperation, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Moscow's, North Macedonia, Europe, Skopje, Ukraine, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania

☆ Putin Says We Must Think How to Stop 'The Tragedy' of War in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

By Guy Faulconbridge and Vladimir SoldatkinMOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin told the leaders of the Group of Twenty (G20) on Wednesday that it was necessary to think about how to stop "the tragedy" of the war in Ukraine, some of his most placatory remarks to date about the conflict. "Yes, of course, military actions are always a tragedy," Putin told the virtual G20 meeting called by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "And of course, we should think about how to stop this tragedy," Putin said. Putin used the word "war" to describe the conflict instead of the current Kremlin term of "special military operation". "I understand that this war, and the death of people, cannot but shock," Putin said, before setting out the Russian case that Ukraine had persecuted people in eastern Ukraine.

Persons: Guy Faulconbridge, Vladimir Soldatkin MOSCOW, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Narendra Modi, Joe Biden, Sergei Lavrov, Vladimir Soldatkin, Gareth Jones, Alex Richardson Organizations: Kremlin, Indian, Ukraine, United Nations, Human, West, Belfer, Harvard's Kennedy School, U.S Locations: Ukraine, Russia, United States, Ukraine's, Crimea, Russian, Palestine, Gaza, Ukrainian, West, Moscow, Israel, Washington, New Delhi, Nusa Dua, Indonesia, Osaka, Japan

[1/2] Russian President Vladimir Putin and Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk attend the G20 virtual summit via a video link in Moscow, Russia, November 22, 2023. "Yes, of course, military actions are always a tragedy," Putin told the virtual G20 meeting called by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "And of course, we should think about how to stop this tragedy," Putin said. Putin used the word "war" to describe the conflict instead of the current Kremlin term of "special military operation". "I understand that this war, and the death of people, cannot but shock," Putin said, before setting out the Russian case that Ukraine had persecuted people in eastern Ukraine.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Alexei Overchuk, Mikhail Klimentyev, Putin, Ukraine Putin, Narendra Modi, Joe Biden, Sergei Lavrov, Vladimir Soldatkin, Guy Faulconbridge, Gareth Jones, Alex Richardson Organizations: Sputnik, REUTERS Acquire, Ukraine, Kremlin, Indian, United Nations, Human, West, Belfer, Harvard's Kennedy School, U.S, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Kremlin, Gaza, Ukraine MOSCOW, Ukraine, United States, Ukraine's, Crimea, Russian, Palestine, Ukrainian, West, Israel, Washington, New Delhi, Nusa Dua, Indonesia, Osaka, Japan

☆ As the West courts Russia's neighbors, Putin shows he won't give up its backyard without a fight
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Eurasian Economic Summit on Nov. 9, 2022, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at a joint news conference at the Kremlin in Moscow, on Feb. 10, 2022. "Central Asia obviously has to keep a fine balance and tread that line," Hess said. Analysts note that while an economically isolated Russia wants and needs to keep Central Asia on side, it is gradually losing its grip on the region. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrive for a working breakfast of the leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States in Moscow, Russia, on May 9, 2023.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Keen, Emmanuel Macron, Putin, Ilham Aliyev, Serdar Berdimuhamedow, Emomali Rahmon, Alexander Lukashenko, Sergei Lavrov, —, it's, Max Hess, Hess, Kassym, Mikhail Klimentyev, Xi Jinping, Florence Lo, they've, Temur Umarov, Tokayev, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Vladimir Smirnov Organizations: Economic, Getty, Russia, Commonwealth of Independent States, Russian, Central Asia —, Central Asian, Kazakh, CIS, West, Georgia, Foreign Policy Research Institute, CNBC, Kremlin, Reuters Central, Central, Central Asia Summit, Afp, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, Commonwealth of Independent, Sputnik Locations: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia, Moscow, Russian, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakh, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, China, Soviet, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Baltic States, Soviet Union, Moldova, Ukraine, U.S, Afghanistan, Asia, Xian, Shaanxi

☆ Russia's Lavrov assails West over switch to green energy
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MOSCOW, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the West on Wednesday of provoking crises on the global oil and gas market by rushing to switch to green energy and imposing pressure on other countries to do the same. "In fact, the reasons for the negative phenomena in the energy sector were the irresponsible actions of the collective West, when it decided to force ... the green transition for itself and impose the same green transition on other countries that were simply not economically ready for it," Lavrov said in televised comments. He said Western boycotts of Russian energy in response to the war in Ukraine had "dealt a serious blow to global energy security. These steps led to the rupture of historical value chains, costly redistribution of global energy flows and rising transaction and logistics costs." His comments were in line with Moscow's long-running narrative that sanctions against Russia have been an own goal, and that Western countries have made a grave mistake in turning away from Russian energy.

Persons: Sergei Lavrov, Lavrov, Gareth Jones Organizations: Russian, West, Gazprom, Reuters, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, Ukraine, Russia's, Europe, United States, Russia, China, India

☆ Russia is turning increasingly hostile toward Israel as it picks sides in the Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL - JANUARY 23: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) attend their meeting at Prime Minister's Office on January 23, 2020 in Jerusalem, Israel. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi greets Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 19, 2022. Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad during a meeting in Sochi on November 20, 2017. Russian President Vladimir Putin prepares to greet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their meeting on Jan. 23, 2020, in Jerusalem. Russia's President Vladimir Putin with senior Saudi officials in 2014.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mikhail Svetlov, Russia's, Petroleum Javad, Putin, Erdogan, Ebrahim Raisi, John Drennan, Sergei Savostyanov, Mark Galeotti, Israel, Israel Russia's, Sergei Lavrov, Bashar al, Assad, UN Vasily Nebenzya, Tatiana Stanovaya, Stanovaya, Rob Griffith Organizations: Israeli, Minister's Office, Getty, Israel's, Petroleum, Turkish, Israel, U.S . Institute of Peace, AFP, Ministry, Russian Foreign Affairs, Russian, UN, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, Kremlin, America, Saudi, Afp Locations: JERUSALEM, ISRAEL, Jerusalem, Israel, Russia, Gaza, East, Tehran, Iran, Ukraine, Syria, Moscow, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Arabia, Sochi, Tel Aviv

☆ Russia fumes at the West's charm offensive in its backyard, saying it's 'luring' its friends away
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

One top official in Moscow was fuming as he claimed the West was "luring" its "neighbours, friends, and allies" away from Russia. Moscow's disdainThe French leader's comments are likely to have enraged Moscow, which is already watching Western efforts to court Central Asia with suspicion and disdain. "Look at how Western powers are wooing Central Asia," Lavrov told the BelTA news agency, in comments published by Russia's Foreign Ministry. "They have created numerous formats such as 'Central Asia plus' involving the United States, the EU, and Japan ... On top of the Central Asia plus EU format, the Germans have created their own format. China's roleThere's certainly a tussle for influence that's taking place in Central Asia, with China also "courting" the region to a certain extent.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Kassym, Sergei Lavrov, Lavrov, Ilham Aliyev, Serdar Berdimuhamedow, Emomali Rahmon, Alexander Lukashenko, Mark Galeotti, Galeotti, we've, Ed Jones, There's, Joe Biden, Jim Watson, Alexander Titov, Russia's, Xi Jinping, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Organizations: Getty, Ukraine, Kazakh, CNBC, Russian, Central, Russia's Foreign Ministry, EU, Commonwealth of Independent States, Central Asia's, West, General, Afp, Georgia —, Queen's University of Belfast, U.S, Analysts, of, Forum, International Cooperation, Xinhua News Agency Locations: 13,2023, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Moscow, Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Soviet, Astana, France, Uzbekistan, United States, Japan, Turkmenistan, Russian, London, Europe, China, Central, Ukraine, Central Asian, Tajikistan, New York City, Belarus, Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, North Korea, Nicaragua, Syria, South Caucasus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Moldova, Afghanistan, Beijing, People's, of Turkmenistan

☆ IOC's ban on Russia cannot be compared with Israel situation
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Karolos Grohmann | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach gestures while speaking during the second day of the 141st IOC session in Mumbai, India, October 16, 2023. REUTERS/Niharika Kulkarni/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBERLIN, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Russia's attempt to compare the country's Olympic Committee suspension with the situation of Israeli athletes following the start of the conflict between Israel and Hamas was out of place, the International Olympic Committee said on Friday. The IOC did not ban the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) until last month after it recognised regional organisations from four territories annexed from Ukraine. The IOC said on Oct. 12 the ROC would be banned with immediate effect after it recognised Olympic Councils from the regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. "Once again we see an example of the bias and failure of the International Olympic Committee, which time after time proves its political bias."

Persons: Thomas Bach, Niharika Kulkarni, Sergei Lavrov, Lavrov, Karolos Grohmann, Gabrielle Tetrault, Farber, Ed Osmond Organizations: Olympic Committee, 141st IOC, REUTERS, Rights, International Olympic, Russian, IOC, Olympics, Olympic, Winter Games, Russian Olympic Committee, National Olympic Committee of, International Olympic Committee, Paris Olympics, Thomson Locations: Mumbai, India, Israel, Ukraine, Russian, Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, United States, Paris

☆ Kazakhstan welcomes France's Macron under Moscow's disapproving gaze
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron during a meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan November 1, 2023. Press service of the President of Kazakhstan/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. At a meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Macron complimented Astana for refusing to side with Moscow on Ukraine and said the two countries planned to sign significant business deals. In addition to oil, Kazakhstan is a major exporter of uranium, and France's Orano already operates a joint venture with its state nuclear firm Kazatomprom. "We can call your visit historic, very important," Tokayev told Macron.

Persons: Kassym, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Sergei Lavrov, France's, Tokayev, Tamara Vaal, Olzhas, Jason Neely Organizations: Press, Rights ASTANA, Kazakh, Astana, United Nations, Soviet Central, Foreign, Moscow, Thomson Locations: Astana, Kazakhstan, Handout, Central Asia, Ukraine, China, Europe, Russia, Moscow, Uzbekistan, Western, France

☆ Rampage by antisemitic mob puts pressure on Moscow to confront rising ethnic tensions in Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

People shouting antisemitic slogans at an airfield of the airport in Makhachkala, Russia, on Oct. 30, 2023. APMoscow is coming under increasing pressure to protect the country's Jewish community after the latest episode of antisemitism highlighted growing interethnic tensions in Russia. Russia's Jewish populationThe incident in Dagestan highlights wider demographic tensions in Russia, whose population of 144 million is diverse and disparate in terms of ethnicity, religion, culture and language. The latest episode of antisemitic aggression in Dagestan is likely to be very concerning for Jews living in the region, and wider Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin prepares to greet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their meeting on Jan. 23, 2020, in Jerusalem.

Persons: Allahu Akbar, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Dmitry Peskov, Tupolev, STRINGER, Stringer, Rabbi Alexander Boroda, Boroda, Ramzan Kadyrov, Juma, Gavriil Grigorov, Sergei Lavrov, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Max Hess, Hess, there's, Lavrov, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mikhail Svetlov Organizations: AP Moscow, Sunday, Russian Federation, Kremlin, Russia's, CNBC, Institute for, Hamas, AFP, Getty, Afp, Getty Images Israel, Russia's Federation of Jewish, Reuters, Chechen, Ukraine, Nazi, Foreign Policy Research Institute Locations: Makhachkala, Russia, Israel, Russian, Dagestan, Tel Aviv, Palestinian, Russia's, Christianity, Russia's North Caucasus, Chechnya, Tatarstan, Ingushetia, Kremlin, Ukraine, Republic of Dagestan, North Caucasus, Caucasus, Moscow, Derbent, Russia's Republic of Dagestan, Nazi Germany, Jerusalem

☆ Russia says Israel's Gaza bombardment is against international law
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Smoke is rising after an Israeli strike on Gaza seen from a viewpoint in Southern Israel October 24, 2023. REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 28 (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that Israel's bombardment of Gaza runs counter to international law and risks creating a catastrophe that could last decades. It was impossible, he added, to destroy Hamas - as Israel has vowed to do - without destroying Gaza along with most of its civilian population. Health authorities in Hamas-run Gaza said on Friday that 7,326 Palestinians had been killed since Israel's bombardment began. Russia, which backs an immediate ceasefire and a two-state solution, has angered Israel by inviting a Hamas delegation to Moscow, a decision it defended on Friday.

Persons: Violeta Santos Moura, Sergei Lavrov, Lavrov, Israel, Andrew Osborn, Giles Elgood Organizations: REUTERS, Russian, Health, Hamas, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Southern Israel, Israel, Belarusian, Russia, Moscow, Kyiv, Ukraine

☆ S.Korea, Japan, US condemn North Korea's supply of arms to Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, Oct 26 (Reuters) - South Korea, Japan and the United States strongly condemned the supply of arms and military equipment by North Korea to Russia and said they had confirmed "several" deliveries of such weapons, a joint statement issued on Thursday said. Russia and North Korea have denied the transfer of arms from the North for use in Russia's war against Ukraine amid reports that Washington and researchers said showed movement of vessels carrying containers likely with weapons between the two countries' ports. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is North Korea's official name. North Korea is seeking military assistance from Russia to advance its own military capabilities in return for its arms support for Moscow, it said. North Korea and Russia pledged closer military cooperation when their leaders met in September in Russia's far east.

Persons: Sergei Lavrov, Kim Jong, Jack Kim, Ed Davies Organizations: Democratic People’s, Russian Federation, North, Russian, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, Japan, United States, North Korea, Russia, Ukraine, Washington, Republic of Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, DPRK, Democratic People’s Republic, Korea, North, Moscow, Russia's

Magnus Mæland, the municipality mayor, then angrily removed the Russian wreath — only to have a woman, described by Norwegian public broadcaster NRK as being Russian, put it back. In 2019, on the 75th anniversary, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov laid wreaths at the monument and stood side-by-side with Norway’s foreign minister. On Saturday, Konygin gave a speech at the war memorial in the same Norwegian border town. Visiting locals from the Russian border town of Nikel faced the diplomat while residents from Kirkenes silently turned their back to him, according to the online outlet the Barents Observer. Locals had already placed a wreath at the monument before Konygin arrived, with the text “to our Ukrainian heroes from 1944 and 2022," according to the Barents Observer.

Persons: Magnus Mæland, ” Mæland, Marit Bjerkeng, Harald Sunde, Sergei Lavrov, Nikolai Konygin, Konygin Organizations: NRK, Russia’s, Observer, Locals, Barents Observer, Soviet Union Locations: COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Russian, Kirkenes, Norway, Soviet, Norwegian, Russia, Ukraine, Nazi Germany, Nikel

☆ Russia, Iran strengthen ties in 'trusting' atmosphere -Russian foreign ministry
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov shakes hands with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi during a meeting in Tehran, Iran October 23, 2023. Russian Foreign Ministry/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsOct 24 (Reuters) - Russia and Iran are firming up bilateral relations in a 'trusting' atmosphere, Russia's foreign ministry said early on Tuesday after its chief, Sergei Lavrov, was received by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi during a visit to Tehran. "In a traditionally trusting atmosphere, current aspects of the bilateral agenda were substantively discussed with an emphasis on further building up the entire complex of multifaceted Russian-Iranian partnership," the foreign ministry said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app. Lavrov, who went to Tehran shortly after an Asia trip to China and North Korea, discussed energy and logistics projects with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian. Iran initially denied supplying the Shahed kamikaze drones to Russia but later said it had provided a small number before Moscow launched the war.

Persons: Sergei Lavrov, Ebrahim Raisi, Lavrov, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Lidia Kelly Organizations: Russian, Russian Foreign Ministry, REUTERS Acquire, Iranian, Kyiv, Moscow, United, Thomson Locations: Tehran, Iran, Russia, Asia, China, North Korea, Russian, South Caucasus, Nagorno, Karabakh, Ukraine, Moscow, United States, Melbourne

☆ Iran to host six-nation meeting on Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

IRNA news agency quoted the foreign ministry as saying the six countries wanted to talk about regional issues "without the interference of non-regional and Western countries". That was an implicit reference to the United States and the European Union, whose involvement in the search for a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan has particularly annoyed Moscow. Russia's Interfax news agency said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov would travel to Tehran for the meeting. More than 100,000 Karabakh Armenians have since fled, and Armenia has accused Azerbaijan of carrying out ethnic cleansing. The two countries have fought two wars in the past three decades and have so far failed to reach a peace deal despite long-running efforts by the United States, EU and Russia.

Persons: Sergei Lavrov, Maxim Rodionov, Hugh Lawson Organizations: European Union, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, MOSCOW, Iran, Turkey, Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Tehran, Caucasus, United States, Moscow, Ukraine, Nagorno, Karabakh, Baku, EU

☆ Biden makes case for 'urgent' military aid to Ukraine; North Korea's Kim says Russia agreements will be 'faithfully' fulfilled
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. President Joe Biden said he would be sending an "urgent" funding request to Congress on Friday for military aid to support both Ukraine and Israel in their respective war efforts. Biden late on Thursday made a rare White House speech in which he claimed both Hamas and Russia "want to annihilate a neighboring democracy," and vowed to send an "urgent" request to Congress for additional funding to both Ukraine and Israel to aid their respective military efforts. The White House said Tuesday that it had supplied Kyiv with long-range ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile Systems) missiles, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that his forces had used them in action. Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has resolved to "faithfully implement" agreements made with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit last month, state media KCNA reported Friday. Lavrov's trip to Pyongyang comes hot on the heels of Putin's visit to China this week, during which the Russian president said Washington's decision to supply ATACMS missiles to Ukraine was "a mistake."

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, KCNA, Kim, Sergei Lavrov, Washington's Organizations: Ukraine, Oval, White, Army Tactical Missile Systems, Biden, Russian, DPRK Locations: Israel, Gaza, Russia, Washington , U.S, Ukraine, Pyongyang, China

☆ Analysis: The number one takeaway from President Joe Biden's Oval Office address
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

“I know these conflicts can seem far away, and it’s natural to ask – why does this matter to America?” Biden said. Biden’s decision to combine aid requests for Israel and Ukraine will trigger a fierce political clash in Washington. Hell no.”Polls show that Americans do not necessarily buy Biden’s position that the threats to Ukraine and Israel are the same. Biden’s address, with the familiar backdrop of US and presidential flags in the Oval Office felt like a throwback to an earlier age — when presidents would interrupt primetime on the handful of TV channels at a moment of national crisis. Like President Harry S. Truman, Biden’s trips to the bully pulpit are marked more for simple truculence than linguistic eloquence.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Biden, ” Biden, “, beseeched, ”, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Biden –, Trump, he’d, Putin, “ Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Sergei Lavrov, Israel, MAGA, Kevin McCarthy, CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez, –, Ohio Republican Sen, J.D, Vance, ” Vance, John F, Kennedy, Harry S, Truman Organizations: CNN, America, Trump Republicans, Hamas, Republican House, GOP, Ohio Republican, Trump, CBS Locations: America, Israel, Ukraine, Gaza, Russian, Russia, Washington, Afghanistan, Beijing, North Korea, Iran, Chicago, China, Ohio

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Russia says ties with North Korea have reached 'new, strategic level' as Western concerns over weaponry grow
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Amur region on Sept. 13, 2023. Relations between Russia and North Korea have reached a "new, strategic level," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at the beginning of his trip to Pyongyang Thursday, Russian state media reported. Western officials have expressed alarm in recent months over deepening ties, accusing North Korea of supplying weaponry to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine. Russia and North Korea deny the allegations. The trip to North Korea by Russia's top diplomat comes hot on the heels of Russian President Vladimir Putin's trip to China this week, where Putin said Washington's decision to supply long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine was "a mistake."

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Sergei Lavrov, Vladimir Putin's, Putin, Xi Jinping, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: North, Vostochny Locations: Amur, Russia, North Korea, Pyongyang, Ukraine, China, Beijing, Moscow

☆ North Korea's Kim vows to 'faithfully' fulfil agreements made with Russia's Putin
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets Russia's President Vladimir Putin at the Vostochny ?osmodrome in the Amur Oblast of the Far East Region, Russia, September 13, 2023 in this image released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency. Kim took a rare trip to Russia last month during which he invited Putin to Pyongyang and discussed military cooperation, including over North Korea's satellite programme, and the war in Ukraine. He was referring to North Korea by the initials of its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. 'FIRST TARGET OF DESTRUCTION'Russia and North Korea have been seeking to forge closer ties in the face of what they see as a hostile and aggressive U.S.-led Western camp. Those assets would be "the first targets of destruction" if signs of any attack on North Korea were detected, it said, adding the country has already enacted "the policy of nuclear force which allowed the necessary procedures of action."

Persons: Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, Sergei Lavrov, Kim, Putin, Lavrov, KCNA, Choe Son Hui, Pyongyang's, Hyonhee Shin, Diane Craft, Sandra Maler Organizations: North, Korean Central News Agency, KCNA, REUTERS, Rights, Russian, DPRK, Democratic People's, North Korean Foreign, U.S, Thomson Locations: Amur Oblast, East Region, Russia, Rights SEOUL, Pyongyang, Ukraine, North Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North, Northeast Asian, Seoul, Washington, Moscow, Japan, U.S, ' Republic of Korea, DPRK, South Korea

☆ Russia's Lavrov to arrive in North Korea as cooperation deepens
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Josh Smith | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks during a news conference following talks with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit in Moscow, Russia, October 9, 2023. Sergei Ilnitsky/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is due to arrive in Pyongyang on Wednesday for meetings seen as setting the stage for a visit by President Vladimir Putin, who has stepped up cooperation with politically isolated North Korea. Russia's TASS news agency reported that Lavrov may brief the North Koreans on the results of Putin's visit to China, as well as discuss the standing invitation to visit Pyongyang. U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Sung Kim on Tuesday called relations between North Korea and Russia "worrying," after the White House said last week Pyongyang recently provided Russia with weapons. The two ships had moved several hundred containers to and from a port in North Korea since August, the RUSI report said.

Persons: Sergei Lavrov, General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Sergei Ilnitsky, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Putin, Lavrov, North Korea Sung Kim, Dmitry Peskov, Josh Smith, Lidia Kelly, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Russian, Arab League, Rights, North, Russia's TASS, Special, U.S, Kremlin, Royal United Services Institute, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Rights SEOUL, Pyongyang, North Korea, Ukraine, Koreans, China, U.S, Korean, Melbourne

Search resuls for: "SERGEI LAVROV"

25 mentions found