Looming economic disaster - that's how Branko Milanovic from London School of Economics evaluates the effect of operation in Ukraine and Western sanctions on Russia.
Finland's national power grid operator Fingrid has announced it will cut electricity import from Russia by 30%, from the current 1300 MW to 900 MW.
At the same time The Finnish Security and Intelligence Service Supo has warned that Finland should prepare for a Russian campaign of hybrid influencing and possible cyber attacks.
Looks like we are on the verge of another great Russian success.
At the same time The Finnish Security and Intelligence Service Supo has warned that Finland should prepare for a Russian campaign of hybrid influencing and possible cyber attacks.
Looks like we are on the verge of another great Russian success.
Finnish parliament adopted a majority vote to join NATO. Of the 200 parliamentarians, 112 voted in favor, 12 against.
Great job on behalf of Mr. Putin.
Great job on behalf of Mr. Putin.
The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade has prepared a list of goods that can be imported into Russia through gray imports, that is, without the permission of the copyright holders.
The list includes about 200 brands. Here are some of them: Bentley, Rover, Tesla, Jaguar, Hummer.
Sure enough, these are the cars any average Russian can afford, so their presence in the list is totally driven by common sense and care for the people.
The list includes about 200 brands. Here are some of them: Bentley, Rover, Tesla, Jaguar, Hummer.
Sure enough, these are the cars any average Russian can afford, so their presence in the list is totally driven by common sense and care for the people.
Speaker of the Urkaine's Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk said that Ukraine will not change the article of the constitution that fixes the course for joining NATO, even if the country receives security guarantees from foreign states.
The statement comes after Anthony Blinken's visit to Ukraine.
Washington is raising stakes with no risk now, ruthlessly capitalizing on the mistakes of Moscow. If it goes like that, there will be no way out for Russia soon.
The statement comes after Anthony Blinken's visit to Ukraine.
Washington is raising stakes with no risk now, ruthlessly capitalizing on the mistakes of Moscow. If it goes like that, there will be no way out for Russia soon.
US will finally have an ambassador in Ukraine after three years of this position being vacant. Former Ambassador to Slovakia Bridgette Brink will represent our country in Kyiv.
Brink is a career diplomat and knows the region well. American diplomatic operations in Ukraine will resume this week.
According to our sources here, Washington intends not to give Moscow a clean exit and a chance to save its face.
Brink is a career diplomat and knows the region well. American diplomatic operations in Ukraine will resume this week.
According to our sources here, Washington intends not to give Moscow a clean exit and a chance to save its face.
Estonian Tax and Customs Board, along with the Dutch police, Finnish customs and Europol, intercepted 3.5 tons of cocaine worth around half a billion euros.
A container with bananas from Ecuador revealed 72 black bags holding over 3,000 taped up plastic packages containing cocaine.
The cargo on the ship was mostly headed to Russia.
This time it is almost 9 times the size of a consignment of cocaine, which was discovered in 2018 in the Russian embassy in Argentina.
Looks like cocaine smuggling has been sanctioned, too. Patrushev won't help now, either.
A container with bananas from Ecuador revealed 72 black bags holding over 3,000 taped up plastic packages containing cocaine.
The cargo on the ship was mostly headed to Russia.
This time it is almost 9 times the size of a consignment of cocaine, which was discovered in 2018 in the Russian embassy in Argentina.
Looks like cocaine smuggling has been sanctioned, too. Patrushev won't help now, either.
Igor Volobuev, VP of state-owned Gazprombank, fled Russia to fight the side of Ukraine.
Gazprombank is now the only operator of Russian gas export according to the latest scheme introduced by Putin.
Volobuev was born in Ukraine. The scale of tragedy and destruction going on in Russia and Ukraine is so big, even if both sides fail to comprehend it now.
The greatest contributor to Ukranian identity for ages is not Vladimir Lenin. It's another Vladimir.
Gazprombank is now the only operator of Russian gas export according to the latest scheme introduced by Putin.
Volobuev was born in Ukraine. The scale of tragedy and destruction going on in Russia and Ukraine is so big, even if both sides fail to comprehend it now.
The greatest contributor to Ukranian identity for ages is not Vladimir Lenin. It's another Vladimir.
Regarding personally Volobuev - according to our sources, as many other Gazprom top-managers, he was getting money for nothing.
Major activities he was heavily involved in were corruption schemes with contractors and sub-contractors.
That's about it. Volobuev even showed up to his job on occasions.
He is no freedom fighter or a man of honor by any means. Just a typical corrupted Gazprom manager, one out of many.
Major activities he was heavily involved in were corruption schemes with contractors and sub-contractors.
That's about it. Volobuev even showed up to his job on occasions.
He is no freedom fighter or a man of honor by any means. Just a typical corrupted Gazprom manager, one out of many.
One remark, our friend - we are American, not British, and we are generally interested in Russia. Little doubts about who Mr.Volobuev is.
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Предателей и ворюг не любят нигде. Американский телеграм-канал (бывают и такие) RussiaGate , пишущий о коррупции в России, рассказывает о новом герое украинских СМИ Игоре Волобуеве, который якобы по идейным соображениям сбежал из России и вступил в украинскую…
Some major Russian media sources came up with "patriotic news" about Austria being ready to pay for Russian gas in rubles.
Sure enough, the news turned out to be fake. Austrian chancellor Nehammer confirmed that the country will 100% follow the EU sanction policy.
There won't be ruble payments. They make no sense to Russia either.
Sure enough, the news turned out to be fake. Austrian chancellor Nehammer confirmed that the country will 100% follow the EU sanction policy.
There won't be ruble payments. They make no sense to Russia either.
Federation Сouncil Speaker Valentina Matvienko suddenly turned into business-ombudsman and came up with a passionate demand to stop pressuring Russian business.
Matvienko even promised to organize a personal anti-government protest if the business in Russia won't be provided with all necessary freedoms.
It's funny to watch how Matvienko is discovering Russia now, in 2022. Previously she suddenly found out that Russia isn't capable of producing enough iron nails.
Matvienko even promised to organize a personal anti-government protest if the business in Russia won't be provided with all necessary freedoms.
It's funny to watch how Matvienko is discovering Russia now, in 2022. Previously she suddenly found out that Russia isn't capable of producing enough iron nails.
The House of Representatives passed a bill urging President Biden to confiscate assets from sanctioned Russian oligarchs and use the funds to support Ukraine.
The legislation passed in a 417-8 vote. The name of the bill is Asset Seizure for Ukraine Reconstruction Act.
We think bill is largely symbolic, but it still reflects the ability and, more important, the intention of Washington to raise stakes in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
There is a basic understanding that the owners are more or less nominal. True Russian oligarchs are in Kremlin.
The legislation passed in a 417-8 vote. The name of the bill is Asset Seizure for Ukraine Reconstruction Act.
We think bill is largely symbolic, but it still reflects the ability and, more important, the intention of Washington to raise stakes in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
There is a basic understanding that the owners are more or less nominal. True Russian oligarchs are in Kremlin.
There is a raising concern in Russia over the destroyed balance in the media and information policies.
All the independent media are swept, but some key media figures and "tower" behind them will certainly clash over power and budgets.
Here is, for example, a slight criticism of Margarita Simonyan in a state-controlled outlet. Simonyan, Soloviev and other faces of Russian media campaign represent various power group that are not always on the same page.
Simonyan, who along with Peskov made her career on Beslan tragedy, recently claimed (smiling) that nuclear strikes are a likely option for Russia now.
All we can say that state-financed media personalities and managers in Russia (likes of Simonyan, Soloviev, Skabeeva, Potupchik etc) are highly incompetent.
Budgets are going to the wrong people.
All the independent media are swept, but some key media figures and "tower" behind them will certainly clash over power and budgets.
Here is, for example, a slight criticism of Margarita Simonyan in a state-controlled outlet. Simonyan, Soloviev and other faces of Russian media campaign represent various power group that are not always on the same page.
Simonyan, who along with Peskov made her career on Beslan tragedy, recently claimed (smiling) that nuclear strikes are a likely option for Russia now.
All we can say that state-financed media personalities and managers in Russia (likes of Simonyan, Soloviev, Skabeeva, Potupchik etc) are highly incompetent.
Budgets are going to the wrong people.
Renault will transfer its 68% stake in Russia’s largest carmaker AvtoVaz to the state for a symbolic price one ruble and a five-year option to get the asset back.
As far as we know, Renault tried to sell AvtoVaz, but couldn't find a buyer. Now AvtoVaz is controlled by the state which is not a good scenario.
Ukranian operation will 100% result in a critical technological backdrop for Russia - with nothing instead.
As far as we know, Renault tried to sell AvtoVaz, but couldn't find a buyer. Now AvtoVaz is controlled by the state which is not a good scenario.
Ukranian operation will 100% result in a critical technological backdrop for Russia - with nothing instead.
USA updated the 1941 legislation Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law to help allies fight Germany: Ukraine will be supported through a lend-lease program.
White House will seek another $30bln to provide Ukraine with weapons and equipment, in addition to $14bln already approved. The military budget of Russia is $66bln.
Overall the turn of events is showing the total strategic incompetence of Russian leaders. Now it looks like a game played by a skilled player against a teenager making nervous decisions.
Money for Ukraine rearmement will come from the frozen Russian assets. We are not asking about the Russian plans anymore.
What is the hope?
White House will seek another $30bln to provide Ukraine with weapons and equipment, in addition to $14bln already approved. The military budget of Russia is $66bln.
Overall the turn of events is showing the total strategic incompetence of Russian leaders. Now it looks like a game played by a skilled player against a teenager making nervous decisions.
Money for Ukraine rearmement will come from the frozen Russian assets. We are not asking about the Russian plans anymore.
What is the hope?
Manchester City’s owner Mansour bin Zayyd helps usher more Russian oligarchs to UAE, according to Bloomberg.
UAE is turning into a haven not only for tycoons, but for Russian IT-specialists. Washington hasn't expressed any concern about it so far.
Bloomberg article is a sign of growing concern here.
UAE is turning into a haven not only for tycoons, but for Russian IT-specialists. Washington hasn't expressed any concern about it so far.
Bloomberg article is a sign of growing concern here.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby dismissed Russian calls about "fighting nazism in Ukraine" as "bull shit".
Russian narrative of the latest years largely predicated the current conflict. It was based on traditional Russian messianism and belief in moral advantage over the West.
It is a deeply irrational concept. Its current application is the idea that Russia is single-handedly fighting against nazism and is the only country to do so.
Russia hasn't ever been able to export this narrative. Kirby basically expressed the opinion shared around the world.
Literally nobody sees this conflict in terms of "fighting nazism", but Russia failed to produce any worthy idea since 1991.
Russian narrative of the latest years largely predicated the current conflict. It was based on traditional Russian messianism and belief in moral advantage over the West.
It is a deeply irrational concept. Its current application is the idea that Russia is single-handedly fighting against nazism and is the only country to do so.
Russia hasn't ever been able to export this narrative. Kirby basically expressed the opinion shared around the world.
Literally nobody sees this conflict in terms of "fighting nazism", but Russia failed to produce any worthy idea since 1991.
Russian envoy in Israel has been summoned for ‘clarification’ after Foreign Minister Lavrov justified ‘denazification’ in Ukraine by saying ‘some of worst antisemites are Jews’ and 'Hitler also had Jewish blood'.
Russia never managed to maintain a modern civil nation. The model of Russian nationalism is ethnic, that's why Lavrov is basically looking for the purity of blood.
A scandalous, outrageous comment which basically confirms our previous text about irrational concepts that still dominate the Russian discourse.
These concepts are a mix of racism, medieval mystical ideas and German romanticism of 19 century. Lavrov's words are also a message to all ethnic non-Russians in the country.
After Ukraine Kremlin will likely start to 'denazify' Caucasus, Tatarstan, Yakutia and other regions with strange people who speak strange languages.
Russia never managed to maintain a modern civil nation. The model of Russian nationalism is ethnic, that's why Lavrov is basically looking for the purity of blood.
A scandalous, outrageous comment which basically confirms our previous text about irrational concepts that still dominate the Russian discourse.
These concepts are a mix of racism, medieval mystical ideas and German romanticism of 19 century. Lavrov's words are also a message to all ethnic non-Russians in the country.
After Ukraine Kremlin will likely start to 'denazify' Caucasus, Tatarstan, Yakutia and other regions with strange people who speak strange languages.