... in charge of the energy sector, announced the decision of the national leadership to voluntarily reduce production by 500 thousand bpd. That is, Russia would have cut oil production anyway. But the fact that OPEC+ partners are now joining this thrust ... ... Mr. Novak regarding Russia’s intention to cut oil production, many critics interpreted it as a forced measure. They say the sanctions are doing their job, and Russia can no longer produce enough oil without Western technologies, trying to disguise the actual drop in production as a planned voluntary reduction. Following this logic,...
... economics and former Special Advisor to three UN Secretaries-General, espouses views uncommon for the mainstream media in the West when it comes to the real origins of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. Professor Sachs argues that peace negotiations in earnest ... ... not believe in isolating Russia, being convinced that Washington is undermining U.S. dollar worldwide prevalence by imposing sanctions on international payment systems. Finally, the famous academician and the author of many foreign affairs bestsellers ...
Closer Sino-Russian alignment is mainly driven by a shared feeling of facing Western military and normative pressure, resulting in a growing identification of each ... ... embolden Russia into military action by shielding it from the consequences of Western sanctions, thus
removing
a powerful deterrent. Others have warned against a further... ... “democracy”, claiming this status for both China and Russia, and seeking to deny the U.S. its usage as a moral high ground and dividing line in world politics. This critique is clearly...
... RIAC Member
Putin has dominated Russia since 1999. He now faces many problems, including how to transfer power, if at all. The West should prepare for change – or for no change.
Vladimir Putin has dominated the Russian political scene since 1999. But ... ... renew itself.
In foreign policy, Putin has had a number of successes, and when the West has pushed back, for example by imposing sanctions after the annexation of Crimea in 2014, his regime has used the external pressure as a unifying force at home. He has ...
... a possible US strike on Syria?
The aggravation of rivalry between Russia and the West in the past few months is raising the urgent question of a possible further escalation... ... against one another had a specific and more or less verifiable pretext. The exchange of sanctions was based on understandable reasons. Various incidents were thoroughly and... ... escalation of sanctions for “promoting propaganda and undermining democracy,” an accusation that is hard to verify but easy to turn into a conflict-prone and provocative...
... a review of external affairs — both in theory and in practice. The upcoming elections are likely to bring a similar rethink. Russia faces a number of forks in the road, which could determine the direction of its foreign policy.
Relations with the West are a priority. The United States and the European Union this year will increase pressure on Russia via sanctions, military deterrence and information warfare. Russia will respond in kind, though the balance of power is significantly skewed in the West’s favor.
Broadly speaking, the aim of Western countries is to change Russia’s approach to Ukraine....
The parties discussed dynamics of macro-financial and macroeconomic situation in Russia, prospects for Russia's economic ties with the EU and the U.S. as well as international crises settlement and lifting of anti-Russian sanctions.
On May 31, Andrey Kortunov, RIAC Director General, met with
Pictet Asset Management
senior representatives.
Pictet manages assets exceeding US $37 billion, with Russian portfolio of over US$ 1 billion.
The parties discussed dynamics of ...
... people, like its counterparts, is wondering why a large joint anti-terrorist coalition doesn’t exist. Western economic sanctions have been counter-productive since they failed to change Russia’s position in Ukraine and to erode President Putin’s ... ... air strikes against terrorist groups in Syria on the request of the Syrian government has drawn much criticism on behalf of Western governments which accused Russia of not targeting Islamic State (ISIS). The popular perception however, in Europe as well as in the USA, looked more positive. Does it mean there’s room for greater future cooperation abroad between the West and Russia despite ...
On July 14 Iran and its P5+1 negotiating partners agreed a "Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action" to resolve western concerns over the goals of Iran's nuclear programs. The deal marks the end of 36 years of western sanctions on Iran. Upon affirmation of the JCPOA by the full United Nations Security Council,
most sanctions
in force against Iran will be terminated.
The P5+1
consists of
the five permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany, which has supplied ...
... with Moscow. “We went out of our way to integrate Russia… We included Russia in the WTO…We hoped that Russia was serous about interacting with the EU,”
says
the Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski. Now, by introducing sanctions, the USA and Europe
admit
the failure of 25 years of attempts to build a relationship on the basis of the rules of conduct of post-Soviet Russia put forward by the West.
European officials agree that the sanctions would cut both ways, but say the EU countries should tighten their belts and punish Russia.
The tactical aim of the restrictions is to bring massive pressure on Vladimir Putin and his entourage to change ...
