RUSSIA & UKRAINE – Johnson’s Russia List table of contents :: JRL 2016-230 :: Thursday, 15 December 2016

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Johnson’s Russia List :: JRL 2016-#230
Thursday, 15 December 2016
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1. The Intercept: Sam Biddle, HERE’S THE PUBLIC EVIDENCE RUSSIA HACKED THE DNC – IT’S NOT ENOUGH.
2. The Independent (UK): Mary Dejevsky, This is not how 2017 was meant to be. The Soviet Union’s collapse 25 years ago last month marked only Act I of the end of the Cold War. Mary Dejevsky wonders if 2017, with Trump, Brexit and a spate of significant European elections, could be the year that begins Act II?
3. Carnegie Moscow Center: New book: Should We Fear Russia? By Dmitri Trenin.
4. Valdai Discussion Club: Anatol Lieven, THE WEST SHOULD BECOME THE NORTH, WITH RUSSIA AS AN ESSENTIAL PART.
5. Levada.ru: Most Russians link country’s greatness to prosperity – poll.
6. Reuters: Happiness still elusive in Russia, many ex-Soviet states 25 years after USSR: survey.
7. Levada.ru: One in three Russians believes authorities “corrupt” – poll.
8. Intellinews.com: Little change with Putin’s popularity at record highs of 84%.
9. http://vestnikkavkaza.net: Russia’s Medevedev sums up 2016.
10. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Russia’s opposition firebrand Alexei Navalny to run for president in 2018. Make the oligarchs equal to ordinary citizens, reduce the power of the siloviks, get out of Syria and Ukraine: opposition figurehead Alexei Navalny has spoken about his electoral program while internet users and political analysts have evaluated his chances.
11. BBC Monitoring: Russian press: Anti-graft campaigner and Kremlin critic to run for presidency.
12. TASS: Navalny’s bid for presidency may be attempt to manipulate court – expert.
13. TASS: Interior minister says Russia has world’s second biggest migrant community.
14. Bear Market Brief: BofA Warns Pricier Oil May Dampen Reform Appetite.
15. Sputnik: Structural Changes to Bring Russian Economy to Leading Positions. (Medvedev)
16. Interfax: Medvedev says Ulyukayev’s dismissal after losing president’s trust is not ‘guilty verdict’
17. Forbes.com: Kenneth Rapoza, Trump Has Goldman Sachs Rethinking Russia.
18. Russia Direct: Pavel Sharikov, What is behind Russia’s new information security doctrine? The new doctrine of information security implies that Russia will develop defensive and offensive cyber capabilities to prepare itself for long-term confrontation in a hostile environment.
19. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Russia drops out of world’s top 5 defense spenders for 1st time in 30 years.
20. TASS: Putin backs Trump’s intention to mend ties with Russia.
21. Valdai Discussion Club: Dmitry Suslov, CONTOURS OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S FOREIGN POLICY: GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND FUNCTIONAL PRIORITIES.
22. The National Interest/Carnegie Corporation: Olga Oliker, With Russia Policy, Everything Is Connected. A better relationship is not enough by itself.
23. Russia Direct: Alexey Khlebnikov, The Middle East riddle and Russia’s role in it. The future of Syria looks dim not just because of its internal problems but also because the entire system of international relations is experiencing a crisis.
24. Democracy Now: Slaughter or Liberation?: A Debate on Russia’s Role in the Syrian War & the Fall of Aleppo. (with Stephen Cohen and Kenneth Roth)
25. Russia Beyond the Headlines: What does Moscow expect from new U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson? U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has selected ExxonMobil chief Rex Tillerson as a key member of his team. “Pragmatic,” “professional” and a “friend” of Vladimir Putin – the announcement of his appointment comes as potentially good news to Russia.
26. BBC Monitoring: Russian press views Trump’s secretary of state pick.
27. Wall Street Journal: Moscow Sees Rex Tillerson as Chance to End Sanctions, Reboot U.S. Ties. Russian officials welcome Donald Trump’s pick for top diplomat.
28. AP: IN COLLAPSE OF US-RUSSIAN MILITARY TIES, SOME SEE NUKE RISK.
29. Russia Direct: For Russia, nuclear security is not the same as nuclear disarmament. RD Interview: Russia’s chief diplomat for non-proliferation and arms control, Mikhail Ulyanov, discusses the most important problems that could impact future nuclear security talks involving Russia and the United States.
30. Christian Science Monitor: Fred Weir, At Russia-Japan summit, end to WWII may not be in play – but a thaw might. Expectations have grown that Putin and Abe might formally end World War II between Russia and Japan during their meeting this week, but the Kremlin now says that is unlikely. Still, Russians see great opportunity to be had.
31. NBCNews.com: U.S. Officials: Putin Personally Involved in U.S. Election Hack.
32. Reuters: CIA out on a limb over allegation Russia meddled in US poll.
33. Counterpunch.org: Andrew Cockburn, Questions for the Electors on Russian Hacking.
34. Consortiumnews.com: US Intel Vets Dispute Russia Hacking Claims. As the hysteria about Russia’s alleged interference in the U.S. election grows, a key mystery is why U.S. intelligence would rely on “circumstantial evidence” when it has the capability for hard evidence, say U.S. intelligence veterans.
35. New York Times editorial: Donald Trump’s Denial About Russia.
36. TASS: Russian top diplomat says West resorts to outright lies trying to demonize its opponents.
37. Awful Avalanche: Do Not Awaken The Ghosts Of The Past! – Part IV.
38. Fort Russ: Harvard Students Will Study Pussy Riot.
39. Limes: Italian Review of Geopolitics: John P. (Pat) Willerton, Washington calls Moscow.
40. Sharing The Foreign Service Journal’s Focus on the new Russia at 25.