RUSSIA & UKRAINE – Johnson’s Russia List table of contents :: JRL 2017-72 :: Thursday, 13 April 2017

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Johnson’s Russia List :: JRL 2017-#72
Thursday, 13 April 2017

A project sponsored through the Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies (IERES) at The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs
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1. Christian Science Monitor: Fred Weir, Does Trump have a foreign policy? Mixed US messages leave Russia wondering. Despite Trump’s warm words about Putin during his presidential campaign, the Kremlin has found little common ground with the new administration – and little indication that the US has a coherent plan in Syria or elsewhere.
2. TASS: Kremlin: Putin outlined causes of worsening Russia-US ties at meeting with Tillerson.
3. Intefax: Lavrov advises West to put up with gradual loss of world leadership.
4. TASS: Lavrov doubtful talks with Tillerson will show any results soon.
5. Interfax: Moscow proposes setting up mission under OPCW auspices to investigate Idlib events.
6. Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks and answers to media questions at a joint news conference following talks with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Moscow, April 12, 2017.
7. Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s opening remarks at talks with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Moscow, April 12, 2017.
8. Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Comment by the Information and Press Department on the visit by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
9. US Department of State: Remarks With Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a Press Availability.
10. http://usforeignpolicy.blogs.lalibre.be: Gilbert Doctorw, Putin Meets with Tillerson: What does it mean? Mr. Putin is no Khrushchev, and instead of losing prestige among his peers for agreeing with the Americans, he will likely gain by it.
11. www.rt.com: US accuses Moscow of ‘sowing doubt’ over narrative of Assad’s culpability in chemical attack.
12. The International Reporter: Russia Goes Ballistic After US Provides 14 Web Pages As Their “Evidence” To Bomb Syria.
13. The Unz Review: Theodore Postol, The Nerve Agent Attack in Khan Shaykhun, Syria. A Quick Turnaround Assessment of the White House Intelligence Report Issued on April 11, 2017. (excerpt) [Full Report (PDF): http://www.unzcloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Postol-SyriaReport.pdf]
14. Moon of Alabama: The White House “Intelligence Assessment” Is No-Such-Thing – It Shows Support for Al-Qaeda. [See also acloserlookonsyria.shoutwiki.com/wiki/Talk:Alleged_Chemical_Attack_Khan_Sheikhoun_4_April_2017#Water_triage]
15. Russia Beyond the Headlines: How does one classify as ‘poor’ in Russia? About one-third of Russians can barely afford to buy food and clothing.
16. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Sergei Alexashenko, Russia’s economy needs a recipe for growth. The country’s economy has left the recession, but growth rates are still low. Will Russia be able to return to the high pre-crisis indicators?
17. TASS: Russia’s GDP growth could reach 3% by 2020 – minister. (Maxim Oreshkin)
18. www.rt.com: Russia-China trade up almost 30% this year.
19. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Who were the suicide bombers who devastated Russian cities? Love, family ties with militants, a feeling of revenge and religion – this is what unites Russia’s most infamous terrorists.
20. Valdai Discussion Club: Robert Legvold, INTO THE UNKNOWN: U.S.-RUSSIAN RELATIONS UNHINGED
21. The National Interest: Kingston Reif and Maggie Tennis, Pulling the U.S.-Russia Relationship Back from the Nuclear Brink. The downward spiral in U.S.-Russia relations makes the objective of reducing nuclear risk all the more urgent.
22. www.rt.com: Russia successfully stepping up nuclear triad modernization – Defense Minister Shoigu.
23. Izvestia: Elena Suponina: Trump encourages Syrian rebels. Oriental affairs specialist Elena Suponina on US missile strike having given opposition hope of West’s military intervention.
24. www.rt.com: Russia backs Syrian army because it’s most effective force in fighting ISIS – Ambassador Yakovenko.
25. The Nation: Stephen Cohen, ‘Words Are Also Deeds’: Unverified Stories and the Growing Risk of War With Russia. The US narratives for which there are as of yet no facts could lead to direct military conflict between Washington and Moscow.
26. GlobalVoices: Russian Journalists Say One of NYT’s Pulitzer-Winning Stories Was Stolen.
27. New York Times editorial: Mr. Trump’s Fickle Diplomacy. Russians thought they would have a pal in the White House, but relations between the two countries are as tense as ever.
28. USAToday.com: Richard Haass, Four good reasons to care about Ukraine.
29. Washington Post editorial: Syria teaches a lesson about cheating on arms control.

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