Russia – Page 3 – Johnson's Russia List

JRL NEWSWATCH: Ukraine is officially America’s new forever war. President Biden, how does this end?” – Fox/ Sen. Mike Lee, Rep. Warren Davidson

October 6, 2023 JRL Russia List Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

“Ukraine is now America’s new forever war. Americans know that ‘whatever it takes’ is not a strategy.” “…. ‘As long as it takes’ remains the [Biden administration] mantra …. According to reports from September’s U.N. General Assembly meeting, U.S. and G-7 allies expect the war … to continue … at least six to seven years. … [T]he other implication is […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “What Will Happen If the U.S. Stops Funding Ukraine? Nothing Good” – Bloomberg

October 6, 2023 JRL Russia List Arms Trade, Military Aid, Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

“Kyiv has fought too well to simply give up, but Russia and China will achieve their goal of splitting the West.” “[With the loss of U.S. funding for Ukraine,] … the balance on the battlefield [would] shift significantly. Ukraine [wouldn’t] simply surrender … [b]ut given how reliant Ukraine is on [U.S.] arms and ammunition … its situation [would] still get […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “With one video, Russia’s Chechnya problem seizes the spotlight again” – Christian Science Monitor/ Fred Weir

October 3, 2023 JRL Russia List Chechnya, Dagestan, North Caucasus, Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, Regions, Cities, Municipalities, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War

Caucasus Map of Chechnya and Caucasus Environs

“In theory, Russian law applies everywhere within Russia’s borders. But over and over, the Chechen republic proves exempt from those rules, no matter how blatant a violation might be.” “… Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov posted a video … show[ing] his teenage son brutally beating up a Russian prisoner … sa[ying] he was ‘proud” of his son’s actions. … [M]any Russians […]

RUSSIALINK: “Western Firms Continue to Dominate Russian Market in 2023 – Forbes” – Moscow Times

October 3, 2023 JRL Russia List China, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Europe, EU, France, Germany, Headlines, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

File Photo of Meeting Room Table with Microphones and Chairs, adapted from image at cdc.gov

(Moscow Times – Oct. 2, 2023) U.S., French and German corporations continued to dominate the Russian market in 2023 despite the Western business exodus sparked by the war in Ukraine, according to Forbes Russia’s list of the 50 largest foreign companies in the country. [forbes.ru/biznes/497010-50-krupnejsih-inostrannyh-kompanij-v-rossii-2023-rejting-forbes] The latest ranking, which also saw Chinese companies gain ground, reflects the major geopolitical shifts […]

» Read more

Leave a comment Business, China, Economy, EU, France, Germany, Russia, Russian News, Slider, U.S.-Russian Relations

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Slovakia gives pro-Russian populist nationalism another win” – The Economist

October 2, 2023 JRL Russia List Arms Trade, Military Aid, Europe, EU, Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, NATO, Slovakia

Bratislava Castle in Slovakia, file photo adapted from cia.gov image

“It could join the EU’s awkward squad if Robert Fico forms a government.” “Robert Fico … fell from power in 2018 after the murder of a journalist investigating high-level corruption, which led to mass protests. Now he looks set to lead [Slovakia] … again. … A [] Fico-led government can be expected to ally itself in the [EU]and NATO with […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “A Growing Sense U.S. Aid for Ukraine Will Slow” – Bloomberg

October 2, 2023 JRL Russia List Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

“… If you’re … Zelenskiy … you’ll take little solace from … Biden’s earnest assurances that the U.S. ‘will not walk away’ …. [I]f you’re … Putin … you will draw the logical conclusion that Kyiv was … thrown under the bus when funding for Ukraine was left out of a spending bill to avert a government shutdown. … Washington […]

What Did Zelensky Accomplish During His U.S. Trip?

October 1, 2023 JRL Russia List Headlines, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

Volodymyr Zelensky file photo, adapted from dhs.gov image

As he pressed policymakers on the Hill and in the administration for more, better, swifter war-fighting capabilities, Zelensky made clear that Ukraine has no time to spare […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Russians allowed to compete as neutral athletes at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris” – AP

October 1, 2023 JRL Russia List Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Sanctions, Sports, Olympics, World Cup, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War

Olympic Rings Lit at Night, adapted from image at state.gov

“Russians will be allowed … as neutral athletes at next year’s Paralympics in Paris … following the invasion of Ukraine. The International Paralympic Committee voted 74-65 … on Friday against suspending Russia’s membership entirely — which would have meant a full ban … then voted 90-65 in favor of ‘partially’ suspending the country through 2025. … because of ‘breaches of […]

» Read more

Leave a comment Olympics, Paralympics, Russia, Russian News, Russo-Ukrainian War, Sanctions, Slider, Sports, Ukraine

JRL NEWSWATCH: “What Does Victory Look Like in Ukraine?” – Foreign Policy/ Kathleen J. McInnis

September 30, 2023 JRL Russia List Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War

“Ukrainians differ on what would keep their nation safe from Russia.” “… Zelensky … has promulgated a 10-point plan …. [T]alking to … people from around the region, other views surfaced. [Some possibilities assessed have included:] A frozen conflict. … To the Ukrainians, a frozen conflict means allowing Russia to continue brutalizing … and … invites Russia to attack Ukraine […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “War has arrived in Crimea: Slowly but methodically, Ukraine is chipping away at Russia’s firepower in the peninsula” – The Economist

September 29, 2023 JRL Russia List Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War

“… Ukraine has massively stepped up strikes on the [occupied Crimean] peninsula annexed [in 2014] by the Kremlin …. Using … new home-made drones and foreign-supplied cruise missiles, [Ukraine] has hit military bases, air bases, and command-and-control centres. [A] [Sept. 13] strike on … Sevastopol took out an amphibious landing ship and one of just six kilo-class submarines capable of […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “280 Days Inside Russia’s Torture Chambers” – Sky News

September 29, 2023 JRL Russia List Headlines, Human Rights, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War

File Photo of Prison Cell and Bars with Shaft of Light, adapted from image at fbi.gov

“… [L]iberation … revealed the horror of prolonged Russian occupation. In the Kherson region, over 254 days, the Russians constructed a network of at least 26 detention centres to control the civilian population. Police stations, schools and government buildings were used as torture sites or places where civilians’ human rights were severely violated. …. [B]y the most conservative estimate, at […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Russia’s Army Learns From Its Mistakes in Ukraine” – WSJ

September 29, 2023 JRL Russia List Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War

“Early in the war, the West was shocked at the Russian military’s poor performance. But Moscow has fixed many errors and adapted on the battlefield.” “… After Ukraine easily swept through Russia’s lines in the Kharkiv region last autumn, Moscow spent months preparing formidable defenses …. Moscow is also deploying drones to scope out and attack Ukrainian positions … Ukrainian […]

RUSSIALINK: “Nagorno-Karabakh Crisis Deepens Divides in Armenia Toward Russia” – Moscow Times

September 28, 2023 JRL Russia List Armenia, Azerbaijan, South Caucasus, Caucasus, Headlines

Azerbaijan Map, including Nagorno-Karabakh, adapted from state.gov image

(Moscow Times – Kirill Ponomarev – Sept. 28, 2023) YEREVAN, Armenia – Tigran has been protesting outside the Russian embassy every day since Azerbaijan launched its offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh. On the embassy’s steps, flowers have been laid in memory of the peacekeepers who were killed by Azerbaijani shelling last week. “Are these bloody flowers for the occupiers?” reads the poster […]

» Read more

Leave a comment Armenia, Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh, Russia, Russian News, Slider, South Caucasus

In Dealing With Ordinary Russians, the West’s Values Are At Stake

September 28, 2023 JRL Russia List Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Europe, EU, Foreign Policy, Security, Visas, Headlines, Sanctions, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War

(Kennan Institute – wilsoncenter.org/program/kennan-institute – Ekaterina Kotrikadze, News Director and Anchor, TV Rain (Dozhd TV) – Sept. 27, 2023) Russian citizens are facing new restrictions. European Union authorities have just prohibited them from crossing the union’s border in cars bearing Russian license plates and from carrying certain items with them. As these restrictions were being introduced, European sanctions were being […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Zelensky wines, dines with the world’s richest in the hopes of rebuilding war-torn Ukraine” – New York Post

September 28, 2023 JRL Russia List Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

File Photo of Assorted U.S. Cash, adapted from image at tsa.gov

“… Zelensky’s most important speech while in New York … was not at the UN, but in a private room a few blocks away. ‘Investing in Ukraine has to be good for you and good for us. I understand capitalism,’ [Zelensky said, to] what was described … as a ‘star-struck’ group of billionaire financiers, plus Henry Kissinger, New England Patriots […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Polish experts confirm missile that hit grain facility was Ukrainian – media” – Reuters

September 28, 2023 JRL Russia List Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, NATO, Poland, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War

Map of Poland, Kaliningrad, Environs, adapted from CRS image at congress.gov

“Polish experts [reportedly] have confirmed that the missile that killed two people at a grain facility in [the village of Przewodow in] southern Poland in November was fired by Ukraine …. The explosion … fueled fears that the war in Ukraine could spiral into a wider conflict … triggering [NATO’s] mutual defense clause, but at the time Warsaw and NATO […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Regime Change in Russia Won’t Lead to Chaos or Collapse” – Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

September 27, 2023 JRL Russia List Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections

“History shows that a change of leader in Russia has almost always been accompanied not by civil strife, but by liberalization.” “… [R]ecent years have seen regional leaders transformed into technocrats whose every move is closely controlled by the federal center. They depend on Moscow for everything, and are accountable to the Kremlin — not the local people. All such […]

» Read more

Leave a comment Government, History, Politics, Putin Transition, Russia, Russian News, Slider, Soviet History

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Escalation in the War in Ukraine: Lessons Learned and Risks for the Future” – RAND

September 26, 2023 JRL Russia List Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, NATO, Nuclear, Missile Defense, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

(RAND – rand.org – Bryan Frederick, Mark Cozad, Alexandra Stark – Sept. 21, 2023) [Report home page (HTML) – PDF of full report (108 pages)] “… Further Russian escalation has likely been restrained by three main factors … (1) … NATO military capabilities and reactions, (2) concern for broader international reactions, particularly … China’s … (3) … Russian perception that […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Ukraine aid is hanging by a thread” – Washington Post

September 21, 2023 JRL Russia List Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

“As Washington turns its focus toward the 2024 presidential campaign, U.S. aid to Ukraine is becoming increasingly vulnerable to partisan politics and the culture wars. … [T]he Biden administration … will need … a more robust … honest case about the expected costs and length of the war …. Since … February 2022, the United States has committed $113 billion […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “A Trip to Ukraine Clarified the Stakes. And They’re Huge.” – New York Times

September 21, 2023 JRL Russia List Europe, EU, Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War

“… [W]hen climate change, famine, health crises and so much more are stressing Planet Earth, the last thing humanity needed was to divert so much attention, collaborative energy, money and lives to respond to Putin’s war to make Ukraine a Russian colony again. Putin lately has stopped even bothering to justify the war …. [I]f Ukraine can escape this war […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “With world distracted, Azerbaijan tries to stamp out Karabakh separatists” – Christian Science Monitor/ Fred Weir

September 21, 2023 JRL Russia List Armenia, Azerbaijan, South Caucasus, Headlines, JRL NewsBlog

Map of Azerbaijan and Environs, adapted from image at cia.gov

“Russia has long maintained the status quo in the Armenian-populated region of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan. But Moscow no longer appears willing to do so, and Azerbaijanis are taking the region back by force.” “Time may be running out for the self-declared republic of Artsakh … within Nagorno-Karabakh, the Armenian-populated region of Azerbaijan. As Azerbaijani forces launched a concerted military assault […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Ukraine Has Gained Ground. But It Has Much Farther To Go.” – New York Times

September 20, 2023 JRL Russia List Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War

“… Ukraine prepared to launch its counteroffensive facing immense risks: Without a decisive victory, Western support could weaken, and Kyiv could face pressure to negotiate a ceasefire. … Ukrainian forces have breached the first line of defense in some Russian positions along this southern line of advance, the counteroffensive’s most promising front. … Progress has been grueling and slow. … […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “In Moscow, the War Is Background Noise, but Ever-Present” – New York Times

September 19, 2023 JRL Russia List Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, Military, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, Regions, Cities, Municipalities, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War

“Muscovites go about their daily lives with little major disruption. But the war’s effects are evident — in the stores, at the movies and in the increasingly repressive environment.” “… Muscovites are experiencing dual realities: The war has faded into background noise … yet … remains ever-present in … daily lives. … Advertisements to join the military are … on […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Why There Are No Game-Changing Weapons for Ukraine” – Foreign Policy/ Franz-Stefan Gady

September 19, 2023 JRL Russia List Arms Trade, Military Aid, Europe, EU, Germany, Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, NATO, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

“There is no alternative to slowly and methodically reducing Russian forces in Ukraine.” “… The idea that there is a shortcut to victory raises expectations for a quick end to the carnage that Ukraine is unlikely to fulfill. After more than 18 months of grinding, attritional war, it should be obvious that there are no miracle weapons and that there […]

RUSSIALINK: “Kremlin Eyes Liberal Venediktov as Putin’s 2024 Rival – Vedomosti” – Moscow Times

September 19, 2023 JRL Russia List Headlines, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections

Alexei Venediktov file photo, adapted from image at usembassy.gov

(Moscow Times – Sept. 19, 2023) The Kremlin is considering running media personality Alexei Venediktov as Vladimir Putin’s “liberal” rival in the 2024 presidential elections, the Vedomosti business daily reported Tuesday, citing four anonymous sources close to the presidential administration. Venediktov is the former editor-in-chief of Ekho Moskvy, a liberal-leaning radio station that was blocked by authorities days after Russia […]

» Read more

Leave a comment Alexei Venediktov, Ekho Moskvy, Elections, Government, Media, Military, Opposition, Politics, Russia, Russian News, Slider

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Counsels of war. Are Ukraine’s tactics working? Slow progress on the battlefield prompts quarrels over strategy.” – The Economist

September 19, 2023 JRL Russia List Britain, UK, United Kingdom, Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, NATO, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

“[Ukrainian foreign minister] Dmytro Kuleba … is a smooth[, unruffled] and affable diplomat …. But on August 31st his patience snapped. ‘Criticising the slow pace of the counter-offensive equals … spitting into the face of the Ukrainian soldier who sacrifices his life every day,’ he told journalists. ‘I would recommend all critics to shut up, come to Ukraine and try […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “The Missing Escalation in Ukraine; In Defense of the West’s Go-Slow Approach” – Foreign Affairs/ Austin Carson

September 19, 2023 JRL Russia List Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, NATO, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

“… New developments … may threaten [a previous] dynamic. Russia’s campaign against Ukrainian grain infrastructure and surging Ukrainian attacks within Russia threaten to expand the geographical scope of conflict. The mutiny and subsequent death of Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin suggest that Russia’s domestic political situation is dynamic and could shift in ways that may encourage Putin to escalate. Ukraine’s […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Will the West Abandon Ukraine? Kyiv Must Prepare for a Possible Change of Heart in America and Europe” – Foreign Affairs

September 18, 2023 JRL Russia List Europe, EU, Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

“A coalition of the world’s wealthiest and most technologically advanced countries gives Ukraine a major structural advantage. Russia, by contrast, has only two countries—Iran and North Korea — openly assisting it … although China has been … an important economic backstop … and a provider of nonlethal military aid. … Western military support comes with its own risks and challenges[] […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Putin meets Kim Jong Un, looking for arms – and friends” – Christian Science Monitor

September 15, 2023 JRL Russia List Arms Trade, Military Aid, Headlines, Military, North Korea

File Photo of Kim Jong-Un At Podium Near North Korean Flag and Hammer and Sickle Emblem, adapted from hhs.gov image

“Vladimir Putin is often accused of trying to restore the old Soviet Union. But his meeting with Kim Jong Un suggests he might be focusing on restoring ties with like-minded former Soviet allies instead.” “… Both the Russian and North Korean delegations at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, near the Chinese border, included officials responsible for munitions, suggesting an urgent Russian interest […]

» Read more

Leave a comment Arms Trade, JRL NewsBlog, Kim Jong-un, Newswatch, North Korea, Russia, Russian News, Slider

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Olympic sports have a Russia dilemma. ‘Neutrality’ is a cop-out.” – Washington Post

September 15, 2023 JRL Russia List Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Sports, Olympics, World Cup, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War

“… The World Aquatics Bureau announced … athletes from Russia and Belarus would be allowed to compete in international events … as ‘neutrals’ …. the cop-out … most athletic governing bodies have taken since Russia invaded Ukraine …. At least Wimbledon — in 2022 — actually banned Russian and Belarusian players …. [T]he men’s and women’s governing bodies of tennis […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Can Samantha Power Win the Battle for Ukraine’s Future?” – New York Times

September 14, 2023 JRL Russia List Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War

“… [E]ventually the war will end. What happens to Ukraine then? … Will it revert to the oligarchical model that typified its early years[] [o]r … make good on its promise of genuine modernity? That process … require[s] a renovated ethical culture to undergird a strong rule of law and a political class bound by … public duty and personal […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “The third line: How the Pentagon assesses Ukraine’s progress; A rare interview with America’s Defence Intelligence Agency” – The Economist

September 13, 2023 JRL Russia List Arms Trade, Military Aid, Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Spies, Spy Allegations, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

DIA Headquarters Building, adapted from dia.mil image

“… [DIA Director Trent] Maul … notes that Sergei Surovikin, the Russian general who built [Russia’s] defensive lines [in Ukraine], and Yevgeny Prigozhin, whose Wagner Group mercenaries achieved Russia’s most tangible gains of the past year, are both off the battlefield — the former sacked and the latter dead …. [] Maul … says … Ukraine’s recent successes are ‘significant’ […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Elizabeth Warren Demands Probes of Elon Musk, SpaceX After Ukraine Revelations” – Bloomberg

September 13, 2023 JRL Russia List Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Space, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

File Photo of Elon Musk, adapted from image at nasa.gov, with photo credit to Bill Stafford

“Warren calls on Pentagon to look into decision over attack Musk, other tech chiefs will meet with senators on Wednesday” “… Warren is demanding an investigation into SpaceX after Elon Musk acknowledged he had blocked Ukraine from extending the private Starlink satellite network for an attack on Russian warships near the Crimean coast. … Musk said. ‘… If I had […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Russia’s Offensive to Reverse Ukraine’s Gains Is Stalling” – WSJ

September 13, 2023 JRL Russia List Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War

“… Kupyansk was captured by Russia without a fight in February 2022 …. Ukrainian forces reclaimed the city in a lightning offensive a year ago … oust[ing] Russia from nearly all of Kharkiv and parts of [the] nearby Donetsk and Luhansk regions. …. Russian troops have remained within artillery range of Kupyansk … [launching] nearly daily barrages. In [recent] weeks, […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Ukraine’s counteroffensive to continue after onset of bad weather, spy chief says” – Reuters

September 12, 2023 JRL Russia List Environment, Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War

“Ukraine’s counteroffensive … will continue through the onset of cold and wet weather later this year …, Kyiv’s intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said[:] …. ‘Combat actions will continue in one way or another. In the cold, wet and mud, it is more difficult to fight. Fighting will continue. The counteroffensive will continue’ …. Apart from the huge concentration of Russian […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Ukrainian Accounts of Torture Point to Systematic Russian Policy, Expert Says” – New York Times

September 12, 2023 JRL Russia List Headlines, Human Rights, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United Nations

European Portion of Commonwealth of Independent States

“The U.N. Special Rapporteur on torture said Moscow’s refusal to address the issue represented tacit approval of its use. Russia has denied it practices torture.” “Torture perpetrated by Russian officers against Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war has reached such a level that it is clearly a systematic, state-endorsed policy, [according to Alice Jill Edwards, U.N. Special Rapporteur on torture […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Staying the course: Donald Trump will ‘never’ support Putin, says Volodymyr Zelensky” – The Economist

September 12, 2023 JRL Russia List Europe, EU, Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

Screenshot file photo of Volodymyr Zelensky Gesturing, from Congressional Teleconference, adapted from image at doggett.house.gov

“But Ukraine’s president fears that some of his country’s Western backers are losing faith.” “… Having failed to overwhelm Ukraine quickly, [] Putin seems determined to exhaust the country and to wear out its partners’ resolve to keep funding and supplying it with arms. … But [] Zelensky says Russia itself is fragile. … [suggesting that Russia itself will suffer […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “How Russia learned from mistakes to slow Ukraine’s counteroffensive” – Washington Post

September 11, 2023 JRL Russia List Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War

“Three months into Ukraine’s … counteroffensive, Russian occupying forces have largely been able to hold their positions, often by learning from past mistakes. They have reconstituted decimated units, swapped in new ones and turned from sweeping attacks to the defense of heavily fortified front lines, showing that despite heavy losses, Moscow is willing to dig in for the long haul […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Ukraine’s New Defense Minister Reveals Priorities in First Major Speech” – Newsweek/ David Brennan

September 11, 2023 JRL Russia List Europe, EU, Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, NATO, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

“Ukraine’s new defense minister, Rustem Umerov, has called on foreign allies to provide ‘heavy weaponry, heavy weaponry and, again, heavy weaponry’ …. On Friday, Umerov told the Yalta European Strategy summit in Kyiv that Ukraine is ‘grateful’ for … Western support … but warned that Kyiv’s forces will need more to overcome … ‘big challenges’ … driving Russian troops out […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “In Ukraine, a U.S. Arms Dealer Is Making a Fortune and Testing Limits” – New York Times

September 11, 2023 JRL Russia List Arms Trade, Military Aid, Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

File Photo of Weapon and Ammunition for Ukrainian Live Fire Exercise, adapted from army.mil image

“Billions are pouring into a clubby, secretive arms market. With Pentagon cash and unusually close Ukrainian military ties, Marc Morales has few peers.” “… The [Biden] administration has sent Ukraine more than $40 billion in security aid, including advanced weapons …. But the Pentagon also relies heavily on little-known arms dealers like [Florida-based Marc] Morales … [with] connections … to […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Russian Agricultural Bank could have SWIFT access within 30 days, UN tells Moscow” – Reuters

September 11, 2023 JRL Russia List Agriculture, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Europe, EU, Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Sanctions, Transportation, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United Nations

Wheat in Field, adapted from image at usda.gov

“A Russian Agricultural Bank subsidiary in Luxembourg could immediately apply to SWIFT to ‘effectively enable access’ for the bank to the international payments system within 30 days, the United Nations told Russia in a letter …. ‘SWIFT has confirmed that RSHB Capital S.A. would be eligible to apply for membership and access to SWIFT for food and fertilizer transactions, based […]

Russia in Review, Sept. 1-8, 2023

September 11, 2023 JRL Russia List Armenia, Azerbaijan, South Caucasus, Baltics, Belarus, Central Asia, China, Cybersecurity, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Estonia, Europe, EU, Foreign Policy, Security, Visas, Germany, Headlines, Human Rights, Kyrgyzstan, Military, Moldova, NATO, North Korea, Nuclear Energy, Oil, Gas, Energy, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, Romania, Sanctions, Space, Spies, Spy Allegations, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations, Uzbekistan

File Photo of Red Square, Kremlin, Environs, adapted from image at state.gov

7 Things to Know G-20 leaders began arriving in New Delhi on Sept. 8 for their annual gathering as negotiators struggled to bridge differences over the war in Ukraine in the group’s joint statement. While it remains unclear whether a final consensus can be reached, China appears to have dropped its initial opposition to language on Ukraine and Russia, according […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “U.S. General Warns Time Is Running Out for Ukraine’s Counteroffensive” – Newsweek

September 11, 2023 JRL Russia List Environment, Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Spies, Spy Allegations, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

“[According to] General Mark Milley, … Chairman[,] … Joint Chiefs of Staff[,] … Ukraine’s forces have … 30 to 45 days left … before … fall weather … stop[s] their advance. … ‘There’s still heavy fighting going on,’ Milley said, adding that Ukraine was ‘still plugging away with steady progress.’ … [W]ith progress slow, and the counteroffensive launched later than […]

RUSSIALINK: “Longtime Moscow Mayor, Putin Ally Expected to Soundly Win Re-Election” – Moscow Times

September 11, 2023 JRL Russia List Headlines, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, Regions, Cities, Municipalities

(Moscow Times – Pyotr Kozlov – Sept. 9, 2023) Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin is expected to win re-election by an overwhelming margin in this weekend’s mayoral elections following the elimination of virtually all other opposition and independent candidates. Sobyanin has led Russia’s capital, a city of 12 million people, through waves of mass protests, the Covid-19 pandemic and, today, regular […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Ukraine ‘in deep trouble’: Some experts say $1B more from U.S. won’t matter” – USA Today

September 11, 2023 JRL Russia List Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War

“A new defense minister, an encouraging visit from the U.S. secretary of state and another $1 billion in aid have fueled optimism in Ukraine this week. But will they have an impact on the war? Ukraine and U.S. officials says yes. Some experts are not convinced. …” Click here for: “Ukraine ‘in deep trouble’: Some experts say $1B more from […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Is Ukraine really interested in fighting corruption?” – The Economist

September 8, 2023 JRL Russia List Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War

“Volodymyr Zelensky removes his defence minister and goes after an oligarch” “… At face value [Ukraine’s latest corruption stories] show the government wresting back the initiative on reform. … Zelensky said he would replace … defence minister[] Oleksii Reznikov … following months of corruption scandals …. [T]he SBU … detained [oligarch] Ihor Kolomoisky … on suspicion of fraud and money-laundering. […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Putin Faces Geopolitical Setback in South Caucasus” – Foreign Policy

September 8, 2023 JRL Russia List Armenia, Arms Trade, Military Aid, Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War

“Armenia turns toward West after accusing Russia of failing as a partner.” “… Armenia is having second thoughts about its longtime partnership with Russia and is beginning to shift … toward the West, … an embarrassing setback for the Kremlin in the strategic region. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said … his country’s reliance on Russia wasn’t paying off, particularly […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “A Shift in Ukrainian Strategy” – Geopolitical Futures/ George Friedman

September 8, 2023 JRL Russia List Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

“… [After] Zelenskyy announced … that he replaced his defense minister … a group of senior U.S. generals met with Ukrainian generals on the border with Poland …. Ukraine’s strategy has been brilliant, especially in the early stages …. distribut[ing] its force into small units … [with] a high degree of freedom. … [K]nowledge and familiarity with the terrain … […]

JRL NEWSWATCH: “A higher global oil price will help Russia pay for its war; The Kremlin tries new tactics to keep proceeds afloat” – The Economist

September 8, 2023 JRL Russia List Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Oil, Gas, Energy, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War

Oil Wells file photo, adapted from image at usda.gov

“… After … record volumes in recent months, despite Western embargoes, dwindling production and the [Black Sea navigational] risks … Russia’s crude shipments fell to 3m barrels a day (b/d) in August … 800,000 lower than … April-May … and below pre-war levels. …. On September 5th Russia said it would extend a ‘voluntary’ 300,000 b/d cut … to the […]

RUSSIALINK: “Kremlin Seeks to ‘Legitimize’ Authority With Elections in Occupied Ukraine” – Moscow Times

September 8, 2023 JRL Russia List Headlines, Military, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War

(Moscow Times – Anastasia Tenisheva, Pyotr Kozlov – Sept. 8, 2023) The Kremlin is working to solidify its control — both militarily and politically — over the four Moscow-occupied regions of Ukraine with this month’s regional elections there, experts and officials told The Moscow Times. Nearly a year after Moscow staged widely disputed referendums to annex Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia […]

« 1 2 3 4 5 … 341 »