Category: United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Why Russia Is Rooting for Both Trump and Sanders; The Russian government is again trying to meddle in the presidential election. In doing so, they’re working to aid two very different candidates” – New York Times

JRL NewsBlog, Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
FBI Headquarters File Photo

  “… We know that about a month ago, the F.B.I. went to Bernie Sanders. … The F.B.I. frequently comes around to give general warnings to all the candidates, but that’s not what this was all about. This was about a very specific finding. And their message was, we have reason to believe that the Russians, through their own calculus, […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Bernie Sanders briefed by U.S. officials that Russia is trying to help his presidential campaign” – Washington Post/ Shane Harris, Ellen Nakashima, Michael Scherer and Sean Sullivan

JRL NewsBlog, Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
U.S. Capitol in Bright Sunlight

“U.S. officials have told … Bernie Sanders that Russia is attempting to help his presidential campaign … according to people familiar with the matter. … Trump and lawmakers on Capitol Hill also have been informed …. It is not clear what form that Russian assistance has taken. U.S. prosecutors found a Russian effort in 2016 to use social media to […]

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AUDIO JRL NEWSWATCH: “How Russia And Other Foreign Actors Sow Disinformation In Elections” – NPR

JRL NewsBlog, Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Multilingual Polling Place Sign from U.S. Election Polling Place

“Russian disinformation is again a topic of conversation leading up to the presidential election. What is Russia doing to interfere …? … [T]hat question came up in a briefing the intelligence community’s election security czar gave House members …. [M]ultiple reports say that the meeting focused on Russia’s supposed preference for … Trump … so anger[ing] the president that he […]

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Russia Is Defeating The U.S. In The Middle East Oil Game

Middle East, North Africa, Oil, Gas, Energy, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Middle East Map

(Oilprice.com – Simon Watkins – February 18, 2020) Historically, Russia goes to great lengths to hide or disguise its strategic intentions but it clearly feels empowered enough in the Middle East to very obviously stake its claim in the region – excluding, for the time being only, Saudi Arabia – by stating that a slew of Russian companies are to […]

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RUSSIALINK: “4 in 5 Russians View West as a Friend – Poll” – Moscow Times

Europe, EU, Russia & the West, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Photo of G7 Leaders and other Officials Around Round Table at the Hague, with Flags

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – February 18, 2020) Almost 80% of Russians believe that Russia and the West should become friends and partners, according to the results of an independent Levada Center poll published Tuesday. Only 3% of Russian respondents said they see the West as Russia’s enemy, Levada said. Another 16% said they view the West as a rival. […]

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Pompeo’s Visit Lets Post-Soviet States Leverage U.S. Backing Against Russia, China, But Real Support Remains Limited

United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

(Russia Matters – russiamatters.org – Nikolas Gvosdev – February 7, 2020) With U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s visit to the region, the 2020 round of the Eurasian bazaar is in session. This is where the countries that border Russia attempt to bargain with the United States to obtain passes for their human rights records, to extract military or economic […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Ex-MI6 spy ‘fabricated dossier on Trump and prostitutes'” – Sunday Times (UK)/ Tim Shipman

JRL NewsBlog, Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Photo of British Parliament Building, Big Ben, Thames, adapted from image at loc.gov

“The dossier on Donald Trump … by … former MI6 spy Christopher Steele …accus[ing Trump] … of being compromised by Russia, was a … ‘fabrication,’ according to … leading British spy writer[] Nigel West [who] … revealed he was hired by a … Republican law firm to assess the dossier in 2017 and concluded that large parts of it were […]

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RUSSIALINK: “Mechanism for settling incidents between Russian, U.S. militaries in Syria working without failures – Russian military expert” – Interfax

Military, Syria, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Syria Map

MOSCOW. Jan 23 (Interfax) – Moscow and Washington have achieved a practically ideal level of interaction in preventing clashes between the Russian and United States militaries on the Syrian territory, Vladimir Batyuk, the head of the Center for Military and Political Studies of the Institute of U.S. and Canadian Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said. “Incidents can be […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “A new era in Russia will allow America to rethink its policy” – The Hill/Jeffrey Mankoff

Europe, EU, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Map of Commonwealth of Independent States, European Portion

“… the era of ‘High Putinism’ is ending. … Putin ruled out changing the constitution to allow one person to serve more than two terms as president … [but] will almost certainly remain the principal power broker …. Putin could once again become prime minister …. He could also remain the head of the State Council, a consultative body comprising […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Putin Proposes 2020 Summit With Leaders of Russia, France, China, U.S. and UK” – Reuters

Britain, UK, United Kingdom, China, France, United Nations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
UN Building file photo

“… Putin … proposed holding a summit between the leaders of Russia, China, the United States, France and Britain in 2020 to discuss the conflict in Libya and other global problems. Putin, … speaking during a trip to Israel, said Moscow was ready for a “serious conversation” with the permanent members of the UN Security Council, that there was much […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “A new U.S. ambassador arrives in Moscow at a tricky time in U.S.-Russia relations” – Washington Post/ Carol Morello

United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Photo of U.S. Embassy Moscow, with Russian Foreign Ministry Building in Distance

“Since his first job out of law school, John Sullivan has decorated his offices with two framed family heirlooms … a photograph of his father in his days as a submariner in World War II. … [and] a Newsweek cover from early 1979 showing his uncle, the last U.S. ambassador to Iran, surrounded by bearded Iranian students armed with assault […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Russia Reaffirms Its Global Ambitions After Political Transition” – Wall Street Journal/ Thomas Grove

Foreign Policy, Security, Visas, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Sergei Lavrov file photo

“Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticizes the West’s ‘aggressive stance’ on the world stage” “… Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov … said the Kremlin would continue work to boost Russia’s global influence, while countering the U.S. and Europe. Russia’s growing sway on the world stage has reinvigorated Russians’ patriotism and contributed to the backbone of support for … Putin at home, even […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Foreign Threats More Numerous, Sophisticated as 2020 Election Looms, Official Says; Concerns about Russia interference rose anew this week after experts reported hackers had targeted company caught up in Trump impeachment” – Wall Street Journal

Cybersecurity, Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Image of Stylized Eye Surrounded by Binary Code

“The top U.S. intelligence official for election security warned that adversaries seeking to interfere in the 2020 elections have become ‘more sophisticated’ as states prepare to hold the voting season’s first primaries and caucuses next month …” Click here for: “Foreign Threats More Numerous, Sophisticated as 2020 Election Looms, Official Says; Concerns about Russia interference rose anew this week after […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “‘Chaos Is the Point’: Russian Hackers and Trolls Grow Stealthier in 2020” – New York Times/ Matthew Rosenberg, Nicole Perlroth, David E. Sanger

Cybersecurity, JRL NewsBlog, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Image of Stylized Eye Surrounded by Binary Code

“The National Security Agency and its British counterpart issued an unusual warning in October: The Russians were back and growing stealthier. …” Click here for: “‘Chaos Is the Point’: Russian Hackers and Trolls Grow Stealthier in 2020” – New York Times/ Matthew Rosenberg, Nicole Perlroth, David E. Sanger

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “David Corn and the Steele dossier: Just checking the facts!” – Washington Post/ Erik Wemple

JRL NewsBlog, Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
FBI Headquarters File Photo

“… Why not make a ‘priority’ of telling readers that the dossier at the heart of that long-ago pre-election story lies in tatters within an FBI spreadsheet?” Click here for: “David Corn and the Steele dossier: Just checking the facts!” – Washington Post/ Erik Wemple Eleventh in a series on the media’s handling of the Steele dossier. Read the rest […]

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U.S. Lawmakers To Discuss Russia Sanctions Bill ‘From Hell’

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Oil, Gas, Energy, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
American Flag and Partial View of U.S. Capitol Dome, adapted from image at aoc.gov

(Article text ©2019 RFE/RL, Inc., Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty – rferl.org – Todd Prince – WASHINGTON – Dec. 18, 2019 article text also appeared at rferl.org/a/u-s-lawmakers-to-discuss-russia-sanctions-bill-from-hell-/30331992.html) A U.S. Senate panel is set to debate a bill that is designed to punish Russia for its alleged interference in democratic processes abroad as well as “malign” actions in Syria and aggression against […]

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AUDIO: JRL NEWSWATCH: “Analyst on Lavrov visit: Russia is ‘running circles’ around Trump [Carnegie’s Andrew Weiss]” – PRI

United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Vladirmir Putin and Donald Trump Sitting in Chairs with Flags Behind, adapted from image at whitehouse.gov

“…. [This] on-air interview was updated for a later broadcast of The World … Administration officials played host to Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Washington, DC, on Tuesday as Democrats announced articles of impeachment against … Trump. …” Click here for “Analyst on Lavrov visit: Russia is ‘running circles’ around Trump [Carnegie’s Andrew Weiss]” – PRI [Click audio player […]

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Pentagon Concerned Russia Cultivating Sympathy Among U.S. Troops

Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Aerial Photo of Pentagon and Environs

(Voice of America – voanews.com – Jeff Seldin – WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2019) Russian efforts to weaken the West through a relentless campaign of information warfare may be starting to pay off, cracking a key bastion of the U.S. line of defense: the military. While most Americans still see Moscow as a key U.S. adversary, new polling suggests that view […]

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U.S. Senate Hearing Exposes Partisan Differences Over New Russia Sanctions

Oil, Gas, Energy, Sanctions, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
American Flag and Partial View of U.S. Capitol Dome, adapted from image at aoc.gov

(Article text ©2019 RFE/RL, Inc., Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty – rferl.org – Todd Prince – WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, 2019 – article text also appeared at rferl.org/a/u-s-senate-hearing-exposes-partisan-differences-over-new-russia-sanctions/30306449.html) A hearing in the Senate to discuss U.S. foreign policy towards Russia exposed partisan disagreements over whether to impose new sanctions on a rival power accused of “malign” actions, including interference in foreign elections. […]

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RUSSIALINK: “Russia’s New ‘Foreign Agent’ Law, Explained” – Moscow Times

Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Satellite Dishes

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Dec. 2, 2019) Russia has passed legislation that will allow individual journalists and bloggers to be labeled “foreign agents,” a move that critics say will tighten curbs on the media and free speech. At least nine news organizations funded by the U.S. government have been designated “foreign agents” under the original version of the law […]

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Musings II … The “Intelligence Community,” “Russian Interference,” and Due Diligence

Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
DNI Seal and Smaller Seals of Agencies Related to DNI

Did the U.S. “Intelligence Community” judge that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election? (Jackmatlock.com – Jack Matlock – June 29, 2018) Most commentators seem to think so. Every news report I have read of the planned meeting of Presidents Trump and Putin in July refers to “Russian interference” as a fact and asks whether the matter will be discussed. […]

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RUSSIALINK: “Common interests should prevail in Russian-NATO relations – Putin” – Interfax

Military, NATO, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Globe Highlighting NATO Members

BOCHAROV RUCHEI, Sochi. Dec 3 (Interfax) – Russia stands ready for cooperation with NATO and expects that common security interests will prevail in its dialogue with the alliance, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. “London is hosting a NATO summit marking the 70th anniversary of the alliance’s foundation right now, on December 3-4,” Putin said, opening a regular conference on defense […]

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RUSSIALINK: “U.S. Study Downplays Russian Trolls’ Influence on American Politics” – Moscow Times

Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Multilingual Polling Place Sign from U.S. Election Polling Place

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – November 26, 2019) The impact of Russian trolls on U.S. voters may have been exaggerated, according to a preliminary U.S. study of Twitter interactions with troll accounts published Monday. U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that the Kremlin used social media to interfere in the 2016 presidential election through disinformation and other tactics. Calls for research […]

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Maria Butina’s New Job? Maybe Advocating For Other Russians Held In U.S. Prisons

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Human Rights, Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Stylized Russian and U.S. Flags, 200, 1807-2007

(Article text ©2019 RFE/RL, Inc., Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty – rferl.org – Mike Eckel – Nov. 19, 2019 – article text also appeared at rferl.org/a/maria-butina-s-new-job-russians-u-s-prisons/30281107.html) During and after the 15-month prison sentence she served after admitting to working as an unregistered foreign agent, Maria Butina complained about both her sentence — “this is absolutely absurd” — and her treatment in […]

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From: Jessica Pisano: “Correction: Re: 2019-#187-Johnson’s Russia List/#20”

Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Historic Washington Post Masthead, adapted from image at nlrb.gov

Subject: Correction: Re: 2019-#187-Johnson’s Russia List/#20 Date: Mon, 18 Nov 2019 From: Jessica Pisano <pisanoj@newschool.edu> To: davidjohnson@starpower.net Dear David, I hope all is well with you. There is a line in your reproduction of my WaPo piece (#20) below that was not part of my article: “the Republicans say that Trump’s quid pro quos are normal. Here’s why they’re wrong.” […]

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Clock Ticking In Congress As Russia Presses Ahead With Nord Stream 2 Gas Pipeline

Oil, Gas, Energy, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
American Flag and Partial View of U.S. Capitol Dome, adapted from image at aoc.gov

(Article text ©2019 RFE/RL, Inc., Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty – rferl.org – Todd Prince – Nov. 18, 2019 – article text also appeared at rferl.org/a/clock-ticking-in-congress-as-russia-presses-ahead-with-nord-stream-2-gas-pipeline/30278828.html) As the impeachment inquiry hogs the spotlight in Washington, another drama in which Ukraine has a role is playing out more quietly — and causing concern in Kyiv, which is watching warily as Russia brings […]

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RUSSIALINK: “Russians’ Apathy Toward Trump Hits Record High – Poll” – Moscow Times

United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Photo of Donald Trump and Putin Standing Side-by-Side at Helsinki Summit, adapted from image at whitehouse.gov

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Nov. 18, 2019) Russians’ indifference toward U.S. President Donald Trump has reached an all-time high, according to a state-run survey published Monday. Russian lawmakers greeted Trump’s victory in 2016 with thunderous applause and a majority of Russian citizens predicted he would make a competent president when he took office. While Trump ran for office on […]

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RUSSIALINK: “Antonov: Russia-U.S. dialogue gaining momentum recently” – Interfax

United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Anatoly Antonov and Others Facing U.S. Official with U.S. and Russian Flags on Table

NEW YORK (UN). Nov 8 (Interfax) – Russia will be pleased if U.S. President Donald Trump arrives in Moscow to attend celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II next year, Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said. “We will be glad to welcome U.S. President Donald Trump in Moscow at […]

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Lavrov: U.S. Has ‘No Proof’ Russia Deployed Missile In Violation Of Treaty

Nuclear, Missile Defense, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Sergei Lavrov file photo

(Article text ©2019 RFE/RL, Inc., Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty – rferl.org – Nov. 8, 2019 – article text also appeared at rferl.org/a/lavrov-u-s-has-no-proof-russia-deployed-missile-in-violation-of-treaty/30259758.html) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has lashed out at the United States, accusing Washington of failing to provide proof that Moscow deployed a missile in violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. Earlier this year, Washington withdrew […]

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How Big Is Russia’s Win in Syria?

Syria, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Syria Map

(Russia Matters – russiamatters.org – Michael Sharnoff – November 6, 2019) Dr. Michael Sharnoff is an associate professor at the National Defense University’s Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies in Washington, D.C. He is the author of “Nasser’s Peace: Egypt’s Response to the 1967 War with Israel.” The opinions, conclusions and recommendations expressed or implied within are solely […]

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RUSSIALINK: “Statecraft Overachievement: Sources of Scares in U.S.-Russian Relations” – PONARS Eurasia/ Mikhail Troitskiy

United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Moscow State University file photo

(PONARS Eurasia Policy Memo – Mikhail Troitskiy – October 2019) Mikhail Troitskiy is Associate Professor and Dean of the School of Government and International Affairs at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) and IMARES Program Professor at the European University at St. Petersburg. Actors in world politics often claim positions in the global pecking order on the basis […]

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RUSSIALINK: “Russia willing to cut Soyuz crews for US ISS flights” – Interfax

Space, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
International Space Station file photo

(Interfax – Oct. 31, 2019) The head of Russia’s Roscosmos space agency, Dmitry Rogozin, has said it is prepared to reduce the crews manning the Soyuz spacecraft to make room for U.S. astronauts travelling to the International Space station (ISS). Rogozin said Nasa head Jim Bridenstine had spoken to him about accommodating US crews on the Soyuz in 2020-2021, the […]

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TRANSCRIPT: “Statement of John J. Sullivan, Nominee to be U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation” – Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
American Flag and Partial View of U.S. Capitol Dome, adapted from image at aoc.gov

(Senate Committee on Foreign Relations – October 30, 2019) [foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/103019_Sullivan_Testimony.pdf] Chairman Risch, Ranking Member Menendez, and Members of the Committee. It is an honor to appear before you as the President’s nominee to be the United States Ambassador to the Russian Federation. I want to thank the President for his confidence in me and for the opportunity-with the Senate’s consent-to […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Behold the Lord High Impeacher; The failure to vote on an inquiry allows Schiff to make up the rules as he goes along” – Wall Street Journal/ Kimberley A. Strassel

JRL NewsBlog, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
U.S. Capitol in Bright Sunlight

“… Democrats keep their witnesses locked behind secure doors, then flood the press with carefully sculpted leaks and accusations, driving the Trump-corruption narrative. And so the party goes, galloping toward an impeachment vote that would overturn the will of the American voters-on a case built in secret. … Pelosi’s refusal to hold a vote on the House floor to authorize […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Russian Baring Vostok executives could face years in detention” – Intellinews/ bne Ben Aris

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, JRL NewsBlog, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Photos of Law Books and Gavel, adapted from image at fjc.gov

“… fund manager[ and] U.S. citizen Michael Calvey, will appear in court … October 29 to appeal against his continued pre-trial house arrest … [T]hree Russians facing the same charges will be appealing … ongoing isolation in prison cells. State investigators say they need to take the maximum time allowed by law – a full year – to investigate a […]

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RUSSIALINK: “Statecraft Overachievement: Sources of Scares in U.S.-Russian Relations” – PONARS Eurasia/ Mikhail Troitskiy

United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Stylized Russian and U.S. Flags, 200, 1807-2007

(PONARS Eurasia – Mikhail Troitskiy – October 21, 2019) Mikhail Troitskiy is Associate Professor and Dean of the School of Government and International Affairs at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) and IMARES Program Professor at the European University at St. Petersburg. (PONARS Eurasia Policy Memo) Actors in world politics often claim positions in the global pecking order […]

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Forget U.S.-Russian Friendship: Let’s Foster ‘Predictable Competition’ [re: George Beebe]

Military, Nuclear, Missile Defense, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Vladirmir Putin and Donald Trump Sitting in Chairs with Flags Behind, adapted from image at whitehouse.gov

(Russia Matters – russiamatters.org – Thomas Schaffner – Oct. 16, 2019) The U.S. and Russia have reduced their nuclear arsenals by about 70 and 80 percent, respectively, since the peak of the Cold War, according to the Federation of American Scientists, and the two countries remain committed to bilateral and multilateral documents meant to prevent either intentional or accidental war […]

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Russia Used $50 U.S.-Based Donation To Help Brand Navalny Foundation ‘Foreign Agent’

Nonprofits, Activists, NGO's, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Photo of Kremlin Tower, St. Basil's, Red Square at Night

(Article text ©2019 RFE/RL, Inc., Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty – rferl.org – Todd Prince – October 10, 2019 – article text also appeared at rferl.org/a/russia-used-50-dollar-us-donation-to-help-brand-navalny-foundation-foreign-agent/30209400.html) A Russian citizen living in Florida says he donated $50 to an opposition politician seeking to run for a Moscow city-council seat. Now the Justice Ministry is using that as part of the reason to […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Hunter Biden’s web of interests; His ties span the globe and raise questions about the overlap of business and politics” – Financial Times/ Aime Williams, Sun Yu, Roman Olearchyk

China, Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, JRL NewsBlog, Oil, Gas, Energy, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

“Hunter Biden’s business interests often show up in unexpected places … Now [they are] … at the centre of … the fourth impeachment inquiry in U.S. history. … under scrutiny after … Trump leaned on the president of Ukraine to investigate …. Trump has also publicly called on China to investigate the Bidens. The Ukraine revelations have led House Democrats […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Is Russia Winning the Ukraine Scandal?” – Council on Foreign Relations/ Stephen Sestanovich

JRL NewsBlog, Military, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Photo of Zelenskiy Extending Handshake, adapted from image at a subdomain of senate.gov

“U.S. military and economic support for Ukraine has so far weathered the widening impeachment inquiry into … Trump’s contacts with Kyiv. This backing could strengthen Ukraine in the next round of diplomacy with Russia. … Trump’s suspension of military aid to Kyiv was opposed both within his own administration and by Congress, and the move was reversed even before details […]

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Kremlin Sees Role For U.S. In Helping Resolve Conflict With Ukraine

Military, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

(Article text ©2019 RFE/RL, Inc., Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty – rferl.org – Oct. 8, 2019 – article text also appeared at rferl.org/a/kremlin-sees-role-for-u-s-in-helping-resolve-conflict-with-ukraine/30205596.html) The Kremlin says the United States could play a role in helping resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict given Washington’s influence in Kyiv. “The U.S. can undeniably use the influence it has over Kyiv to make Ukraine fulfill its Minsk […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Kremlin Rejects Idea of U.S. Role in Ukraine Conflict Talks” – Reuters

JRL NewsBlog, Military, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Dmitry Peskov file photo adapted from image at kremlin.ru/wikimedia commons

“Russia … rejected the idea of involving the United States in talks to help resolve the conflict between the Kiev government and pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine’s east. Kremlin spokesman … Peskov said there was no support for the idea of Washington joining the Normandy Format talks … involv[ing] Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France. … Peskov did say … that the […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “America Needs Dialogue With Moscow; Sanctions have their place, but some of them are undermining trust without serving their purpose” – Wall Street Journal/ Jon Huntsman

JRL NewsBlog, Sanctions, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Photo of U.S. Embassy Moscow, with Russian Foreign Ministry Building in Distance

“… The U.S., acting alone, won’t succeed in changing … [the behavior] of the Russian government. Only the Russian people are capable of this. … Putin runs the country with unrivaled strength[] [b]ut his time will pass. We need to do … more thinking about the institutions and generations that will outlast him. … [W]e need to cultivate constructive relationships […]

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RUSSIALINK: “Russia-U.S. relations far cry from Trump’s ‘getting along with Russia’ – Peskov” – Interfax

United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Dmitry Peskov file photo adapted from image at kremlin.ru/wikimedia commons

MOSCOW. Oct 8 (Interfax) – U.S. President Donald Trump has not explained the meaning of his wish to get along with Russia, and the reality does not align with his statements, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the press on Tuesday. Journalists asked Peskov to comment on criticism of Trump’s friendly attitude to Russia, which had been voiced in the United […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “All Roads Lead to Mueller; The Russia collusion morass threatens to spoil the Democrats’ impeachment drama” – Wall Street Journal/ Holman W. Jenkins, Jr.

JRL NewsBlog, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
American Flag and Partial View of U.S. Capitol Dome, adapted from image at aoc.gov

“… Numerous press accounts claimed falsely, even with the evidence in hand, that … Trump … asked for a ‘favor’ from Ukraine’s president in the form of ‘dirt’ on Joe Biden. The plain words of the available transcript show the ‘favor’ he sought was cooperation with the Justice Department’s perfectly proper investigation of the 2016 election. Now come reports … […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Putin Says He Doesn’t Mind if Private Talk With Trump Is Made Public” – New York Times/ Ivan Nechepurenko

JRL NewsBlog, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Vladirmir Putin and Donald Trump Sitting in Chairs with Flags Behind, adapted from image at whitehouse.gov

“… Putin … said … he would not mind if the White House made public his talks with … Trump at a summit meeting last year, because there was nothing incriminating …. Putin, a former K.G.B. spy, said his previous job had taught him that any conversation he had could be published. ‘Therefore, when they tried to spin another scandal […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Where else do leaders do what Trump is accused of? Start with Russia. And he has plenty of chances to do it again.” – Washington Post/ Scott Radnitz

JRL NewsBlog, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Photo of Joe Biden at Podium with U.S. Seal, With Ukrainian and U.S. Flags in Background

“The House of Representatives is investigating … Trump’s alleged efforts to pressure Ukraine’s government to dig up dirt on Joe Biden …. [I]ncumbent presidents generally have a modest advantage … in familiarity, fundraising and media coverage. …. [I]n countries where … rule of law is weak, such as the post-Soviet region[ there is the prospect of] using … ‘administrative resources’ […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “What the Press Doesn’t Know About Ukraine; Reporters will have to ask a lot more questions to understand the missing context of the Trump call” – Wall Street Journal/ Holman W. Jenkins, Jr.

JRL NewsBlog, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Maidan Square in Kiev, Ukraine

“We might not be here if the mainstream media, which loved the Steele Dossier when it seemed to incriminate … Trump, had later shown an equal interest in investigating its origins as a partisan fabrication. In his now-famous transcript … Trump mainly presses Ukraine’s new president for dirt not on the Bidens but on the known unknowns of 2016. ‘I […]

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Fearing and Ignoring Russia: A Recipe for Trouble

Books, New Books, Book Releases, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Stylized Russian and U.S. Flags, 200, 1807-2007

(Russia Matters – russiamatters.org – Paul Saunders – Oct. 1, 2019) Paul Saunders is the chairman and president of the Energy Innovation Reform Project and a senior fellow in U.S. foreign policy at the Center for the National Interest. Book Review “The Russia Anxiety and How History Can Resolve It” By Mark B. Smith Oxford University Press, October 2019 [Amazon: […]

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RUSSIALINK: “U.S. still lacks technology to deploy shorter-range, intermediate-range missiles – Huntsman” – Interfax

Nuclear, Missile Defense, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Photo of John Huntsman, Men in Military Uniforms and Others, adapted from image at army.mil

MOSCOW. Oct 2 (Interfax) – The United States, unlike Russia, lacks technology for deploying shorter-range and intermediate-range missiles, outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman said. Commenting on recent U.S. tests, the ambassador said in an interview with Kommersant that the U.S. so far does not possess the necessary technology. He said that if the Pentagon were set to buy […]

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