Page 31 - Russia

UEFA approves Euro 2024 qualifying draw procedure; Russia barred

Russia will be barred from taking part in Euro 2024, having been suspended from UEFA and FIFA competitions

Ukraine conflict: Putin announces partial mobilisation for Russian citizens

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday announced a partial mobilisation in Russia as the war in Ukraine reaches nearly seven months. Putin's address to the nation comes a day after Russian-controlled regions in eastern and southern Ukraine announced plans to hold votes on becoming integral parts of Russia. The Kremlin-backed efforts to swallow up four regions could set the stage for Moscow to escalate the war following Ukrainian successes on the battlefield. The referendums, which have been expected to take since the first months of the war, will start Friday in the Luhansk, Kherson and partly Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions. Putin said he has signed a decree on the partial mobilisation, which is due to start on Wednesday. We are talking about partial mobilisation, that is, only citizens who are currently in the reserve will be subject to conscription, and above all, those who served in the armed forces have a certain military specialty and relevant ...

Senators urge Biden admin for secondary sanctions on Russian oil purchases

The push comes as the US and Group of Seven nations seek to limit Russian President Vladimir Putin's ability to fund his war in Ukraine

Biden nominates veteran foreign service officer as ambassador to Russia

President Joe Biden has formally nominated a veteran foreign service officer with years of experience in Russian affairs to be the next US ambassador to Russia. The White House announced the nomination of Lynne Tracy, the current US ambassador to Armenia, to the post after the Russian government signed off on the choice. Tracy's selection had been known for some time but had not been announced pending Russia's approval. Ambassadorial nominations must be approved by the host government under the rules of diplomatic protocol. Such approval is generally routine but couldn't be taken for granted at a time of particularly fraught US-Russian relations over Ukraine, the detention of Americans in Russia, allegations of Russian meddling in US and other elections, and an escalating spat over the staffing of embassies in Washington and Moscow. Tracy, who speaks Russian, previously served as a senior adviser for Russian affairs in the State Department's Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs,

Russia triggers plan to formally annex occupied Ukrainian regions

Four Russia-occupied regions announce referendum plans; votes will be held on whether to become part of Russia; Ukraine and the West regard votes as sham and illegal

Russia likely to flood Asia with fuel as Europe ramps up sanctions

India and China took a combined 2.7 million barrels a day of Russian crude and products last month, 54% higher than a year earlier

After Russian flows dry up, India pays up to double price for gas

GAIL India Ltd. bought several LNG cargoes for delivery between October and November at more than double the price it paid around this time last year.

Govt holding bilateral talks over Gazprom-GAIL issue, won't seek penalty

The centre may neither pursue arbitration with Gazprom, the world's largest natural gas explorer, nor accept a penalty from the company after it halted supplies to GAIL in May

Amid Ukraine war China makes subtle shift in relations with Russia

Beijing still undoubtedly wishes to redirect the evolution of the global order, but has decided not to trumpet that it is working with Russia to do so.

Pakistan in talks with Russia on importing oil on deferred payment: Report

Pakistan is in talks with Russia on the possibility of importing oil on deferred payment, according to a media report on Sunday. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had three meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan's Samarkand city, which concluded last week, the Express Tribune newspaper reported quoting a top government official. "One was formal and the rest were informal," said the official, who was part of the prime minister's delegation. "What we have discussed during the recent interaction with the Russian side is the possibility of importing oil on deferred payment," the official said, adding that Moscow has shown inclination to consider the proposal. If the proposal is materialised, it will be a landmark development given that Pakistan imports oil from Gulf countries and in the past Saudi Arabia and UAE supplied Pakistan oil on deferred payment. However, it is not clear if the government

Russia's secret gem sales fracturing diamond trade from Mumbai to New York

Many in the industry refuse to deal in Russian gems following the invasion of Ukraine and after mining giant Alrosa PJSC was hit with US sanctions

Russia may step up Ukraine civilian target attacks, says Britain

Russian shelling hit cities and towns across a wide stretch of Ukraine during the night, officials said Sunday, and the British Defence Ministry warned that Russia is likely to increase its attacks on civilian targets as it suffers battlefield defeats. In the last seven days, Russia has increased its targeting of civilian infrastructure even where it probably perceives no immediate military effect, the ministry said in an online briefing. As it faces setbacks on the front lines, Russia has likely extended the locations it is prepared to strike in an attempt to directly undermine the morale of the Ukrainian people and government." Overnight shelling hit a hospital in the city of Mykolaiv, a significant Black Sea port, regional governor Vitaliy Kim said. He also said shelling hit other parts of the region, wounding two people. Three people were wounded in nighttime shelling of the city of Nikopol, which is across the river from Europe's largest nuclear power station, regional governor

US Bill on Russia will punish African countries: SA Prez Cyril Ramaphosa

A US Bill that seeks to act against African countries that support Russian activities on the continent has been described by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa as having the potential of punishing' these countries. Addressing a meeting with the US Congress Black caucus and anti-apartheid veterans on Friday, Ramaphosa said that the bill if passed could have unintended consequences on the African continent. He strongly condemned the United States' proposed Russian Malicious Acts Bill as harmful to Africa's development. The bill would oblige Washington to punish any governments in Africa that help Russian malign' activities, SA people News, a South African news portal reported. (If passed) the law could have the unintended consequence of punishing the continent for efforts to advance development and growth, Ramaphosa said. In terms of the Bill, the US will assess the influence that Russia has on African countries, especially those which it believes undermines the interests of tho

India deepens strategic autonomy-bonds with SCO, IPEF and Russia

India is the only common member country to be a part of the SCO and the US-driven Indo Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).

Germany takes control of Russian-owned refinery amid energy crisis

We are making ourselves independent of Russia, and any decisions that are taken there, said Scholz

Russia economy may not reach pre-war levels until 2030, says report

By the end of 2023, GDP will be about 8% below where output was in 2021, according to the credit rating watchdog's forecast

Today's era is not of war, says PM Modi to Russian President Putin

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday pushed Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the conflict in Ukraine, saying "today's era is not of war" even as he called for finding ways to address the global food and energy security crisis. Modi also underlined the importance of democracy, dialogue and diplomacy during a bilateral meeting with Putin that took place on the sidelines of the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in this Silk Road city. "Today the biggest worry before the world, especially developing countries, is food security, fuel security, fertilisers. We must find ways on these problems and you will also have to consider it. We will get an opportunity to talk about these issues," Modi said in his opening remarks. On his part, Putin told Modi that he was aware of India's concerns over the Ukraine conflict and that Russia will do everything possible to end it as soon as possible. "I know about your position on the conflict in Ukraine. I know about

Need to build resilient supply chains, boost connectivity: PM Modi at SCO

India assumes rotational annual presidency of SCO summit nations; China, Russia and other countries offer support for summit next year in India

Russian prez Putin reveals details of new gas pipeline to China, Mongolia

He held talks with Chinese Premier Xi Jinping and Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh on Thursday

After the mess in Ukraine, is Vladimir Putin of any use to Russia?

Putin's claim to power has evolved over his nearly 22 years atop the Kremlin