Russia will not immediately raise oil output after the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/donald-trumps-crackdown-on-irans-oil-exports-could-backfire-badly-with-serious-risks-to-global-economy-213229">United States ends sanctions waivers for buyers of Iranian crude</a> in May, President Vladimir Putin said Saturday.

The United States announced this week that, in a bid to reduce Iran's oil exports to zero, it would from May 2 end US waivers that countries such as India, China, South Korea and Turkey currently have on buying Iranian crude.

"We have an agreement with OPEC to maintain production at a certain level and this agreement is in force until July," Putin told reporters on the sidelines of a summit in Beijing.

"I can't imagine how the world energy market will react" after the waivers end in May, Putin said.

But, he added, "none of our partners, including Saudi Arabia, is withdrawing from our agreements within OPEC."

Saudi Arabia, the world's top crude exporter, has also said it had no immediate plans to raise oil output after the sanctions waivers end.

There had been speculation that Riyadh could step in to plug the gap left by the removal of Iranian crude.

Eight countries including China, India and Turkey had been given temporary waivers by the US when it reimposed sanctions on Iran last year.

The end of the exemptions sparked fears of supply shortages, pushing prices to near six-month highs.

Russia will not immediately raise oil output after the United States ends sanctions waivers for buyers of Iranian crude in May, President Vladimir Putin said Saturday.

Russia will not immediately raise oil output after the United States ends sanctions waivers for buyers of Iranian crude in May, President Vladimir Putin said Saturday. The United States announced this week that, in a bid to reduce Iran's oil exports to zero, it would from May 2 end US waivers that countries such as India, China, South Korea and Turkey currently have on buying Iranian crude. "We have an agreement with OPEC to maintain production at a certain level and this agreement is in force until July," Putin told reporters on the sidelines of a summit in Beijing. "I can't imagine how the world energy market will react" after the waivers end in May, Putin said. But, he added, "none of our partners, including Saudi Arabia, is withdrawing from our agreements within OPEC." Saudi Arabia, the world's top crude exporter, has also said it had no immediate plans to raise oil output after the sanctions waivers end. There had been speculation that Riyadh could step in to plug the gap left by the removal of Iranian crude. Eight countries including China, India and Turkey had been given temporary waivers by the US when it reimposed sanctions on Iran last year. The end of the exemptions sparked fears of supply shortages, pushing prices to near six-month highs.

Russia won't immediately raise oil output after Iran waivers end: Vladimir Putin

As Russian President Putin and North Korean leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kim-putin-vow-to-seek-closer-ties-at-first-talks-213353">Kim&nbsp;Jong-un met in Vladivostok </a>with hopes of strengthing ties, the Russian president said North Korea needs security guarantees and denuclearisation could only be achieved through international law.

Putin said North Korea needs international security guarantees in order to dismantle its nuclear programme, and that those guarantees, if they are to work, would need to be offered within a multi-national framework.

The denuclearisation issue has been Trump administrations key demand. The talks between Trump and Kim during the Hanoi Summit had broken down over the key issue of denuclearisation.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nkoreas-kim-says-he-will-coordinate-views-on-peninsula-issues-with-putin-213355/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"We need to restore the power of international law, to return to a state where international law, not the law of the strongest, determines the situation in the world," Putin said after meeting Kim.

"We, me and my colleagues, are satisfied with the results of the talks," Putin added.

As Russian President Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met in Vladivostok with hopes of strengthing ties, the Russian president said North Korea needs security guarantees and denuclearisation could only be achieved through international law.

As Russian President Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met in Vladivostok with hopes of strengthing ties, the Russian president said North Korea needs security guarantees and denuclearisation could only be achieved through international law. Putin said North Korea needs international security guarantees in order to dismantle its nuclear programme, and that those guarantees, if they are to work, would need to be offered within a multi-national framework. The denuclearisation issue has been Trump administrations key demand. The talks between Trump and Kim during the Hanoi Summit had broken down over the key issue of denuclearisation. "We need to restore the power of international law, to return to a state where international law, not the law of the strongest, determines the situation in the world," Putin said after meeting Kim. "We, me and my colleagues, are satisfied with the results of the talks," Putin added.

North Korea needs 'security guarantees' in exchange for denuclearisation, says Putin after meeting Kim

Just hours after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-eases-citizenship-rules-in-east-ukraine-213296">Russia made it easier for people living in Ukraine's separatist territories</a> to obtain Russian passports, President Putin said he had no desire to create problems for the new Ukrainian leadership.

"We have no desire to create problems for the new Ukrainian leadership, but to tolerate a situation in which people living in the territory of Donetsk and Luhansk republic are generally deprived of any civil rights, this is already crossing the line from the point of view of human rights," President Putin said.

The new Russian rule has made it easier for separatist regions to receive a Russian passport within three months of applying. Ukraine and Russia have been at loggerheads since the annexation of Crimea by Russian forces in 2014.&nbsp;

"They cannot travel normally, they cannot meet their own elementary needs or exercise their elementary rights. It's a purely humanitarian issue," Putin said while giving the green signal to the new order.

Ukrainian president-elect Volodymyr Zelenskiy who recently won the elections by a landslide urged more international sanctions against Russia after Moscow's new move.

"Kiev is counting on increased diplomatic and sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation," Zelensky's press service said in a statement. Ukraine said it had informed the United Nations about Russia's move and also asked the EU to take "prompt and decisive" action.

According to a copy of the decree published on the Kremlin website, the law aimed to "protect rights" and was guided by "the norms of international law".&nbsp;

However, Ukraine's foreign minister Pavlo Klimkin said the decision was "the continuation of aggression and interference in our internal affairs."&nbsp;

"Russia has deprived you of the present, and now it is trespassing on your future," he said.

Iryna Gerashchenko, the deputy speaker of the Ukrainian parliament said: "Putin always uses moments of uncertainty and transition periods to plunge another knife into Ukraine's back."&nbsp;

Other Ukrainian leaders also condemned the move.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Just hours after Russia made it easier for people living in Ukraine's separatist territories to obtain Russian passports, President Putin said he had no desire to create problems for the new Ukrainian leadership.

Just hours after Russia made it easier for people living in Ukraine's separatist territories to obtain Russian passports, President Putin said he had no desire to create problems for the new Ukrainian leadership. "We have no desire to create problems for the new Ukrainian leadership, but to tolerate a situation in which people living in the territory of Donetsk and Luhansk republic are generally deprived of any civil rights, this is already crossing the line from the point of view of human rights," President Putin said. The new Russian rule has made it easier for separatist regions to receive a Russian passport within three months of applying. Ukraine and Russia have been at loggerheads since the annexation of Crimea by Russian forces in 2014. "They cannot travel normally, they cannot meet their own elementary needs or exercise their elementary rights. It's a purely humanitarian issue," Putin said while giving the green signal to the new order. Ukrainian president-elect Volodymyr Zelenskiy who recently won the elections by a landslide urged more international sanctions against Russia after Moscow's new move. "Kiev is counting on increased diplomatic and sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation," Zelensky's press service said in a statement. Ukraine said it had informed the United Nations about Russia's move and also asked the EU to take "prompt and decisive" action. According to a copy of the decree published on the Kremlin website, the law aimed to "protect rights" and was guided by "the norms of international law". However, Ukraine's foreign minister Pavlo Klimkin said the decision was "the continuation of aggression and interference in our internal affairs." "Russia has deprived you of the present, and now it is trespassing on your future," he said. Iryna Gerashchenko, the deputy speaker of the Ukrainian parliament said: "Putin always uses moments of uncertainty and transition periods to plunge another knife into Ukraine's back." Other Ukrainian leaders also condemned the move.

Have no desire to create problems for new Ukrainian leadership: Putin on new passport rule

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un crossed the border into Russia Wednesday for the first summit with Vladimir Putin, as Pyongyang seeks closer ties with its traditional ally amid a nuclear deadlock with the United States.

The meeting on Thursday in the Pacific coast city of Vladivostok will be Kim's first face-to-face talks with another head of state since returning from talks with US President Donald Trump in Hanoi that collapsed in February.

Earlier the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported his departure by train, naming among his entourage foreign minister Ri Yong Ho -- who told journalists after the summit in Vietnam that the country's stance would "never change".

Kim's private armoured train crossed the Tumen river Wednesday and arrived in the Russian border town of Khasan, Russian media reports said, where women in folk costumes welcomed him with bread and salt in a traditional greeting.

Kim's predecessors as leader, his father and grandfather, also stopped there on their trips, and at the station a small wooden building known as the House of Kim Il Sung commemorates Russian-Korean friendship.

Russian and North Korean flags were already flying on lamp posts Tuesday on Vladivostok's Russky island, where the summit is expected to take place at a university campus.&nbsp;

The talks follow repeated invitations from Putin since Kim embarked on his diplomatic overtures last year.

Since March 2018, the formerly reclusive North Korean leader has held four meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, three with the South's Moon Jae-in, two with Trump and one with Vietnam's president.

Analysts say he is now looking for wider international support in his standoff with Washington.

At the same time, Western diplomats say that with Moscow's global role a shadow of what it once was, Russian foreign policy is driven by the "search for relevance".

In Hanoi, the cash-strapped North demanded immediate relief from the sanctions imposed on it over its banned nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, but the talks broke down in disagreement over what Pyongyang was prepared to give up in return.

Cold War ties

North Korea last week launched a blistering attack on US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, insisting he be removed from the negotiations just hours after announcing it had carried out a new weapons test.

Moscow has already called for the sanctions to be eased, while the US has accused it of trying to help Pyongyang evade some of the measures -- accusations Russia denies.

Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told a briefing on Tuesday: "The focus will be on a political and diplomatic solution to the nuclear problem on the Korean Peninsula."&nbsp;

"Russia intends to help consolidate positive trends in every way," he said, but added that no joint statement or signing of agreements was planned.

KCNA did not mention whether Kim's wife Ri Sol Ju or his sister and close aide Kim Yo Jong were accompanying him.

Moscow was a crucial backer of Pyongyang for decades and their ties go back to the founding of North Korea, when the Soviet Union installed Kim's grandfather Kim Il Sung as leader.

But their relations have often shifted between hot and cold and during the Cold War, Kim Il Sung was adept at exploiting the Communist rivalry between Beijing and Moscow to extract concessions from both.

The Soviet Union reduced funding to the North as it began to seek reconciliation with Seoul in the 1980s, but Pyongyang was hit hard by its demise in 1991.

Soon after his first election as Russian president, Putin sought to normalise relations and met Kim Jong Il -- the current leader's father and predecessor -- three times, the first of those meetings in Pyongyang in 2000, when he became the first Russian leader to visit the North.

China has since cemented its role as the isolated North's most important ally, its largest trading partner and crucial fuel supplier, and analysts say Kim could be looking to balance Beijing's influence.

"It's part of the North's Juche -- self-reliance -- ideology not to rely on a single ally," said Jeong Young-tae, an analyst at the Institute of North Korean Studies in Seoul.

"Pyongyang has a group of experts on diplomacy who have been in their post for decades. They'll know how to play the game if it ever becomes necessary for Pyongyang to play off its allies against each other."

While ties between Russia and the North have remained cordial, the last meeting between their leaders came in 2011, when Kim Jong Il told then-president Dmitry Medvedev that he was prepared to renounce nuclear testing.

His son has since overseen by far the country's most powerful blast to date, and the launch of missiles capable of reaching the entire US mainland.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un crossed the border into Russia Wednesday for the first summit with Vladimir Putin, as Pyongyang seeks closer ties with its traditional ally amid a nuclear deadlock with the United States.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un crossed the border into Russia Wednesday for the first summit with Vladimir Putin, as Pyongyang seeks closer ties with its traditional ally amid a nuclear deadlock with the United States. The meeting on Thursday in the Pacific coast city of Vladivostok will be Kim's first face-to-face talks with another head of state since returning from talks with US President Donald Trump in Hanoi that collapsed in February. Earlier the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported his departure by train, naming among his entourage foreign minister Ri Yong Ho -- who told journalists after the summit in Vietnam that the country's stance would "never change". Kim's private armoured train crossed the Tumen river Wednesday and arrived in the Russian border town of Khasan, Russian media reports said, where women in folk costumes welcomed him with bread and salt in a traditional greeting. Kim's predecessors as leader, his father and grandfather, also stopped there on their trips, and at the station a small wooden building known as the House of Kim Il Sung commemorates Russian-Korean friendship. Russian and North Korean flags were already flying on lamp posts Tuesday on Vladivostok's Russky island, where the summit is expected to take place at a university campus. The talks follow repeated invitations from Putin since Kim embarked on his diplomatic overtures last year. Since March 2018, the formerly reclusive North Korean leader has held four meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, three with the South's Moon Jae-in, two with Trump and one with Vietnam's president. Analysts say he is now looking for wider international support in his standoff with Washington. At the same time, Western diplomats say that with Moscow's global role a shadow of what it once was, Russian foreign policy is driven by the "search for relevance". In Hanoi, the cash-strapped North demanded immediate relief from the sanctions imposed on it over its banned nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, but the talks broke down in disagreement over what Pyongyang was prepared to give up in return. Cold War ties North Korea last week launched a blistering attack on US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, insisting he be removed from the negotiations just hours after announcing it had carried out a new weapons test. Moscow has already called for the sanctions to be eased, while the US has accused it of trying to help Pyongyang evade some of the measures -- accusations Russia denies. Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told a briefing on Tuesday: "The focus will be on a political and diplomatic solution to the nuclear problem on the Korean Peninsula." "Russia intends to help consolidate positive trends in every way," he said, but added that no joint statement or signing of agreements was planned. KCNA did not mention whether Kim's wife Ri Sol Ju or his sister and close aide Kim Yo Jong were accompanying him. Moscow was a crucial backer of Pyongyang for decades and their ties go back to the founding of North Korea, when the Soviet Union installed Kim's grandfather Kim Il Sung as leader. But their relations have often shifted between hot and cold and during the Cold War, Kim Il Sung was adept at exploiting the Communist rivalry between Beijing and Moscow to extract concessions from both. The Soviet Union reduced funding to the North as it began to seek reconciliation with Seoul in the 1980s, but Pyongyang was hit hard by its demise in 1991. Soon after his first election as Russian president, Putin sought to normalise relations and met Kim Jong Il -- the current leader's father and predecessor -- three times, the first of those meetings in Pyongyang in 2000, when he became the first Russian leader to visit the North. China has since cemented its role as the isolated North's most important ally, its largest trading partner and crucial fuel supplier, and analysts say Kim could be looking to balance Beijing's influence. "It's part of the North's Juche -- self-reliance -- ideology not to rely on a single ally," said Jeong Young-tae, an analyst at the Institute of North Korean Studies in Seoul. "Pyongyang has a group of experts on diplomacy who have been in their post for decades. They'll know how to play the game if it ever becomes necessary for Pyongyang to play off its allies against each other." While ties between Russia and the North have remained cordial, the last meeting between their leaders came in 2011, when Kim Jong Il told then-president Dmitry Medvedev that he was prepared to renounce nuclear testing. His son has since overseen by far the country's most powerful blast to date, and the launch of missiles capable of reaching the entire US mainland.

North Korea's Kim arrives in Russia for summit with Putin

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un received a military welcome on Wednesday after arriving in the Russian Pacific city of Vladivostok ahead of a summit later this week with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

NKorea's Kim receives military honours ahead of summit with Putin

A new study shows a dip in Russian President Vladimir Putin's popularity ratings. Russians on social media blame Putin for a weak economy.

Gravitas: Is Putin losing his grip on Russia?

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-polls-2019-phase-2-voting-on-april-18-211287">Lok Sabha polls 2019 live: EVM glitches delay voting in Tamil Nadu, 61% turnout recorded till 6 pm</a>

West Bengal went to polls braving violence.

Isolated incidents of violence, road blockades, bombings and police firing marred the second phase of polling at a few place in the three Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal with 76 per cent of voter turnout till 6pm on Thursday, officials said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/government-of-india-suspends-loc-trade-with-pakistan-says-route-being-misused-211563">Government of India suspends LoC trade with Pakistan, says route being misused</a>

In a blow to Pakistan, India on Thursday called off trade between J&amp;K and POK(Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) along the line of control(LoC).

The ministry of home affairs letter, procured by WION and dated April 18, 2019, said the trade is being misused by the Pakistan-based elements for funnelling illegal weapons, narcotics and fake currency and called for a "stricter regulatory regime".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/another-bangladeshi-actor-asked-to-leave-india-for-participating-in-political-rally-in-west-bengal-mha-211516">Another Bangladeshi actor asked to leave India for participating in political rally in West Bengal: MHA</a>

The Ministry of Home Affairs has asked another Bangladeshi actor Ghazi Abdul Noor to leave India immediately for taking part in a political rally in West Bengal, news agencies reported on Thursday.&nbsp;

As per reports, Noor attended a political rally in Dumdum, West Bengal. His visa had also expired.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/local-insurgent-group-claims-responsibility-for-balochistan-bus-attack-211475">Local insurgent group claims responsibility for Balochistan bus attack</a>

A Baluch insurgent group on Thursday claimed responsibility for killing 14 people in southwest Pakistan, it said in a statement emailed to reporters and newspaper offices.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-koreas-kim-to-meet-putin-in-russia-in-late-april-211539">North Korea's Kim to meet Putin in Russia in late April</a>

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will visit Russia in late April for his first meeting with President Vladimir Putin, Moscow said Thursday.

"Following an invitation from Vladimir Putin... Kim Jong Un will visit Russia in the second half of April," the Kremlin said in a statement on its website.

Lok Sabha polls 2019 live: EVM glitches delay voting in Tamil Nadu, 61% turnout recorded till 6 pm West Bengal went to polls braving violence. Isolated incidents of violence, road blockades, bombings and police firing marred the second phase of polling at a few place in the three Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal with 76 per cent of voter turnout till 6pm on Thursday, officials said.

Lok Sabha polls 2019 live: EVM glitches delay voting in Tamil Nadu, 61% turnout recorded till 6 pm West Bengal went to polls braving violence. Isolated incidents of violence, road blockades, bombings and police firing marred the second phase of polling at a few place in the three Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal with 76 per cent of voter turnout till 6pm on Thursday, officials said. Government of India suspends LoC trade with Pakistan, says route being misused In a blow to Pakistan, India on Thursday called off trade between J&K and POK(Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) along the line of control(LoC). The ministry of home affairs letter, procured by WION and dated April 18, 2019, said the trade is being misused by the Pakistan-based elements for funnelling illegal weapons, narcotics and fake currency and called for a "stricter regulatory regime". Another Bangladeshi actor asked to leave India for participating in political rally in West Bengal: MHA The Ministry of Home Affairs has asked another Bangladeshi actor Ghazi Abdul Noor to leave India immediately for taking part in a political rally in West Bengal, news agencies reported on Thursday. As per reports, Noor attended a political rally in Dumdum, West Bengal. His visa had also expired. Local insurgent group claims responsibility for Balochistan bus attack A Baluch insurgent group on Thursday claimed responsibility for killing 14 people in southwest Pakistan, it said in a statement emailed to reporters and newspaper offices. North Korea's Kim to meet Putin in Russia in late April North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will visit Russia in late April for his first meeting with President Vladimir Putin, Moscow said Thursday. "Following an invitation from Vladimir Putin... Kim Jong Un will visit Russia in the second half of April," the Kremlin said in a statement on its website.

News brief: Big stories of the day

By Jonathan Hall

Involved in armed conflicts on two fronts, in eastern Ukraine and Syria, the Russian Federation’s dual campaigns are often closely associated with one another. Experts looking at Russia’s ongoing operations in the Syrian Civil War often attempt to link them to the conflict in Ukraine. In doing so, analysts and policymakers may inadvertently fail to see the full range of consequences the renewed Russian presence in the Middle East brings. This in no way implies a lack of relationship between the two, but rather that the economic and political benefits Moscow is reaping should be appreciated before such a causal relationship can be understood.

Two main factors of Russia’s intervention in Syria will affect future calculi between interlocutors attempting to resolve the war in the Donbas region and the illegal annexation of Crimea. The first factor that needs addressing is the near-term consequences. Because of its military cooperation with Bashar al-Assad’s regime and other regional players, Moscow has managed to secure billions of dollars from states in the Middle East such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Along with rising global oil prices, Russia has further insulated itself against Western sanctions.

The second implication is the geopolitical importance of Russia’s growing presence in the region, which it is utilising to cast influence throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Its significance comes in the shape of a favorable bargaining position within and without the Minsk framework (for the resolution of the conflict in eastern Ukraine) for two reasons: geoeconomic clout vis-à-vis the energy market and political leverage over the European Union as it attempts to manage issues related to immigration flows from the MENA region.&nbsp;

Inextricably Linked

September 30, 2015, marked the beginning of Russia’s official involvement in Syria at the request of President Assad, opening with airstrikes around the cities of Homs and Hama in western Syria against the mainstream opposition forces. With the war in eastern Ukraine already being waged for over a year at that point, the two conflicts have since been inextricably linked. Some analysts posit that Russia’s incursion into Syria serves the same purpose as prior aggressions in Ukraine, namely dismantling the current Western-led world order that has been in place since World War II.

Concerning this link, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin likely knew he would be able to use any gains in the Middle East in his favour concerning Ukraine. However, these gains, when seen through a wider lens than just the regional context of Ukraine, provide a clearer analysis of the economically and geopolitically revitalised bargaining position given to the Kremlin on issues with transatlantic partners writ large and, therefore, certainly concerning Donbas and Crimea.

Throughout 2014, as US and EU sanctions began to accumulate, the ruble was at one point devalued by roughly 50 per cent. While Moscow has reclaimed some economic stability, the strength of the Russian currency, which is currently priced at 65 against the US dollar, is no where near its former status of around 35 rubles against the dollar.

While sanctions have certainly hurt Russia’s economy, the drop in the global oil prices had a much more significant effect. Russia’s long-term budget projections placed oil above $100 per barrel; however, at certain points in 2016, the price fell below $30. Moscow’s economic difficulties were further compounded by the budgetary pressures self-imposed by its activities in Ukraine, as well as the economic shock experienced during the 2008-09 global financial crisis that drained central reserves. Even if the sanctions were never imposed, some suggest the Kremlin would still have found itself in a difficult position.

Irrespective of sanctions staying in place, last year the State Duma reviewed the federal budget and projected a surplus of 0.5 per cent of GDP, equating to around $7.7 billion. This was the first expected surplus since 2011, which displays the preponderant effect of oil over Western sanctions given that 2012 marked the beginning of a drop in global oil prices. The World Bank confirmed such reports, forecasting 1.5 per cent&nbsp;GDP growth in 2018, followed by an increase of 1.8 per cent&nbsp;from 2019-20.

Entering Syria

Although the financial losses due to sanctions have not had the same effect as declining oil prices, they have certainly taken their toll. Resumed business with the EU and the US would be the best-case scenario for Russia. However, this would only begin to be a possibility after the Kremlin put forth a concerted effort to work with the international community to bring about peace in the region.

Moscow, however, understands that an abrupt end to the fighting in Donbas, in which it has only marginally admitted involvement, would be highly unlikely, especially while trying to save face on both the international stage as well as in front of domestic audiences. Given this reality, Russia appears fully committed to increasing relations in the Middle East not only militarily, but also economically, as part of its eastward pivot toward the MENA region and Asia. 
 
Important to note is that on the list of sanctioned individuals and entities is Vnesheconombank (VEB), of which Russia’s sovereign wealth fund (SWF), the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), is a fully owned subsidiary. Put simply, SWFs serve as state-owned instruments in public finance. Largely funded by revenues from commodity exports or from foreign exchange reserves in a state’s central bank, SWFs may be used to invest globally. As such, Russia has begun to circumvent the economic hardship of sanctions and severed business partnerships in the West by contractually binding itself to other sovereign wealth funds in the Middle East.

While not an exhaustive list of SWF partnerships, the following are the most lucrative of contracts set up through the RDIF, which represent short-term financial reprieve and long-term economic bargaining power for the Kremlin: the Qatari Investment Authority has committed over $2.5 billion in assets to Russia, mostly within Russia’s oil giant Rosneft; Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund invested $10 billion, mostly focused on technology and energy; and Abu Dhabi, for its part, has set up a $3 billion fund with the RDIF, focused on developing Russia’s southern infrastructure and agricultural sectors. 
 
Arms Sales

Apart from direct SWF investment, Russia’s arms industry has also received a huge boon since Russia commenced military operations in Syria. The importance of this can be seen from former deputy prime minister, Dmitry Rogozin, stating that “arms sales are the most important element of Moscow’s relations with other countries.” For example, in 2009 Moscow sold roughly $9 billion in arms to the MENA region. In 2016, that number rose to $21.4 billion. With the MENA region quickly becoming Russia’s most profitable destination in terms of exporting arms, behind Asia, the correlation of foreign policy interests is clear.

The Kremlin has used the war as effective advertising from the very beginning. In early October, shortly after Russia officially entered the war on behalf of Assad’s regime, Moscow fired 26 cruise missiles from its Caspian Sea flotilla, hitting various targets in Syria. Although it could be argued that the same objective could have been carried out through military capabilities already in-country, Russia was able to broadcast its new technology on a global scale.

Shortly after, customers from the Middle East and abroad began to line up to buy various weapons systems. The key example of this success would be Tehran resuming its position as a top-tier client following the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (and Russia’s assistance in the process) placing weapon orders to the sum of $10 billion.

For the near future, any economic gains achieved by the Russian Federation may directly affect its position moving forward concerning Ukraine. The Kremlin has been hemorrhaging money in backing separatist activities and financing its own operations in Donbas and Crimea. Arms sales and economic partnerships in the Middle East and North Africa will provide the monetary reprieve Russia needs to shield itself from the financial backlash currently being sustained. 
 
Longterm Benefits

While economic deals amongst SWFs and recent increases in arms sales provide Russia assistance in the near-term to face the previous shock to global oil prices as well as Western sanctions, the mid to long-term implications of Russia’s involvement in the Syrian Civil War are the most important to analyze. In terms of bilateral cooperation in the Middle East, relations with Iran are the most important for Russia. A major consumer of Russian arms, Moscow sees Tehran as a “regional superpower” given Iran’s extensive involvement in the war in Syria, its support for Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as the question of its future nuclear capabilities.

Russia also views Tehran as a reliable partner with whom it can successfully counter the US presence in the Black Sea, the Caspian region and the Middle East, in addition to controlling Sunni extremism within Russia’s near-abroad — the North Caucasus and Central Asia. While the war in Syria will eventually come to an end, Russia has now successfully locked itself into the region through its access to the Syrian port of Tartus and the Khmeimim airbase, which it will maintain for at least the next 48 years.

The geopolitical importance of Russia’s permanent military presence in the region, in concert with growing forms of economic cooperation, may be better realized through discussion of the north-south corridor. Introduced by President Putin in 2007, this strategic initiative is based upon a mixture of financial planning and political enterprise. Moscow’s goal with the so-called north-south corridor is to utilize its partnerships in the Middle East and create a staging ground for further economic and political cooperation in Africa and the “global south.”

One example of this is a deal likely brokered thanks to SWF investments in Abu Dhabi’s defense sector for Moscow to create an air hub in the UAE. Through this hub, Russia will be able to deliver infrastructure projects and humanitarian aid.

Should Russia continue to gain political clout throughout the MENA region, the European Union may find itself dealing with Russia as its main interlocutor for issues such as the ongoing refugee crisis. In many European countries, issues concerning migration flows are dominating the discourse in the media and political spheres. Domestic political concerns will likely take precedence over the war in Ukraine. Therefore, Russia’s ability to provide concessions — for example through growing its influence in Libya — to work with the EU in dealing with migration may, in turn, lead to unfavorable tradeoffs for Ukraine.&nbsp;

The trends regarding military and economic cooperation between Russia and its Middle Eastern partners may have begun well before the annexation of Crimea. However, it is apparent that Western sanctions and political pressure have since driven the Kremlin farther east, accelerating its efforts. This divergence does not appear to be coming solely out of desperation after the loss of Western investment, but rather because of the real promise Moscow sees in its increasingly eastward-leaning strategic focus.

Russia’s enlarged presence in the Middle East, particularly as it relates to renewed ties with Iran and the potential access this will give the Kremlin to developments in Africa, clearly displays the war in Syria as just the beginning.

Any increased influence in these regions will come at the expense of transatlantic partners and will shift bargaining positions when it comes to its dealings with Russia, namely as it pertains to Ukraine. If these trends persist, in addition to rising oil prices, some rethinking will be required when it comes to countering Russia in Ukraine as sanctions may become less and less relevant. If this is the case, expect the Russian Federation to become economically more viable, geographically more influential and, as a result, perhaps more aggressive in eastern Ukraine.

 
(Jonathan Hall is a security and political risk analyst focused on Eurasian geopolitics, military affairs, and emerging technologies)

(This article was originally published on The Fair Observer. Read the <a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/region/middle_east_north_africa/western-sanctions-russia-economy-syria-ukraine-middle-east-news-00171/">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.) &nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

By Jonathan Hall Involved in armed conflicts on two fronts, in eastern Ukraine and Syria, the Russian Federation’s dual campaigns are often closely associated with one another.

By Jonathan Hall Involved in armed conflicts on two fronts, in eastern Ukraine and Syria, the Russian Federation’s dual campaigns are often closely associated with one another. Experts looking at Russia’s ongoing operations in the Syrian Civil War often attempt to link them to the conflict in Ukraine. In doing so, analysts and policymakers may inadvertently fail to see the full range of consequences the renewed Russian presence in the Middle East brings. This in no way implies a lack of relationship between the two, but rather that the economic and political benefits Moscow is reaping should be appreciated before such a causal relationship can be understood. Two main factors of Russia’s intervention in Syria will affect future calculi between interlocutors attempting to resolve the war in the Donbas region and the illegal annexation of Crimea. The first factor that needs addressing is the near-term consequences. Because of its military cooperation with Bashar al-Assad’s regime and other regional players, Moscow has managed to secure billions of dollars from states in the Middle East such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Along with rising global oil prices, Russia has further insulated itself against Western sanctions. The second implication is the geopolitical importance of Russia’s growing presence in the region, which it is utilising to cast influence throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Its significance comes in the shape of a favorable bargaining position within and without the Minsk framework (for the resolution of the conflict in eastern Ukraine) for two reasons: geoeconomic clout vis-à-vis the energy market and political leverage over the European Union as it attempts to manage issues related to immigration flows from the MENA region. Inextricably Linked September 30, 2015, marked the beginning of Russia’s official involvement in Syria at the request of President Assad, opening with airstrikes around the cities of Homs and Hama in western Syria against the mainstream opposition forces. With the war in eastern Ukraine already being waged for over a year at that point, the two conflicts have since been inextricably linked. Some analysts posit that Russia’s incursion into Syria serves the same purpose as prior aggressions in Ukraine, namely dismantling the current Western-led world order that has been in place since World War II. Concerning this link, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin likely knew he would be able to use any gains in the Middle East in his favour concerning Ukraine. However, these gains, when seen through a wider lens than just the regional context of Ukraine, provide a clearer analysis of the economically and geopolitically revitalised bargaining position given to the Kremlin on issues with transatlantic partners writ large and, therefore, certainly concerning Donbas and Crimea. Throughout 2014, as US and EU sanctions began to accumulate, the ruble was at one point devalued by roughly 50 per cent. While Moscow has reclaimed some economic stability, the strength of the Russian currency, which is currently priced at 65 against the US dollar, is no where near its former status of around 35 rubles against the dollar. While sanctions have certainly hurt Russia’s economy, the drop in the global oil prices had a much more significant effect. Russia’s long-term budget projections placed oil above $100 per barrel; however, at certain points in 2016, the price fell below $30. Moscow’s economic difficulties were further compounded by the budgetary pressures self-imposed by its activities in Ukraine, as well as the economic shock experienced during the 2008-09 global financial crisis that drained central reserves. Even if the sanctions were never imposed, some suggest the Kremlin would still have found itself in a difficult position. Irrespective of sanctions staying in place, last year the State Duma reviewed the federal budget and projected a surplus of 0.5 per cent of GDP, equating to around $7.7 billion. This was the first expected surplus since 2011, which displays the preponderant effect of oil over Western sanctions given that 2012 marked the beginning of a drop in global oil prices. The World Bank confirmed such reports, forecasting 1.5 per cent GDP growth in 2018, followed by an increase of 1.8 per cent from 2019-20. Entering Syria Although the financial losses due to sanctions have not had the same effect as declining oil prices, they have certainly taken their toll. Resumed business with the EU and the US would be the best-case scenario for Russia. However, this would only begin to be a possibility after the Kremlin put forth a concerted effort to work with the international community to bring about peace in the region. Moscow, however, understands that an abrupt end to the fighting in Donbas, in which it has only marginally admitted involvement, would be highly unlikely, especially while trying to save face on both the international stage as well as in front of domestic audiences. Given this reality, Russia appears fully committed to increasing relations in the Middle East not only militarily, but also economically, as part of its eastward pivot toward the MENA region and Asia. Important to note is that on the list of sanctioned individuals and entities is Vnesheconombank (VEB), of which Russia’s sovereign wealth fund (SWF), the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), is a fully owned subsidiary. Put simply, SWFs serve as state-owned instruments in public finance. Largely funded by revenues from commodity exports or from foreign exchange reserves in a state’s central bank, SWFs may be used to invest globally. As such, Russia has begun to circumvent the economic hardship of sanctions and severed business partnerships in the West by contractually binding itself to other sovereign wealth funds in the Middle East. While not an exhaustive list of SWF partnerships, the following are the most lucrative of contracts set up through the RDIF, which represent short-term financial reprieve and long-term economic bargaining power for the Kremlin: the Qatari Investment Authority has committed over $2.5 billion in assets to Russia, mostly within Russia’s oil giant Rosneft; Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund invested $10 billion, mostly focused on technology and energy; and Abu Dhabi, for its part, has set up a $3 billion fund with the RDIF, focused on developing Russia’s southern infrastructure and agricultural sectors. Arms Sales Apart from direct SWF investment, Russia’s arms industry has also received a huge boon since Russia commenced military operations in Syria. The importance of this can be seen from former deputy prime minister, Dmitry Rogozin, stating that “arms sales are the most important element of Moscow’s relations with other countries.” For example, in 2009 Moscow sold roughly $9 billion in arms to the MENA region. In 2016, that number rose to $21.4 billion. With the MENA region quickly becoming Russia’s most profitable destination in terms of exporting arms, behind Asia, the correlation of foreign policy interests is clear. The Kremlin has used the war as effective advertising from the very beginning. In early October, shortly after Russia officially entered the war on behalf of Assad’s regime, Moscow fired 26 cruise missiles from its Caspian Sea flotilla, hitting various targets in Syria. Although it could be argued that the same objective could have been carried out through military capabilities already in-country, Russia was able to broadcast its new technology on a global scale. Shortly after, customers from the Middle East and abroad began to line up to buy various weapons systems. The key example of this success would be Tehran resuming its position as a top-tier client following the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (and Russia’s assistance in the process) placing weapon orders to the sum of $10 billion. For the near future, any economic gains achieved by the Russian Federation may directly affect its position moving forward concerning Ukraine. The Kremlin has been hemorrhaging money in backing separatist activities and financing its own operations in Donbas and Crimea. Arms sales and economic partnerships in the Middle East and North Africa will provide the monetary reprieve Russia needs to shield itself from the financial backlash currently being sustained. Longterm Benefits While economic deals amongst SWFs and recent increases in arms sales provide Russia assistance in the near-term to face the previous shock to global oil prices as well as Western sanctions, the mid to long-term implications of Russia’s involvement in the Syrian Civil War are the most important to analyze. In terms of bilateral cooperation in the Middle East, relations with Iran are the most important for Russia. A major consumer of Russian arms, Moscow sees Tehran as a “regional superpower” given Iran’s extensive involvement in the war in Syria, its support for Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as the question of its future nuclear capabilities. Russia also views Tehran as a reliable partner with whom it can successfully counter the US presence in the Black Sea, the Caspian region and the Middle East, in addition to controlling Sunni extremism within Russia’s near-abroad — the North Caucasus and Central Asia. While the war in Syria will eventually come to an end, Russia has now successfully locked itself into the region through its access to the Syrian port of Tartus and the Khmeimim airbase, which it will maintain for at least the next 48 years. The geopolitical importance of Russia’s permanent military presence in the region, in concert with growing forms of economic cooperation, may be better realized through discussion of the north-south corridor. Introduced by President Putin in 2007, this strategic initiative is based upon a mixture of financial planning and political enterprise. Moscow’s goal with the so-called north-south corridor is to utilize its partnerships in the Middle East and create a staging ground for further economic and political cooperation in Africa and the “global south.” One example of this is a deal likely brokered thanks to SWF investments in Abu Dhabi’s defense sector for Moscow to create an air hub in the UAE. Through this hub, Russia will be able to deliver infrastructure projects and humanitarian aid. Should Russia continue to gain political clout throughout the MENA region, the European Union may find itself dealing with Russia as its main interlocutor for issues such as the ongoing refugee crisis. In many European countries, issues concerning migration flows are dominating the discourse in the media and political spheres. Domestic political concerns will likely take precedence over the war in Ukraine. Therefore, Russia’s ability to provide concessions — for example through growing its influence in Libya — to work with the EU in dealing with migration may, in turn, lead to unfavorable tradeoffs for Ukraine. The trends regarding military and economic cooperation between Russia and its Middle Eastern partners may have begun well before the annexation of Crimea. However, it is apparent that Western sanctions and political pressure have since driven the Kremlin farther east, accelerating its efforts. This divergence does not appear to be coming solely out of desperation after the loss of Western investment, but rather because of the real promise Moscow sees in its increasingly eastward-leaning strategic focus. Russia’s enlarged presence in the Middle East, particularly as it relates to renewed ties with Iran and the potential access this will give the Kremlin to developments in Africa, clearly displays the war in Syria as just the beginning. Any increased influence in these regions will come at the expense of transatlantic partners and will shift bargaining positions when it comes to its dealings with Russia, namely as it pertains to Ukraine. If these trends persist, in addition to rising oil prices, some rethinking will be required when it comes to countering Russia in Ukraine as sanctions may become less and less relevant. If this is the case, expect the Russian Federation to become economically more viable, geographically more influential and, as a result, perhaps more aggressive in eastern Ukraine. (Jonathan Hall is a security and political risk analyst focused on Eurasian geopolitics, military affairs, and emerging technologies) (This article was originally published on The Fair Observer. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Western sanctions are driving Russia’s focus on the Middle East

The body of an Israeli soldier missing since the 1982 Lebanon War was found by the Russian and Syrian armies, President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.

Sergeant First Class Zachary Baumel had been listed as missing along with two other Israeli soldiers in a deadly battle with Syrian forces in a Lebanese village, and the return of his remains will bring to a close a highly sensitive case for Israelis.

Putin made the revelation at a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is visiting Moscow five days before he is to seek a fifth term in office in a difficult election.

Netanyahu, 69, is running in the April 9 vote despite facing potential corruption charges and experts said he hopes the Moscow visit would increase his chances of success on election day.

"Our military together with Syrian partners found the place of his burial," Putin said of Baumel.

"We are very happy that he will be able to receive the right military honours in his homeland."

Netanyahu said Baumel would be laid to rest at a "very moving" ceremony in Israel later Thursday.&nbsp;

"Zachary's friends and family will take part," he said, adding that his family had been "very touched".

"His father is no longer alive, unfortunately," he added. "His mother is around 100 years old. Zachary also has a sister."

Neither Putin nor Israel have given details on how or where the remains were found.&nbsp;

Putin said only that Syria -- with which Israel has technically been at war -- participated in the operation.&nbsp;

'Risking their lives'

Netanyahu's spokesman posted photographs on Twitter showing a ceremony in the Russian defence ministry handing over the remains to Netanyahu on Thursday.

"Russia has handed over to Israel the remains of a member of a tank battalion, Zachary Baumel, missing for over 37 years," the ministry said in a statement.

The Israeli army had announced Wednesday that the body had already been recovered and returned to the country.

According to translated comments published on the Kremlin website, Netanyahu said, "Russian fighters, risking their lives, brought Zachary's remains to Israeli territory."&nbsp;

But Putin said Thursday: "The remains are with us and, in accordance with military tradition, we will send them to Israel with your participation."

Putin said "it was not easy" for Russian special forces to find the remains. He added that "all the necessary genetic tests have been completed".

He said he valued Netanyahu's "attitude to the memory of Red Army soldiers", adding that Baumel shared the same fate as thousands of Soviet soldiers who went missing during World War II. &nbsp;

'We will not forget this'

Baumel, who was born in the US in 1960 but immigrated to Israel, had been missing since what is known as the Battle of Sultan Yacoub in a Lebanese village of the same name near the Syrian border. Some 20 Israeli soldiers were killed in the fight.&nbsp;

Tank driver Baumel and two other soldiers, Zvi Feldman and Yehuda Katz, had been listed as missing and presumed dead. The other two remain missing.

Netanyahu said he asked Putin two years ago to help in the search for the remains of the missing men.

"You personally responded and gave the order to help in this holy deed," he said, thanking the Russian leader.&nbsp;

"We will not forget this act, it will go down in history."

The return of the remains of soldiers missing in action is a highly important issue in Israel, which has fought repeated wars with its Arab neighbours since the state of Israel was established in 1948.

The body of an Israeli soldier missing since the 1982 Lebanon War was found by the Russian and Syrian armies, President Vladimir Putin said Thursday. Sergeant First Class Zachary Baumel had been listed as missing along with two other Israeli soldiers in a deadly battle with Syrian forces in a Lebanese village, and the return of his remains will bring to a close a highly sensitive case for Israelis.

The body of an Israeli soldier missing since the 1982 Lebanon War was found by the Russian and Syrian armies, President Vladimir Putin said Thursday. Sergeant First Class Zachary Baumel had been listed as missing along with two other Israeli soldiers in a deadly battle with Syrian forces in a Lebanese village, and the return of his remains will bring to a close a highly sensitive case for Israelis. Putin made the revelation at a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is visiting Moscow five days before he is to seek a fifth term in office in a difficult election. Netanyahu, 69, is running in the April 9 vote despite facing potential corruption charges and experts said he hopes the Moscow visit would increase his chances of success on election day. "Our military together with Syrian partners found the place of his burial," Putin said of Baumel. "We are very happy that he will be able to receive the right military honours in his homeland." Netanyahu said Baumel would be laid to rest at a "very moving" ceremony in Israel later Thursday. "Zachary's friends and family will take part," he said, adding that his family had been "very touched". "His father is no longer alive, unfortunately," he added. "His mother is around 100 years old. Zachary also has a sister." Neither Putin nor Israel have given details on how or where the remains were found. Putin said only that Syria -- with which Israel has technically been at war -- participated in the operation. 'Risking their lives' Netanyahu's spokesman posted photographs on Twitter showing a ceremony in the Russian defence ministry handing over the remains to Netanyahu on Thursday. "Russia has handed over to Israel the remains of a member of a tank battalion, Zachary Baumel, missing for over 37 years," the ministry said in a statement. The Israeli army had announced Wednesday that the body had already been recovered and returned to the country. According to translated comments published on the Kremlin website, Netanyahu said, "Russian fighters, risking their lives, brought Zachary's remains to Israeli territory." But Putin said Thursday: "The remains are with us and, in accordance with military tradition, we will send them to Israel with your participation." Putin said "it was not easy" for Russian special forces to find the remains. He added that "all the necessary genetic tests have been completed". He said he valued Netanyahu's "attitude to the memory of Red Army soldiers", adding that Baumel shared the same fate as thousands of Soviet soldiers who went missing during World War II. 'We will not forget this' Baumel, who was born in the US in 1960 but immigrated to Israel, had been missing since what is known as the Battle of Sultan Yacoub in a Lebanese village of the same name near the Syrian border. Some 20 Israeli soldiers were killed in the fight. Tank driver Baumel and two other soldiers, Zvi Feldman and Yehuda Katz, had been listed as missing and presumed dead. The other two remain missing. Netanyahu said he asked Putin two years ago to help in the search for the remains of the missing men. "You personally responded and gave the order to help in this holy deed," he said, thanking the Russian leader. "We will not forget this act, it will go down in history." The return of the remains of soldiers missing in action is a highly important issue in Israel, which has fought repeated wars with its Arab neighbours since the state of Israel was established in 1948.

Putin says body of missing Israeli soldier found by Russian army

The United States has yet to request a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the situation in Venezuela, the Kremlin was quoted as saying by TASS news agency on Saturday.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday he will probably talk to Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping about the crisis in Venezuela.

The United States has yet to request a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the situation in Venezuela, the Kremlin was quoted as saying by TASS news agency on Saturday.

The United States has yet to request a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the situation in Venezuela, the Kremlin was quoted as saying by TASS news agency on Saturday. US President Donald Trump said on Friday he will probably talk to Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping about the crisis in Venezuela.

US has not requested phone call on Venezuela with Putin: Kremlin

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - March 19th, 2019

A British destroyer is shadowing a Russian naval task group as it passes the English coast, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on Wednesday.

HMS Defender was called upon to sail over the weekend and keep watch on the frigate Admiral Gorshkov and three auxiliary ships as they neared UK territorial waters off Scotland.

It will continue to escort the Russian group this week as it passes through the English Channel, the ministry said.

"We will continue to work with our allies to shadow Russian ships passing through international waters close to our shores, to ensure the Russian navy follows the correct protocol on its journey," Armed Forces minister Mark Lancaster added in a statement.

Royal Navy ships routinely shadow Russian warships through the English Channel. Last May, Royal Navy head, First Sea Lord Admiral Philip Jones, said in a speech that Britain was facing "significantly emboldened Russian naval activity, which is continually testing our resolve".

A British destroyer is shadowing a Russian naval task group as it passes the English coast, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on Wednesday. HMS Defender was called upon to sail over the weekend and keep watch on the frigate Admiral Gorshkov and three auxiliary ships as they neared UK territorial waters off Scotland.

A British destroyer is shadowing a Russian naval task group as it passes the English coast, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on Wednesday. HMS Defender was called upon to sail over the weekend and keep watch on the frigate Admiral Gorshkov and three auxiliary ships as they neared UK territorial waters off Scotland. It will continue to escort the Russian group this week as it passes through the English Channel, the ministry said. "We will continue to work with our allies to shadow Russian ships passing through international waters close to our shores, to ensure the Russian navy follows the correct protocol on its journey," Armed Forces minister Mark Lancaster added in a statement. Royal Navy ships routinely shadow Russian warships through the English Channel. Last May, Royal Navy head, First Sea Lord Admiral Philip Jones, said in a speech that Britain was facing "significantly emboldened Russian naval activity, which is continually testing our resolve".

British destroyer shadowing Russian naval task group in English coast: UK government

Russia President Vladimir Putin called Prime Minister Narendra Modi over phone today. The Russian president expressed his deep <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/as-a-peace-gesture-we-are-releasing-captured-pilot-tomorrow-pm-imran-khan-200295">condolences over&nbsp;the Pulwama </a>terrorist attack. Putin also conveyed solidarity of the people of the Russian Federation with the people of India in the fight against terrorism.

PM Modi thanked President Putin for his steadfast support for India's efforts to protect its interests against cross-border terror attacks and renewed India's commitment to strengthen bilateral cooperation in countering terrorism. PM Modi told Putin that Russia was as a pillar of special and strategic partnership.

Both the leaders also agreed that the growing cooperation between the two countries will take their Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership from strength to strength.

President Putin reiterated the invitation to PM Modi to attend the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok later this year. PM welcomed the invitation and underscored the significance of growing economic cooperation, including in the Russian Far East.

Russia President Vladimir Putin called Prime Minister Narendra Modi over phone today. The Russian president expressed his deep condolences over the Pulwama terrorist attack.

Russia President Vladimir Putin called Prime Minister Narendra Modi over phone today. The Russian president expressed his deep condolences over the Pulwama terrorist attack. Putin also conveyed solidarity of the people of the Russian Federation with the people of India in the fight against terrorism. PM Modi thanked President Putin for his steadfast support for India's efforts to protect its interests against cross-border terror attacks and renewed India's commitment to strengthen bilateral cooperation in countering terrorism. PM Modi told Putin that Russia was as a pillar of special and strategic partnership. Both the leaders also agreed that the growing cooperation between the two countries will take their Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership from strength to strength. President Putin reiterated the invitation to PM Modi to attend the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok later this year. PM welcomed the invitation and underscored the significance of growing economic cooperation, including in the Russian Far East.

President Putin calls PM Modi, expresses condolences over Pulwama attack

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Feb. 27, Netanyahu's office said on Thursday, with the focus likely to be on Middle East issues led by Syria.

The two leaders had been scheduled to meet this week, but that was postponed, with no reason given. At the time, the Kremlin said Netanyahu and Putin were to discuss the situation in the Middle East, including Syria.

Thursday's statement offered no further details.

Israel's air force has repeatedly attacked what it describes as Iranian targets in Syria and those of allied militia, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

The air strikes have long caused friction between Israel and Russia, which apart from Iran is Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s other major foreign backer.

Israeli officials have spoken in the past of an agreement with Moscow under which they have made clear their strikes on Syria would not threaten Assad, while Russia has promised to help limit Iranian influence near the Israeli frontier.

A hotline set up since 2015 is aimed at ensuring Russian forces in Syria are not surprised by Israeli attacks.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Feb. 27, Netanyahu's office said on Thursday, with the focus likely to be on Middle East issues led by Syria.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Feb. 27, Netanyahu's office said on Thursday, with the focus likely to be on Middle East issues led by Syria. The two leaders had been scheduled to meet this week, but that was postponed, with no reason given. At the time, the Kremlin said Netanyahu and Putin were to discuss the situation in the Middle East, including Syria. Thursday's statement offered no further details. Israel's air force has repeatedly attacked what it describes as Iranian targets in Syria and those of allied militia, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah. The air strikes have long caused friction between Israel and Russia, which apart from Iran is Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s other major foreign backer. Israeli officials have spoken in the past of an agreement with Moscow under which they have made clear their strikes on Syria would not threaten Assad, while Russia has promised to help limit Iranian influence near the Israeli frontier. A hotline set up since 2015 is aimed at ensuring Russian forces in Syria are not surprised by Israeli attacks.

Israel's Netanyahu to meet Putin in Moscow next week

President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia is militarily ready for a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/european-union-to-sanction-eight-russians-for-azov-sea-standoff-197950">Cuban Missile-style crisis</a> if the United States is foolish enough to want one and that his country currently has the edge when it comes to a first nuclear strike.

The Cuban Missile crisis erupted in 1962 when Moscow responded to a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-pullout-from-syria-risks-boosting-russia-iran-influence-angela-merkel-197771">US missile deployment in Turkey</a> by sending ballistic missiles to Cuba, sparking a standoff that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.

More than five decades on, tensions are rising again over Russian fears that the United States might deploy intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Europe as a landmark cold war-era arms control treaty unravels.

Putin has said he does not want an arms race with the United States, but that he would have no choice but to act if Washington deployed new missiles in Europe, some of which he says would be able to strike Moscow within 10-12 minutes.

Putin said his naval response to such a move would mean Russia could strike the United States faster than US missiles deployed in Europe could hit Moscow because the flight time would be shorter.

"It (the calculation) would not be in their favour, at least as things stand today. That's for sure." said Putin.

"They (the tensions) are not a reason to ratchet up confrontation to the levels of the Cuban Missile Crisis in the 1960s. In any case, that's not what we want," said Putin. "If someone wants that, well OK they are welcome. I have set out today what that would mean. Let them count (the missile flight times)."

Putin's comments, made to Russian media late on Wednesday, follow his warning that Moscow will match any US move to deploy new missiles closer to Russia by stationing its own missiles closer to the United States or by deploying faster missiles or both.

Putin fleshed out his warning in detail for the first time, saying Russia could deploy hypersonic missiles on ships and submarines which could lurk outside US territorial waters if Washington now moved to deploy intermediate-range nuclear weapons in Europe.

"(We're talking about) naval delivery vehicles: submarines or surface ships. And we can put them, given the speed and range (of our missiles)... in neutral waters. Plus they are not stationary, they move and they will have to find them," Putin said, according to a Kremlin transcript.

"You work it out. Mach nine (the speed of the missiles) and over 1,000 km (their range)."

The US State Department dismissed Putin's earlier warning as propaganda, saying it was designed to divert attention from what Washington alleges are Moscow's violations of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.

The pact, which banned Russia and the United States from stationing short- and intermediate-range, land-based missiles in Europe, is in its death throes, raising the prospect of a new arms race between Washington and Moscow.

President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia is militarily ready for a Cuban Missile-style crisis if the United States is foolish enough to want one and that his country currently has the edge when it comes to a first nuclear strike.

President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia is militarily ready for a Cuban Missile-style crisis if the United States is foolish enough to want one and that his country currently has the edge when it comes to a first nuclear strike. The Cuban Missile crisis erupted in 1962 when Moscow responded to a US missile deployment in Turkey by sending ballistic missiles to Cuba, sparking a standoff that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. More than five decades on, tensions are rising again over Russian fears that the United States might deploy intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Europe as a landmark cold war-era arms control treaty unravels. Putin has said he does not want an arms race with the United States, but that he would have no choice but to act if Washington deployed new missiles in Europe, some of which he says would be able to strike Moscow within 10-12 minutes. Putin said his naval response to such a move would mean Russia could strike the United States faster than US missiles deployed in Europe could hit Moscow because the flight time would be shorter. "It (the calculation) would not be in their favour, at least as things stand today. That's for sure." said Putin. "They (the tensions) are not a reason to ratchet up confrontation to the levels of the Cuban Missile Crisis in the 1960s. In any case, that's not what we want," said Putin. "If someone wants that, well OK they are welcome. I have set out today what that would mean. Let them count (the missile flight times)." Putin's comments, made to Russian media late on Wednesday, follow his warning that Moscow will match any US move to deploy new missiles closer to Russia by stationing its own missiles closer to the United States or by deploying faster missiles or both. Putin fleshed out his warning in detail for the first time, saying Russia could deploy hypersonic missiles on ships and submarines which could lurk outside US territorial waters if Washington now moved to deploy intermediate-range nuclear weapons in Europe. "(We're talking about) naval delivery vehicles: submarines or surface ships. And we can put them, given the speed and range (of our missiles)... in neutral waters. Plus they are not stationary, they move and they will have to find them," Putin said, according to a Kremlin transcript. "You work it out. Mach nine (the speed of the missiles) and over 1,000 km (their range)." The US State Department dismissed Putin's earlier warning as propaganda, saying it was designed to divert attention from what Washington alleges are Moscow's violations of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. The pact, which banned Russia and the United States from stationing short- and intermediate-range, land-based missiles in Europe, is in its death throes, raising the prospect of a new arms race between Washington and Moscow.

No reason to ratchet up confrontation to level of Cuban missile crisis, we can put submarines in neutral waters, warns Putin

The last <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/russia-seeks-to-vindicate-afghan-war-30-years-after-pullout-196807">Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev</a> issued a stinging criticism of Washington on Wednesday, accusing it of misleading the world over its exit from a key arms treaty and seeking to gain military superiority at the expense of international security.

This month US President Donald Trump ripped up a key arms control agreement, the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/will-take-measures-to-ensure-security-if-us-leaves-inf-missile-treaty-russia-195913">Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty,</a> that Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan brokered in 1987.&nbsp;

Russian President Vladimir Putin quickly followed suit, tasking his government with developing new ground-based missiles and banning his ministers from initiating any future talks to salvage the agreement.

Gorbachev said that according to the treaty the country exiting it should notify the global community of "exceptional circumstances" that prompted it to do so.

In a column published by Vedomosti liberal daily, Gorbachev asked if &nbsp;Washington, the world's biggest military spender, had been able to "explain itself to the international community" and the UN Security Council.

"No, this has not been done," Gorbachev said, adding that instead, the United States prefered to accuse Russia of violating the agreement.

The 87-year-old also claimed Washington misled the world when it said it needed to abandon the treaty also because China and other countries not bound by the INF pact were stockpiling missiles.

"This is not convincing either," he said, adding that Russia and the United States still controlled 90 per cent of all nuclear weapons.

"Behind the US decision to exit the treaty are not the reasons the US leaders are citing but something completely different," said Gorbachev.

It is, he said, "a desire by the United States to free itself of any constraints in the arms sphere (and) gain absolute military superiority."

"Presumably to impose its will on the world — and why else?"

The last Soviet leader also rubbished Trump's claim he wanted to "get everybody in a big and beautiful room and do a new treaty."

"What treaty? About an arms buildup?" Gorbachev asked.

He agreed with critics of the agreement that much had changed since the signing of the pact in 1987. But, he added, that was not a reason to dismantle the existing arms control regime.

He said the changes "call not for the abandonment of treaties that created the foundation of global security after the end of the Cold War but a further movement towards to the final goal —&nbsp; the elimination of armaments."

The last Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev issued a stinging criticism of Washington on Wednesday, accusing it of misleading the world over its exit from a key arms treaty and seeking to gain military superiority at the expense of international security.

The last Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev issued a stinging criticism of Washington on Wednesday, accusing it of misleading the world over its exit from a key arms treaty and seeking to gain military superiority at the expense of international security. This month US President Donald Trump ripped up a key arms control agreement, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, that Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan brokered in 1987. Russian President Vladimir Putin quickly followed suit, tasking his government with developing new ground-based missiles and banning his ministers from initiating any future talks to salvage the agreement. Gorbachev said that according to the treaty the country exiting it should notify the global community of "exceptional circumstances" that prompted it to do so. In a column published by Vedomosti liberal daily, Gorbachev asked if Washington, the world's biggest military spender, had been able to "explain itself to the international community" and the UN Security Council. "No, this has not been done," Gorbachev said, adding that instead, the United States prefered to accuse Russia of violating the agreement. The 87-year-old also claimed Washington misled the world when it said it needed to abandon the treaty also because China and other countries not bound by the INF pact were stockpiling missiles. "This is not convincing either," he said, adding that Russia and the United States still controlled 90 per cent of all nuclear weapons. "Behind the US decision to exit the treaty are not the reasons the US leaders are citing but something completely different," said Gorbachev. It is, he said, "a desire by the United States to free itself of any constraints in the arms sphere (and) gain absolute military superiority." "Presumably to impose its will on the world — and why else?" The last Soviet leader also rubbished Trump's claim he wanted to "get everybody in a big and beautiful room and do a new treaty." "What treaty? About an arms buildup?" Gorbachev asked. He agreed with critics of the agreement that much had changed since the signing of the pact in 1987. But, he added, that was not a reason to dismantle the existing arms control regime. He said the changes "call not for the abandonment of treaties that created the foundation of global security after the end of the Cold War but a further movement towards to the final goal — the elimination of armaments."

Last Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev slams Washington over arms treaty exit

Russia has truly entered the "great game" in Afghanistan. First, the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/russia-offers-to-help-us-on-afghan-peace-talks-with-taliban-ria-195886"> Putin regime a few days</a> ago hosted the Taliban and former Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Moscow, just a few days after the US concluded its Doha talks with the Taliban.

It was an attempt by Russia to show it would not be sidelined in Afghan peace talks even decades after the Soviets left the country humiliated by the jihadists, the forerunner of the Taliban.

Now, Russia has its eyes set on Pakistan. Last year it had signed an intergovernmental agreement with the Pakistan government to discuss ways in which to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Pakistan, one of the biggest markets of the gas in the world.

Last Friday, Putin's regime signed a provisional agreement with the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/once-spoiler-pakistan-starts-behind-scenes-aid-to-us-taliban-talks-196116">Imran Khan government </a>to allow state-run gas major Gazprom to conduct a "feasibility study" to construct an offshore pipeline to supply natural gas from the Middle East into Pakistan.

Both the LNG project and the latest Gazprom deal have raised eyebrows in Washington with US sanctions underway against Iran.

A few days ago Iran's oil minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh had said the country had accepted a "Russian proposal" to construct a sub-sea pipeline for exporting natural gas to India. The pipeline would link Gujarat to the Guly of Oman through the Indian Ocean.

The Russia-Iran-India pipeline would reportedly carry 31.5 million cubic meters gas per day to energy-starved India. Iran's oil minister had said Russia had already reached an "understanding" meaning a MoU on the pipeline last year with preparations underway to get it ready in two years.

Russia was the undisputed power as a natural gas supplier after World War-II, however, it was overtaken by tiny Qatar which became the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas.

In December last year, Qatar pulled out of OPEC as relations between Qatar and Saudi Arabia nosedived and the oil body turned its back on it. Qatar now seeks to increase its natural gas production, a fact not lost on the Russians.

Qatar is currently the largest supplier of LNG to India and is keen to increase its market share in the country. Qatar supplies 8.5 million tonnes a year of liquefied natural gas to India which is 40 per cent of India's energy shipment.

The Putin regime has increasingly played the "energy game" with markets in Europe, however, the Europeans are slowly breaking away from traditional energy sources and moving towards renewables namely solar and wind power. Germany already has a solar policy in place and hopes to exploit its wind turbines as it powers its economy on clean energy, other countries - Norway, Sweden, France hope to follow suit in order to balance climate change with economic concerns.

Security concerns also weigh on Europeans and Americans, after all, Gazprom had cut gas supply to Ukraine after it failed to pay up. The West also fears a re-run of the oil crisis in the 70s when OPEC had cut oil supply to the US, UK, Canada, the Netherlands and other countries due to its support for Israel during the 1973 Arab-Israeli conflict in which the Arab coalition forces were soundly beaten by PM Golda Meir's military.

As the "cold war" continues between the West and Russia over a whole host of issues from arms race, the alleged poisoning of a Russian agent in the UK at Salisbury, as a result, the trio of Trump, May and Macron don't want to take any chances.

According to the &nbsp;International Energy Agency(IAEA), in 2016, the share of LNG's share in the global gas market was a remarkable of 42 per cent which is expected to reach 53 per cent by 2040 even as Europe's production halves in the same period. In order to ensure energy security, the US has now entered the LNG market in a big way as it does not want to cede ground to the Russians in the "great game".

Europe is Gazprom's biggest market with record exports reached last year. Russia has been dependent on its oil and gas reserves to service its debt and power its economy since the Soviet era, the dynamic is not going to change anytime soon.&nbsp;

Asia-Pacific headed by China and India now presents the biggest natural gas market in the world. The region currently accounts for 72 per cent of global LNG demand, Putin, therefore, is making every effort to open "gas channels" in India and hopefully involve China, Pakistan's biggest ally in the region. In the future, an India-Pakistan-China gas pipeline powered by Russia cannot be discounted.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Russia has truly entered the "great game" in Afghanistan. First, the Putin regime a few days ago hosted the Taliban and former Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Moscow, just a few days after the US concluded its Doha talks with the Taliban.

Russia has truly entered the "great game" in Afghanistan. First, the Putin regime a few days ago hosted the Taliban and former Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Moscow, just a few days after the US concluded its Doha talks with the Taliban. It was an attempt by Russia to show it would not be sidelined in Afghan peace talks even decades after the Soviets left the country humiliated by the jihadists, the forerunner of the Taliban. Now, Russia has its eyes set on Pakistan. Last year it had signed an intergovernmental agreement with the Pakistan government to discuss ways in which to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Pakistan, one of the biggest markets of the gas in the world. Last Friday, Putin's regime signed a provisional agreement with the Imran Khan government to allow state-run gas major Gazprom to conduct a "feasibility study" to construct an offshore pipeline to supply natural gas from the Middle East into Pakistan. Both the LNG project and the latest Gazprom deal have raised eyebrows in Washington with US sanctions underway against Iran. A few days ago Iran's oil minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh had said the country had accepted a "Russian proposal" to construct a sub-sea pipeline for exporting natural gas to India. The pipeline would link Gujarat to the Guly of Oman through the Indian Ocean. The Russia-Iran-India pipeline would reportedly carry 31.5 million cubic meters gas per day to energy-starved India. Iran's oil minister had said Russia had already reached an "understanding" meaning a MoU on the pipeline last year with preparations underway to get it ready in two years. Russia was the undisputed power as a natural gas supplier after World War-II, however, it was overtaken by tiny Qatar which became the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas. In December last year, Qatar pulled out of OPEC as relations between Qatar and Saudi Arabia nosedived and the oil body turned its back on it. Qatar now seeks to increase its natural gas production, a fact not lost on the Russians. Qatar is currently the largest supplier of LNG to India and is keen to increase its market share in the country. Qatar supplies 8.5 million tonnes a year of liquefied natural gas to India which is 40 per cent of India's energy shipment. The Putin regime has increasingly played the "energy game" with markets in Europe, however, the Europeans are slowly breaking away from traditional energy sources and moving towards renewables namely solar and wind power. Germany already has a solar policy in place and hopes to exploit its wind turbines as it powers its economy on clean energy, other countries - Norway, Sweden, France hope to follow suit in order to balance climate change with economic concerns. Security concerns also weigh on Europeans and Americans, after all, Gazprom had cut gas supply to Ukraine after it failed to pay up. The West also fears a re-run of the oil crisis in the 70s when OPEC had cut oil supply to the US, UK, Canada, the Netherlands and other countries due to its support for Israel during the 1973 Arab-Israeli conflict in which the Arab coalition forces were soundly beaten by PM Golda Meir's military. As the "cold war" continues between the West and Russia over a whole host of issues from arms race, the alleged poisoning of a Russian agent in the UK at Salisbury, as a result, the trio of Trump, May and Macron don't want to take any chances. According to the International Energy Agency(IAEA), in 2016, the share of LNG's share in the global gas market was a remarkable of 42 per cent which is expected to reach 53 per cent by 2040 even as Europe's production halves in the same period. In order to ensure energy security, the US has now entered the LNG market in a big way as it does not want to cede ground to the Russians in the "great game". Europe is Gazprom's biggest market with record exports reached last year. Russia has been dependent on its oil and gas reserves to service its debt and power its economy since the Soviet era, the dynamic is not going to change anytime soon. Asia-Pacific headed by China and India now presents the biggest natural gas market in the world. The region currently accounts for 72 per cent of global LNG demand, Putin, therefore, is making every effort to open "gas channels" in India and hopefully involve China, Pakistan's biggest ally in the region. In the future, an India-Pakistan-China gas pipeline powered by Russia cannot be discounted. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Great game-II: India-Pakistan-China gas pipeline powered by Russia cannot be discounted

Clown-faced politicians and cinema mix at Nice Carnival

By Jeffrey Fields 
 
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced February 1 that the United States would withdraw from its nuclear weapons treaty with Russia.

Since the Obama administration, the US&nbsp;has accused Russia of being in violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which prohibits the US&nbsp;and Russia from developing certain types of ballistic and cruise missiles. A day after Pompeo’s announcement, President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia would also suspend its participation in the treaty.

The treaty is not dead yet. The announcements serve as the six month’s notice required by the treaty before parties can withdraw. There is still time to reconcile differences.

But I don’t think that will happen.

I worked on issues related to arms control and nuclear nonproliferation at both the State Department and Department of Defense.

Here’s why a resolution is unlikely.

Cold War context

In the 1970s, the Soviet Union began placing missiles in strategic locations within its territory that could each carry three nuclear warheads a distance of about 2,500 miles.

These SS-20 missles were in a category of weapons called “intermediate-range ballistic missiles.” The missiles could strike almost all 29 member states of the North Atlantaic Treaty Organisation with the exception of the US and Canada.

At the time, NATO did not have a way to address the new threat through diplomacy with the Soviets. Nor did they have equivalent missiles capable of striking strategic locations in the Soviet Union from Western Europe.

The US&nbsp;sought to reassure NATO allies and deter a nuclear Soviet attack on Western Europe. In the early 1980s, it placed the Pershing II ballistic missile, as well as other missiles in Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and West Germany.

The move was designed in part to counter the Soviet missile threat, and also persuade the Soviets to negotiate to limit the number of intermediate and short-range missiles on both sides in Europe and the Soviet Union.

Terms of the treaty

Negotiations between the US and Soviet Union began in 1979 in the late stages of the Carter administration. The aim was to limit the number of intermediate-range missiles each could deploy. The negotiations carried over into the Reagan administration with various proposals on how many missiles each side could have and where they were be allowed to be placed.

In 1987, Mikhail Gorbachev proposed eliminating all short- and intermediate-range missiles. This led to the landmark INF Treaty that banned the entire class of missiles. The treaty was signed by Presidents Reagan and Gorbachev on December 8, 1987.

Both sides agreed to eliminate all existing cruise and ballistic missiles that could be launched from the ground (as opposed to from the sea or sky) and had a range between roughly 300 and 3,400 miles. They also pledged to “not have such systems thereafter.”

Before the treaty’s implementation deadline in 1991, the US and Russia destroyed more than 2,500 missiles covered by the treaty.

Nuclear powers beyond Russia

The United States first became concerned with Russian compliance with the treaty in 2014, when it alleged that Russia had tested a missile that violated the range restrictions of the treaty. Russia denied the accusation.

Meanwhile, countries such as China, Iran or North Korea, are not constrained by any treaties related to developing missiles that can carry nuclear weapons. These countries have continued to develop or are considering developing such missile technology.

Russia began to fear in the mid-2000s that the treaty was constraining its military options.

Some analysts have argued the US&nbsp;should abandon the INF Treaty for this same reason – not because of Russian noncompliance, but because it limits US&nbsp;military options vis-à-vis China. The treaty prohibits the US&nbsp;from putting ground-launched, short-range missiles in places like Japan. Trump’s national security adviser John Bolton is a firm proponent of this approach.

Prospects for the treaty don’t look good.

Russia has long denied being in violation of the treaty. The Trump administration is sceptical of arms control in general and has plans to continue modernising the US nuclear arsenal.

Unbound by the treaty, the US could develop new nuclear weapons systems in East Asia to counter Chinese military advances. The treaty’s demise seems likely. What follows depends on several variables, especially the outcome of the US 2020 presidential election.

(Jeffrey Fields is Associate Professor of the Practice of International Relations, University of Southern California)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-nuclear-treaty-between-russia-and-the-us-is-falling-apart-can-it-be-saved-111024">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

By Jeffrey Fields Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced February 1 that the United States would withdraw from its nuclear weapons treaty with Russia. Since the Obama administration, the US has accused Russia of being in violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which prohibits the US and Russia from developing certain types of ballistic and cruise missiles.

By Jeffrey Fields Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced February 1 that the United States would withdraw from its nuclear weapons treaty with Russia. Since the Obama administration, the US has accused Russia of being in violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which prohibits the US and Russia from developing certain types of ballistic and cruise missiles. A day after Pompeo’s announcement, President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia would also suspend its participation in the treaty. The treaty is not dead yet. The announcements serve as the six month’s notice required by the treaty before parties can withdraw. There is still time to reconcile differences. But I don’t think that will happen. I worked on issues related to arms control and nuclear nonproliferation at both the State Department and Department of Defense. Here’s why a resolution is unlikely. Cold War context In the 1970s, the Soviet Union began placing missiles in strategic locations within its territory that could each carry three nuclear warheads a distance of about 2,500 miles. These SS-20 missles were in a category of weapons called “intermediate-range ballistic missiles.” The missiles could strike almost all 29 member states of the North Atlantaic Treaty Organisation with the exception of the US and Canada. At the time, NATO did not have a way to address the new threat through diplomacy with the Soviets. Nor did they have equivalent missiles capable of striking strategic locations in the Soviet Union from Western Europe. The US sought to reassure NATO allies and deter a nuclear Soviet attack on Western Europe. In the early 1980s, it placed the Pershing II ballistic missile, as well as other missiles in Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and West Germany. The move was designed in part to counter the Soviet missile threat, and also persuade the Soviets to negotiate to limit the number of intermediate and short-range missiles on both sides in Europe and the Soviet Union. Terms of the treaty Negotiations between the US and Soviet Union began in 1979 in the late stages of the Carter administration. The aim was to limit the number of intermediate-range missiles each could deploy. The negotiations carried over into the Reagan administration with various proposals on how many missiles each side could have and where they were be allowed to be placed. In 1987, Mikhail Gorbachev proposed eliminating all short- and intermediate-range missiles. This led to the landmark INF Treaty that banned the entire class of missiles. The treaty was signed by Presidents Reagan and Gorbachev on December 8, 1987. Both sides agreed to eliminate all existing cruise and ballistic missiles that could be launched from the ground (as opposed to from the sea or sky) and had a range between roughly 300 and 3,400 miles. They also pledged to “not have such systems thereafter.” Before the treaty’s implementation deadline in 1991, the US and Russia destroyed more than 2,500 missiles covered by the treaty. Nuclear powers beyond Russia The United States first became concerned with Russian compliance with the treaty in 2014, when it alleged that Russia had tested a missile that violated the range restrictions of the treaty. Russia denied the accusation. Meanwhile, countries such as China, Iran or North Korea, are not constrained by any treaties related to developing missiles that can carry nuclear weapons. These countries have continued to develop or are considering developing such missile technology. Russia began to fear in the mid-2000s that the treaty was constraining its military options. Some analysts have argued the US should abandon the INF Treaty for this same reason – not because of Russian noncompliance, but because it limits US military options vis-à-vis China. The treaty prohibits the US from putting ground-launched, short-range missiles in places like Japan. Trump’s national security adviser John Bolton is a firm proponent of this approach. Prospects for the treaty don’t look good. Russia has long denied being in violation of the treaty. The Trump administration is sceptical of arms control in general and has plans to continue modernising the US nuclear arsenal. Unbound by the treaty, the US could develop new nuclear weapons systems in East Asia to counter Chinese military advances. The treaty’s demise seems likely. What follows depends on several variables, especially the outcome of the US 2020 presidential election. (Jeffrey Fields is Associate Professor of the Practice of International Relations, University of Southern California) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

A nuclear treaty between Russia and the US is falling apart – can it be saved?

President Vladimir Putin on Saturday said Russia was suspending its participation in a key Cold War-era missile treaty in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/will-withdraw-from-inf-missile-treaty-unless-russia-complies-trump-194448">a mirror response to </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/will-withdraw-from-inf-missile-treaty-unless-russia-complies-trump-194448">a US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/will-withdraw-from-inf-missile-treaty-unless-russia-complies-trump-194448"> move the day before</a>.&nbsp;

"Our American partners have announced they are suspending their participation in the deal, and we are also suspending our participation," he said of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

Putin said during a televised meeting with foreign and defence ministers Sergei Lavrov and Sergei Shoigu that Russia would no longer initiate talks with the US on disarmament.&nbsp;

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<h5>'We will wait until our partners have matured enough to conduct an equal, meaningful dialogue with us on this important topic,' Putin said</h5>
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"We will wait until our partners have matured enough to conduct an equal, meaningful dialogue with us on this important topic," the president said.

President Donald Trump said Friday that Washington was suspending its obligations under the INF treaty and starting a process to withdraw in six months.

Washington says a Russian medium-range missile system breaches the INF deal.

But Moscow has long insisted it does not violate the agreement, and last month invited reporters and foreign military attaches to a briefing on the disputed weapons system.&nbsp;

Lavrov on Saturday repeated Russian accusations that Washington itself has been in violation of the deal for many years.&nbsp;

At the meeting, Putin said Russia would seek to develop medium-range missiles in response to what he said were similar projects in the US.&nbsp;

But he told the ministers that Russia would "not be drawn into a costly new arms race".

Russia would only deploy intermediate- and short-range missiles in Europe or elsewhere in answer to similar moves from the US, he added.&nbsp;

Putin has previously threatened to develop nuclear missiles banned under the INF treaty if it is scrapped.&nbsp;

European leaders have voiced fears over the consequences of the treaty's demise and called on Russia to address concerns before the United States formally leaves in August.

Signed towards the end of the Cold War by then US president Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, the treaty bans ground-launched missiles with a range of between 500 and 5,500 kilometres.&nbsp;

The deal resolved a crisis over Soviet nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles targeting Western capitals, but put no restrictions on other major military actors such as China.&nbsp;

President Vladimir Putin on Saturday said Russia was suspending its participation in a key Cold War-era missile treaty in a mirror response to a US move the day before.

President Vladimir Putin on Saturday said Russia was suspending its participation in a key Cold War-era missile treaty in a mirror response to a US move the day before. "Our American partners have announced they are suspending their participation in the deal, and we are also suspending our participation," he said of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Putin said during a televised meeting with foreign and defence ministers Sergei Lavrov and Sergei Shoigu that Russia would no longer initiate talks with the US on disarmament. 'We will wait until our partners have matured enough to conduct an equal, meaningful dialogue with us on this important topic,' Putin said × "We will wait until our partners have matured enough to conduct an equal, meaningful dialogue with us on this important topic," the president said. President Donald Trump said Friday that Washington was suspending its obligations under the INF treaty and starting a process to withdraw in six months. Washington says a Russian medium-range missile system breaches the INF deal. But Moscow has long insisted it does not violate the agreement, and last month invited reporters and foreign military attaches to a briefing on the disputed weapons system. Lavrov on Saturday repeated Russian accusations that Washington itself has been in violation of the deal for many years. At the meeting, Putin said Russia would seek to develop medium-range missiles in response to what he said were similar projects in the US. But he told the ministers that Russia would "not be drawn into a costly new arms race". Russia would only deploy intermediate- and short-range missiles in Europe or elsewhere in answer to similar moves from the US, he added. Putin has previously threatened to develop nuclear missiles banned under the INF treaty if it is scrapped. European leaders have voiced fears over the consequences of the treaty's demise and called on Russia to address concerns before the United States formally leaves in August. Signed towards the end of the Cold War by then US president Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, the treaty bans ground-launched missiles with a range of between 500 and 5,500 kilometres. The deal resolved a crisis over Soviet nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles targeting Western capitals, but put no restrictions on other major military actors such as China.

Following US move, Putin says Russia is pulling out of nuclear missile treaty

Russia`s special envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday to discuss the Afghan peace process, in the wake of the US and Taliban agreeing on a framework deal to end the 17-year-old conflict in Afghanistan.

The diplomat is visiting the country following Russia’s wish to discuss the Afghan peace process.&nbsp;

He was met by senior officials of the Foreign Office and Russian Embassy, Pakistan Today reported.

He will hold talks with Pakistan’s top civil and military leadership at the Foreign OfficeThe visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin`s special envoy for Afghanistan comes in the wake of last week’s marathon talks between US special representative Zalmay Khalilzad and the Taliban in Qatar.

The United States and Taliban have agreed in principle to chalk out a framework for a deal that could eventually end the 17-year old conflict in Afghanistan.

Khalilzad, in an interview to the New York Times, said the United States and the Taliban have agreed in principle on a framework for a peace deal.

According to the peace deal, the Taliban would guarantee that Afghanistan will never be used as a base for terrorism in return for a full American withdrawal from the country.

Last month, Russian Ambassador in Pakistan Alexey Dedov had said that Pakistan’s commitment and efforts for regional peace and stability are highlighted by the country’s decision to open the Kartarpur Corridor with India.

The Kartarpur Corridor will provide visa-free access to Sikh pilgrims from India.

Russia`s special envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday to discuss the Afghan peace process, in the wake of the US and Taliban agreeing on a framework deal to end the 17-year-old conflict in Afghanistan.

Russia`s special envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday to discuss the Afghan peace process, in the wake of the US and Taliban agreeing on a framework deal to end the 17-year-old conflict in Afghanistan. The diplomat is visiting the country following Russia’s wish to discuss the Afghan peace process. He was met by senior officials of the Foreign Office and Russian Embassy, Pakistan Today reported. He will hold talks with Pakistan’s top civil and military leadership at the Foreign OfficeThe visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin`s special envoy for Afghanistan comes in the wake of last week’s marathon talks between US special representative Zalmay Khalilzad and the Taliban in Qatar. The United States and Taliban have agreed in principle to chalk out a framework for a deal that could eventually end the 17-year old conflict in Afghanistan. Khalilzad, in an interview to the New York Times, said the United States and the Taliban have agreed in principle on a framework for a peace deal. According to the peace deal, the Taliban would guarantee that Afghanistan will never be used as a base for terrorism in return for a full American withdrawal from the country. Last month, Russian Ambassador in Pakistan Alexey Dedov had said that Pakistan’s commitment and efforts for regional peace and stability are highlighted by the country’s decision to open the Kartarpur Corridor with India. The Kartarpur Corridor will provide visa-free access to Sikh pilgrims from India.

Putin's envoy in Pakistan to discuss Afghan peace process

Supporters of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic held a large rally in support for the visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday in Belgrade.

Crowds of people marched through central Belgrade to greet Putin and Vucic during their stop in the St. Sava temple, the largest Christian Orthodox church in Serbia.

The rally was seen as Vucic's response to protests staged by the opposition for six consecutive weekends.

Just a day before Putin's visit, a silent march took place in protest at the unresolved killing of a Kosovo Serb politician a year ago.

The opposition protests typically gather around 20,000 people. Serbian state TV RTS claimed that 120,000-130,000 people took part in the rally for Vucic and Putin.

Many of the people took organised rides to the capital. Hundreds of parked buses lined several major streets during the rally, waiting for their passengers to return for the drive home.

Groups in the crowd carried banners declaring where in Serbia they came from, as well slogans in Serbian and Russian saying "Serbs and Russian, brothers forever" and "Thank you&nbsp;president&nbsp;for your support."

Supporters of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic held a large rally in support for the visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday in Belgrade. Crowds of people marched through central Belgrade to greet Putin and Vucic during their stop in the St.

Supporters of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic held a large rally in support for the visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday in Belgrade. Crowds of people marched through central Belgrade to greet Putin and Vucic during their stop in the St. Sava temple, the largest Christian Orthodox church in Serbia. The rally was seen as Vucic's response to protests staged by the opposition for six consecutive weekends. Just a day before Putin's visit, a silent march took place in protest at the unresolved killing of a Kosovo Serb politician a year ago. The opposition protests typically gather around 20,000 people. Serbian state TV RTS claimed that 120,000-130,000 people took part in the rally for Vucic and Putin. Many of the people took organised rides to the capital. Hundreds of parked buses lined several major streets during the rally, waiting for their passengers to return for the drive home. Groups in the crowd carried banners declaring where in Serbia they came from, as well slogans in Serbian and Russian saying "Serbs and Russian, brothers forever" and "Thank you president for your support."

Serb leader stages lavish reception and huge rally for Putin visit

A top Putin aide said Wednesday it was "stupid" to suggest <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/fbi-opened-probe-into-whether-trump-working-for-russians-report-189750">US President Donald Trump might be working for Russia</a>.&nbsp;

"Why comment on something stupid? How can the US president be an agent of another country?" President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov told a briefing after a journalist asked if Trump was a Russian agent.

Ushakov said Russia's relations with the US were "at rock bottom" and "nothing has happened in the context of developing them."

The intriguing question of whether Trump is a Russian agent — he has been uncharacteristically soft on Putin — was raised after reports in the New York Times and the Washington Post.&nbsp;

The Post said Trump had gone out of his way to keep the details of his meetings with Putin — they have met five times since Trump became president — secret, even from his own aides.&nbsp;

The Times meanwhile reported that the FBI had opened an investigation into whether Trump was actually working for Russia after he fired former FBI director James Comey.&nbsp;

Trump was then asked by Fox News' Jeanine Pirro whether he did or had ever worked for Russia. The question was friendly but Trump seemed to exacerbate the situation by saying that "was the most insulting thing he had ever been asked", while refusing to say a simple no.&nbsp;

Trump later said that he had "never worked for Russia" and told reporters: "It's a disgrace that you even ask that question."&nbsp;

(With inputs from AFP)

A top Putin aide said Wednesday it was "stupid" to suggest US President Donald Trump might be working for Russia. "Why comment on something stupid? How can the US president be an agent of another country?

A top Putin aide said Wednesday it was "stupid" to suggest US President Donald Trump might be working for Russia. "Why comment on something stupid? How can the US president be an agent of another country?" President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov told a briefing after a journalist asked if Trump was a Russian agent. Ushakov said Russia's relations with the US were "at rock bottom" and "nothing has happened in the context of developing them." The intriguing question of whether Trump is a Russian agent — he has been uncharacteristically soft on Putin — was raised after reports in the New York Times and the Washington Post. The Post said Trump had gone out of his way to keep the details of his meetings with Putin — they have met five times since Trump became president — secret, even from his own aides. The Times meanwhile reported that the FBI had opened an investigation into whether Trump was actually working for Russia after he fired former FBI director James Comey. Trump was then asked by Fox News' Jeanine Pirro whether he did or had ever worked for Russia. The question was friendly but Trump seemed to exacerbate the situation by saying that "was the most insulting thing he had ever been asked", while refusing to say a simple no. Trump later said that he had "never worked for Russia" and told reporters: "It's a disgrace that you even ask that question." (With inputs from AFP)

'Stupid' to suggest Trump is working for Russia: Top Putin aide

US President Donald Trump said Monday that he has "<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/was-trump-working-for-russia-us-president-blasts-fbi-for-opening-probe-189894">never worked for Russia</a>", and slammed recent news reports that have raised questions about his ties to Vladimir Putin as a "big fat hoax."

Trump&nbsp;made his comments to reporters at the White House.&nbsp;

The US president's comments came after a Washington Post report alleging that Trump had refused to divulge the contents of his meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin.&nbsp;

The Post said he had kept details of the meetings even from his top aides.&nbsp;

The Post however added that there was no proof of wrongdoing by Trump, only that he had kept details of his meetings with Putin from his aides.&nbsp;

A report in The New York Times meanwhile revealed the FBI had opened an investigation into whether Trump was working for Russia after he sacked the bureau's director James Comey in 2017.&nbsp;

Trump was given an opportunity to respond to the report of the FBI investigation on Saturday when he gave an interview to his favourite Fox News channel.

But instead of a clear cut denial, he fueled a mounting outcry in Washington by merely saying that the question was "the most insulting thing I've ever been asked."

His response Monday took the entire alleged Russia collusion affair head on.

"It's a lot of fake news," Trump said. He called the then-leaders of the FBI who decided to investigate him "known scoundrels, I guess you could say dirty cops."

But the latest twists mean that the president -- currently embroiled in a damaging political battle with Congress over funding a Mexico border wall -- can't escape the Russia shadow, regardless of what he says.

The details of the latest reports are especially shocking because they are so concrete, in contrast to the often complex and carefully withheld workings of the almost leak-proof Mueller probe.

The Post story says that Trump personally acted to prevent notes taken by his interpreter during one-on-one meetings with Putin from being shared with aides. He allegedly took the notes away and ordered the interpreter not to divulge the contents.

The Times report on the FBI investigation said the bureau decided to act after Trump fired the then director, James Comey in 2017.

Transcripts of closed-door FBI testimony to Congress obtained by CNN show that the then head lawyer for the FBI, James Baker, said the bureau wanted to know whether Trump was "acting at the behest of (the Kremlin) and somehow following directions, somehow executing their will."

"That was one extreme. The other extreme is that the President is completely innocent, and we discussed that too," Baker said in the transcript, according to CNN.

The White House says that Trump has been pursued by a politicized FBI. The president repeatedly has called the probes into his dealings with Russia a "witch hunt."

But Democrats and even some in Trump's Republican Party have repeatedly suggested that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-is-right-to-pull-us-troops-out-of-syria-says-putin-185511">the administration is oddly favourable to Russian policies</a>.

They point to Trump's diplomatic assaults on European Union unity and the NATO alliance, as well as his recent comment defending the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s.

Top advisor Kellyanne Conway reiterated Monday the administration's assertion that Trump had in fact been tough on Russia, one of Washington's key rivals and sometimes outright adversaries.

"He has taken a lot of action," she told reporters, listing sanctions imposed on the Kremlin and US policy in Syria, among other factors.&nbsp;

(With inputs from AFP)

US President Donald Trump said Monday that he has "never worked for Russia", and slammed recent news reports that have raised questions about his ties to Vladimir Putin as a "big fat hoax.

US President Donald Trump said Monday that he has "never worked for Russia", and slammed recent news reports that have raised questions about his ties to Vladimir Putin as a "big fat hoax." Trump made his comments to reporters at the White House. The US president's comments came after a Washington Post report alleging that Trump had refused to divulge the contents of his meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Post said he had kept details of the meetings even from his top aides. The Post however added that there was no proof of wrongdoing by Trump, only that he had kept details of his meetings with Putin from his aides. A report in The New York Times meanwhile revealed the FBI had opened an investigation into whether Trump was working for Russia after he sacked the bureau's director James Comey in 2017. Trump was given an opportunity to respond to the report of the FBI investigation on Saturday when he gave an interview to his favourite Fox News channel. But instead of a clear cut denial, he fueled a mounting outcry in Washington by merely saying that the question was "the most insulting thing I've ever been asked." His response Monday took the entire alleged Russia collusion affair head on. "It's a lot of fake news," Trump said. He called the then-leaders of the FBI who decided to investigate him "known scoundrels, I guess you could say dirty cops." But the latest twists mean that the president -- currently embroiled in a damaging political battle with Congress over funding a Mexico border wall -- can't escape the Russia shadow, regardless of what he says. The details of the latest reports are especially shocking because they are so concrete, in contrast to the often complex and carefully withheld workings of the almost leak-proof Mueller probe. The Post story says that Trump personally acted to prevent notes taken by his interpreter during one-on-one meetings with Putin from being shared with aides. He allegedly took the notes away and ordered the interpreter not to divulge the contents. The Times report on the FBI investigation said the bureau decided to act after Trump fired the then director, James Comey in 2017. Transcripts of closed-door FBI testimony to Congress obtained by CNN show that the then head lawyer for the FBI, James Baker, said the bureau wanted to know whether Trump was "acting at the behest of (the Kremlin) and somehow following directions, somehow executing their will." "That was one extreme. The other extreme is that the President is completely innocent, and we discussed that too," Baker said in the transcript, according to CNN. The White House says that Trump has been pursued by a politicized FBI. The president repeatedly has called the probes into his dealings with Russia a "witch hunt." But Democrats and even some in Trump's Republican Party have repeatedly suggested that the administration is oddly favourable to Russian policies. They point to Trump's diplomatic assaults on European Union unity and the NATO alliance, as well as his recent comment defending the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s. Top advisor Kellyanne Conway reiterated Monday the administration's assertion that Trump had in fact been tough on Russia, one of Washington's key rivals and sometimes outright adversaries. "He has taken a lot of action," she told reporters, listing sanctions imposed on the Kremlin and US policy in Syria, among other factors. (With inputs from AFP)

Trump says he has 'never worked for Russia', allegations saying so are a 'big fat hoax'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin had a telephonic conversation on Monday during which both exchanged greeting for the new year 2019, with PM Modi wishing President Putin and people of Russia on the occasion of Christmas. Christmas is celebrated in Russia on January 7.&nbsp;

Vladimir Putin wished Narendra Modi success in connection with the upcoming parliamentary elections in India.&nbsp;

Putin also invited PM to take part in the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok in September 2019 as the main guest.

According to the ministry of external affairs release, "the two leaders appreciated the major milestones achieved in the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two countries in the past year".&nbsp;

Both the leaders recalled the "successful wide-ranging discussions" during the informal summit in Sochi in May of 2018 and during President Putin's visit to New Delhi in October for the Annual Summit with both agreeing "to maintain the momentum in the bilateral relations". This year, Russia will host the annual summit.

The leaders discussed bilateral cooperation in the key areas including defence and counter-terrorism and agreed that India-Russia cooperation "plays an important role in the global multilateral order." &nbsp;

Remember roughly 70% of India's defence equipment is Russian in origin. During the 17th Annual Summit, the sides concluded agreements on the supply of S-400 air defence systems, construction of frigates under Project 1135.6 and shareholders agreement on the formation of joint venture to manufacture Ka-226T helicopters in India. The two countries also hold exchanges and training exercises between their armed forces annually.&nbsp;

Russia and India have been engaging in various forums such as SCO, BRICS and G20. On the sidelines of G20 in 2018, Russia, India and China met for the RIC meet which happened after a gap of 12 years.&nbsp;

According to Russian Federal Customs Service data, bilateral trade during in 2016 amounted to US$ 7.71 billion, with Indian exports amounting to US$ 2.39 billion and imports from Russia amounting to US$ 5.32 billion.&nbsp;

Both are also focusing on connectivity via the International North-South Transport Corridor that will connect Mumbai to Moscow.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin had a telephonic conversation on Monday during which both exchanged greeting for the new year 2019, with PM Modi wishing President Putin and people of Russia on the occasion of Christmas.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin had a telephonic conversation on Monday during which both exchanged greeting for the new year 2019, with PM Modi wishing President Putin and people of Russia on the occasion of Christmas. Christmas is celebrated in Russia on January 7. Vladimir Putin wished Narendra Modi success in connection with the upcoming parliamentary elections in India. Putin also invited PM to take part in the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok in September 2019 as the main guest. According to the ministry of external affairs release, "the two leaders appreciated the major milestones achieved in the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two countries in the past year". Both the leaders recalled the "successful wide-ranging discussions" during the informal summit in Sochi in May of 2018 and during President Putin's visit to New Delhi in October for the Annual Summit with both agreeing "to maintain the momentum in the bilateral relations". This year, Russia will host the annual summit. The leaders discussed bilateral cooperation in the key areas including defence and counter-terrorism and agreed that India-Russia cooperation "plays an important role in the global multilateral order." Remember roughly 70% of India's defence equipment is Russian in origin. During the 17th Annual Summit, the sides concluded agreements on the supply of S-400 air defence systems, construction of frigates under Project 1135.6 and shareholders agreement on the formation of joint venture to manufacture Ka-226T helicopters in India. The two countries also hold exchanges and training exercises between their armed forces annually. Russia and India have been engaging in various forums such as SCO, BRICS and G20. On the sidelines of G20 in 2018, Russia, India and China met for the RIC meet which happened after a gap of 12 years. According to Russian Federal Customs Service data, bilateral trade during in 2016 amounted to US$ 7.71 billion, with Indian exports amounting to US$ 2.39 billion and imports from Russia amounting to US$ 5.32 billion. Both are also focusing on connectivity via the International North-South Transport Corridor that will connect Mumbai to Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin calls PM Modi, discusses key strategic issues wishes success in Lok Sabha polls

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/putin-holds-marathon-end-of-year-press-conference-here-are-the-key-quotes-185551">he'd probably have to get married again</a>, but did not say to whom.

Putin, 66, who jealously protects his privacy and that of his close family, was replying to a question posed by a reporter at his annual press conference, which focused mainly on international relations and the state of the economy.

"As a respectable person, I will have to do this at some point," Putin said, smiling.

Putin was married to Lyudmila Putina from 1983 until their divorce, announced in 2013.

Their daughters, Katerina and Maria, both in their early 30s, are not involved in politics and have stayed firmly out of the limelight.

Since he divorced his wife Lyudmila, rumours have swirled around Putin's personal life. One Russian newspaper report said he was in a relationship with Alina Kabaeva, a former Olympic gymnast, though Putin rejected the assertion.

Reuters reported in 2016 that a businessman with ties to associates of Putin had transferred ownership of properties to Alina Kabaeva's sister and grandmother.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he'd probably have to get married again, but did not say to whom. Putin, 66, who jealously protects his privacy and that of his close family, was replying to a question posed by a reporter at his annual press conference, which focused mainly on international relations and the state of the economy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he'd probably have to get married again, but did not say to whom. Putin, 66, who jealously protects his privacy and that of his close family, was replying to a question posed by a reporter at his annual press conference, which focused mainly on international relations and the state of the economy. "As a respectable person, I will have to do this at some point," Putin said, smiling. Putin was married to Lyudmila Putina from 1983 until their divorce, announced in 2013. Their daughters, Katerina and Maria, both in their early 30s, are not involved in politics and have stayed firmly out of the limelight. Since he divorced his wife Lyudmila, rumours have swirled around Putin's personal life. One Russian newspaper report said he was in a relationship with Alina Kabaeva, a former Olympic gymnast, though Putin rejected the assertion. Reuters reported in 2016 that a businessman with ties to associates of Putin had transferred ownership of properties to Alina Kabaeva's sister and grandmother.

'As a respectable person', Putin says he may marry again

Vladimir Putin took over 60 questions from a hall of journalists Thursday, speaking on everything from rap to pensions to the prospect of taking over the world.&nbsp;

Here are the top quotes from <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/putin-says-west-trying-to-hold-back-powerful-russia-185542">the Russian president's end-of-year press conference</a>, which lasted three hours and 43 minutes.

International tensions 
On Moscow's ties with the West, Putin had this to say:

"Practically throughout its entire history, Russia has lived with some constraints and sanctions... this is connected with the growth of Russia's power, increase of competitiveness... A powerful player appears which needs to be reckoned with..."

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<h5>'As an honourable man I will have to (marry) at some point, I guess'</h5>
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"If there hadn't been the Skripals, they (the West) would have thought up something else. There is only one aim: to hold back Russia's development as a possible competitor."

"(In the West), they don't want to recognise (Trump's) victory. That's disrespect of voters." ... "It's the same in Britain: Brexit happened, but nobody wants to implement it. They don't recognise vote results, democratic procedures are diminished."

"Do we need American troops (in Syria)? I think we don't... If the US has decided to withdraw its troops (from Syria), that is right."

"I hope that something will improve (in US-Russian relations), sooner or later we will reach rock bottom in our relations and understand that we must ... rise up, breathe in the fresh air and think with a clear head about how to live."

"It's a collapse. We are currently looking at a collapse of the international system of arms control."

National concerns 
On Russia's economic goals:

"The main thing is that we need to get into a new league economically... we could very well take the fifth place in terms of size of economy. And I think we'll do that."

On reports of torture in Russia's penal colonies:

"Any breaches of the law, especially torture - that's a crime. These breaches, these crimes, must be punished... To say that (the penal system) must be broken into pieces is wrong. It has to be improved."

On the difficulty of recycling in Russia:

"For decades in the Soviet Union we threw trash into pits, figuratively speaking. Nobody ever did any recycling... we produce 70 million tonnes of trash every year and don't know where to put it."&nbsp;

On Russia's crackdown on hip-hop concerts:

"About the detention of these rappers, I agree with you. That's just pointless... there is nothing good in that."

Personal matters 
On the prospect of remarrying after announcing his divorce:

"As an honourable man I will have to (marry) at some point, I guess."

On his health:

"My health is the same as anyone else's. Thank God, I do sports, and everything is normal... as anyone else, there can be some sort of flu when the seasons change, but right now, everything is all right."

"I am rarely on the internet and watch little television, I simply don't have the time."

Vladimir Putin took over 60 questions from a hall of journalists Thursday, speaking on everything from rap to pensions to the prospect of taking over the world. Here are the top quotes from the Russian president's end-of-year press conference, which lasted three hours and 43 minutes.

Vladimir Putin took over 60 questions from a hall of journalists Thursday, speaking on everything from rap to pensions to the prospect of taking over the world. Here are the top quotes from the Russian president's end-of-year press conference, which lasted three hours and 43 minutes. International tensions On Moscow's ties with the West, Putin had this to say: "Practically throughout its entire history, Russia has lived with some constraints and sanctions... this is connected with the growth of Russia's power, increase of competitiveness... A powerful player appears which needs to be reckoned with..." 'As an honourable man I will have to (marry) at some point, I guess' × "If there hadn't been the Skripals, they (the West) would have thought up something else. There is only one aim: to hold back Russia's development as a possible competitor." "(In the West), they don't want to recognise (Trump's) victory. That's disrespect of voters." ... "It's the same in Britain: Brexit happened, but nobody wants to implement it. They don't recognise vote results, democratic procedures are diminished." "Do we need American troops (in Syria)? I think we don't... If the US has decided to withdraw its troops (from Syria), that is right." "I hope that something will improve (in US-Russian relations), sooner or later we will reach rock bottom in our relations and understand that we must ... rise up, breathe in the fresh air and think with a clear head about how to live." "It's a collapse. We are currently looking at a collapse of the international system of arms control." National concerns On Russia's economic goals: "The main thing is that we need to get into a new league economically... we could very well take the fifth place in terms of size of economy. And I think we'll do that." On reports of torture in Russia's penal colonies: "Any breaches of the law, especially torture - that's a crime. These breaches, these crimes, must be punished... To say that (the penal system) must be broken into pieces is wrong. It has to be improved." On the difficulty of recycling in Russia: "For decades in the Soviet Union we threw trash into pits, figuratively speaking. Nobody ever did any recycling... we produce 70 million tonnes of trash every year and don't know where to put it." On Russia's crackdown on hip-hop concerts: "About the detention of these rappers, I agree with you. That's just pointless... there is nothing good in that." Personal matters On the prospect of remarrying after announcing his divorce: "As an honourable man I will have to (marry) at some point, I guess." On his health: "My health is the same as anyone else's. Thank God, I do sports, and everything is normal... as anyone else, there can be some sort of flu when the seasons change, but right now, everything is all right." "I am rarely on the internet and watch little television, I simply don't have the time."

Putin holds marathon end-of-year press conference: Here are his key quotes

President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-is-right-to-pull-us-troops-out-of-syria-says-putin-185511">the West was trying to hold back an increasingly powerful Russia</a>, during an end-of-year press conference that took aim at sanctions and "made-up" spy scandals.

At the marathon annual event he also trumpeted ambitious efforts to boost Russia's economy and warned that US plans to leave a key nuclear weapons treaty raised the risk of a new arms race.

Asked about Western sanctions against Moscow, Putin said these were "connected to the growth of Russia's power".

"A powerful player appears who needs to be reckoned with. Until recently it was thought there was no longer such a country," he said from behind a large wooden desk to an audience of hundreds of journalists.

The Russian leader also dismissed spy scandals -- such as the poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England -- as invented to damage Russia's standing.

"If there hadn't been the Skripals, they would have made up something else. There is only one aim: to hold back Russia's development," he said, later lamenting that relations with Britain were at a "dead end".

Putin began the press conference, as usual, by reeling off economic growth figures.

"The main thing is that we need to get into a new economic league. We could very well take the fifth place in terms of size of economy. And I think we'll do that," he said.

Russia's economy is currently ranked 12th in the world by the International Monetary Fund, which lists the United States first, followed by China, Japan, Germany and Britain.

'Collapse' of arms control 
Putin said the economy grew 1.7 percent over the first 10 months of the year, roughly in line with predictions, while unemployment was down. Full-year growth is estimated at 1.8 percent.

Putin was re-elected to a fourth term in March with nearly 77 percent of the vote, but recent polls have seen his support drop below 50 percent.

His previous term in the Kremlin was defined by a decline in living standards for many Russians, despite what were perceived as foreign policy wins.

Raising the retirement age this year provoked anger and rare street protests but Putin said the hike was "unavoidable" when questioned on the subject.

Against a backdrop of strained ties with the United States, Putin praised President Donald Trump's decision to pull troops out of Syria, but at the same time condemned his threat to withdraw from the Cold War-era Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty.&nbsp;

"We are currently looking at a collapse of the international system of arms control," Putin said, warning that there was a growing tendency to "underestimate" the threat of nuclear war.

Putin also weighed in on key elections in the West, insisting Trump was legitimately elected president and that any attempt to cast doubt on this -- or the result of the Brexit referendum -- showed "disrespect" to voters.

In the wide-ranging session, Putin dismissed a recent crackdown on Russian rappers as pointless and condemned the creation of an independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church.&nbsp;

And he repeated Kremlin claims that Ukraine's actions in the Kerch Strait off Crimea were a "provocation", following a naval confrontation and Russia's arrest of several Ukrainian sailors.

Costumes, tambourines 
The Kremlin demands questions for Putin be sent in advance, but reporters every year go to great lengths to encourage the president to call on them.

On Thursday one journalist was dressed as a Russian fairytale character, the snow maiden, while another came holding a tambourine.&nbsp;

Organisers, however, put a size limit on the placards media representatives traditionally hold up to attract Putin's attention.

Putin's 14th end-of-year press conference ran to three hours, 43 minutes -- roughly an hour shy of the personal record he set in 2008.&nbsp;

The president began the annual press event in 2001. Since 2004, all December press conferences have surpassed three hours.

The appearance was shown live on several TV stations, with some channels trailing the event with a day-long countdown clock.&nbsp;

As Russia has become increasingly centralised under Putin, questions at the conference have begun to resemble lobbying attempts to resolve specific problems.&nbsp;

This year he promised to help open a new football pitch for children in Saint Petersburg, and coyly answered questions on his health and love life. 
&nbsp;

President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said the West was trying to hold back an increasingly powerful Russia, during an end-of-year press conference that took aim at sanctions and "made-up" spy scandals.

President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said the West was trying to hold back an increasingly powerful Russia, during an end-of-year press conference that took aim at sanctions and "made-up" spy scandals. At the marathon annual event he also trumpeted ambitious efforts to boost Russia's economy and warned that US plans to leave a key nuclear weapons treaty raised the risk of a new arms race. Asked about Western sanctions against Moscow, Putin said these were "connected to the growth of Russia's power". "A powerful player appears who needs to be reckoned with. Until recently it was thought there was no longer such a country," he said from behind a large wooden desk to an audience of hundreds of journalists. The Russian leader also dismissed spy scandals -- such as the poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England -- as invented to damage Russia's standing. "If there hadn't been the Skripals, they would have made up something else. There is only one aim: to hold back Russia's development," he said, later lamenting that relations with Britain were at a "dead end". Putin began the press conference, as usual, by reeling off economic growth figures. "The main thing is that we need to get into a new economic league. We could very well take the fifth place in terms of size of economy. And I think we'll do that," he said. Russia's economy is currently ranked 12th in the world by the International Monetary Fund, which lists the United States first, followed by China, Japan, Germany and Britain. 'Collapse' of arms control Putin said the economy grew 1.7 percent over the first 10 months of the year, roughly in line with predictions, while unemployment was down. Full-year growth is estimated at 1.8 percent. Putin was re-elected to a fourth term in March with nearly 77 percent of the vote, but recent polls have seen his support drop below 50 percent. His previous term in the Kremlin was defined by a decline in living standards for many Russians, despite what were perceived as foreign policy wins. Raising the retirement age this year provoked anger and rare street protests but Putin said the hike was "unavoidable" when questioned on the subject. Against a backdrop of strained ties with the United States, Putin praised President Donald Trump's decision to pull troops out of Syria, but at the same time condemned his threat to withdraw from the Cold War-era Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty. "We are currently looking at a collapse of the international system of arms control," Putin said, warning that there was a growing tendency to "underestimate" the threat of nuclear war. Putin also weighed in on key elections in the West, insisting Trump was legitimately elected president and that any attempt to cast doubt on this -- or the result of the Brexit referendum -- showed "disrespect" to voters. In the wide-ranging session, Putin dismissed a recent crackdown on Russian rappers as pointless and condemned the creation of an independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church. And he repeated Kremlin claims that Ukraine's actions in the Kerch Strait off Crimea were a "provocation", following a naval confrontation and Russia's arrest of several Ukrainian sailors. Costumes, tambourines The Kremlin demands questions for Putin be sent in advance, but reporters every year go to great lengths to encourage the president to call on them. On Thursday one journalist was dressed as a Russian fairytale character, the snow maiden, while another came holding a tambourine. Organisers, however, put a size limit on the placards media representatives traditionally hold up to attract Putin's attention. Putin's 14th end-of-year press conference ran to three hours, 43 minutes -- roughly an hour shy of the personal record he set in 2008. The president began the annual press event in 2001. Since 2004, all December press conferences have surpassed three hours. The appearance was shown live on several TV stations, with some channels trailing the event with a day-long countdown clock. As Russia has become increasingly centralised under Putin, questions at the conference have begun to resemble lobbying attempts to resolve specific problems. This year he promised to help open a new football pitch for children in Saint Petersburg, and coyly answered questions on his health and love life.

Putin says West trying to 'hold back' powerful Russia

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-is-right-to-pull-us-troops-out-of-syria-says-putin-185511">Trump is 'right' to pull US troops out of Syria, says Putin</a>

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday he backed US counterpart&nbsp;Donald Trump's decision to order troops back home from Syria&nbsp;after declaring victory over Islamic State forces.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/indian-rupee-top-performer-of-2019-185516">After </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/indian-rupee-top-performer-of-2019-185516">very</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/indian-rupee-top-performer-of-2019-185516"> troubled year, Indian rupee to be a top performer of 2019?</a>

The Indian rupee — which has been in constant decline this year, it fell over 13% in 2018 — may be a top performer of 2019, analysts have said. Tumbling oil prices have put the rupee on course for the best quarter in nearly two years.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-never-fall-in-love-on-facebook-hamid-nihal-ansari-says-after-6-years-in-pakistani-jails-185503">Watch: 'Never fall in love on Facebook,' Hamid Nehal Ansari says after 6 years in Pakistani jails</a>

"Never fall in love on Facebook," Hamid Nehal Ansari has said after spending six years in Pakistani jails.&nbsp;Hamid had crossed over into Pakistan from Afghanistan in 2012, reportedly to meet a girl he had befriended online. He was caught and subsequently sentenced to three years in prison for travelling on a fake passport.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-treasurer-edulji-attack-coa-chief-over-womens-coach-selection-185513">Edulji, BCCI treasurer attack CoA chief Vinod Rai over women's coach selection</a>

Questioning the selection process of the Indian women's cricket coach, BCCI acting treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry and&nbsp;Committee of Administrators&nbsp;member Diana Edulji Thursday launched a joint attack on CoA chief Vinod Rai.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-quitting-nda-upendra-kushwaha-joins-mahagathbandhan-in-bihar-185506">Days after quitting NDA, Upendra Kushwaha joins 'mahagathbandhan' in Bihar</a>

Former Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha who pulled out from the NDA alliance on December 10, joined the mahagathbandhan in Bihar on Thursday. While addressing a press conference,&nbsp;Kushwaha&nbsp;said one of the reasons why he joined the mahagathbandhan was the "wholeheartedness" of Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Lalu Yadav.

Trump is 'right' to pull US troops out of Syria, says Putin Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday he backed US counterpart Donald Trump's decision to order troops back home from Syria after declaring victory over Islamic State forces.

Trump is 'right' to pull US troops out of Syria, says Putin Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday he backed US counterpart Donald Trump's decision to order troops back home from Syria after declaring victory over Islamic State forces. After very troubled year, Indian rupee to be a top performer of 2019? The Indian rupee — which has been in constant decline this year, it fell over 13% in 2018 — may be a top performer of 2019, analysts have said. Tumbling oil prices have put the rupee on course for the best quarter in nearly two years. Watch: 'Never fall in love on Facebook,' Hamid Nehal Ansari says after 6 years in Pakistani jails "Never fall in love on Facebook," Hamid Nehal Ansari has said after spending six years in Pakistani jails. Hamid had crossed over into Pakistan from Afghanistan in 2012, reportedly to meet a girl he had befriended online. He was caught and subsequently sentenced to three years in prison for travelling on a fake passport. Edulji, BCCI treasurer attack CoA chief Vinod Rai over women's coach selection Questioning the selection process of the Indian women's cricket coach, BCCI acting treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry and Committee of Administrators member Diana Edulji Thursday launched a joint attack on CoA chief Vinod Rai. Days after quitting NDA, Upendra Kushwaha joins 'mahagathbandhan' in Bihar Former Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha who pulled out from the NDA alliance on December 10, joined the mahagathbandhan in Bihar on Thursday. While addressing a press conference, Kushwaha said one of the reasons why he joined the mahagathbandhan was the "wholeheartedness" of Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Lalu Yadav.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday he backed US counterpart <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-islamic-state-defeated-us-will-pull-all-forces-out-of-syira-185369">Donald Trump's decision to order troops back home from Syria</a> after declaring victory over Islamic State forces.

"The fact that the US has decided to withdraw its troops is right," Putin said during his annual press conference.

Trump on Wednesday declared in a video message that "we won" and said that the troops are "coming back now."&nbsp;

Putin said that "as concerns victory over IS, on the whole I agree with the US president," adding that "we have dealt serious blows against IS in Syria."

Nevertheless he cast doubt on Washington's actions, saying "we don't see any signs of withdrawing US troops yet, but I concede that it is possible."

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday he backed US counterpart Donald Trump's decision to order troops back home from Syria after declaring victory over Islamic State forces.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday he backed US counterpart Donald Trump's decision to order troops back home from Syria after declaring victory over Islamic State forces. "The fact that the US has decided to withdraw its troops is right," Putin said during his annual press conference. Trump on Wednesday declared in a video message that "we won" and said that the troops are "coming back now." Putin said that "as concerns victory over IS, on the whole I agree with the US president," adding that "we have dealt serious blows against IS in Syria." Nevertheless he cast doubt on Washington's actions, saying "we don't see any signs of withdrawing US troops yet, but I concede that it is possible."

Trump is 'right' to pull US troops out of Syria, says Putin

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/strasbourg-christmas-market-attacker-killed-after-gun-battle-183878">Strasbourg Christmas market attacker killed after </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/strasbourg-christmas-market-attacker-killed-after-gun-battle-183878">gun</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/strasbourg-christmas-market-attacker-killed-after-gun-battle-183878"> battle</a>

French security forces on Thursday night killed the suspect, Cherif Chekatt, 29, who was allegedly responsible for the attack on the Christmas market in Strasbourg in which three people had died.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/today-has-been-out-of-this-world-its-a-thumbs-up-for-astronauts-branson-on-virgin-galactics-voyage-183902">Today has been out of this world, it's a thumbs up for astronauts: Branson on Virgin Galactic's voyage into space</a>

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo, VSS Unity, flew higher than it ever has before on Thursday, surpassing what the US Air Force considers the boundary of space, and marking the first manned flight to space from US soil since 2011.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/eu-leaders-reject-mays-plea-over-brexit-deal-183880">EU leaders reject PM Theresa May's plea over Brexit deal</a>

EU leaders rejected a plea by Theresa May on Thursday to help her sell her Brexit deal to parliament, warning she must set out exactly what she wants -- and announcing they would step up contingency plans in case the deal collapses.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-going-to-open-up-whole-country-they-want-to-please-me-trump-183898">China going to open up </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-going-to-open-up-whole-country-they-want-to-please-me-trump-183898">whole</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-going-to-open-up-whole-country-they-want-to-please-me-trump-183898"> country, they want to please me: Trump</a>

In a major policy shift, China is "going to open" up the entire country, US President Donald Trump said Thursday amidst trade negotiations with the Chinese.

"I just see this in the front page of The Wall Street Journal which just came out. China is going to open its policy, a big policy shift. They are going to open the whole country, that they want to please President Trump, that they want to do things that they have to do and that people should have been after China for years, I mean frankly," Trump told Fox News in an interview.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/no-trump-putin-meeting-while-russia-holds-ukraine-ship-john-bolton-183876">No Trump-Putin meeting while Russia holds Ukraine ship: US NSA John Bolton</a>

There will be no meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin while Russia still holds Ukrainian ships and sailors seized near Crimea, US national security adviser John Bolton said on Thursday.

Strasbourg Christmas market attacker killed after gun battle French security forces on Thursday night killed the suspect, Cherif Chekatt, 29, who was allegedly responsible for the attack on the Christmas market in Strasbourg in which three people had died.

Strasbourg Christmas market attacker killed after gun battle French security forces on Thursday night killed the suspect, Cherif Chekatt, 29, who was allegedly responsible for the attack on the Christmas market in Strasbourg in which three people had died. Today has been out of this world, it's a thumbs up for astronauts: Branson on Virgin Galactic's voyage into space Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo, VSS Unity, flew higher than it ever has before on Thursday, surpassing what the US Air Force considers the boundary of space, and marking the first manned flight to space from US soil since 2011. EU leaders reject PM Theresa May's plea over Brexit deal EU leaders rejected a plea by Theresa May on Thursday to help her sell her Brexit deal to parliament, warning she must set out exactly what she wants -- and announcing they would step up contingency plans in case the deal collapses. China going to open up whole country, they want to please me: Trump In a major policy shift, China is "going to open" up the entire country, US President Donald Trump said Thursday amidst trade negotiations with the Chinese. "I just see this in the front page of The Wall Street Journal which just came out. China is going to open its policy, a big policy shift. They are going to open the whole country, that they want to please President Trump, that they want to do things that they have to do and that people should have been after China for years, I mean frankly," Trump told Fox News in an interview. No Trump-Putin meeting while Russia holds Ukraine ship: US NSA John Bolton There will be no meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin while Russia still holds Ukrainian ships and sailors seized near Crimea, US national security adviser John Bolton said on Thursday.

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