Russia Monitor

Russia's Problem in Sudan: No Chance for Port Putin?

06/11/2021

Russia will need to wait for Sudan's final decision on a naval base on the Red Sea. Close ties to the country's former dictator Omar Basher and then with Sudanese army generals are not enough to put Moscow’s plans into practice. Also, the United States has joined the game; as Khartoum said it would renegotiate the deal, this means it seeks to get as much as possible from both Moscow and Washington. Yet the prospect of a Russian military base on the Red Sea is becoming more and more distant. Russia will need to wait for Sudan's final decision on a naval base on the Red Sea. Close ties to the country's former dictator Omar Basher and then with Sudanese army generals are not enough to put Moscow’s plans into practice. Also, the United States has joined the game; as Khartoum said it would renegotiate the deal, this means it seeks to get as much as possible from both Moscow and Washington. Yet the prospect of a Russian military base on the Red Sea is becoming more and more distant.

Austria Is Betting on Russia Where Austrian Officers Get Top Jobs

06/09/2021

Full support for Nord Stream 2, "peace in Europe only with Russia," and giving jobs to former top Austrian officials is how Austria cultivates its relations with Moscow. Vienna has just become one of Moscow's most important allies in Europe. Full support for Nord Stream 2, "peace in Europe only with Russia," and giving jobs to former top Austrian officials is how Austria cultivates its relations with Moscow. Vienna has just become one of Moscow's most important allies in Europe.

Russian Intelligence Pledges to Help Lukashenko Target Enemies Abroad

06/09/2021

Belarusian special services are getting increasingly involved in joint activities with Russia. This is not only about counterintelligence cooperations to combat opposition forces inside the country, but also to intimidate those in other states. Such a conclusion comes from the deal the Belarusian KGB just inked with a Russian intelligence agency. Belarusian special services are getting increasingly involved in joint activities with Russia. This is not only about counterintelligence cooperations to combat opposition forces inside the country, but also to intimidate those in other states. Such a conclusion comes from the deal the Belarusian KGB just inked with a Russian intelligence agency.

Kremlin Responds To President Duda's Strong Words About Russia

05/28/2021

Russia is “not a normal country” but rather “an aggressor state", Polish President Andrzej Duda said during a state visit to Georgia, at the border between Georgia and the Russian-occupied breakaway region of South Ossetia. Duda's vocal criticism of Russia triggered a reaction from the Kremlin. Russia is “not a normal country” but rather “an aggressor state", Polish President Andrzej Duda said during a state visit to Georgia, at the border between Georgia and the Russian-occupied breakaway region of South Ossetia. Duda's vocal criticism of Russia triggered a reaction from the Kremlin.

The Failure of Russia's Vaccine Diplomacy

05/27/2021

Yet once again Russia has failed to handle some technological constraints of its economy. This time is about the production of the Russian Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V. So far the country has completed just 8 percent of all orders it had gotten from other countries. Those that purchased the jab earlier received small portions of it as Russia has problems producing its vaccine. Yet once again Russia has failed to handle some technological constraints of its economy. This time is about the production of the Russian Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V. So far the country has completed just 8 percent of all orders it had gotten from other countries. Those that purchased the jab earlier received small portions of it as Russia has problems producing its vaccine.

Russia Resumes Oil Production In Libya

05/27/2021

As Libya's political and military situation returned to the relative normal, the country is now seeing a renewal of business activities, also in its oil and gas sector. So also Russian companies resumed production; they secured many licenses in the country back at the time when Gaddafi was in power. As Libya's political and military situation returned to the relative normal, the country is now seeing a renewal of business activities, also in its oil and gas sector. So also Russian companies resumed production; they secured many licenses in the country back at the time when Gaddafi was in power.

Rosneft Makes Next Step Towards Development Of Vostok Oil

05/27/2021

Rosneft officially starts construction of its Sever Bay seaport on the coast of peninsula Taymyr as part of the Vostok Oil project. Its first part allows the loading of up to 30 million tons of crude each year. By 2030, the volumes will increase to 100 million tons per year once the second and third stages are completed. Rosneft officially starts construction of its Sever Bay seaport on the coast of peninsula Taymyr as part of the Vostok Oil project. Its first part allows the loading of up to 30 million tons of crude each year. By 2030, the volumes will increase to 100 million tons per year once the second and third stages are completed.

Russian Strategic Bombers In Syria Are A Problem For NATO

05/26/2021

Russia said it had the ability for the first time to operate long-range strategic nuclear-capable bombers from its air base in Syria. The Hmeymim airfield was upgraded allowing Russia to manage long-range aircraft from the base, also Tupolev Tu-22M3 bombers. Three long-range bombers of that type had flown to Hmeymim. They would hold training exercises in new geographical areas over the Mediterranean Sea before returning to their permanent airfields in Russia. Russia said it had the ability for the first time to operate long-range strategic nuclear-capable bombers from its air base in Syria. The Hmeymim airfield was upgraded allowing Russia to manage long-range aircraft from the base, also Tupolev Tu-22M3 bombers. Three long-range bombers of that type had flown to Hmeymim. They would hold training exercises in new geographical areas over the Mediterranean Sea before returning to their permanent airfields in Russia.

Top U.S. and Russian Officials Hold Talks Ahead of Biden-Putin Meeting

05/26/2021

First, top U.S. and Russian diplomats held a meeting, followed by the talks between security chiefs. A summit between the U.S. and Russian leaders is coming close. Statements after both meetings show that only a disaster could torpedo a face-to-face talk between Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden. First, top U.S. and Russian diplomats held a meeting, followed by the talks between security chiefs. A summit between the U.S. and Russian leaders is coming close. Statements after both meetings show that only a disaster could torpedo a face-to-face talk between Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden.

Gazprom Is Not Keen To Give Up Control Over Yamal Fields To Novatek

05/26/2021

Russian energy giant Gazprom alone cannot efficiently manage the gigantic Tambey fields, neither does it plan to give up its control over the resources to its biggest rival. The state-run firm does not bow to pressure from the Kremlin, either. The company will indeed give its exclusive license to a business partner in a newly established venture, but not to Novatek. Russian energy giant Gazprom alone cannot efficiently manage the gigantic Tambey fields, neither does it plan to give up its control over the resources to its biggest rival. The state-run firm does not bow to pressure from the Kremlin, either. The company will indeed give its exclusive license to a business partner in a newly established venture, but not to Novatek.