Russian Ambassador to the United State Anatoly Antonov has returned to the United States on Sunday after nearly three-month consultations in Moscow.
The plane landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport at 11:50 local time, according to the airport's timetable.
The diplomat arrived onboard a regular Aeroflot flight.
Russian-US relations soured following US President Joe Biden’s notorious ABC News interview when he said that Moscow would have to "pay a price" for its alleged meddling in America’s elections and agreed when asked if Russian President Vladimir Putin was a ‘killer’. After that, Ambassador Antonov was invited to Moscow for consultations and stayed in the Russian capital since March 21. US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan left Moscow for consultations in Washington on April 22.
A Russian-US summit took place in the Swiss capital city of Geneva on JUne 16. Presidents Vladimir Putin and Joe BIden discussed the current state of and prospects for further development of bilateral relations, issues of strategic stability, international matters, including cooperation in combating the Covid-19 pandemic and ironing out regional conflicts. The leaders also announced that the ambassadors would return to Moscow and Washington in the near future.
Antonov cautiously assesses the prospects for Russian-US relations: 'let's wait how our American colleagues will actually act.'
Vladimir Putin on Saturday congratulated medical workers and veterans of the Russian healthcare system on the Medical Worker Day.
For all citizens, this is, first of all, an opportunity to convey heartfelt greetings to those who have dedicated their lives to a great and noble mission - to heal people, to protect the most valuable thing - the life and health of people.
This vocation requires special moral virtues: mercy and generosity, and sometimes true courage, as well as a willingness to risk one's own life for the sake of others.
Many of the doctors are on duty that day literally at combat posts. They are constantly and around the clock fighting the coronavirus epidemic. They rescue critically ill patients in intensive care units and hospital red zones, as well as provide ambulance services.
All parts of the Russian public health network continue to work together. Each of the doctors acts professionally and reliably.
The President appealed to the employees of hospitals and clinics, who continue to provide people with routine care, receive patients, and carry out complex, sometimes unique operations. In the past few months, they have also worked on behalf of their colleagues who are fighting the coronavirus, and despite this burden, they are fulfilling their responsibilities with dignity.
Putin is grateful for the work and service that general practitioners, medical specialists, paramedics, ambulance and ambulance brigades, employees of the medical services of the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Emergency Situations and other departments, students, professors, and teachers of the department have. medical colleges and universities, as well as personnel of leading research and practical centers and public health organizations - all this is provided by the population of Russia.
Our common goal is to focus all our efforts and all resources on protecting citizens from the coronavirus and its consequences. First, the level of vaccination needs to be increased. We have everything you need for this. Russia has four of its own coronavirus vaccines, and new vaccines and drugs are under development.
'Of course, despite the complexity of the current situation, we must expand medical examination programs and provide timely medical care to patients with cardiovascular, oncological, endocrine and other diseases,' the Russian leader said.
The Russian authorities will continue to improve the quality of the public health system, including primary health care. They are aware of his failures, and to overcome them, they launched regional programs for the modernization of polyclinics, city and district hospitals, and rural medical posts.
'We will need to structure their work around innovative technologies, renovate buildings and equip them with modern medical and diagnostic equipment, including CT scanners,' Putin said.
Of course, wages are of paramount importance, commensurate with the volume of work and the responsibility of medical workers. During the pandemic, the Russian government is focusing on supporting doctors, nurses and ambulance teams that directly deal with coronavirus patients. In total, almost 1.2 million medical workers received special payments. More than 350 billion rubles have already been allocated for these purposes.
The election to the State Duma should be held fairly and openly to enjoy the trust of the people, Vladimir Putin said at the congress of the United Russia ruling party on Saturday.
'Our common task is to do our utmost to ensure that the election is held openly and honestly in accordance with law, so that its results can reflect the true will of the nation, while enjoying the unconditional trust of the country’s citizens,' he said.
Putin emphasized that the election campaign is always a challenge for the political system, which is tested for resilience and efficiency.
'United Russia has a special role in this. The leading party should be an example of creating an atmosphere of the open and competitive political contest,' the president said.
'You will have to be particularly responsible, and rightly so. you are an influential political force, an influential party, the party of the majority and therefore, are responsible for everything. That is why you should be prepared not only for conversations about convenient and advantageous issues, but also for unsparing assessments,' Putin said adding that people are right in most of those claims.
'You need to talk to them, listen to them, draw conclusions, but should not be scared of criticism or evade hot topics. moreover, United Russia has what to report to the voters,' he added.
He noted that the party has done a lot and should defend its position confidently and reasonably.
'Talk to people openly and honestly, and it will work,' Putin concluded.
Vladimir Putin on Friday holds a Security Council meeting to discuss the results of the recent Geneva summit.
The meeting was held behind closed doors, but earlier Sergey Lavrov commented on this issue during a press conference with the Belarus counterpart.
Russia will not permit a 'one-way street' approach in its relations with the US, Sergey Lavrov said during a press conference with Belarus FM Vladimir Makei, commenting on Washington’s assessment of the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden in Geneva.
'I’ve read the assessments of US officials, including the participants of the talks, on the outcomes of the Geneva talks. They are trying to position themselves in such a way that they said: 'We need to return the personnel that will facilitate the work of the embassy, we need to get Russia to respond to the accusations related to the activity of hackers, who are attacking the American infrastructure, and we need to get Russia to release the Americans serving prison sentences." This is not the approach that the presidents talked about. I want those, who comment on the results of the summit in such a way, to hear this: this will not be a one-way street,' the minister said.
Lavrov pointed out that Putin had supported Biden’s offer to resolve the existing issues on a mutually acceptable basis. 'If the logic of the Americans is like this: we returned the ambassadors, and now you should do everything we want, and then we will see - about diplomats, cyber attacks, convicts - this is not acceptable. So, if the logic that the presidents expressed in Geneva prevails among the bureaucrats, I think we will get results,' the Russian top diplomat concluded.
The Russia-US summit, initiated by Washington, took place in the Swiss city of Geneva on Wednesday. Putin and Biden discussed the state and the prospects of the further development of bilateral relations, the issues of strategic security, as well as international matters, including cooperation in the fight against COVID-19 and regulation of regional conflicts. After the meeting in Geneva, Putin and Biden issued a joint statement on strategic stability.
Vladimir Putin on Thursday spoke about the results of the Russian-US summit in Geneva with the graduates of the so-called school of governors. The Russian leader told the future executives about the prospects for relations with the United States and about his American counterpart:
'the image of President Biden as portrayed by our and even the US media has nothing to do with reality. We talked face to face for two hours, maybe a little more. He is completely knowledgeable on all issues; he peeked at his notes from time to time – we all do that. And the image that the media present may even be misleading and prompt one to relax concentration, but there is no reason to do this whatsoever. Mr Biden is a professional, and you need to be very careful when working with him so as not to miss something. He himself does not miss a thing, I assure you, and this was absolutely clear to me.'
The President personally (I hope you too) made me very happy by mentioning the 'funny' Jen Psaki:
'The fact that he sometimes gets confused… His press secretary is a young, educated and beautiful woman, and she gets things confused all the time herself. This is not because of her education or poor memory. It is just, you know, when people think that some things are of secondary importance, they do not really focus on them. The Americans believe that nothing is more important than them – this is their style.
The atmosphere was quite friendly, and I think, we understood each other and where we stand on key issues. We do not see eye-to-eye on many of them, and we have pinpointed these differences, but at the same time we have identified the areas or the points that we can discuss and work towards achieving more converging positions in the future.
During a press conference in Geneva, Vladimir Putin said that President Biden, during their meeting, raised the issue of the activities of Radio Liberty and Radio Free Europe in Russia, which had been announced as foreign agents in Russia.
Putin expressed bewilderment because earlier Russia Today and Sputnik had been declared foreign agents in the United States, and therefore this was a response to unfriendly actions against the Russian media.
'In addition, Russia Today complies with all the requirements of the US regulatory body and US legislation. They go through the appropriate registration there and so on, although they face a fairly large number of problems related to staff recruitment, financial issues and so on,' the Russian leader noted.
Vladimir Putin said that actions in relation to Alexei Navalny, as well as in relation to the entire so-called non-systemic opposition, are carried out strictly within the framework of Russian legislation, answering the relevant question from CNN after the Russia-US summit.
Navalny knew that he was violating current Russian law. He needed to contact the authorities as a person who had twice received suspended prison sentences. Fully aware of what he was doing and ignoring this requirement of the law, he went abroad for medical treatment, and the authorities did not ask him to register while he was being treated. Once he was discharged from the hospital and posted his videos on the Internet, the claims were reinstated. He did not appear; violated the law - and was put on the wanted list. Navalny knew this when he returned to Russia.
The President expressed his attitude to the Russian non-systemic opposition supported from abroad.
In 2017, the US Congress declared Russia an enemy and an adversary. US legislation was amended to include provisions that the United States must maintain the rules and order of democratic governance in Russia and support the political organizations that constrain it, as this is the goal of the United States, which was announced publicly. These are the organizations and people that contribute to the implementation of the United States' policy towards Russia.
Vladimir Putin said that Russia has only one obligation regarding Ukraine, which is to facilitate the implementation of the Minsk Agreements, answering a relevant question from CNN after the Russia-US summit.
In November 2020, the Ukrainian delegation presented its vision of how it plans to implement the Minsk agreements. They say that it is first necessary to make proposals for the political integration of Donbass into the Ukrainian legal system and the Constitution. For this, it is necessary to amend the Constitution - this is spelled out in the agreements. Daooee, the border between the Russian Federation and Ukraine along the Donbass line will begin to be occupied by the border troops of Ukraine the day after election day (Article 9).
This means that Ukrainian troops will enter Donbass. Then, they offered to close the border between Russia and Ukraine in this area. Finally, they proposed holding elections three months after these two steps.
All these proposals of the Ukrainian authorities have nothing to do with the Minsk agreements. They completely contradict them.
Vladimir Putin said he and Joe Biden had agreed to begin consultations on cybersecurity, answering a CNN question after the Russia-US summit.
The President announced the top countries from which cyberspace is the source of the most cyber attacks. American sources said most of the world's cyber attacks originate from US cyberspace. Canada is in second place. followed by two Latin American countries and then Great Britain. Russia is not on the list of countries from which cyberspace is the source of the most cyber attacks.
Russia in 2020 received 10 requests from the United States about cyberattacks on US targets, from Russian cyberspace. Two more requests were received this year. They received comprehensive answers to all of them, both in 2020 and this year.
In turn, Russia sent 45 inquiries to the relevant US agency last year and 35 inquiries in the first half of this year. And so far, have not received a single answer.
The question of who, on what scale and in what area should undertake obligations should be decided in the course of negotiations. Russia and the United States agreed to start such consultations.
Cybersecurity is extremely important in the world in general, for the United States in particular, and to the same extent for Russia.
Vladimir Putin has announced the agreement reached between him and US President Joe Biden to hold consultations between the Russian Foreign Ministry and the US State Department about strategic stability and arms control.
"Of course, the issue is what to do next. We agreed that the consultation on the inter-agency level will begin under the auspices of the US State Department and the Russian Foreign Ministry. The colleagues at the working level will determine the makeup of delegations, the place of work and how often these meetings will be held," he told reporters when asked the relevant question by TASS following the Russia-US summit.
Vladimir Putin has said that at the talks with his US counterpart Joe Biden they agreed that the two countries’ ambassadors will return to their workplaces in Moscow and in Washington.
"As for the return of ambassadors to their places of work - of the US ambassador to Moscow, and, respectively, of the Russian to Washington, we agreed that this issue is resolved," the Russian leader told reporters after the Russian-US summit in Geneva.
In Geneva, Vladimir Putin began negotiations with the President of the United States of America, Joseph Biden.
Russian-American consultations began with a narrow-format meeting with the participation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
Putin has expressed the hope that the talks with his US counterpart Joe Biden will be productive."Mr. President, I want to thank you for your initiative of today’s meeting," the Russian head of state said on Wednesday in his opening remarks at the Geneva talks addressing Biden.
"I know that you had a long trip, a lot of work. Nevertheless, many issues that require top-level discussion have accumulated in Russian-American relations," Putin noted. "I hope that our meeting will be productive".
The talks between the Russian and US presidents are taking place in the Villa La Grange library. Top Russian and US diplomats Sergey Lavrov and Antony Blinken as well as interpreters are in the library along with the two leaders.
The Russian leader will have his first bilateral talks with US President Joe Biden, who arrived on Tuesday and has already met with Swiss President Guy Parmelin and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis of Switzerland.
Earlier, the spokesperson for the Canton of Geneva, Emmanuel Cuenod, told that Russia had not requested Switzerland for a protocol ceremony for Putin at the airport.
The talks between the presidents of Russia and the United States, Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden, will be held at the Villa La Grange in Geneva on June 16.
The Swiss president will deliver a welcome speech, after which Putin and Biden will begin negotiations - first in a narrow format, then with the participation of the delegations. Under the plan, the meeting in a narrow format will last for about an hour, while the meeting in an extended format will be divided into two parts and will last approximately until 18:00 local time (19:00 Moscow time). Then the two presidents will give separate press conferences.
Russian-American relations have reached their lowest point in years, so the parties sooner or later had to agree on a new summit.
This was stated by Vladimir Putin to the NBC correspondent Keir Simmons on the eve of a meeting with his American counterpart Joe Biden.
In an interview, the text of which was published on the Kremlin's website on Monday, the Russian leader suggested looking for compromises acceptable to all, expressed his hope for cooperation with Washington in cyberspace and space, and also admitted the possibility of discussing the exchange of prisoners.
Putin also answered questions about attitudes towards the opposition and the murder charges, the international agenda and what is important to him successor in the presidency. TKS has collected the key and brightest statements of the Russian leader.
Vladimir Putin expects the upcoming summit with his US counterpart Joe Biden in Geneva on June 16 to restore personal contacts and establish dialogue on issues of mutual interest, in an interview with the program, Moscow. Kremlin. Putin.
Among the issues of mutual interest, Russian President named strategic stability, the topic of regional conflicts, nature conservation measures and environmental protection as a whole, on the global scale, and economic cooperation.
Many American companies want to operate in Russia but they are being pulled by the ears from our market and they are ceding their place to rivals.
The fact that the US has abated its negative rhetoric towards Russia in the run-up to the summit should not be misled.
In the run-up to summit meetings, both sides always try to reduce some negative rhetoric to create the corresponding favorable atmosphere for work.
Vladimir Putin in interview with the program, Moscow. Kremlin. Putin, notes that Russia is ready to extradite cyber criminals to the United States on a reciprocal basis.
Moscow has repeatedly called on Washington to sign a cybersecurity agreement that would make it possible to jointly fight in this area.
Such understandings are formalized in corresponding interstate relations where the sides assume certain commitments. In an overwhelming majority of cases, they are equitable. Both sides assume equal commitments.
These agreements also apply to the extradition of criminals. And if they are achieved, then Russia, of course, will do it, but only if the other side, in this case the United States, agrees to the same and also extradits the corresponding criminals to the Russian Federation.
Cybersecurity is one of the most pressing issues today because any disconnections of whole systems entail very grave consequences and this turns out to be possible.
Vladimir Putin responded to Indian journalist regarding Russia-India relations, during the meeting with foreign journalists as part of the recent SPIEF'21.
Russia-India relations, according to Putin, are developing very successfully, in a trusting and traditional manner. These are relations of a truly strategic nature, since they cover a whole range of areas of interaction. These include issues of economics, energy and high technologies. It is also a military-industrial complex, and this is not only about buying and selling Russian weapons.
Russia has a very deep and trusting relationship with India, which is manifested in the fact that India is the only partner of Russia with which joint design and production efforts are being carried out, including the Indian territory, the latest and most modern weapons systems, including missile equipment.
The Russian President has no doubts that Russian-Indian relations will continue to develop consistently for the benefit of the peoples of India and Russia.
Vladimir Putin responded to a Japanese journalist on the controversial issue of the South Kuril Islands at a meeting with foreign journalists as part of the recent SPIEF'21.
Putin briefly recalled the background of this issue. Japan's position has changed very often since 1956, when they started talking about the two islands. Then, at the initiative of Japan, talks about this part of the Kuril Islands stopped. Later, Russia resumed them at the request of the Japanese side, when it came to two islands. After that, Japan's position changed again, and this time it was about four islands. Meanwhile, neither Russia nor the Soviet Union ever agreed to this.
During the preliminary discussions, the Russian side was interested in issues relate
d to security. Namely, how to resolve these issues, taking into account the fact that the United States plans to deploy modern attack missile systems on Japanese territory. Russia has always been concerned about whether these missile systems would be deployed at a distance that would threaten the Russian Federation. Unfortunately, Russia has not received an unambiguous, firm and clear answer.
This was followed by recent amendments to the Russian Constitution, which makes it impossible to alienate any territories of the country.
Putin believes that in any case, Russia should build good-neighborly relations with Japan. In particular, continue negotiations on a peace treaty between the two countries ... however, given that the Japanese side has always linked the issue of a peace treaty with the return of the Kuril Islands, therefore, the prospects for its signing, as well as the return of the South Kuril Islands to Japan, are absolutely unrealistic.
The inflated conceit of the United States, according to Vladimir Putin, can play a cruel joke.
The fatal mistake of empires is their excessive self-confidence in their economic and military might, which creates the illusion that blunders and mistakes are permissible in their foreign policy.
But problems are piling up, and there comes a time when it is no longer possible to cope with them all. And the United States is firmly and steadily following in the footsteps of the Soviet Union.
On Russia Day, Vladimir Putin visited the exhibition History through the Eyes of Artists at the New Tretyakov Gallery on Krymsky Val. It is timed to coincide with the 800th anniversary of Alexander Nevsky.
The excursion for the President and Patriarch Kirill was led by Metropolitan Tikhon of Pskov. They were also accompanied by the director of the museum, Zelfira Tregulova.
The exposition was prepared for a year and a half. In the halls there are more than a hundred paintings from forty Russian museums. Some have never exhibited in Moscow before. And there are generally unique exhibits.
For example, a helmet that has lain in the ground for eight centuries. Scientists do not exclude that it could have belonged to Alexander Nevsky himself. The exhibition will open to the general public on Sunday.
After the awards ceremony, Vladimir Putin talked to the laureates in an informal setting. During such informal communication, extremely important topics are often discussed. So it was this time.
With the creators of the world's first registered vaccine against coronavirus, the president spoke about why the vaccination campaign is not going as fast as it could, and also about the development of a drug for children.
Alexey Ginzburg promised to register a coronavirus vaccine for children on September 15-20. However, according to the creators of Sputnik-B, Denis Logunov and Sergei Borisevich nasal spraying of this vaccine provides effective protection for children from 8 years of age.
On Russia Day, Wednesday, Vladimir Putin presented gold medals "Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation" and State Prizes in Science and Technology, Literature and Art, for outstanding achievements in human rights and charitable work for 2020.
The solemn ceremony took place in St. George’s Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace.
The title of Hero of Labour of the Russian Federation has been conferred on Icebreaker Captain Gennady Antokhin. His 30-year work record includes risks and triumphs, dozens of extremely difficult expeditions and rescue operations. Mr Antokhin generously shares his professionalism with young captains and teaches them how to safely escort ship convoys in the harsh environment of the Arctic.
Tractor driver Alexander Bondarenko from the Don River area has devoted almost half a century to his profession. A member of a workers’ dynasty, he is sincerely concerned about his work and achieves outstanding results. It is precisely these dedicated, strong and truly hard-working people that drive the growth of the Russian agriculture sector and who provide record-breaking harvests of which the entire country feels proud.
Lyudmila Suslyakova is an amazing woman whose unique toughness, fortitude and diligence are so characteristic of Kuzbass residents. She operates a crane at a blast furnace department and has been managing hot iron flows for the past 40 years.
Murad Kazhlayev has long dreamed of devoting his life to children. An outstanding orchestra conductor, composer and a wonderful melodist, he enriched world culture with musical traditions of Daghestan, his homeland, created unique symphonies and ballets, jazz compositions and soundtracks for theatre performances and feature films.
Heroes of Labour also include Engineer Viktor Polyakov. An employee of ODK Saturn Plant in Yaroslavl, he worked his way through the ranks and was eventually promoted from machine fitter to managing director.
The solutions found by Russian scientists opened a path to the long-awaited vaccines from other dangerous viral diseases. This breakthrough was achieved by Alexander Gintsburg, Denis Logunov and Sergei Borisevich, who have been conferred the National Award in science and technology.
The winners also include founders of a new approach to treating head and neck tumours: Igor Reshetov, Evgeny Choinzonov and Sadulla Abakarov. They use their world-class original developments, high-precision and gentle treatment, and the most advanced methods of tissue and organ restoration.
Valery Zapassky and Yevgeny Aleksandrov have invented a new concept of studying the object’s magnetic characteristics at the atomic level. This method can unveil the mystery of how elemental particles form objects, which is important for developing technologies for construction, energy, medicine and exploration of space and the World Ocean.
Grigory Alfeyev (Metropolitan Hilarion) carries on the traditions of Russian education while combining his church service with positive creative activity. His literary, musical and cinematographic works become an event in Russia’s cultural life, and his education programmes on Russian television gather million-wide audiences all over the world.
The National Award is conferred on Khibla Gerzmava, with her enchanting voice and unique acting talent, for her contribution to the development of Russian and world operatic art. She can skilfully perform both the most complex parts of the opera repertoire and jazz compositions, and is one of the most popular Russian singers.
Alexander Rukavishnikov, one of the most famous masters of monumental sculpture in the world, is another winner of the National Award. His brilliant talent can solve even the most difficult creative tasks, and his works are not only skilfully composed, but also filled with a deep understanding of the essence of the images he creates as well as an impeccable sense of space.
Yelena Topoleva-Soldunova chose to support the development of civil society over a quarter of century ago. She stood at the origins of many social and volunteer initiatives, and took part in the development of the legal framework for the work of NGOs.
Winner of the National Prize for Outstanding Achievements in Charity Work, Faina Zakharova, has also dedicated her life to working for the benefit of society. Her enormous energy of kindness and compassion, as well as bravery and intelligence are completely devoted to the Life Line Charity Foundation: an organisation that has helped more than 10,000 children.
Millions of Russia's fans, as well as throughout Europe, are looking forward to Euro 2020. It will be possible to enjoy the spectacle during the championship in special fan zones, of course, observing all the necessary security measures during the coronavirus time.
Masks are required, the temperature will be measured at the entrance. Fan zones in nine Russian cities. In Moscow - in Luzhniki, in St. Petersburg - on Palace Square and at three other addresses.
St. Petersburg has become one of the main cities of Euro 2020. The Russian national team will play here two matches in their group - against the teams of Belgium and Finland.
The Federal Guard Service (FSO) introduced a new "employee" on Friday. Now the snowy owl Buran is on guard of the Moscow Kremlin. Together with his companions - a falcon, a hawk and an owl - he will protect the Kremlin from the crows.
Crows scratch with their claws the gold leaf of the Kremlin domes, ravage flower beds and survive from the territory of songbirds. Winged predators came to the rescue. The sky above the Kremlin is guarded by an owl, hawks and a newcomer to the detachment - the Kremlin cadet Buran. The snowy owl has been serving for less than a year.
Vladimir Putin on Friday held a meeting on current issues of the single voting day with the permanent members of the Security Council, via videoconference.
The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino, Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin, and Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport Sergei Ivanov.
On a single voting day, September 19, 2021, election campaigns of various levels will be held in the Russian Federation, including elections of deputies of the State Duma, heads of 12 constituent entities of the Federation and elections of deputies of legislative bodies of state power in 39 constituent entities RF.
The Moscow City Court on Wednesday recognized the Navalny Headquarters and FBK movement, previously included in the list of foreign agents, as extremist organizations.
Under the guise of a signboard about the human rights activities of the FBK, the so-called "Fund for the Protection of Citizens' Rights" and "Navalny Headquarters" preached the ideology of extremism.
The prosecutor's office turned out to be more than enough proof of these charges. Many of them are classified as "secret", so the court sessions since April were held behind closed doors. However, what has become widely known to everyone would have been enough for an indictment.
Which Western countries are primarily interested in this can be understood at least by the fact that the US State Department was the first to oppose the court decision regarding the FBK and Navalny Headquarters. A country where supporters of Donald Trump are being tried for domestic terrorism just for expressing disagreement with the results of the past presidential elections in America.
Vladimir Putin commented on the statements of Volodymyr Zelenskiy that Ukrainians really want to join NATO in an interview on Wednesday.
Mr Zelensky cannot fail to know that at least 50% of Ukrainian citizens do not want the country to join NATO. And these are smart people. They don't want to be in the line of fire. They don't want to be a bargaining chip and cannon fodder. Among other things, these people seem to feel that they are part of our common civilization. And they do not want one part of civilization to oppose another part of civilization and at the same time perform some kind of dance to someone else's music.
Vladimir Putin reacted negatively to Volodymyr Zelensky's bill on the indigenous peoples of Ukraine, which did not include Russians, in an interview on Wednesday.
The President recalled how Ukraine emerged as a state. This is a product of the Soviet period. The Bolsheviks, organizing the Soviet Union, created Ukraine, like other union republics. These territories (present-day Ukraine) became part of the Russian state in 1654 after the Yaroslavl Rada.
It is quite obvious that the people who came with these territories to the Russian state called themselves Russians. Therefore, it is simply incorrect to speak of Russians as a non-indigenous people. It's funny and stupid. This does not fit the story absolutely.
In general, the division itself into indigenous, first-class categories of people, second-class, and so on - this is definitely quite reminiscent of the theory and practice of Nazi Germany.
This is absolutely unacceptable and does not comply with any norms of international humanitarian law.
Vladimir Putin participates, on Wednesday, via videoconference, in the launching ceremony of the first production line of the Amur Gas Processing Plant, a project implemented by Gazprom.
The Amur Gas Processing Plant near Svobodny ranks among Gazprom’s major infrastructure projects in Russia’s Far East. Its construction was launched in 2015. The facility will process multi-component natural gas from the Yakutia and Irkutsk gas production centres. The gas will be delivered via the Power of Siberia gas pipeline.
The Amur Gas Processing Plant is to attain design capacity in early 2025 and will annually produce 42 billion cubic metres of gas. Six production lines with an annual capacity of seven billion cubic metres of gas each will be activated stage by stage. The Plant will include the world’s largest helium production facility with an annual capacity of up to 60 million cubic metres.
Gazprom’s processing capabilities will increase by 80 percent after the Amur Gas Processing Plant attains design capacity.
On Social Worker’s Day, Wednesday, Vladimir Putin had a meeting with representatives of social organisations via videoconference.
The President congratulated all caseworkers on the Social Worker’s Day.
320 years ago, on June 8, 1701, Peter the Great decided to create a national social security system at the state level.
Outstanding philanthropists and selfless people, as well as representatives of different classes, perceived good deeds and helping people in need as a very important aspect of their lives.
Currently, these moral principles are embodied in the daily work of employees of state and municipal social service bodies, volunteers, representatives of the non-profit sector, charitable foundations and religious associations.
Putin thanked the social workers for their warmth, compassion and generosity, for all their achievements and work for the benefit of their wards.
Despite the colossal burdens and difficulties, caseworkers selflessly and heroically fulfilled their duty. They worked to the limit of their capabilities, almost seven days a week, took care of other people, tried to protect them from danger, in order to console and reassure the elderly and seriously ill.
It is necessary to expand the participation of public and charitable organizations, as well as volunteers of all ages in the provision of social assistance. The sincerity, warmth and human kindness of social workers are certainly the key to overall success.
Vladimir Putin assured Indian journalist Priyanka Tikoo that the rapprochement between Russia and China could in no way affect Russia's strategic partnership with India, during a meeting with foreign media in St. Petersburg last Friday.
The President stressed that any partnership between countries should not be aimed at being friends, just to confront someone else. 'We need to be friends with each other in order to achieve common goals, to solve the tasks facing states.'
In addition, conditions were created so that India, China and Russia could work in the same organizations: BRICS, SCO and of course the UN.
Putin expressed confidence that the leaders of India and China, who treat each other with great respect, will always find a way to solve the problems they face. The main thing is that extra-regional powers do not stand in their way.
On Monday, Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the European Council Charles Michel.
Relations between Russia and the European Union, as well as a number of current international issues, were discussed in detail.
Putin stressed that, although Russia and the European Union remained significant trade and investment partners, the current state of Russia-EU relations could not be considered satisfactory. It was noted that a return to pragmatic and respectful cooperation would be in the interests of both. Mutual opinion was expressed that it is important to step up cooperation in specific areas like healthcare, the climate agenda, and settling regional conflicts.
Combatting the spread of the coronavirus infection was also discussed, including the prospects for certifying the Russian vaccine Sputnik V in the European Union and ensuring conditions for mutual travel while complying with anti-pandemic restrictions.
Developments around Nagorno-Karabakh were discussed in terms of the importance of the further and consistent implementation of the statements made by the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on November 9, 2020 and January 11, 2021. Priority tasks include unblocking economic and transport connections in the region and resolving local humanitarian problems. Michel expressed support for these efforts, including the work of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs (Russia, the US and France).
Regarding the additional sanctions pressure on Belarus from the European Union, Putin noted that such an approach, like any attempt to interfere in this sovereign state’s domestic affairs, was counterproductive.
When discussing the internal Ukrainian crisis, both sides noted that the 2015 Minsk Package of Measures remained the only basis for the settlement process. The President of Russia said that the Kiev authorities must strictly implement all previously reached agreements, primarily on establishing a direct dialogue with Donetsk and Lugansk and legalising the special status of Donbass.
During the discussion of developments in Libya, Putin and Michel spoke in favour of further promoting the political process and supporting the established authorities during the transition period.
Vladimir Putin, on Monday, meets with Director of the Federal Service for MilitaryTechnical Cooperation Dmitry Shugayev.
Russia received $ 15 billion in revenue from arms sales abroad last year. In the backlog of orders for another 50 billion.
Competition in this market is high, but Russian products are confidently in demand.
Behind the official wording "military-technical cooperation" is one of the most important and delicate aspects in international relations. Sale of weapons and military equipment. A gigantic business, closely related to politics, in which Russia plays a significant role, for many years remaining the second largest exporter of weapons on a global scale.
For Russian exports, trade in military products remains one of the main items. The list of major buyers is headed by India, China and Egypt, but Russian weapons are also readily purchased in other countries, primarily in Asia and Africa.
Combat aircraft is our main export hit. The supply
of aircraft, for example, the Su-30 and Su-35 fighters, accounts for almost half of the foreign contracts of Russian weapons manufacturers. Our air defense systems - such as the S-400 - and ground equipment are equally famous in the world. The T-90 tank once gained fame as the best-selling combat vehicle on the world market.
But the further, the more Russia is faced with the pressure of competitors, and here, almost like in a war, any means are used.
For the purchase of Russian S-400 systems, the Americans have already punished Turkey by excluding Ankara from the program for the production of fifth-generation fighters. The USA is threatening India with no less severe punishments. Washington even passed a law allowing the imposition of sanctions against any buyer of Russian weapons. But against this background, Russia is building relations with partners. The pandemic also complicated the market situation due to the cancellation of arms exhibitions, where manufacturers demonstrate their new products.
One exception is the Russian Army 2020 forum in Kubinka. This is the only major international event that took place last year.
Last year, the Army 2020 forum was attended by nearly 1.5 million people, including 92 foreign delegations. This year, almost 50 states have already confirmed their participation in the forum a few months before its start.
Vladimir Putin signs law taking Russia out of Open Skies arms control treaty on Monday.
Until recently, the open skies agreement was one of the most important measures for maintaining international security, it helped to build confidence in the military sphere. But the United States withdrew from it, thereby upsetting the balance of interests.
It was no longer possible for Russian specialists to make observation flights over the United States, but Washington could still receive information about Russian facilities from NATO allies.
The law on denunciation has been published on the official Internet portal of legal information http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001202106070001
Earlier, the bill was supported by the State Duma and the Federation Council.
Nord Stream 2 is a purely commercial project, stressed Vladimir Putin, speaking at SPIEF 2021.
He also noted that due to the fact that Europe will not have to pay for gas transit, its cost is 25 percent lower than that of the same American LNG. It is just economically more practical.
Until now, some kind of evil propaganda is being hammered into people's heads with the idea that politics is playing here, and about the desire to bypass some countries.
NS-2 must be completed, especially since the new US administration has consistently declared that it wants to build good relations with its main partners in Europe. How can you build good relationships with your partners without caring about their interests?
The Russian gas source is the cleanest in the world. Because the US gas industry produces more than 70 percent of its gas by hydraulic fracturing, while Gazprom uses hydraulic fracturing to produce only 11 percent. But the gas that will be transported via Nord Stream 2 is being pumped directly from below the surface. There is no hydraulic fracturing. Meanwhile, hydraulic fracturing is a catastrophic method of gas production from an environmental point of view. Tens and hundreds of tons of chemicals are pumped underground during hydraulic fracturing. This causes direct damage to the environment.
The sanctions are generally bad for the global economy; they shrink the world economy instead of helping it expand. But in this case, it is just a way to achieve unfair competition.
Natural gas is the most demanded product for the world economy in a fairly long period of transition to green energy. Of all hydrocarbons, it will last the longest on the market, since it is the most environmentally friendly carrier.
Germany’s Greens advocate buying American LNG. But if they are really green, they should know that over 70 percent of the gas is extracted by fracking, and what it means for the environment. Let us look at this systematically and honestly, and draw conclusions. And the conclusions are that the gas here is more environmentally safe, cleaner, cheaper and more reliable.
Therefore, German and other partners opted for Nord Stream 2.
President Biden is a very experienced man, he has been in politics all his life, Vladimir Putin said in an interview with Russian TV channel ORT on Friday.
The Russian leader is counting on the Biden-Putin summit to be held in a positive manner. However, he does not expect anything breakthrough in Russian-American relations.
Even the mere fact that the presidents will hold this meeting and talk about the possibility of restoring bilateral relations is not a bad thing.
Putin is counting on a positive result from the upcoming meeting. He hopes that conditions will be created in order to take the next steps to normalize Russian-American relations and address the issues facing both countries.
The entire international community is interested in this. This refers to issues of strategic stability, environmental agenda and regional conflicts.
The President said that he remembers very well the previous meeting, when he was the Prime Minister of Russia, and Mr. Biden is the Secretary of State, and he expects that the experience of the current US President will be a positive factor that will affect the results of the upcoming meeting in Geneva.
Vladimir Putin commented on accusations of alleged Russian hacker attacks on American meat processing plants and a pipeline, during an interview with Russian ORT on Friday.
The President considers these stuffing in the media as a provocation by certain forces that are not interested in improving Russian-American relations on the eve of his meeting with Biden in Geneva.
Putin is sure that those people who know how to think, they really see that there has never been any malicious actions on the part of Russia.
The Russian leader called these accusations ridiculous and called on the US special services to search for the true extortionists.
On Saturday, Vladimir Putin attended the unveiling of the monument to Emperor Alexander III, which was erected on the territory of the Arsenal Square at the Grand Gatchina Palace to honour the 175th birth anniversary of the Russian Peacemaker Tsar.
Emperor Alexander III, was called by the people a peacemaker tsar, because during his reign Russia did not wage a single war.
It is with the name of this ruler that the grandiose and bold plan for the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway is associated.
The monument was created by Vladimir Brodarsky, a graduate of the Ilya Repin St Petersburg Academy of Arts after a design by sculptor Paolo Troubetzkoy (1866 – 1938). The project was implemented by the Russian Military Historical Society and the Russian Historical Society.
Vladimir Putin thinks that during the meeting with US President Joe Biden in Geneva, both sides must try to find ways to regulate bilateral relations.
The Kremlin and the White House announced that the much-awaited summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Joe Biden would take place in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 16.
According to the Kremlin, the heads of state will discuss the conditions and prospects for further fostering Russian-US relations, strategic stability matters as well as pressing issues on the international agenda, which include cooperation in fighting the pandemic and regulating regional conflicts.
Efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic must be global, Vladimir Putin stressed, speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday.
Only ensuring wide and universal access to coronavirus vaccines on all continents will eliminate the threat of new pandemic outbreaks on our planet.
According to the IMF, countries with a high level of income and 16 percent of the world’s population have access to 50 percent of the vaccines produced. as the result, only 10 percent of the world’s population have been fully vaccinated or received the first jab, whereas hundreds of millions of people have no access to vaccines simply because their countries do not have the required technology, production facilities or money to buy the vaccines. and the assistance being provided to these countries by those who can afford to do it has been negligibly small so far.
Regrettably, it is every man for himself in the fight against the coronavirus on the global scale. The necessary volume of assistance is not being provided where it is badly needed now, or, which is absolutely absurd, politically motivated bans are imposed on the purchase of tested and effective vaccines that have been proved to be completely reliable. in the current situation this looks like unwillingness to protect one’s own citizens from this threat.
Russia is contributing to the efforts against the coronavirus. For example, Sputnik V has been registered in 66 countries with a combined population of over 3.2 billion.
Putin noted that not only unique technologies were created and the production of vaccines was promptly launched in Russia, but also that foreign partners are being assisted in localizing their production.
The President asked the Government, regions and business to work together to vaccinate people who come to Russia as labor migrants. Many of them work in the Russian construction industry, in trade and services, as well as in housing and communal services.
The domestic pharmaceutical industry is ready to further increase the production of vaccines. Russia is fully self-sufficient and can provide foreigners with the opportunity to come for vaccination.
Now it has become a common practice for people from different countries, including entrepreneurs, heads of large European and other companies, to make special trips to Russia to get vaccinated against coronavirus.
In this context, Putin instructed the Cabinet of Ministers to analyze all aspects of this issue by the end of this month in order to organize paid vaccination of foreigners in Russia, taking into account the requirements of safety and sanitary control.
