Page 150 - Russia

President Vladimir Putin rails against West in state-of-the-nation address

Russian President Vladimir Putin railed against the West in his long-delayed state-of-the-nation address on Tuesday, a speech expected to set the tone for the year ahead and shed light on how the Kremlin sees its bogged-down war in Ukraine. Putin has frequently justified his invasion of Ukraine by accusing Western countries of threatening Russia. They say nothing could be further from the truth, saying that Moscow's forces attacked Ukraine unprovoked. It's they who have started the war. And we are using force to end it, Putin said in a speech broadcast by all Russian state TV channels. While the Constitution mandates that the president deliver the speech annually, Putin never gave one in 2022, as his troops rolled into Ukraine and suffered repeated setbacks. Now the address comes days before the war's first anniversary on Friday. Before the speech, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said that the Russian leader would focus on the special military operation in Ukraine, as Moscow c

Zelenskyy instilled hope as West, fearing for his life, advised him to flee

A year ago, with Russian forces bearing down on Ukraine's capital, Western leaders feared for the life of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and advised him to flee. The US offered him an escape route. Instead, he filmed a defiant video of himself on a darkened street outside the presidential offices with his four closest aides arrayed behind him. We are all here, Zelenskyy said in a declaration of their determination to stay in Kyiv and defend Ukraine's independence. It was powerful political theatre. From the first days of the war, when few expected Ukraine's army to hold up against a Russian onslaught, Zelenskyy has inspired Ukrainians to fight. He has given them hope. Night after night, he has addressed the nation in a video posted on social media. His actor-trained voice can be soothing or forceful, rising in moral outrage as he condemns the most recent Russian atrocities and insists that those responsible will be punished. He speaks of the anger and pain from the devastation of th

Over 30 nations back ban on Russia, Belarus competing in int'l events

More than 30 like-minded nations have pledged their ongoing support for a ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes competing in international competitions, including the 2024 Olympic Games.

India steel imports from Russia rise to eight-year high in April-Jan: Data

India's imports of Russian steel rose to an eight-year high during the first 10 months of the financial year that began in April 2022, government data compiled by Reuters showed

US urges UN to condemn N Korea; China, Russia blame Washington for tension

The United States and its allies urged the UN Security Council to condemn North Korea's unlawful ballistic missile launches, but China and Russia blamed the US for escalating tensions with stepped-up military exercises targeting Pyongyang. At the emergency meeting on Monday, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the council that the United States will propose a presidential statement, saying at a minimum all 15 members should be agreeable to condemning the North's unprecedented missile launches, to urging Pyongyang to comply with UN Security Council sanctions resolutions, and to engage in meaningful dialogue. A presidential statement from the Security Council requires the support of all its members, including North Korea's closest allies, China and Russia. Thomas-Greenfield said the United States condemns North Korea's firing of two short-range ballistic missiles Monday following the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile Saturday in the strongest terms as flagrant ...

Wish to bring Russia, Ukraine together on table: Brazilian envoy to India

His remarks came after United States President Joe Biden made a surprise visit to Ukraine, just days before the anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine

China may soon be supplying arms to Russia, warns Antony Blinken

US will suffer 'consequences' if it escalates balloon incident, says Beijing

Year later, medical students back from Ukraine plan move to other countries

Small groups of students have also gone back to Ukraine to colleges on the country's western side

Dutch asks Russian diplomats to leave country over trying to smuggle spies

The Dutch government said Saturday that a number of Russian diplomats will have to leave the Netherlands, accusing Moscow of trying to smuggle spies into the country that is home to institutions including the International Criminal Court and the global chemical weapons watchdog. The announcement is the latest twist in a diplomatic dispute between the two countries that began shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly a year ago sparked a war on Europe's eastern flank. Despite numerous attempts by the Netherlands to find a solution, Russia continues to try to get intelligence officers into the Netherlands under diplomatic cover, Foreign Affairs Minister Wopke Hoekstra said in a statement. We cannot and will not allow that." He added that it remains important to keep the embassies open as a communication channel, even now that relations with Russia are more difficult than ever. The Russian diplomats were given two weeks to leave the country. A Russian trade office i

Russia, China and S Africa to begin naval drills off Indian Ocean coast

Russia, China and South Africa are set to begin naval drills off South Africa's Indian Ocean coast Friday in a demonstration of the three countries' close ties amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's tense relationship with the West. The 10 days of exercises, named Mosi II, will coincide with the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. A Russian frigate, the Admiral Gorshkov, arrived in Cape Town earlier this week sporting the letters Z and V on its sides, letters that mark Russian weapons on the front lines in Ukraine and are used as a patriotic symbol in Russia. In protest, a small yacht flying Ukraine's flag sailed by the Russian frigate in Cape Town's harbor. South African protesters opposed to the exercises are expected to demonstrate at the Russian Consulate in Cape Town on Friday. The arrival of the Admiral Gorshkov has stirred considerable controversy because it is armed with the latest Zircon hypersonic missiles, a weapon that Russia says can ..

India's procurement of Russia's oil at low price furthering G7 policy: US

By driving a hard bargain with Russia in procuring crude oil at the lowest price possible, India is furthering the policy of G7 nations to reduce Russian oil revenues and Washington is comfortable with New Delhi on issues relating to energy security, a top Biden administration official has said. Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Geoffrey R Pyatt told PTI in an exclusive interview that there is "no contradiction at all" in India remaining one of the key global partners of the United States and the country's increasing procurement of discounted Russian crude oil. The comments are seen as the first such clear articulation of the Biden administration's position on India's increasing procurement of discounted crude oil from Russia. Pyatt, during his February 16-17 visit to New Delhi, said India is a critical partner for the US on everything around energy transition and both sides are looking at an array of options to significantly expand the collaboration, including in th

Putin's war to lop $190 billion off Russia's economy in delayed reckoning

An economy Putin once wanted to make one of the world's five biggest is on a path to lose $190 billion in gross domestic product by 2026 relative to its prewar trajectory

India, Russia finalise protocol on cooperation in civil aviation sector

India and Russia on Friday formalised a protocol on cooperation in the civil aviation sector. In a tweet, the civil aviation ministry shared pictures of the meeting between the delegations from India and Russia as part of the ninth session of the India-Russia Sub-Group on Cooperation in Civil Aviation. "A delegation from Ministry of Civil Aviation lead by Secretary, CA met Russian delegation from Ministry of Transportation of the Russian Federation lead by Deputy Minister in Moscow on 17 February, 2023, and formalized a protocol on cooperation in the civil aviation sector," the ministry said. It also retweeted a tweet by the Indian Embassy in Russia that said fruitful discussions were held in Moscow as part of the session and that the meeting was chaired by Rajiv Bansal & Russian Deputy Minister of Transport Igor Chalik. Details about the protocol could not be immediately ascertained.

Over 30 countries expected to participate in Technotex 2023: Government

More than 250 buyers from over 30 countries, including Taiwan, Germany, Switzerland, Guinea (South Africa), South Korea, Russia, and Luxembourg, are expected to participate in technical textiles show 'Technotex 2023', the government said on Friday. The show, to be held from February 22-24 in Mumbai, will be based on the theme 'Envisioning Indian Technical Textiles@ 2047'. "We are expecting more than 250 buyers from more than 30 countries," Rajeev Saxena, Joint Secretary in the Textiles Ministry told reporters here. He said that the three-day event will feature B2B (business-to-business) meetings, conferences and seminars along with a CEO Forum to be chaired by Textiles Minister Piyush Goyal on February 24. Saxena said that some agreements are expected to be signed for making technical textiles in India. "Participation is studded with dignitaries from various countries and state governments. Maharashtra is the host state for the event and Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Mad

Trade watch: Low demand for goods from China, others sinks imports

Import from India's key crude oil suppliers -- Saudi Arabia and Iraq -- contracted 14.3 per cent and 11.2 per cent, respectively

Russia-Ukraine war will end at negotiation table, says US General

On Tuesday, Milley said Russia has lost "strategically, operationally and tactically" during a joint news conference with the US Defence Secretary, Lloyd Austin, The Guardian reported

Western sanctions against us a catalyst for trade with India: Russia

Last year, bilateral trade and economic cooperation between the two countries received a powerful impetus and mutual trade reached almost USD 30 billion

India's imports from Russia goes up by 384% in April-Jan: Commerce Ministry

India's imports from Russia has jumped about five times to USD 37.31 billion during April-January this fiscal on account of increasing inbound shipments of crude oil from that country, according to the commerce ministry data. In 2021-22, Russia was India's 18th largest import partner, accounting for USD 9.86 billion of imports. Russia has become India's fourth largest import source during the 10-month period of the current fiscal. India's appetite for Russian crude oil in January rose to unseen levels, continuing to remain above traditional middle eastern suppliers for the fourth month in a row, as refiners rushed to snap up plentiful cargoes available at a discount to other grades. From a market share of less than 1 per cent in India's import basket before the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Russia's share of India's imports rose to 1.27 million barrels per day in January, taking a 28 per cent share, according to energy cargo tracker Vortexa. India, the world's third-larges

Lessons from the Ukraine war

The war represents a failure of diplomacy, but the forthcoming G20 summit is an opportunity for diplomacy to redeem itself

ONGC Videsh to increase spending by 65% in FY24 to push overseas operations

Latin America, Africa, and Russia are expected to play key roles in helping OVL achieve its long-term production targets