Events in Russia

[sToRmR1dR]

'One by one: The EU countries will beg for Russian gas.'

No energy security without Russia, ‘like it or not’ – Hungary​

21 Jul, 2022

Budapest wants to purchase an additional 700 million cubic meters of natural gas

Hungary needs to buy an extra 700 million cubic meters of natural gas this year to ensure its energy safety and this is “simply impossible” to do without Russia, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Thursday.

Speaking in Moscow at a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, the Hungarian minister said that “some may sell empty promises and chase dreams,” but the “physical realities cannot be changed.” “Like it or not,” in his opinion, “it is currently simply impossible to buy this much extra natural gas in Europe without Russian sources.”

Szijjarto stressed that while his country’s storage facilities were full enough “for normal times,” since these are not normal times Hungary needs more gas to feel secure. The minister stressed that negotiations with Russia should conclude as soon as possible as the heating season officially starts on October 15.

Lavrov said that the Hungarian government’s request to purchase additional natural gas would “be immediately reported and considered.”

At the same time, the Russian foreign minister believed it was a shame that an “openly Russophobic policy” and the “rampant escalation of sanctions” by Washington and Brussels was hindering the development of practical cooperation between Moscow and Budapest. He pledged “to seek and find the solutions” that would make cooperating independent “of these kinds of whims.”

Szijjarto’s meetings in Moscow also included talks with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, who is in charge of energy matters, and Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov.

In response to the Russian military offensive in Ukraine, the EU – along with the US, the UK, and many other countries – imposed harsh sanctions on Moscow, including some of its energy exports. Hungary, which is approximately 85% dependent on Russian gas supplies, has been consistently opposed to imposing an embargo on gas exports from Russia.

Hungarian President Viktor Orban warned last month that such a ban would “ruin the whole European economy.” Hungary has also opposed the EU’s phased withdrawal from Russian oil imports by the end of this year, and has been given a waiver to keep purchasing the fuel from Moscow.

 

[Voyageur]

'One by one: The EU countries will beg for Russian gas.'

Yes, they may even be on their knees eventually.

Makes one wonder what the US and Brussel's initially promised the EU Block on the outset. Promises might have included, Russia will get a black eye from our Ukraine plans. Russia will be sunk with our sanctions, and don't worry, we will cover you, we have your back.

What a mess.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

'Busy schedule: Lavrov does not have time for idiots.'

Russia will grant US call request ‘when time allows’​

28 Jul, 2022

Washington says it is seeking a conversation between Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

Russia has acknowledged it received a call request from the US on Thursday. A conversation between the two nations’ top diplomats might take place as soon as the busy schedule of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov allows, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said.

Lavrov will “pay attention to this request when time permits,” the ministry’s spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, told journalists, referring to Washington’s request for a phone conversation between Lavrov and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Earlier on Thursday, State Department spokesman Ned Price said at a news briefing that the US “made it clear to the Russian Federation that we are seeking a conversation between State Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Lavrov.”

The request was conveyed to Russia “directly” and “repeatedly,” Price said. The US expects the two top diplomats to “have an opportunity to speak in the coming days,” he added.

The State Department spokesman, however, admitted that he had “no update” on any potential dates for the conversation, adding that the two sides “continue to discuss that in the appropriate channels.”

Zakharova said on Thursday that the Russian foreign minister currently “has a busy schedule with international contacts,” including a Shanghai Cooperation Organization ministerial summit and some bilateral meetings.

The US plans to use the call to follow up on its “substantial proposal” on the release of two Americans currently held in custody in Russia: Basketball player Brittney Griner, who was arrested on drug smuggling charges, and Paul Whelan, who was jailed on suspicion of espionage.

On Wednesday, Blinken told journalists he hoped he could “advance the efforts to bring them home” in a conversation with Lavrov. CNN earlier reported that the US might be willing to swap Griner and Whelan for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison in the US in 2012 after being charged with arming a terrorist group and conspiring to kill US nationals.

Blinken did not officially confirm the report and never mentioned Bout by name during his latest press briefing, despite being asked a direct question about him. Instead, he said he wanted “to make sure that the proposal that we put forward has a good chance to advance.” Moscow responded by saying there had been no results in negotiations on swapping prisoners with the US, adding that the interests of both sides should be respected during any talks on the matter.

 

[youlik]

Something the Scandinavians have been "overreacting" with Russophobia lately.

August 4, 2022, 12:24
Norwegian Ambassador Rune Resaland was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry on August 4 because of the situation with the statements of the Norwegian diplomat.

As noted in the Russian Foreign Ministry, the ambassador "strongly protested in connection with the unacceptable behavior of the consul of the Norwegian Consulate General E. Ellingsen at the Murmansk hotel on July 6, who allowed herself offensive Russophobic statements."

"After the incident, Ellingsen's stay on the territory of the Russian Federation is impossible," the Russian Foreign Ministry noted.

Earlier, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said that Ellingson's behavior in one of the Russian hotels was an act of hatred and nationalism.

В МИД России вызван посол Норвегии из-за высказываний норвежского дипломата

August 4, 2022, 12:12
According to the survey, more than half of Finnish residents would support the termination of the issuance of tourist Schengen visas to Russian citizens.

According to Yle, 58% of respondents are in favor of stopping the issuance of visas to tourists from Russia, 24% are against, the remaining 18% of respondents did not indicate their position.

Most of the supporters of the tightening of the visa regime live in the eastern and northern regions of Finland.

Earlier, the head of the consular department of the Finnish Foreign Ministry, Jussi Tanner, as part of a discussion in the country about the appropriateness of the presence of tourists from Russia in Finland against the background of a special operation in Ukraine, proposed six hypothetically possible options for limiting tourism.

Опрос: более половины жителей Финляндии выступают за запрет выдачи виз россиянам

In my youth, Finns lying "to death" drunk on the doorways in St. Petersburg (then it was Leningrad) were what would now be called a meme. Has the situation changed? Where will they go to drink if they are also closed in response

Spoiler: Russian spelling

Что то скандинавы "перегибают палку" с русофобией последнее время.
В моей молодости финны валяющиеся "вусмерть" пьяными по подворотням в Питере (тогда это был Ленинград) были тем, что сейчас назвали бы мемом. Ситуация изменилась? Куда бухать будут ездть , если в ответ им тоже закроют.

 

[youlik]

The process continues from all sides. The terrorists are trying, the special services are catching them.

FSB prevented a terrorist attack in the south of Russia
05.08.2022 - 10:57

The FSB detained a supporter of the Ukrainian group "Right Sector"*, who was preparing a terrorist attack in Karachay-Cherkessia.

"In the city of Cherkessk, a local resident, a citizen of Russia born in 1992, a follower of neo—Nazi ideology, who harbored intentions to commit terrorist acts against employees of republican law enforcement agencies and military personnel under the patronage of the Right Sector organization, was identified and detained," the special service said.

On the instructions of a terrorist organization, the attacker planned to blow up the prosecutor's office and the military enlistment office, and then through the Belgorod region to enter the territory of Ukraine and join the "Right Sector".

During the searches, two homemade bombs (each with a capacity of about 3 kg in TNT equivalent), components of explosive devices, extremist symbols, schemes of approaches to the buildings of the prosecutor's office and the military enlistment office and correspondence with the militants of the "Right Sector" were found in the detainee.

A criminal case has been opened on preparation for a terrorist attack and participation in an extremist organization.

ФСБ предотвратила теракт на юге России

 

[BHelmet]

Regarding the survey noted above by youlik-how many of these surveys are actually an attempt to make people think a certain way and not a reflection of reality? Whether it is social media bots, likes-dislikes or think-tank surveys, how much of that is real and how much fabricated to try to make the followers head a certain direction like a barking sheep dog racing around to vector the sheep in a certain direction and justify future actions of governments?

 

[Jefferson]

Regarding the survey noted above by youlik-how many of these surveys are actually an attempt to make people think a certain way and not a reflection of reality? Whether it is social media bots, likes-dislikes or think-tank surveys, how much of that is real and how much fabricated to try to make the followers head a certain direction like a barking sheep dog racing around to vector the sheep in a certain direction and justify future actions of governments?

I doubt the veracity of these surveys. Quite often it seems the survey results derived from the mainstream media provide the opinion that supports the current narrative, be it regarding NATO membership or the deplorable action of denying tourist visas.

 

[youlik]

like a barking sheep dog racing around to vector the sheep in a certain direction and justify future actions of governments?

So it turns out that those very "sheepdogs" quite effectively "run and bark", driving the crowd to where they need to, because in a sane mind it is not possible to imagine how characters like Macron, Burbok, Johnson, etc. appeared in power. There are still some remnants of democracy, and after all, someone voted for them.

Spoiler: Russian spelling

Значит получается, что те самые "овчарки" вполне эффективно "бегают и лают", сгоняя толпу туда куда им надо, ибо в здравом уме не возможно себе представить как появились у власти персонажи типа Макрона, Бербок, Джонсона и т.д. Какие то остатки демократии все таки есть и за них ведь кто то голосовал.

 

[youlik]

They're still trying

09:51, August 25, 2022

The FSB reported on the prevention of a terrorist attack in the Kaliningrad region by a supporter of "Azov"

FSB officers prevented a terrorist attack in the Kaliningrad region, which was prepared by a supporter of the Azov terrorist regiment banned in Russia. This is reported by RIA Novosti with reference to the department's public relations center.

A suspect born in 1967, who is a citizen of Russia, has been detained. He intended to attack the facilities of the Baltic Fleet of the Russian Navy and its military personnel, as well as Khrabrovo Airport. The detainee confessed.

An explosive device was seized from him, the power of which is five kilograms in TNT equivalent, as well as propaganda literature and symbols of "Azov".

On August 16, the FSB reported that Ukrainian saboteurs had blown up the poles of power transmission lines (power lines) that feed the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). A criminal case has been initiated under Article 205 ("Terrorist act") of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The security forces, together with the police, are looking for saboteurs, and the Russian Guards have strengthened the protection of nuclear power facilities.

ФСБ предотвратила теракт в Калининградской области сторонником «Азова»

 

[youlik]

When did this poor guy become able to protect at least someone after that?

The Russian Foreign Ministry ironically commented on the video with an intoxicated employee of the US Embassy in Moscow
August 25, 2022, 19:49
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia ironically commented on a video that appeared online in which an intoxicated employee of the US Embassy in Moscow returns to the building of the American diplomatic mission early in the morning to the song In The Army Now.
"We call on the State Department to pay extra to the staff of the American embassy in Moscow for unbearable working conditions. The fight against us is exhausting," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

In the video, which was filmed back in July, the man barely stands on his feet and falls, returning to the US Embassy.

According to RT, the video shows Navarro Nicholas Stormi, a former US Army marine who is now a security officer at the US Embassy in Moscow.

МИД России иронично прокомментировал видео с нетрезвым сотрудником посольства США в Москве

 

[youlik]

The President of Russia spoke at the open lesson "Talking about important things!" in Kaliningrad
at 17:56
The event was attended by the winners of Olympiads and competitions in the field of culture, art, science and sports
Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke at an open lesson "Talking about important things!" in Kaliningrad. His listeners were the winners of Olympiads and competitions in the field of culture, art, science and sports.
"As for the fact that someone cut someone off. In the modern world, this is difficult to do. Some areas of science are very difficult to develop without Russia at all," the Russian president said.

He also noted that Russia should not be a catching-up country, but a leader in key areas of science development. Putin also reminded his listeners that the success of the country as a whole depends on the efforts of every citizen.

Президент России выступил на открытом уроке «Разговор о важном!» в Калининграде

Open lesson "Talking about important things"
During a visit to the Museum and Theater-educational complex in Kaliningrad, the head of the Russian state held an open lesson "Talking about important things", the participants of which were the winners of Olympiads and competitions in the field of culture, art, science and sports.

September 1, 202217:10Kaliningrad
Vladimir Putin: Hello everyone!

I'm sorry that I had to wait a little – I had an event also related to September 1, the Day of Knowledge, the opening of five Russian schools in Tajikistan. We have been negotiating this with the President of Tajikistan for a long time, and they clearly feel a shortage of Russian schools, Russian-speaking schools. We have not only helped open five schools in five cities of Tajikistan, but we are also sending our teachers there who will teach lessons in the Russian language, literature, mathematics, and some other subjects – all according to Russian standards and on Russian materials.

But I wanted to say this at the very beginning and I wanted to add to this that I said there and now in this audience I want to return to the main thing: I want to congratulate you on the start of your studies, from September 1. I want to congratulate you, your grandparents, parents, teachers, all Russian schoolchildren and all students, everyone who starts studying on September 1.

For many of those who came to school, this is generally a completely new stage in life. I mean, of course, first-graders, and we have a lot of them this year, almost two million: one million 918 thousand. For them, a new, serious life begins, in fact, an adult, you feel it yourself. Why? Because responsibilities appear, and this, of course, is the first step into adulthood.

And for you, for schoolchildren who have already passed a certain number of classes and already have a certain baggage behind their backs, of course, the most important thing is to find yourself, to find your way in life in order to get satisfaction from it, from this life, in order to achieve self-realization, goals that you will set for yourself and formulate it for yourself. And this is very important, and not only for you personally, but also for the country, because the success of the country as a whole depends on everyone's success.

Do you remember such a joke: by carefully chewing food, you help society. There is also a serious component in this joke, which consists in the fact – as well as an active lifestyle, as well as sports – which consists in the fact that if you, say, do sports, strengthen your health, it's not just that you spend less money on pills, on medications, and you become more efficient, more energetic, more grasping, more purposeful. It helps, helps to achieve success. And if it helps to achieve success for each person, then it also contributes to the development of the country as a whole, because the success of a country consists of the successes of a particular person.

Our country is developing, developing actively, and, of course, the success of each person is very much in demand. Yes, we, as well as all over the world, have many such events that require careful attention to what is happening, careful analysis so that we act, on the one hand, decisively, and on the other hand, carefully, and every step we take would be aimed at strengthening our the country from within and to strengthen its position in the world. All this is not easy, but once again I want to return to the thesis that I just formulated: the success of the country will depend on your future success. And he, of course, begins to take shape at school first of all, from here everything begins.

And it is very important to find yourself – this is probably the most important task for any person. Many people search for themselves all their lives and find themselves far from immediately, not even after school, not even after a higher educational institution or some special educational institution. Many people change the profile of their activities, and this is basically normal. Especially in the modern world, this is important, bearing in mind that the requirements – I will say, using adult terminology – the requirements of the labor market are constantly changing, development is very fast, dynamically taking place in the field of science and education. And of course, you need to create such a paradigm for yourself, immerse yourself in such a paradigm of obtaining knowledge that, on the one hand, would be broad, but would give you the opportunity to specialize and apply this knowledge in a variety of directions. Then it will be easier to solve this main task at the first stage of your life – to find your way. That's what I wish you, it's very important.

That would be the end of my monologue. We seriously call it a lesson. But I don't think it should be a lesson, and maybe this conversation will be useful – direct and, I hope, interesting for you.

Please, who will start?

Открытый урок «Разговор о важном»

 

[sToRmR1dR]

'Putin to West: You don't give a damn about the risk of famine in poor countries.'

West deceived poor nations with Ukraine grain deal – Putin​

7 Sep, 2022

Developing countries receive the minimum from what's being shipped, the Russian leader has claimed

Western nations lied when they claimed Ukraine needed access to sea shipping to alleviate surging food prices and the risk of famine in poor countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin has insisted.

Most of the cargoes that came out of Ukraine under a Turkey- and UN-brokered deal with Russia went to the EU, Putin stated in a speech at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia on Wednesday. He added that he terms of the arrangement should probably be changed.

Putin made the remarks in reference to the arrangement allowing civilian ships to enter and leave Ukrainian Black Sea ports to deliver grain cargoes. The scheme was put into action in late July, with Turkey hosting a center that coordinates the deliveries.

The Russian leader noted that the deal was touted as a way to curb the surging global prices and help the most struggling nations. In practice, almost all of the grain shipped from Ukraine went to wealthy EU nations, he said.

Many European nations acted in decades and centuries past as colonizers, and they act in the same way today. They simply deceived developing nations once again. And they keep up the deceit.

With an attitude like this, problems with food availability will only grow worse, Putin warned.

On August 30, the UN Food Program reported that it had sent a second shipment with food assistance from Ukraine. The ship was carrying 37,000 metric tons of wheat grain to Yemen. Putin stressed that just two ships out of more than 80 that left Ukraine were actually traveling on hunger relief missions.

Earlier this week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Western nations of failing to remove secondary restrictions on the export of food and fertilizers from Russia after the Ukraine deal was reached. The UN, which co-signed the agreement with Turkey, pledged to use its clout to have the restrictions lifted.

READ MORE: Moscow accuses West of breaking ‘grain deal’ pledge

The economic forum hosted by Russia is an annual event focused on regional cooperation in Asia. Putin was taking part in a plenary session on the second day of the event, along with officials from Armenia, China, Myanmar, and Mongolia.

Soaring food prices could be tragic for poorest countries — Putin​

7 SEP, 2022

The Russian leader pointed out that "the poorest countries are losing access to essential food, because their buying up by developed countries provokes a sharp price rise"

VLADIVOSTOK, September 7. /TASS/. Western food buying is provoking price rises, it could result in a tragedy for the poorest countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday at a plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).

"Soaring prices on global markets could become a real tragedy for most of the poorest countries, which face shortages of food, energy and other vital goods," he said.

Putin pointed out that "the poorest countries are losing access to essential food, because [their] buying up by developed countries provokes a sharp price rise."

The Russian president cited figures that underscore the danger of the problem. "If in 2019, according to the UN, 135 million people in the world were experiencing severe food shortages, now their number has increased 2.5 times, to 345 million people. It's just terrible," Putin stressed.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

'While Russia is ready to send 30 million tons of grain to poorest countries, the US and EU are behaving like "sleeping beauty".'

Russia makes grain promise to poorest nations​

9 Sep, 2022

Moscow will also supply fertilizers to such countries free of charge, the Russian president said

Russia is set to ramp up grain exports, seeking to supply some 30 million tons this year, President Vladimir Putin has annouced. The supplies will prioritize less well off and food-insecure nations.

“We believe it to be right to ramp up deliveries to the poorest countries,” Putin said during a meeting of the Security Council on Friday.

“In total, by the end of this year, we will supply some 30 million tons of grain and are ready to increase this volume to 50 million tons or more, because, thank god, we have a good harvest this year,” he added.

Moscow is also ready to supply fertilizers to the poorest nations free of charge, the Russian president said. “Our producers – if I remember correctly, we’re talking about potash fertilizers – are ready to deliver them free of charge to developing nations that urgently need them,” Putin said, instructing the Russian Foreign Ministry to work on the plan.

The president also touched upon the UN-brokered grain deal with Ukraine, reiterating his allegations that the goods have primarily been exported to the EU rather than the developing countries in Africa that need the food supply the most.

“Of the 87 ships that left the Ukrainian ports with grain, 32 remained in Turkey. And I think that this is absolutely natural, because Turkey, the host country of this entire process, certainly has the right to do that,” Putin said.

Another 30 vessels were sent to EU nations, while only two ships went to “the poorest countries for UN food programs,” namely to Yemen and Djibouti, Putin said. The vessels only carried around 60,000 tons of grain on board, constituting only around 3% of grain exported by Ukraine under the deal.

 

[Ca.]

Russia-Ukraine War: Lt. Col. Roman Malyk (49) dies suddenly.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1581713694139899904

Vladimir Putin's head of Ukraine mobilisation dies in possible suicide: Report

Russia-Ukraine War: Lt. Col. Roman Malyk (49), died at his residence in a village in the Primorsky region of Russia, reports said.

www.hindustantimes.com

Military commissar Lt. Col. Roman Malyk, in charge of Vladimir Putin's military mobilisation effort in Ukraine was found dead under "suspicious" circumstances, reports claimed.

Lt. Col. Roman Malyk (49), died at his residence in a village in the Primorsky region of Russia, The Mirror reported. He died from hanging, the report added.

An investigation has been launched into his death and suicide has not been ruled out as a cause by Russian police, reports said.

Roman Malyk's death comes amid many reported assaulted on mobilisation offices across Russia as resentment over enlistment increased following Putin's military call-up last month.

Teams of armed enlistment officers working with the police have been forcing men to join the army in many Russian cities, The Mirror reported.

Vladimir Putin announced partial mobilisation of Russia's 2 million-strong military reserves “to defend the motherland, its sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

Many Russians were seen fleeing to foreign countries following the announcements while protests took place throughout the country, Reuters reported.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1581578200974790656

https://twitter.com/x/status/1581127407959871488

 

[Ca.]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1594312123521257472

https://twitter.com/x/status/1594311949160173570

https://twitter.com/x/status/1593951140386951168

Also:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1594299038861492231