Western leaders realize Poroshenko unable to keep his promises, says Lavrov

According to Lavrov, Western partners are beginning to realize that it is "impossible" to negotiate with Pyotr Poroshenko on Minsk Agreements.

DVORIKI VILLAGE /Vladimir Region/, July 30. /TASS/. Leaders of Western countries express unflattering things to the current Ukrainian leaders when talking with them behind closed doors, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday addressing the participants in the Territory of Meanings National Educational Youth Forum on Monday.

"When our Western, at least European, counterparts communicate with the leaders of today’s Ukraine behind closed doors, they tell them some quite unflattering things and seek to have some kind of reaction," the minister said.

According to Lavrov, representatives of Western countries are beginning to realize that the current Ukrainian regime is unable to comply with the agreements on the entire range of internal and foreign policy issues reached earlier. "Western partners realize that [Ukrainian President Pyotr] Poroshenko is impossible to negotiate with in terms of any provision of the Minsk agreements. They realize that he cannot control radical nationalists," the Russian foreign minister said.

"Over this period of time, the West has become certain that it is impossible to negotiate with Poroshenko as far as the reforms required by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are concerned."

"We have spoken with our Western counterparts frankly many times, and I have the impression that most of them are perfectly aware of what is going on," Lavrov went on to say. "Poroshenko was declared 'a torchbearer of democracy,' while his regime was branded as ‘exemplary,’ because he was seeking to embrace the ‘contemporary, Western values.’ The fact that he was part of the project to contain Russia, that was not declared openly but, of course, was implied, played a key role."

"However, having said that this is ‘a victory of democracy,’ having said that the Minsk accords should be implemented by Russia, above all, and, having invested such huge political and financial capital in the Ukrainian authorities, the West believes it cannot say it was mistaken without losing face and that it is necessary to exert pressure, first and foremost, on Kiev. I don’t know to what extent these misinterpreted prestige considerations, misinterpreted loss of reputation will dominate," Lavrov concluded.

Source: ITAR-TASS 31-07-2018

Russia to build super-heavy cargo plane by 2027

Russia is working on developing a super-heavy plane to replace the Antonov An-124 cargo aircraft

MOSCOW, July 30. /TASS/. The work on developing a super-heavy plane to replace the Antonov An-124 Ruslan cargo aircraft has been included in the state armament program through 2027, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov said on Monday.

"The R&D work on the plane is in the plans at the end of the state armament program," Borisov said, replying to the corresponding question.

The An-124 Ruslan is a Soviet and later a Ukrainian heavy long-range turbojet transport plane with a maximum lifting capacity of 120 tonnes. It develops a maximum speed of 865 km/h and has a flight range of 4,800 km at full load. According to open sources, the Russian Aerospace Force currently operates nine An-124 planes and 10 more Ruslan aircraft are used in Russia’s Volga-Dnepr airline.

In September 2015, Ukraine’s Antonov State Company withdrew from the United Aircraft Corporation - Antonov Russian-Ukrainian joint venture, which created serious difficulties for the Volga-Dnepr airline with the extension of the cargo plane’s service life and its maintenance.

As was reported earlier, the Ulyanovsk-based Aviastar-SP enterprise has launched preliminary work related to restarting the production of An-124 Ruslan planes in Russia.

Source: ITAR-TASS 30-07-2018

Putin highlights Navy’s role for strategic parity, fight against terrorism

"The whole history of our fleet is the history of courage, resolve and naval spirit," Russian President stressed

ST. PETERSBURG, July 29./TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized on Sunday the role of the Russian Navy in fight against terrorism and for guaranteeing strategic parity.

"The Russian fleet successfully solves the tasks of the country’s defense potentials, making substantial contribution to fight against international terrorism, plays a major role in ensuring strategic parity," the president said at the Main Naval Parade on Navy Day. He said dozens of ships and submarines daily protect the interests of Russia in the seven seas.

"Honor, courage, devotion to duty and loyalty to the oath have been and remain the core of splendid victories of our navy men," Putin stressed. "For already more than 300 years, the fleet has been defending the status of the Russian Federation as a naval power capable of protecting with determination its national interests".

"The whole history of our fleet is the history of courage, resolve and naval spirit," he stressed.

"On Navy Day we especially keenly feel the power of sacred naval brotherhood," he said. "We are justifiably proud of our Navy, its highest level of combat training, strategical, tactical and operational capabilities, the strength and beauty of our Russian fleet," the president stressed.

Source: ITAR-TASS 29-07-2018

Russian Embassy hopes to hear Yulia Skripal’s opinion on incident in Salisbury

The press secretary voiced the Embassy’s position in a written statement answering a request to comment on a recent report by Yulia’s cousin sister, that she had made a phone call to her.

LONDON, July 28. /TASS/. The Russian Embassy in the UK hopes to hear the opinion on the March 4 incident in Salisbury from a person involved in it most immediately - Yulia Skripal, the daughter of the former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal, the Embassy’s press secretary said on Friday.

He voiced the Embassy’s position in a written statement answering a request to comment on a recent report by Viktoria Skripal, Yulia’s cousin sister living in the Russian city of Yaroslavl, that Yulia had made a phone call to her. The Embassy uploaded the answer at its official homepage.

"The Embassy has no reliable information concerning the contents of this conversation, and can neither deny nor confirm any information published in this regard, as the British authorities in violation of their international obligations continue to deny us access to Yulia Skripal," the press secretary said.

"This is not the first public statement on behalf of Yulia Skripal, but even her TV appearance on 23 May did not dispel our doubts over her freedom to do and say what she wants," he continued. "Back then we were under impression that Yulia did not use her own words and was reading a pre-written statement. We pointed out the facts supporting such conclusion."

"What’s important is that if Yulia, according to Viktoria, has indeed gained access to the Internet, it means that she had not enjoyed such access before, contrary to all claims by the British authorities that she is free to communicate with the outside world," the press secretary said. "Better late than never though."

He voiced the hope that Yulia would finally get an opportunity to familiarize herself with Russian assessments of the Salisbury incident, including the Embassy’s statements, and to learn how the Russian side had been trying to gain consular access to herself and her father in order to make sure that their rights and interests were duly observed.

"We know of Yulia’s refusal to communicate with us, but very much hope to hear her views on this matter in a free conversation rather that in a video statement recorded under police control," the press secretary said.

"We once again urge the British authorities to observe their obligations under international law, as they are keen to require from other states," he indicated.

According to the version of events promulgated by the UK authorities, the former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal, who had served a term for espionage in favor of the UK in Russia, and his daughter Yulia sustained the impact of a nerve agent from a group notionally codenamed ‘novichok’ [a new arrival].

The British government came up with the assertions that Russia was ‘highly likely’ involved in the incident. Moscow strongly rejected all the assertions in this regard, saying neither the USSR nor Russia had ever developed substances of this group.

The chief of the UK military laboratory at Porton Down, Gary Aitkenhead, said later the British experts had failed to establish the origin of the substance, which the Skripals had been exposed to.

Source: ITAR-TASS 28-07-2018

Alleged Russian agent Butina complains about food in US pre-trial detention center

Butina also "expressed opinion that she is pursued for her political views".

WASHINGTON, July 27. /TASS/. Staff members of the Russian Embassy in the US visited on Thursday alleged Russian agent Maria Butina, who complained about food in the Correctional Treatment Facility in Washington, the diplomatic mission said on its Facebook page.

Butina feels normal, but "she has problems with food," the embassy said. The Russian citizen is denied the right to walk and another inconvenience is that the prison guards turn on the light every 15 minutes at night.

"We will take steps to release Maria. The next visit is scheduled for Thursday, August 2. We will continue providing her with consular assistance and every support," the diplomats said.

Butina "expressed opinion that she is pursued for her political views."

"Soon Maria will be allowed to make phone calls. She will be also able to get correspondence sent to the prison’s address," the diplomatic mission said.

"Maria asked to say hello to her parents, noting that she is determined to prove her innocence," the statement said.

Butina’s case

The 29-year-old Maria Butina was arrested in Washington on July 15, on the eve of the Helsinki summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump. The Russian gun rights activist faces the charges of conspiracy for conducting activities in the interests of a foreign state. The investigators claim she engaged in these activities without registering as a foreign agent at the US Department of Justice.

The FBI said Butina entered the US in August 2016 on a student visa and took up studies at the American University. She received the master’s degree in international relations in May 2018, according to her lawyer.

Butina is a member of the board of the Russian public associations ‘The Right to Guns’. In this capacity, she attended the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington in February 2017 where President Donald Trump took part.

On July 21, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov underlined in his telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that US actions against Russian citizen Maria Butina were inadmissible.

Source: ITAR-TASS 27-07-2018

Crimea Declaration demonstrates that US is living in another reality - Russian embassy

"Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians choose Russian Crimea as their vacationing destination, this way dispelling the myth of Russian ‘occupation’ and ‘aggression,’" the embassy stressed.

WASHINGTON, July 26. /TASS/. The United States’ Crimea Declaration only proves that Washington is living in another reality, the Russian embassy in the United States wrote on its Facebook account on Wednesday, commenting on US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo’s statement, titled the Crimea Declaration, which reaffirms rejection of Crimea’s reunification with Russia.

"The State Department issues declarations and statements on Crimea once every three months. We have heard nothing new. We have only seen it once again that our partners are living in some other reality. They are trying to operate acts of international laws having provisions on the right of peoples to self-determination, ignoring the fact that these very acts were the bedrock for Crimea’s reunification with Russia in 2014," the embassy said.

"Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians choose Russian Crimea as their vacationing destination, this way dispelling the myth of Russian ‘occupation’ and ‘aggression,’" the embassy stressed. "American musicians and athletes regularly come on tours to the peninsula, despite the State Department’s warnings of non-existent ‘risk.’ More than 90,000 American football fans had a chance during the 2018 FIFA World Cup to see the irrelevance of the State Department’s recommendations not to visit our country and of the image of Russia foisted by the United States’ mainstream media."

The Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, a city with a special status on the Crimean Peninsula, where most residents are Russians, refused to recognize the legitimacy of authorities brought to power amid riots during a coup in Ukraine in February 2014.

Crimea and Sevastopol adopted declarations of independence on March 11, 2014. They held a referendum on March 16, 2014, in which 96.77% of Crimeans and 95.6% of Sevastopol voters chose to secede from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the reunification treaties on March 18, 2014.

Despite the absolutely convincing results of the referendum, Ukraine, the United States and the European Union have been refusing to recognize Crimea as a part of Russia.

Source: ITAR-TASS 26-07-2018

Ex-Ukrainian defense chief charged over calls to blow up trains in Russia

A criminal investigation has been launched against Gritsenko over "public calls to carry out terrorism activity"

MOSCOW, July 25. /TASS/. Russia’s Investigative Committee has brought charges in absentia against former Ukrainian Defense Minister Anatoly Gritsenko over his public calls to blow up railway trains in Russia, the IC’s press service said on Wednesday.

According to the investigators, during the livestream of an online conference of the Studio 1+1 TV broadcasting company on July 16, 2014 "Gritsenko called in public to carry out terror attacks on Russia’s territory by blowing up railway trains."

A criminal investigation has been launched against Gritsenko over "public calls to carry out terrorism activity" under Part 2 of Article 205.2 of the Russian Criminal Code.

Another criminal probe has been opened over Gritsenko’s calls during the broadcast by Channel 112 Ukraine on July 2, 2017 to stage terror attacks in Moscow and Taganrog. "Now the criminal cases into two crimes committed by Anatoly Gritsenko have been united into one proceeding and he has been charged in absentia," the IC said.

Under Article 12 of the Criminal Code foreign citizens not residing in Russia on a permanent basis who committed crimes outside Russia aimed against Russia’s national interests are subject to criminal liability under the Russian law.

Source: ITAR-TASS 25-07-2018

Russia to develop rescue system for distressed submarines

Russia’s Defense Ministry has announced a closed tender for creating a modular rescue system for the crews of submarines in distress.

MOSCOW, July 24. /TASS/. Russia’s Defense Ministry has announced a closed tender for creating a modular rescue system for the crews of submarines in distress, according to materials posted on the state procurement web portal on Tuesday.

"The fulfillment of the R&D work: ‘Developing a Modular System of Rescue for the Crews of Distressed Submarines Lying on the Seabed (codenamed Luchina),’" the materials say.

The R&D work should be completed by November 10, 2020 and is estimated at 221 million rubles ($3.5 million).

"The initial (maximum) price of the state contract is 221 million rubles, with budget appropriations to equal 26.5 million rubles ($419,300) in 2018, 91.5 million rubles ($1.4 million) in 2019 and 103 million rubles ($1.6 million) in 2020," the accompanying documents say.

The contractor will be selected in September this year.

Source: ITAR-TASS 24-07-2018

FSB nabs members of crime gang smuggling arms from EU to Russia

Russia’s Federal Security Service has detained members of a criminal group consisting of residents of Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yaroslavl.

MOSCOW, July 23. /TASS/. Russia’s Federal Security Service has detained members of a criminal group consisting of residents of Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yaroslavl over smuggling arms from the European Union to Russia, the press service said.

The operation was carried out jointly with the Russian Interior Ministry and the National Guard (Rosgvardiya).

"As a result of the search operation and investigative activities at the detained persons’ places of residence, 380 pieces of firearms produced at home and abroad (25 machine guns, 30 assault rifles, 70 submachine guns, 94 carbines, rifles and guns, 158 pistols and revolvers, 2 anti-tank rifles) were seized," the press service said.

The officers also seized a 45mm infantry mortar, an AGS-17 automatic grenade launcher, a self-made explosive device, 15 fragmentation hand grenades, more than 4,500 rounds of ammunition, silencers, and a large amount of firearms components.

"Two warehouses for modernizing firearms and manufacturing rounds of ammunition ceased their activities," the statement said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 23-07-2018

Russia’s Lavrov insists on Butina’s soonest release in talk with Pompeo

Russian Foreign Ministry pointed out that the steps of US administration, which arrested Russian citizen Butina in the United States basing on trumped-up charges, are inadmissible

MOSCOW, July 21. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov underscored in his telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that US actions against Russian citizen Maria Butina were inadmissible, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

"Lavrov has pointed out that the steps of US administration, which arrested Russian citizen Butina in the United States basing on trumped-up charges, are inadmissible and that she should be released as soon as possible," the statement says.

The 29-year-old Maria Butina was arrested in Washington on July 15. The Russian gun rights activist faces the charges of conspiracy for conducting activities in the interests of a foreign state. The investigators claim she engaged in these activities without registering as a foreign agent at the US Department of Justice.

The FBI said earlier this week Butina entered the US in August 2016 on a student visa and took up studies at the American University. She received the master’s degree in international relations in May 2018, according to her lawyer.

Butina is a member of the board of the Russian public associations ‘The Right to Guns’. In this capacity, she attended the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington in February 2017 where President Donald Trump took part.

On July 20, Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov slammed Butina’s arrest as a farce, promising Moscow would insist on its release.

Source: ITAR-TASS 22-07-2018

Lawyer of Russian woman arrested in US calls case against her ‘very weak’

Robert Neil Driscoll said the allegation that Maria Butina is a spy is not supported by her behavior.

WASHINGTON, July 21. /TASS/. The case of the Russian citizen Maria Butina, whom the US authorities have arrested on charges of acting as an unregistered foreign agent, is very weak, attorney Robert Neil Driscoll told TASS on Friday.

When TASS asked him if the case could be viewed as attempt of the American ‘deep state’ to disrupt President Donald Trump’s efforts to normalize the relations with Russia, Driscoll gave a cautious answer.

"I can't tell from where I sit what it is motivating the Government," he said. "All I can tell is that the case against Maria Butina, from what I’ve seen, is very weak."

"I’m not sure what the motives of the prosecutors are," Driscoll went on. "But the allegation, essentially, is that she is a spy, to me is not supported by her behavior, particularly given the amount of time she’s under surveillance."

"And from what I’ve seen and what the Government alleged, all she did wrong was establish a channel of communication," Driscoll said. "I don’t see how establishing a channel of communication is wrong. That’s no different than meeting people."

"The case doesn’t make any sense," he said. "She didn’t do anything that the spy would do."

Along with it, Driscoll declined to assess the chances for a success, saying this is always rather difficult to do at the beginning.

Also, he said the investigators had not yet familiarized Butina’s defense with the whole set of evidence, which according to the US authorities pointed at her unacceptable activities.

American lawyers representing the arrested Russian citizen Maria Butina, whom the US security services charge with acting as an unregistered foreign agent, are not sure if they will appeal a resolution of the District Court for the District of Columbia to keep Butina in custody, Driscoll added.

His words suggested that they were not going to appeal the court’s ruling immediately.

"I’m not sure if we’ll appeal or not," Driscoll said. "We might, we might not. But we might revisit the issue at some point if it’s warranted. […] I don’t want to say when."

During court hearings on Wednesday, Judge Deborah Robinson to a decision to prolong Butina’s term of custody. While Driscoll insisted on his client’s release on parole, the attorney for the District of Columbia Eric Kenerson claimed Butina might escape from the US and that is why she should be kept in custody while the trial is underway.

Butina faces the charges of conducting activities in the interests of a foreign without registration at the Department of Justice as a foreign agent.

Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s official spokesperson said earlier this week the US claims against Butina were too far-fetched did not hold water.

Source: ITAR-TASS 21-07-2018

Ambassador slams Russian citizen’s arrest in US as farce

Maria Butina, 29, was arrested in Washington DC on July 15.

MOSCOW, July 20. /TASS/. The situation regarding Russian citizen Maria Butina’s arrest in the United States is a total farce, Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov said at a session of the Valdai International Discussion Club on Friday. According to him, Moscow will continue demanding her release.

"What they are doing is a farce, a tragedy," the ambassador said.

"The charges brought against her are absolutely illegal, as well as attempts to prevent Russian diplomats form visiting her, and attempts to break her, actually. She is having a hard time, so I have heard from diplomats who visited her," he added.

"We are trying to help and we will continue demanding her release so that she can go home," Antonov stressed.

Butina’s case

Maria Butina, 29, was arrested in Washington DC on July 15.

According to the US Department of Justice, she is suspected of acting "as an agent of Russia inside the United States by developing relationships with US persons and infiltrating organizations having influence in American politics, for the purpose of advancing the interests of the Russian Federation."

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Moscow considered Washington’s allegations against Butina to be groundless and politically motivated. According to her, Russia has been doing everything possible to protect the woman’s legitimate rights and interests.

Source: ITAR-TASS 20-07-2018

UK fails to provide OPCW with information about Skripal case suspects, Russian envoy says

According to The Sun, British police are believed to have identified the suspected perpetrators of the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury.

MOSCOW, July 19. /TASS/. Great Britain has not provided the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) with specific information about suspects in the Salisbury incident, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the OPCW Alexander Shulgin said on the sidelines of a meeting of Russian ambassadors and envoys.

"The British provided no specific information to the OPCW," he said when asked if London had handed information about suspects in the Salisbury incident over to the organization.

According to The Sun newspaper, British police are believed to have identified the suspected perpetrators of the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury.

Skripal incident

According to London, former Russian military intelligence (GRU) Colonel Sergei Skripal, who had been convicted in Russia of spying for Great Britain and later swapped for Russian intelligence officers, and his daughter Yulia suffered the effects of an alleged nerve agent in the British city of Salisbury on March 4. Claiming that the substance used in the attack had been a Novichok-class nerve agent developed in the Soviet Union, London rushed to accuse Russia of being involved in the incident. Moscow rejected all of the United Kingdom’s accusations, saying that a program aimed at developing such a substance had existed neither in the Soviet Union nor in Russia.

Chief Executive of the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) at Porton Down Gary Aitkenhead said later that British experts had been unable to identify the origin of the nerve agent used in the attack on the Skripals.

Source: ITAR-TASS 19-07-2018

Slovakia extradites wanted terrorist to Russia linked to ex-Chechen militant commander

Aslan Yandiyev was brought to Russia aboard the Bratislava-Moscow flight on July 17.

MOSCOW, July 18. /TASS/. Bratislava has extradited Aslan Yandiyev to Russia, a gang member linked to deceased Chechen militant commander, Shamil Basayev, the Public Relations Center of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) informed TASS.

"The wanted individual was involved in organizing and committing a string of headline-making terrorist attacks using high-powered IEDs (improvised explosive devices) in a city park and entertainment center in Vladikavkaz [the capital of Russia’s North Ossetia-Alania Region - TASS], which resulted in civilian casualties," the Public Relations Center said.

According to the FSB, Yandiyev evaded criminal prosecution by absconding from the country in 2010 using a fake passport and attempted to legalize his status in Switzerland, the Netherlands and other European countries.

"In 2011, he was detained in Slovakia on the basis of the information provided by Russia," the FSB said. "To prevent (his) extradition, the defendant tried to appeal against the decision to extradite him to Russia through his defense attorneys for seven years, arguing that the charges against him were unsubstantiated."

Thanks to concerted efforts by Russian law enforcement agencies, the evidence furnished by them on the wanted individual’s criminal activities, made it possible for Slovakia’s judicial authorities to make a final decision on his extradition. As a result, Russia’s FSB, together with the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Russian Interior Ministry’s National Central Bureau of Interpol and Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service, organized the extradition of Yandiyev (born in 1978) from Slovakia to Russia.

He was flown to Russia aboard the Bratislava-Moscow flight on July 17. "Further investigative actions are underway to record his involvement in the crimes that have been committed," the FSB added.

Source: ITAR-TASS 18-07-2018

Putin says he expressed disagreement with Trump’s position on Crimea in Helsinki

"People in Crimea went to a referendum and voted for joining Russia. If this is annexation, what is democracy then?" Putin said.

NEW YORK, July 17. /TASS/. During the Russian-US summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed disagreement with US President Donald Trump’s position that Crimea remains a part of Ukraine, the Russian leader said in a Fox News interview on Monday.

When asked by 'Fox News Sunday' anchor Chris Wallace about Russia’s "annexation" of Crimea, Putin replied: "I’d like to make a correction. The joining of Crimea to Russia is not an annexation."

He reiterated that Crimea joined Russia as a result of a democratic referendum.

"People in Crimea went to a referendum and voted for joining Russia. If this is annexation, what is democracy then?" Putin said.

"We are aware of president Trump’s posture, that… Crimea is part of Ukraine," Putin said. "He told me this today. I responded with the words pretty much similar to what I’ve said to you, and I think we should leave the discussion at that."

On March 16, 2014, Crimean authorities held a referendum on reuniting with Russia against the background of a protracted political crisis and a coup in Ukraine. Over 80% of voters participated in the plebiscite, most of them supporting the idea (96.7% in Crimea and 95.6% in the city of Sevastopol).

On March 18, President Vladimir Putin signed the treaty on Crimea’s reunification with Russia and the Federal Assembly (parliament) approved the document on March 21. Ukraine, the United States and the European Union have so far refused to acknowledge Crimea as part of Russia.

Source: ITAR-TASS 17-07-2018

Putin arrives in Helsinki for meeting with Trump

The Russian leader’s plane has landed at Helsinki’s airport.

HELSINKI, July 16. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Helsinki, where his first full-fledged meeting with US President Donald Trump will be held on Monday. The Russian leader’s plane landed at Helsinki’s airport around 13:00 local time (coincides with Moscow).

The US leader showed up in the Finnish capital on Sunday. Putin and Trump are expected to arrive in the presidential palace in downtown Helsinki, come out for a photo-op and, after that, begin one-on-one talks in the presence of the interpreters. According to the organizers, this part of the summit is to last about an hour and a half. However, the Kremlin earlier said that there are no time limits, that is, it will depend on the two presidents how long the conversation will last.

Source: ITAR-TASS 16-07-2018

Work of Russian steel workers helps implementing infrastructure projects - Putin

President also noted that the metallurgy products produced in Russia are in demand on international markets.

MOSCOW, July 15. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated workers and veterans of the country’s ore mining and metallurgical industry with Metallurgist Day. Work of miners and steel workers in many ways contributes to the development of the country's economy and the implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects, he said in a statement aired on Rossiya 24 TV channel.

"Today, steady and masterful work of hundreds of thousands of miners and steel workers largely determines the dynamics of the Russian economy, allows us to implement large-scale infrastructure projects, to ensure the defense capability of our country," Putin said.

Putin also noted that the metallurgy products produced in Russia are in demand on international markets. "Domestic metallurgy is open to new approaches and advanced technologies. Promising deposits are being developed in the industry, major modernization projects are being launched, rolling mills are being put into operation," he added.

According to Putin, development of white metallurgy is a source of pride. Its products, as well as "technical solutions, the level of employees training corresponds to the best global practices".

Source: ITAR-TASS 15-07-2018

Russia’s new self-propelled anti-tank gun to begin state trials in October — source

Russia’s state corporation Rostec did not comment on the timeframe.

MOSCOW, July 13. /TASS/. State trials of Russia’s amphibious self-propelled tank destroyer, Sprut-SDM1, are to begin in October, a defense industry source has told TASS.

"State trials of Sprut-SDM1 are to begin in the fourth quarter of 2018," the source said.

Russia’s state corporation Rostec did not comment on the timeframe, saying only that "trial models of Sprut-SDM1 are ready for testing, the customer is still interested in the project."

The Sprut-SDM1 self-propelled anti-tank gun (SPATG) has been developed by the Volgograd Tractor Plant (VTZ, a subsidiary of the Tractor Plants concern). The vehicle was presented at the Army-2015 international military-technical forum held in June 2015 in Kubinka outside Moscow. According to the official information issued by the manufacturer, the Sprut-SDM1 is a tracked amphibious armored vehicle that can be airdropped with its crew inside. The SPATG has a full combat weight of 18 tonnes, and its crew totals three (a commander, a gunner and a driver). The vehicle is powered by a UTD-29 diesel multifuel engine with a power output of 500 hp that produces a speed of up to 70 km/h on road and up to 7 km/h in water. The Sprut-SDM1`s armament suite incorporates a 2A75 125 mm smoothbore main gun, a coaxial PKTM 7.62 mm medium machinegun and a PKTM machinegun integrated with a roof-mounted remotely controlled weapon station. The 2A75 is coupled to an autoloader that drastically increases its firing rate. The gun can fire anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM). The self-propelled gun is also fitted with six Tucha-type smoke dischargers mounted on the turret. The SPATG is based on the chassis of the newest BMD-4M airborne infantry fighting vehicle (AIFV).

The gunner`s seat is fitted with a PNM Sosna-U sighting system combined day-night sight with independent field-of-view (FOV) stabilization, an integrated rangefinder, a calculator and ATGM laser guidance channel. The Sosna-U has been complemented by a PDT optoelectronic backup sight with stabilizer and an autonomous power source. The commander of the SPATG has received a PKP combined day-night panoramic sighting system with independent FOV stabilization, an integrated rangefinder and a calculator.

The Sprut-SDM1`s firepower is almost equal to that of the T-90MS main battle tank (MBT), owing to the integration of a modern fire control system. The SPATG and the MBT fire the same munition range, the manufacturer of the self-propelled gun says. The Sprut-SDM1 is a reliable vehicle that can be operated in mountainous terrains and hot climate. The vehicle also features high power-to-weight ratio.

Source: ITAR-TASS 14-07-2018

Putin extends Russian counter-sanctions until end of 2019

The government has been tasked with enforcement of respective measures.

MOSCOW, July 12. /TASS/. President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree on extension of Russian countersanctions until December 31, 2019, according to the document published on the website of legal information on Thursday.

"To extend from January 1 to December 31, 2019 separate special economic measures stipulated by the Russian President’s decree dated August 6, 2014," the document said. The government has been tasked with enforcement of respective measures, and "proposals on changing … the period of validity of separate special economic measures to be made if necessary."

In March 2014, the European Union and a number of countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, Switzerland, New Zealand, Iceland and others, began to impose sanctions against Russia over the situation in Ukraine. On August 2014, Russian President signed a decree "On imposing separate special economic measures ensuring security for the Russian Federation." The government imposed restrictions on imports of certain goods from the US, the European Union, Norway, Australia and Canada based on the document the following day. Later the list of countries was expanded, and the list of goods was revised.

On July 9, the European Union announced the decision to extend anti-Russia sanctions for another six months, which was published in the EU Official Journal.

The European Union’s restrictions on Moscow contain several packages, including economic sanctions, individual restrictions and Crimea-related sanctions, which are regularly prolonged. Sectoral sanctions, initially levied on July 31, 2014, concern financial, energy and defense industries, as well as dual-use goods. Economic sanctions particularly restrict access to the EU’s primary and secondary capital markets for five Russian financial institutions and their subsidiaries founded outside the European Union, in which the state holds a majority stake, as well as for Russia’s three biggest energy companies and three defense companies.

Sanctions also impose an embargo on weapons trade and ban exports of dual-use goods for military purposes to Russia, as well as restrict Russia’s access to certain strategic technologies and services that may be used for oil exploration and production.

There are also two sanction packages, which concern the Ukrainian crisis. One of the packages includes restrictive measures against 150 Russian individuals and 38 entities. This particular package will expire on September 15, 2018, but it also can be extended for six months.

Another sanction package relates to Crimea. It includes a ban on importing Crimean goods, making investments in Crimea, including real estate purchases, financing businesses, providing services, particularly in the tourism industry. European vessels are banned from entering Crimean ports, while European aircraft are prohibited from landing at Crimea’s airports, except for emergency reasons. These measures are extended for 12 months.

On June 4, 2018, Russian President signed the law "On countermeasures against unfriendly actions of the United States and other foreign countries." According to the document, the government is empowered to introduce on the basis of the Russian president’s decision various countermeasures, provided they do not apply to vital goods not manufactured in Russia and other countries. Corresponding decisions may also be made by the President on the basis of proposals from the Security Council.

Source: ITAR-TASS 13-07-2018

Pacific Fleet ships return to Vladivostok from long-distance voyage

During the voyage the ships visited ports in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and Japan.

VLADIVOSTOK, July 12. /TASS/. A Pacific Fleet combat squadron has returned to Vladivostok on Thursday after a two-month long-distance voyage, during which it visited ports in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and Japan, spokesman for the Pacific Fleet Captain 2nd rank Nikolai Voskresensky said.

"Today, a Pacific Fleet combat squadron consisting of the Admiral Tributs and Admiral Vinogradov large anti-submarine ships and the Pechenga sea tanker under the command of captain 1st rank Oleg Korolyov ended a two-month long-distance voyage and returned to Vladivostok <...> For two months the Pacific Fleet ships performed tasks in the Pacific Rim and made business calls at ports in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and Japan," Voskresensky reported.

In Vladivostok, the ships were officially met by commander of the Primorsky Multiple-Type Fleet Forces Rear Admiral Sergei Zhuga.

Source: ITAR-TASS 12-07-2018

Russia to take tit-for-tat measures in response to expulsion of diplomats from Greece

The Greek Kathimerini daily reported earlier citing diplomatic sources that Athens had decided to expel two Russian diplomats and ban another two from entering the country.

MOSCOW, July 11. /TASS/. Moscow always takes tit-for-tat measures in response to diplomat expulsions, an official at the Russian Foreign Ministry told reporters, commenting on media reports about the expulsion of two Russian diplomats from Greece.

"The expulsion of diplomats always leads to tit-for-tat measures," the official said.

The Greek Kathimerini daily reported earlier citing diplomatic sources that Athens had decided to expel two Russian diplomats and ban another two from entering the country. According to the daily, the Greek authorities accuse the diplomats of interfering in the country’s domestic affairs and undermining the national security of Greece. The newspaper says that the diplomats are particularly accused of "attempts to get and disseminate information, as well as bribe state officials." Athens’ decision is said to be "a response to a number of well-coordinated steps aimed at increasing Russia’s influence in Greece."

However, the same sources said that Greece "is still willing to maintain good relations with Russia, facilitate friendship between the two countries’ people, as well as cooperation between the two governments and civil societies" based on equality and respect for each other’s sovereignty and independence. The sources added that Greece had been cautious about relations with Russia, particularly refraining from following the example of many Western states that had expelled Russian diplomats in the wake of the Skripal incident - a decision welcomed by the Russian leadership.

Diplomatic sources stressed that Athens’ decision stemmed from the activities of the four diplomats and had nothing to do with Greece’s attitude towards Russia. They also said that any retaliatory measures that Moscow might take would be useless.

Source: ITAR-TASS 11-07-2018

Russia retains modest contacts with NATO, Kremlin says

The presidential spokesman noted that disagreements within the alliance is not the Kremlin’s purview.

MOSCOW, July 10. /TASS/. The Kremlin refrains from commenting on disagreements within NATO while maintaining its negative attitude to the alliance’s expansion towards Russia’s borders, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters commenting on the upcoming NATO summit scheduled to be held on July 11-12.

 "Our attitude (towards NATO) remains unchanged <…> Russia has retained fairly modest contacts with the alliance. As for what is going on inside (NATO), that’s none of our business," the Kremlin spokesman said when asked to comment on disagreements between the US and its NATO allies. According to Peskov, it is up to the alliance’s members to tackle these issues.

"Our attitude towards NATO is well known. It is a product of the Cold War era. This is the alliance, which was forged for the purpose of and for the sake of confrontation," Peskov noted. He stressed that NATO’s actions in the long-term perspective, that is, the alliance’s movement and expansion of its military infrastructure towards Russia’s borders, "confirm the alliance’s essence every time."

The next NATO summit will be held in Brussels on July 11-12. On Monday, US President Donald Trump who will arrive in the Belgian capital, once again expressed dissatisfaction on his Twitter page with the fact that America bears the lion’s share of the costs to finance the alliance demanding that Washington’s NATO partners increase military spending.

Source: ITAR-TASS 10-07-2018

Russian archaeologists discover ancient Greek musical instruments near Crimea

Researchers have unearthed the remains of ancient Greek musical instruments - a harp and a lyre - on the Taman Peninsula in southern Russia.

MOSCOW, July 9. /TASS/. Researchers from the Institute of Archeology at the Russian Academy of Sciences have unearthed the remains of ancient Greek musical instruments - a harp and a lyre - on the Taman Peninsula in southern Russia, the Academy said in a statement.

"Until recently, we had known of only one partially preserved ancient Greek harp found in the Piraeus necropolis in Athens and the tuning pegs of a harp uncovered from a necropolis in Taranto, southern Italy," the statement says, citing expedition leader Roman Mimokhod. "The harp found in the Piraeus necropolis dates back to the late fifth century BC and the tuning pegs from Taranto were discovered in a tomb dating back to the third or second centuries BC. Compared to these previous discoveries, the harp unearthed in Taman is one of the most ancient and well-preserved as far as ancient Greek musical instruments are concerned," the researcher added.

Russian researchers made this discovery while examining an ancient necropolis located near the Volna settlement. Archeologists say that a Greek polis existed there from the second quarter of the sixth century BC to the fourth century AD, which belonged to the Bosporan Kingdom, spanning both sides of the Kerch Strait.

The Institute of Archeology’s Sochi expedition has been going on in the area for the third year in a row. Researchers have examined more than 600 tombs and unearthed unique artefacts that prove close links between ancient Greek and local cultures.

Source: ITAR-TASS 09-07-2018

Legendary pole vaulter Isinbayeva proud of Team Russia’s success at FIFA World Cup

Team Russia lost to Croatia in the quarter-final match at the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi on Saturday night.

MOSCOW, July 8. /TASS/. Russia’s two-time Olympic champion and an official with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Yelena Isinbayeva told TASS on Sunday she was proud that Team Russia had achieved a success at the 2018 FIFA World Cup under the guidance of the domestic coach.

Team Russia coached by Stanislav Cherchesov lost to Croatia in the quarter-final match at the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi on Saturday night. The regular and the 30-minute overtime period ended in a 2-2 draw. The Croats won in a 4-3 penalty shootout.

In its previous Last 16 match, Russia beat Spain 4-3 on penalties. Team Russia advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time in its modern history.

"Please, continue in the same spirit and let such football always be, do not give up your positions. Football is more than sports. No other kind of sports unites people so much, this is power and strength. And the players of the Russian team possess such strength. I am confident that thanks to our footballers, football training sections will now be full of boys and girls," Isinbayeva said.

"I feel like I have won the Olympics: all are calling me and congratulating me with the success of our national team. Thank them for this, thank them for the most worthy football and thank them for the words addressed to us, their fans. This is important for us!" the two-time Olympic champion stressed.

"Let me be honest, I was skeptical about our prospects by the start of the World Cup and with their first wins we thought that, perhaps, this was accidental and, perhaps, the opponents were weak or, perhaps, the home ground helped. But they heard their fans, they heard the entire country. In my perception, the match against Spain was a turning point: they went out to the pitch to win rather than to play football and everyone gave all his strength and played to the end. And I’m proud that our Russian coach Stanislav Cherchesov steered them to this result," the legendary pole vaulter said.

Isinbayeva said she was confident that the Russian national football team had come to believe in its strength at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

"They came to believe in their strength and we believe in them with the whole of our hearts. Yes, we are disappointed that we have failed to clear for the semi-finals but the guys had performed by 200%: they played during 120 minutes two games running and this was not just running to and fro. This was true football with tactics, with the pressure and the imposition of their football style. I am proud of our team and they have shown all the best they were able to show at this World Cup," Isinbayeva said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 08-07-2018

Orel nuclear-powered submarine to take part in Navy Day parade in St. Petersburg — source

According to earlier reports, more than 40 warships, as well as 25 planes and helicopters are expected to take part in the parade.

MOSCOW, July 6. /TASS/. The Northern Fleet’s Project 949A nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) Orel will take part in the Navy Day parade in St. Petersbrg, a defense industry source told TASS.

"Orel will come from the Northern Fleet. Its crew is now undergoing necessary preparations for the journey to the Baltics," the source said.

TASS is yet to obtain official confirmation of those reports.

According to earlier reports, more than 40 warships, as well as 25 planes and helicopters are expected to take part in the parade.

The list includes the Marshal Ustinov missile cruiser, the Admiral Gorshkov frigate, the Severomorsk anti-submarine destroyer, the Ivan Gren amphibious assault ship, the Soobrazitelny corvette, the Admiral Mararov frigate and other vessels.

Source: ITAR-TASS 07-07-2018

Putin: Foreign fans and bloggers dispel myths about Russia thanks to social media

Vladimir Putin noted the Russians’ warm attitude towards foreign football enthusiasts.

MOSCOW, July 6. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has noted that foreign fans have managed to dispel numerous myths about Russia through social media, he said at a meeting with the world’s current football stars.

"These so-called bloggers - people working in social media - helped tear down numerous stereotypes about Russia," the president stressed.

Putin noted Russians’ warm attitude towards foreign football enthusiasts. "Fans from different countries behave differently, but our football fans perceive those who came to root for their teams as friends from the universal football family, and so they are trying to do everything possible to make our guests feel at home in Russia," the head of state emphasized. In his opinion, these foreign guests have the opportunity to learn the culture and traditions of various Russian peoples. Putin was sure that a majority of foreigners would take home pleasant memories from Russia.

The president noted that tens of thousands of football fans who came to Russia have created a special festive atmosphere.

Source: ITAR-TASS 06-07-2018

Vandals spill paint over WWII monument in central Vienna

The 12-meter-high monument was unveiled on August 19, 1945.

VIENNA, July 5. /TASS/. Unknown vandals have desecrated a World War II memorial on the Schwarzenbergplatz square in central Vienna dedicated to Soviet soldiers who liberated the country from Nazi occupation in 1945. Paint was splattered over the monument, the Russian Embassy in Austria told TASS on Thursday.

The monument to the Soviet soldiers in the Austrian capital has been repeatedly defaced by vandals. On January 16, 2017, unknown attackers spilled dark red paint over the monument’s base. On January 10 and March 6, 2018, black paint was splattered over the monument. Following each act of vandalism the Russian embassy sent a note of protest to the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, demanding that urgent measures be taken to clear away the damage inflicted, detect and punish the perpetrators and prevent vandal attacks in the future.

The 12-meter-high monument was unveiled on August 19, 1945. It features a soldier with a PPSh-41 submachine gun on a 20-meter base, which reads Stalin’s order for Vienna’s liberation, the text of the Soviet poet Sergey Mikhalkov’s poetic address to soldiers, the second couplet of the Soviet state hymn in its 1943 version and an excerpt from Joseph Stalin’s speech of May 9, 1945. There is a colonnade behind the monument with inscription in Russian, which reads "Eternal glory to the heroes of the Red Army who fell in battle against the German fascist invaders for the freedom and independence of the peoples of Europe." There are figures of Soviet soldiers in action on both ends of the colonnade.

Source: ITAR-TASS 05-07-2018

Russian Navy to get cutting-edge frigate in 2019

The delay with the delivery of the lead ship has shifted the delivery of the second ship by about eight months.

MOSCOW, July 4. /TASS/. Shipbuilders intend to deliver the second (the first serial-produced) Project 22350 frigate Admiral Kasatonov to the Russian Navy in the autumn of 2019, Head of the United Shipbuilding Corporation Alexei Rakhmanov told TASS on Wednesday.

"The second warship of this series, the Admiral Kasatonov, was due to have been delivered this year but considering that the ceremony of hoisting the flag aboard the [Admiral] Gorshkov has been postponed, we simply won’t be physically able to prepare the next ship. The delay with the delivery of the lead ship always automatically shifts the delivery of the second ship by about eight months. So, it turns out that we are now planning this for October-November 2019," he said.

The head of the United Shipbuilding Corporation said he hoped that Russian propulsion units produced by Saturn Company would be mounted on the next warships of this series and "delays due to engine problems will recede into the past."

Russian Navy Shipbuilding Directorate Head Vladimir Tryapichnikov said earlier that the Navy expected to get the Admiral Kasatonov in 2018. The frigate’s sea trials were planned to begin in the summer of this year.

Frigate Admiral Kasatonov

The frigate Fleet Admiral Kasatonov is the second (the first serial-produced) Project 22350 warship. The Project was developed by the Severnoye Design Bureau. The lead warship of this series, the Admiral Gorshkov, is expected to be delivered to the Navy this year and the construction of two more frigates (the Admiral Golovko and the Admiral Isakov) continues at the slipways of the Severnaya Verf Shipyard in St. Petersburg.

Project 22350 frigates are expected to become the Russian Navy’s most advanced warships in their class. These frigates displace 4,500 tonnes and can develop a speed of 29 knots. They are armed with Oniks and Kalibr missiles and the Poliment-Redut air defense missile system.

Source: ITAR-TASS 04-07-2018