Vedomosti: What to expect from the upcoming Putin-Merkel meeting
On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, where the two leaders intend to hash over political and economic issues, Vedomosti reports. Germany has kept sanctions against Russia in place, imposed after the 2014 reunification with Crimea. However, in light of the mounting discord with Washington, ties between Moscow and Berlin are gaining momentum. In late July, the German Chancellor received Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov. Moreover, both leaders gathered in Sochi in May at Putin’s initiative.
Nevertheless, there are no signs of rapprochement, it is merely a working visit based on robust pragmatism, Head of the Center for German Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Europe Vladislav Belov told Vedomosti. "Merkel will continue to blame Russia for fueling the conflict in Ukraine, while echoes of the ‘Skripal case,’ the chemical weapons incident in Syria and ‘meddling’ allegations in the (2016) US election will definitely be heard at the meeting," the expert noted. Yet, Belov believes that both countries can reach compromises on several issues. Russia plans to encourage Germany to contribute humanitarian assistance to Syria and help in reconstructing the war-torn country’s infrastructure, especially since it directly concerns the voluntary return of refugees to Syria, which is crucial for Germany’s domestic agenda, Belov stressed.
Frequent meetings are a sign of common sense, though not an improvement in relations. "Have we gotten closer together because we chose to maintain the nuclear deal with Iran? No, but under the new circumstances, particularly under America’s sanctions, both Germany and Russia need to furnish a pragmatic response."
Media: Trump declares cyber war on Russia
US President Donald Trump has reversed Barack Obama’s directive concerning cyber operations, responding to critics who blame the White House for its omission of “Russian hackers” writes Nezavisimaya Gazeta.
The Oval Office has eased the way to get approval for cyber attacks, Senior Researcher at the Center for International Information Security and Science and Technology Policy at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations Anatoly Smirnov told Nezavisimaya Gazeta. "That will give Washington an opportunity to respond to emerging threats almost immediately. Moreover, the move supports the assumption that the US establishment is getting strategically ready to implement a scenario involving the use of force to resolve disagreements with Russia," Smirnov pointed out. In this connection, he pointed to the CIA’s development of camouflage software to carry out cyber attacks, especially ‘false flag’ ones, as well as to the growing importance of cyberspace in the US’ hybrid warfare capability and the creation of a global digital surveillance system on social media. Another hint that the road is being paved for the use of force is Washington’s refusal to cooperate with Russia in preventing incidents in the IT sphere.
According to Pavel Sharikov, a Senior Researcher at the Institute for US and Canadian Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences, there may be two reasons behind the reversal of the Obama-era directive, Kommersant writes. First, in 2017, Trump raised the status of the US Cyber Command, placing it under the Department of Defense.
"This, as well as the adoption of a new policy, shows that cyber security is becoming a separate aspect of military strategy and its importance is growing," the expert explained. Second, "by suspending multi-agency bureaucratic procedures concerning preparations for cyber attacks, he [Trump] has actually given that prerogative to the military, thus bolstering its responsibilities in the cyber security field," Sharikov said, adding that "it causes concern, since at the moment the US views Russia as virtually a major cyber aggressor."
Rossiyskaya Gazeta: Upgraded bomber gets new cutting-edge missiles
On Thursday, an upgraded version of the Tupolev Tu-22M3M long-range bomber was rolled out at the Gorbunov Aviation Factory in Kazan, Rossiyskaya Gazeta reports. The manufacturer's trials will begin in September and conclude in late December. After that, the bomber will undergo state trials involving the military. Only after judging their results, will the Defense Ministry make a decision on the first contract to upgrade its fleet of Tu-22M3M aircraft.
Currently, the Russian Aerospace Forces have about a hundred such bombers, and 30 of them are scheduled to be upgraded in the immediate future. In particular, they will be equipped with cutting-edge digital radar navigation systems, a new communications system and an information and management complex. The Tu-22M3M’s enhanced fuel-efficient engines will allow the aircraft to cover distances beyond the current 6,000 kilometers. The aircraft’s speed will exceed the usual 2,000 kilometers per hour. At the same time, the aircraft will get new weapons. The prospect of using the Kinzhal hypersonic and new anti-ship missiles will increase the bomber’s combat efficiency.
According to Russian Long-Range Aviation Commander Lieutenant General Sergei Kobylash, the Tu-22M3M will be equipped with artificial intelligence, and it will outperform all its foreign competitors.
Russian Federation Council Defense and Security Committee Chairman, and ex-Aerospace Force Commander Viktor Bondarev told Rossiyskaya Gazeta that the Tu-22M3M bomber was a new incarnation of the multifunctional Tupolev Tu-22M3 aircraft that performed brilliantly in Syria. Although the basic version of the aircraft has been in use for nearly 30 years, the senator believes that it has huge upgrading capabilities. "We don’t need to invent anything completely new to maintain our leadership in the long-range aviation field, we just need to upgrade these bombers to a new level," Bondarev said.
Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Russians back in money-saving mode
The average Russian family has about 28,000 rubles ($420) to spare these days, experts from the Romir Research Holding told Nezavisimaya Gazeta. This is what’s left after people pay all their bills and purchase basic necessities. A year ago, the amount of spare cash that Russians were able either to spend on extras or save, was 50% less. However, experts believe that it is not a sign of rising incomes but rather a hint that families are tightening their belts.
"During the crisis years, Russians got used to consuming as little as possible, they drastically reduced their consumer expenditures," Director of the Institute for Social Analysis and Forecast at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation Tatyana Maleva told Nezavisimaya Gazeta. According to her, people are gearing up for future shocks.
"Clearly, amid the unstable economic situation, the money-saving trend has gotten stronger," Assistant Professor at Russian University of Economics Olga Lebedinskaya pointed out.
"The disposable income index increased by more than 50% this July compared to July 2017, while real disposable incomes haven’t changed much, which may indirectly indicate a drop in Russians’ consumer spending in the wake of high inflationary expectations and a negative attitude to a number of unpopular reforms that can lead to a further decline in household incomes," said Finam analyst Alexei Korenev. That points, first and foremost, to the planned pension reform.
Kommersant: Iran seeks return on its Syrian investment
Iran and Syria are expected to sign a strategic partnership agreement in the coming days. Experts believe Tehran fears that as the situation in Syria improves, other countries, including Russia, may elbow it out, says Kommersant.
The war has completely changed Syria’s economic and financial ties. In 2004-2010, the country was the fourth largest recipient of investment from other Arab countries, first and foremost, the Gulf states. When the conflict broke out, Iran turned out to be the Syrian authorities’ only sponsor. According to the Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, Iran shells out around $12.7 bln to Syria every year, particularly on its military advisers and pro-Iran armed units, as well as on weapons supplies. At the same time, the Iranian media has been asking if Tehran will be able to yield an adequate return on its investment in Syria, particularly given the difficult economic situation in Iran itself. This is why the Iranian authorities are eager to prove that the investment was not in vain.
"Iran seeks to strengthen its influence in Syria at any cost. As of now, its political presence surpasses its economic one. Tehran wants to make up for its spending," Syrian economist Samir Seifan told Kommersant.
In January 2017, Syria and Iran signed five memorandums of understanding. Damascus pledged to give Tehran access to its phosphate mining in the Palmyra area. Another deal concerned the construction of an oil terminal covering an area of 5,000 hectares in Syria. In addition, a plot of land of the same size was planned to be given to Iran for agricultural use. The parties also inked an agreement on reconstructing Syrian energy facilities in the Latakia and Deir ez-Zor provinces, as well as in the cities of Aleppo and Damascus.
"Iran can see that Russia, Turkey, Germany and France are actually launching a new process aimed at the reconstruction of Syria. So Tehran is stepping up its efforts to avoid being sidelined," Assistant Professor at Tehran’s Shahid Beheshti University Hamidreza Azizi told Kommersant.
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