28 February 2025
07:49
Wheat harvest in Ukraine to fall to 20 mln tons in 2025 — expert
07:34
Russian stock market in the red in early trading hours
07:32 Ukraine crisis
US-Ukraine minerals deal to trigger Ukraine’s split — Medvedchuk
07:21
IN BRIEF: What we know about foiled Ukrainian attack on Metropolitan Tikhon of Crimea
07:15
Over 80% of Russians trust Putin, latest poll shows
06:42
Two arrested in Moscow as FSB foils Ukrainian attack on Metropolitan Tikhon of Crimea
06:20
Moscow, Beijing hold similar positions on regional, international issues — Russia’s Shoigu
05:04
Russia, US outline steps towards normalizing diplomatic work — State Department
04:52
Talks between Russian Security Council secretary, top Chinese diplomat begin in Beijing
04:50
Russian Security Council Secretary Shoigu arrives in Beijing on one-day visit
03:54
First reactor shell of Egypt’s El Dabaa NPP may be installed in late 2025
03:42
Those who supplied weapons to Crocus attackers may try to intimidate witnesses — papers
03:23
Bitcoin slides below $80,000 for first time since November 10, 2024
02:35
Moldova’s ex-president sees possibility of impeaching Sandu
01:47
North Korea holds strategic cruise missile launching drill – KCNA
01:20
Russia’s Progress space freighter begins journey to ISS
00:51 Ukraine crisis
Minerals deal to lay foundation for stable US-Ukrainian relations — Trump
00:45 Ukraine crisis
Europe should play ‘full part’ in Ukrainian settlement – UK premier
00:44 Ukraine crisis
US should replenish its own arsenals – Trump on aid to Ukraine
27 February 2025
23:55 Ukraine crisis
Trump convinced long-lasting peace can be achieved in Ukraine
23:53
Trump sees possibility of abandoning idea of duties on UK imports
23:51
US-Ukraine deal on rare earths 'awaiting signature' – US treasury secretary
22:47
North Korea launches strategic cruise missile — Yonhap
21:59
Russia’s Progress MS-30 space freighter taken to orbit
20:59
Russian embassy criticizes soft sentence for Marseille Consulate attackers
20:46
Car plows into crowd in Israel, injuring 14 in suspected terror attack
20:45 Ukraine crisis
Trump says Ukraine won’t join NATO — newspaper
20:44 Ukraine crisis
Trump says Russia acting well about Ukraine settlement deal, talks well advanced — report
20:42
Boris Spassky, 10th World Chess Champion, dies
20:12
Pope’s condition continues to improve, prognosis unclear so far — Vatican
19:53
Trump confirms he will sign rare-earths deal with Zelensky
19:52
UN welcomes any dialogue between US, Russia — spokesman
19:29
Attackers of Russian Consulate in Marseille sentenced to 8 months in prison — news agency
19:28
Iranian president says Tehran open to US talks if Washington proves trustworthiness
19:05
Russia rejects idea to cancel closed-door consultations at UNSC
18:49
Renowned Russian figure skating coach Tarasova lauds IOC chief Bach’s resignation
18:45 Ukraine crisis
Trump confirms he will sign rare-earth deal with Zelensky
18:41 Ukraine crisis
Ukraine conflict cannot be resolved without Kiev’s involvement — Lukashenko
18:40
Russian stock market indices falling on Thursday — market data
18:32
Sber has no earthly rivals, but Martians could be a different story, CEO jokes
18:31
No plans yet to resume communication between Russian, US legislatures — lawmaker
18:26
Russia interested in Malaysian hydropower projects — Energy Ministry
18:10 Military operation in Ukraine
Turkey ready to provide venue for talks on Ukraine — Russian upper house speaker
18:07
Shvabe holding to supply instruments for armored vehicles upgrade to customers
18:02
EU wants to appoint envoy for Ukraine talks — report
18:01
Russian animation studio, Brazil discuss launching BRICS TV channel for children
17:53
Russian Agricultural Bank provided $556.5 mln to farmers for field work
17:49 Ukraine crisis
US-Ukraine deal holds no commitment to finance military operations — Reuters
All news
31 Jan, 10:00

Press review: NATO increases defense spending as Russia-Germany trade turnover falls

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, January 31st

MOSCOW, January 31. /TASS/. Obstacles to peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, NATO's escalating defense budget, and the sharp decline in Russia-Germany trade turnover. These stories topped the headlines in Friday’s newspapers across Russia.

 

Vedomosti: What hinders Russia-Ukraine negotiations

Legal guarantees for agreements reached are the cornerstone of a potential peace settlement between Russia and Ukraine, according to a report by experts from the Russian Political Analysis Center (CPKR) outlining the key parameters for resolving the conflict.

The authors of the report note that, in addition to the declared conditions for negotiations between Moscow and Kiev "frequently being mutually exclusive," the overall situation continues to evolve. The pace of Russian units advancing on the frontlines is increasing, while uncertainty has arisen due to decisions by US President Donald Trump’s team. Trump assuming office shifted the discussion of a settlement into a "focused bargaining stage." Russia believes it is necessary to negotiate a resolution to the conflict with the US and is now receiving corresponding signals, adjusting its positions.

The structure of a peace agreement will depend on the situation on the ground, and here Russia holds a stronger stance, said Alexey Chesnakov, head of the CPKR’s research board. "It is no coincidence that Ukrainian officials are openly talking about the necessity of postponing negotiations because Kiev is vulnerable." In his opinion, the recent dates for the conflict’s resolution, which have been circulating since Trump’s inauguration, must be viewed as speculative narratives and instruments of an information war.

The situation is too complex at this time to discuss potential negotiations because the sides’ positions remain deeply divided, said Ivan Timofeyev, director general of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC). "There is a coalition of participants led by the US in the West. Moscow believes that a direct conversation with Washington will play the pivotal role in potential talks. Trump has stated that ending the conflict is desirable, and Moscow has also expressed its readiness. Yet the issue remains: how it will happen, because reaching a compromise is extremely challenging."

According to the expert, the main difficulty is not just reaching an agreement but ensuring its implementation. "The Minsk Accords already existed but were essentially sabotaged by the West. The question is: yes, an agreement may be reached, but what happens if it is violated?" For example, if a deal is made to limit arms in Ukraine but is then broken, who will ensure Ukraine complies?" Timofeyev said. "That is, negotiating an agreement is already difficult, but implementing and guaranteeing it will be even harder," the expert concluded.

 

Nezavisimaya Gazeta: NATO nations to boost defense spending to 3% of GDP

The situation around Ukraine continues to escalate tensions, not only between Russia and NATO but also between the Western military alliance and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). In September 2025, Moscow and Minsk will stage the West-2025 strategic military exercises. Meanwhile, NATO will redeploy its troops closer to the CSTO's border, Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff Andrey Serdyukov said.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump declared that he will push for his partners in the military bloc to spend at least 5% of GDP on defense. Currently, they allocate an average of 2% of GDP for this purpose. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has repeatedly stressed that NATO countries must spend significantly more on defense than 2% of GDP. And, as the Financial Times recently reported, citing sources, European NATO members have discussed that at the next alliance summit in The Hague, scheduled for June 24-26, 2025, the countries may settle on spending up to 3% of GDP, but no more. Many NATO countries believe that the process of increasing defense spending must progress gradually.

"In total, Europe's NATO defense expenditures exceed those of Russia and all CSTO countries combined. However, this comparison is somewhat misleading. Given efficiency measures, specialization, and the role of Strategic Nuclear Forces, Moscow maintains parity with the US and NATO, its adversaries," Colonel (Ret.) Vladimir Popov, a military expert, told Nezavisimaya Gazeta. He noted that in response to NATO maneuvers near the borders of Russia and Belarus, Moscow has expanded its troop presence and reinforced its forces in the Western strategic direction. "That said, objectives continue to be pursued within the framework of the special military operation, where the Russian army holds the strategic initiative," the expert emphasized.

 

Izvestia: Russia-Germany trade turnover plunges 82% over three years

The volume of trade between Russia and Germany has collapsed by 82% since 2021 and by 30% since 2023, Izvestia has learned. It totaled $8.6 billion from January to October last year, the German Embassy in Moscow reported, even though at the start of the year, Germany was still Russia’s main trade partner in the EU. Nevertheless, Berlin remains committed to its sanctions policy against Russia, German diplomats affirmed. That said, dissatisfaction with the government’s economic strategy in Germany is growing, with thousands of entrepreneurs protesting in the streets. The country’s GDP has declined for two consecutive years.

Certainly, the severing of economic ties between Moscow and Berlin has taken a toll on Germany’s economy, but the peak impact was in 2022-2023, when the cutoff of Russian energy shipments drove energy prices higher within Germany and triggered significant inflation, said Sergey Shein, senior researcher at the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics.

Negative trends in Germany are also weighing on the European Union as a whole. Economic stagnation in the country weakens the EU and threatens its internal cohesion in the future, Shein noted.

According to him, there should be no illusions that cooperation between Russia and Germany will ever return to pre-sanctions levels. The situation will only become clearer once potential talks on settling the Ukrainian conflict begin. "It is very hard to turn back under such conditions - restoring ties requires strong political will, which is something the EU currently lacks," the expert concluded.

 

Izvestia: Syrian Kurds left in the dark on new US plans

Kurdish authorities have not been notified about a shift in US policy and continue working with Washington under the previous framework, co-chair of the Foreign Relations Department in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, Ilham Ahmed, told Izvestia. Earlier, media reported that White House officials had informed their Israeli counterparts that US President Donald Trump intends to withdraw American troops from Syria. Ahmed noted that pro-Turkish forces have been launching attacks on Syria’s northeastern regions while Ankara continues to obstruct Kurdish dialogue with Damascus.

Ankara regards Kurdish militias as a threat to its national security, alleging they are linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party, which is banned in Turkey. Ankara fears that if US troops withdraw, Kurdish units, previously overseen by the US, will be left unchecked, leading to a security vacuum in Syria’s northeast and northwest, said Vladimir Akhmedov, a senior research fellow at the Center for the Study of Common Problems of the Contemporary East at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

On January 28, a Russian interagency delegation visited Syria for the first time since the change in leadership. "The visit was constructive. Immediately after the Russian diplomat’s trip, the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group (outlawed in Russia) was disbanded, while al-Sharaa assumed the presidency, taking on a civilian role. This gives hope that dialogue with him is possible. Cooperation with Bashar Assad faced serious hurdles last year; in many ways, it was at a standstill. In particular, Assad ignored all our proposals to strengthen ties with Turkey. The situation could change under the new government," Akhmedov said.

 

Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Russia expands footprint in Kazakhstan

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, during a meeting with his Kazakh counterpart Oljas Bektenov, discussed key areas of the two countries’ strategic partnership, placing particular emphasis on cooperation in energy, transport, logistics, and investments. Amid Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s recent statement about establishing a "nuclear cluster," considerable attention was given to Russia’s potential involvement in the construction of a nuclear power plant in the republic.

Stanislav Pritchin of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Primakov Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO RAS) told the newspaper that it is difficult to isolate a single area of discussion because Russian-Kazakh cooperation is broad-based and encompasses virtually all aspects of economic engagement. "At the heart of our partnership are energy, transport, investment, and logistics - critical sectors that shape both the depth of future cooperation and trade volumes. We continue to see steady progress in ongoing projects and the exploration of new initiatives, such as the transit of Russian gas to China via Kazakhstan. The construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan remains under discussion," the expert observed. In his view, aligning long-term planning and understanding Kazakhstan’s stance on key issues is crucial.

That said, the expert pointed out that Moscow is unconcerned about Kazakhstan strengthening ties with the West. "Our purchases of Kazakh raw materials and exports do not isolate Kazakhstan from the global market or from engaging with Western nations. Our priority is to reinforce the Russian dimension of cooperation," Pritchin emphasized.

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