RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – Feb 16, 2015
TODAY: Ceasefire ‘generally’ kept in Ukraine, fighting continues in isolated areas; Russia needs Ukraine gas route in order to keep its European customers; Navalny detained in subway; Kudrin, other liberals join anti-crisis meeting; Putin does not know how to implement new spending plan; Kaspersky identifies global attack; Russia and Hungary – too close for comfort?
The Ukrainian military said that the ceasefire agreed in Minsk last week was generally being adhered to, but cited ten shellings by pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine since it was announced. Other reports mention fighting in the town of Debaltseve, a disputed territory where rebels refused to observe the truce. Russia was also said to have deployed an air defence system at Debaltseve, prompting a U.S. State Department spokeswoman to accuse Russia and pro-Russian fighters of violating ‘the spirit’ of the ceasefire. The Guardian sees a real peace settlement in the region as ‘distant’, with a deep and growing gulf between Russia and the European Union. Russia’s desire to cut out Ukraine as a gas transit route is unrealistic, says Reuters, as such a move would only drive EU customers to non-Russian gas sources. Alexei Pushkov said it was ‘too early’ for suggestions that German Chancellor Angela Merkel should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Opposition figure and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny was detained in the Moscow underground for ‘causing a public disturbance’ by handing out leaflets with his supporters.
Former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin joined an anti-crisis meeting chaired by President Vladimir Putin last week, with analysts seeing his involvement – along with that of other liberal economists like Sberbank head German Gred – as ‘significant’. Putin has admitted that he does not know how to implement the Kremlin’s $35 billion anti-crisis spending plan. Retail sales are set for their biggest decline since 1991 this year, analysts predict. Central Bank data indicates that the total assets of Russia’s banks contracted by $380 million in January. Could Putin be worth $200 billion? Russia’s security company Kaspersky says 100 global financial institutions have been hit by a cyber attack that could cost as much as $1 billion.
Romania is apparently trying to coax Moldova to join the European Union, and help create a buffer against Russia. ‘Many in the West think the cosying-up between [Hungarian Prime Minister] Mr Orban and Mr Putin has gone too far.’
PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with representatives of a war veteran’s organizations in the Novo-Ogaryovo residence, outside Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015. (AP Photo/RIA Novosti Kremlin, Mikhail Klimentyev, Presidential Press Service)
