A new security policy paper has highlighted espionage and the fragility of the economy as threats to Russian security.  Energy is however the main issue: ‘in a competition for resources, problems that involve the use of military force cannot be excluded’, the paper warns.  According to the Times, the Arctic is cited as the focal point for energy conflicts.  Is the fact that the Kremlin’s report was published on the same day as the UN’s deadline for filing claims to the seabed coincidence or publicity stunt?  Russia has vetoed a plan to salvage the OSCE mission in Georgia, as the Kremlin demands that South Ossetia be recognized as an independent state.  Putin has said that a peace deal with Japan can only be concluded if the terms ‘meet the national interests of the Russian Federation.’