[RT] 2023-01-08: Russia offering ‘Korea-style‘ peace deal – Kiev

Original article can be found here: https://www.rt.com/russia/569563-russia-ukraine-korea-scenario/

Moscow wants to formalize the status quo on the ground, Ukraine’s top security official said

Aleksey Danilov, the head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, speaks at an event in Kiev, November 2022. ©  Sergei Supinsky / AFP

Russia wants to impose a truce that would split Ukrainian lands, similar to how the Korean Peninsula is divided today, Aleksey Danilov, head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, has said, as quoted by the country’s media. His statement came after Moscow reiterated that peace negotiations are possible if Kiev recognizes Russia’s new territories.

"They are currently offering us a Korean option. On one side we will have certain Ukrainians, and on the other side we will have different Ukrainians," Danilov said in a TV interview on Sunday, according to Ukrainian news channel TSN.

The 1950–53 Korean War ended with a truce that formalized the 38th parallel as the de-facto border between North Korea and South Korea.

"I know for certain that one of the options they could offer us is the ‘38th parallel,'" Danilov said. He claimed that Dmitry Kozak, the deputy head of Russia’s presidential administration, has been speaking to EU politicians and "conveying the message that they are ready for many concessions in order to recognize the status quo and to force us into some kind of truce."

READ MORE: Confessions by Hollande and Merkel are ‘formalization of betrayal’ – top Russian senator

Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine in late February, citing the need to protect the people of Donbass.

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky unveiled a ‘peace formula’ in September, insisting that a resolution of the conflict is possible only if Moscow surrenders all of its newly incorporated regions. The Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, together with two other former Ukrainian territories – the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions – became parts of Russia after holding referendums last September. Crimea did the same in 2014 in the wake of a coup in Kiev that year.

Russia has called Zelensky’s terms unacceptable. President Vladimir Putin said in a phone call with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday that negotiations with Kiev could only happen if Ukraine recognized "new territorial realities."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in late December that Ukrainian politicians were "incapable of negotiating" because "the majority are blatant Russophobes."

 

[RT] 2022-12-08: Egypt joins BRICS bank – official

Original article can be found here:

https://www.rt.com/business/567847-egypt-joins-brics-development-bank




The country has reportedly been welcomed into the financial structure, further expanding the lender’s global reach

Egypt has officially become a member of the New Development Bank (
NDB) of the BRICS group of major emerging economies, the country’s government announced on Wednesday.

The NDB was established by BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) in 2014 to finance infrastructure and sustainable development in member states and other emerging economies. Since 2016, the bank has invested in multiple projects, including $7.2 billion in India alone, according to the NDB.

Egypt, which has so far not joined BRICS, expressed an interest in becoming a member in July, along with Turkey and Saudi Arabia. It is now preparing to apply for membership, BRICS International Forum President Purnima Anand earlier said.

READ MORE: Russia-led free trade bloc seeks joint payment system with BRICS

BRICS is working to develop its own financial infrastructure, including a joint payment network, with some member states having already switched to trade in local currencies in order to reduce dependence on the US dollar and euro.

The five BRICS economies currently account for more than 40% of the world’s population and nearly a quarter of global GDP.

[RT] 2022-08-19: Ukrainian forces shell nuclear plant city – official

Original article can be found here: https://www.rt.com/russia/561123-energodar-zaporozhye-nuclear-shelling/

The reported artillery strike comes hours after UN chief warned against such “suicide” attacks

A view shows the spray pounds at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant in Energodar, April 5, 2022 ©  Sputnik

Ukrainian forces once again targeted Energodar with artillery on Thursday night, according to Vladimir Rogov, a member of the local administration.

Rogov claimed at least seven shells hit the Russian-controlled city that hosts the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, the largest such facility in Europe. In a Telegram post, Rogov claimed that heavy artillery fire targeted the city around 10:50pm local time.

The Zaporozhye NPP suffered no damage in the strike, local authorities later told Russian media. There were also no immediate reports of any casualties or damage to civilian infrastructure.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres voiced concern about the situation around the nuclear facility earlier on Thursday, during his meeting with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Lviv.

READ MORE: UN warns against ‘suicide’ attacks on Zaporozhye nuclear plant

While he stopped short of blaming either side, Guterres has once again called to demilitarize the area, insisting that an agreement was “urgently needed” to establish Zaporozhye as a “purely civilian infrastructure” to ensure the plant’s safety.

“Common sense must prevail to avoid any actions that might endanger the physical integrity, safety or security of the nuclear plant,” the UN chief said, adding that the facility “must not be used as part of any military operation” and that any damage to the plant would be “suicide.”

Moscow has repeatedly called for an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) mission to the plant, which Guterres said could only happen with Kiev’s approval. Zelensky reiterated on Thursday that any such mission can only take place via Kiev-controlled territory, while calling for an “immediate and unconditional withdrawal” of Russian forces from the area.

However, removing Russian troops “would only make the nuclear power plant more vulnerable,” according to Russian Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman, Ivan Nechayev, who on Thursday cited repeated “provocations” from Kiev’s forces and dismissed the idea of a “demilitarized zone” as “unacceptable.”

READ MORE: Russia urges international inspection of shelled nuclear site

The Russian Defense Ministry also warned on Thursday morning that Ukraine might carry out artillery strikes on the Zaporozhye NPP amid the visit by Guterres and Erdogan – and then accuse Moscow of causing a disaster at the site. Ukraine’s military intelligence responded by saying that Russian forces might stage a nuclear “provocation” in the territory they control.

READ MORE: Ukraine planning nuclear provocation on Friday – Moscow

Russian troops took control of the Zaporozhye NPP early on in the course of military operations in Ukraine. The Russian Defense Ministry denies deploying any heavy weapons at the nuclear site, insisting that only Russian troops at the facility are lightly armed guards providing physical security against “provocations.”

Moscow has repeatedly accused Kiev of conducting frequent drone and artillery strikes against the nuclear plant and the city of Energodar since mid-July. Kiev has denied responsibility and said Russian forces were attacking the plant to discredit Ukraine, while also claiming that Russia is using the facility as a military base.

[RT] 2022-08-18: Russia warns of another Chernobyl

Original article can be found here: https://www.rt.com/russia/561091-ukraine-zaporozhye-nuclear-contamination/

Kiev’s shelling of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant could result in a worst-case scenario, Moscow warns

Map of possible contamination after a disaster at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. © Russian Defense Ministry

Ukraine’s ongoing attacks on the Russia-controlled Zaporozhye nuclear power plant may cause a far worse disaster for Europe than the current energy crisis, a Russian Defense Ministry official has warned.

Igor Kirillov, who heads Russia’s Nuclear Biological and Chemical Defense Troops, illustrated the likely worst-case scenario of a direct hit on Europe’s largest nuclear plant, during a briefing on Thursday. He showed journalists a map, with plumes of radioactive material from the site reaching Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Moldova, Belarus and even Germany.

He blamed Ukraine's Western backers for trying to downplay the danger of targeting the atomic plant, and forgetting the lessons of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster and the 2011 Fukushima nuclear incident.

According to Kirillov, both disasters involved “the failure of support systems, the disruption of power supply and partial and complete shutdown of the cooling systems, which led to overheating of nuclear fuel and the destruction of the reactor”.

Read more

 Ukraine planning nuclear provocation on Friday – Moscow

The fallout of the Chernobyl disaster affected some 20 countries, while causing 4,000 deaths, a major spike in cancer cases, and the permanent relocation of around 100,000 people. The effects of the Fukushima nuclear incident might seem “insignificant” at first glance, but up to 500,000 people have abandoned their homes because of it, he noted.

“Our experts believe that the actions of the Ukrainian armed forces may cause a similar situation at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant,” Kirillov said.

Strikes by the Kiev forces could render the plant’s cooling systems and other support infrastructure inoperable, which would lead “to overheating of the core and, as a result, the destruction of reactor units at the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, with the release of radioactive substances into the atmosphere and their spreading for hundreds of kilometers,” he warned.

“Such an emergency will cause mass migration of the population and will have more catastrophic consequences than the looming energy crisis in Europe,” the military official added.

Moscow has accused Kiev of carrying out 12 attacks on the nuclear facilitity, which provides energy to both Russian- and Ukrainian-controlled areas, since mid-July.

READ MORE: Russia urges international inspection of shelled nuclear site

Ukraine insists that Russian forces are shelling the site, while accusing them of stationing military hardware at the plant. The Russian side has denied both accusations, while also urging International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts to visit the Zaporozhye facility to see what is actually happening.

[Sputnik] 2022-08-01: Pelosi May Visit Taiwan and Meet Leadership on August 2, Reports Suggest

 https://sputniknews.com/20220801/live-updates-pelosi-may-visit-taiwan-and-meet-leadership-on-august-2-reports-suggest-1097994950.html

BEIJING (Sputnik) - US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi may arrive in Taiwan on August 2 and meet with the island's leader, Tsai Ing-wen, the next day, the China Times newspaper reported on Monday, citing diplomatic sources.

The US official is also expected to hold a meeting with other high-ranking officials while in Taiwan and leave the island on Wednesday, the newspaper said.

The Taiwanese foreign ministry has not confirmed these plans yet, the news outlet added.

The House speaker has embarked on a trip to the Indo-Pacific which includes visits to Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea. Pelosi did not mention if Taiwan is on her schedule, amid escalating tensions between China and the US. Beijing has previously issued several warnings, saying that a trip to Taiwan would be a violation of the One China policy.

At the same time, China's People's Liberation Army started military drills on Saturday, conducting a firing exercise in the southeastern province of Fujian across the strait from Taiwan and closing the designated maritime area.

[RT] 2022-08-01: Taiwan’s media makes prediction on Pelosi visit

 Original article can be found here: https://www.rt.com/news/559984-pelosi-taiwan-visit-hotel/

Hotel reservations for the House speaker and her people have been made, a journalist with TVBS News said

FILE PHOTO. Nancy Pelosi arrives at a news conference on Capitol Hill. ©Drew Angerer / Getty Images

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi may arrive in Taiwan on Tuesday, a local TV news station claimed on Monday. Reservations for the US delegation headed by one of the most senior officials in the country have been made at a five-star hotel, TVBS News said, citing sources.

According to the report, Pelosi and her entourage are to stay at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Taipei’s eastern governmental Xinyi District. Relevant security arrangements have been taken to ensure her safety, the outlet said.

Reservations have also been made in a different hotel in the Zhongshan District, the report added, citing rumors.

Pelosi’s possible visit to the self-governed Chinese island has triggered angry reaction from Beijing, which said Washington was “playing with fire” and may “get burned” as a consequence.

Read more

 Pelosi could pull Taiwan trick – Chinese state media

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taiwan has been self-governed since 1949, but never officially declared independence from China, with Beijing considering it a part of its territory under its One-China policy.

Despite agreeing with the One-China policy on paper, the US maintains strong unofficial ties with the island of 23.5 million, selling weapons to Taipei and backing its push for sovereignty.

The list of destinations for her Asian tour that the Speaker shared with the public did not include the island. Taiwan’s government would not comment on any plans to welcome Pelosi.

Beijing launched a military exercise near Taiwan as Pelosi departed from mainland USA for Hawaii last weekend. Some Chinese media have speculated that her plane may declare an emergency to provide a pretext for landing in Taipei.

[RT] 2022-06-22: Russia needs ‘golden ruble’ – report

Original link to this article can be found here: 

https://www.rt.com/business/557611-russia-golden-ruble-sanctions/

A cryptocurrency backed by gold would be immune to sanctions, according to VEB.RF analysts

© Sputnik / Grygory Sysoyev

Russia needs a new mechanism for international settlements to be able to operate under Western sanctions, a report by the country’s development corporation VEB.RF says.

According to the report, the introduction of financial sanctions against Russia, which, despite state measures, results in economic losses for the country, also indicates that a transition to a completely different national financial and monetary system is in order.

VEB.RF analysts suggest that Russia should create a gold-backed stablecoin under the working title ‘golden ruble’. According to their research, Western countries will have no opportunity to block operations carried out in such a currency, since its exchange rate will be pegged to the gold rate on the world market, not to the dollar, the euro or, for that matter, the fiat ruble itself. Gold backing would ensure the currency’s immunity to sanctions, and the ‘golden ruble’ could be used freely in external transactions, including those between third countries without the participation of Russia.

READ MORE: Ruble rally continues to defy sanctions

Analysts have also proposed launching a mechanism for working with cryptocurrencies for sanctioned companies on crypto exchanges in friendly states, or the creation of a national crypto exchange to facilitate ‘golden ruble’ trading.

VEB.RF suggests that the Bank of Russia should develop a system of international settlements with friendly countries in their national digital currencies based on distributed ledger technologies, and introduce a hedging system for eliminating currency risks.

Besides diving into the digital currency world, analysts say Russia’s new financial system could incorporate large-scale use of barter schemes and new offshore zones, especially with China. Further on, they suggest creating a blockchain unit within the BRICS framework, which would mirror the IMF special drawing rights system, albeit in digital form.

The VEB.RF report also draws attention to Russia’s MIR payment system (a Visa and Mastercard analogue) and SWIFT-like SPFS interbank messaging mechanism, and suggests that they should be expanded outside of Russia, at least within the CIS bloc and China.

[RT] 2022-06-22: BRICS developing new global reserve currency – Putin

Original link to the article can be found here:

https://www.rt.com/business/557627-brics-developing-global-reserve-currency/

It will be based on a currency basket of the five-nation bloc, according to the Russian president

© Getty Images / Jorg Greuel

President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that the BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – are currently working on setting up a new global reserve currency.

“The issue of creating an international reserve currency based on a basket of currencies of our countries is being worked out,” he said at the BRICS business forum.

According to the Russian president, the member states are also developing reliable alternative mechanisms for international payments.

Earlier, the group said it was working on establishing a joint payment network to cut reliance on the Western financial system. The BRICS countries have been also boosting the use of local currencies in mutual trade.

[RT] 2022-06-22: Lithuania ready to expand Kaliningrad blockade – president

 Original link to this article can be found here:  

https://www.rt.com/russia/557626-lithuania-president-kaliningrad-blockade/

The country is prepared to face retaliatory steps by Russia, Gitanas Nauseda has said

Cargo train cars pictured in Kaliningrad, Russia on June 20, 2022. © Sputnik / Mikhail Golenkov

Vilnius is ready to expand the list of goods banned from transit to Russia’s exclave of Kaliningrad should the European Union introduce new sanctions against Moscow, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on Wednesday. The country is also ready to face any potential retaliatory measures Russia might introduce, he told Reuters in an interview.

“We are ready and we are prepared for unfriendly actions from Russia, such as disconnection from the BRELL [power grid] system, or others,” Nauseda said.

The president stressed that the transit restrictions were not a sovereign move by Lithuania, but merely the implementation of the EU sanctions against Moscow introduced over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. “We feel the support of the European Union, because this is a decision made by the European Union,” he said, adding that the country was ready to expand the list of banned goods should the bloc introduce new restrictions against Russia.

“We are looking forward to implementing the next stages of the sanctions, and it would be very good if the European Commission explains their content to the Russian authorities. It could remove some of the current tensions, which are not in the interest of either the European Union or Russia,” Nauseda stated.

Read more

 EU comments on Lithuania-Russia row

Over the weekend, Lithuania’s national railway operator banned the flow of sanctioned goods between the region and the rest of Russia, citing guidelines from the European Commission. The restrictions have also affected road traffic into the exclave, according to Kaliningrad officials. Both Vilnius and the EU insist that the restrictions do not amount to a “blockade” of the exclave.

Moscow, however, has unequivocally branded Vilnius’ move as an “economic blockade” of Kaliningrad Region, stating that it violated the country’s international obligations to ensure the uninterrupted transit of goods to the exclave. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that Vilnius’ decision was “unprecedented” and in “violation of anything and everything.”

The head of Russia’s Security Council, Nikolay Patrushev, warned that the “blockade” might invoke a response from Moscow that would “have a serious negative impact on the people of Lithuania.”

“Of course, Russia will respond to hostile actions. Appropriate measures are in the works, and will be adopted in the near future,” Patrushev told reporters during a visit to Kaliningrad on Tuesday.

[RT] 2022-04-26: Russia moving closer to a gold standard – official

 Original article can be found here:

https://www.rt.com/business/554553-russia-ruble-gold-standard/

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Moscow is working on linking the price of the ruble to bullion and other commodities, security council says

© Getty Images / KTDESIGN

Russian experts are working on a project to create a two-loop monetary and financial system in the country, Secretary of the Security Council Nikolay Patrushev said on Tuesday, in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

He explained that the project involves the provision of the Russian currency with both gold and a range of goods representing a currency value. As a result, the ruble exchange rate would correspond to its real purchasing power parity, he said.

To ensure the sovereignty of any national financial system, it is necessary that its means of payment have intrinsic value and price stability, and is not tied to the dollar, Patrushev said.

Another important condition for Russian economic security is the restructuring of its economy based on modern technologies, he added.

Read more

 Gold-backed ruble could be a game-changer (INTERVIEW)

“We are not against a market economy … but … the West allows other countries to be its partner only when it is beneficial for it,” Patrushev stressed, noting that Russia’s development should be based on its internal potential.

On March 25, the Bank of Russia announced a fixed price for buying gold with rubles. It set a price of 5,000 rubles ($59 at the time) for a gram of gold.

The security secretary also stressed that Washington was trying to solve its problems at the expense of the rest of the world, thereby creating a “human-induced global crisis.” And its European allies would be the first to suffer from those actions, Patrushev said.

While the White House is discussing a possible default by Russia, the situation is such that “it’s time for them to declare their own default,” Patrushev said, pointing out that the US’ external debt has exceeded $30 trillion.