Russian President Vladimir Putin

2022 - 3 - 22

Putin demands 'unfriendly countries' pay for Russian gas in rubles (NPR)

President Vladimir Putin issued a new directive as he attempts to leverage Russia's in-demand fuel to counter a barrage of Western sanctions.

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In the Russia-Ukraine information war, propaganda master Vladimir ... (ABC News)

While Ukraine's celebrity President Volodymyr Zelenskyy harnesses the power of social media to win the information war, Russia's old-fashioned propagandist ...

And the truth is that it is our land. Both men may have been born in the Soviet Union, but only Mr Putin was old enough to remember its implosion. "He has to escalate in order to force the Ukrainians to capitulate. In his bid to install himself as Vladimir the Great, Mr Putin has walked the tightrope of wooing the West while strengthening Russia's status on the world stage. Many have played down the comparisons in recent years, but Mr Putin's speech last week, in which he called Russians who do not support the war "scum and traitors" and advocated a "self-purification" of the nation, has been described as his "most Stalinesque" diatribe yet. In 2005, he famously described the fall of the Soviet Union as "the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century", and in the years since he has tiptoed towards an all-out mission to revive those glory days. Our country. "We will protect our country. Our weapon is truth. If he was going to galvanise support from the West in the form of sanctions and military intelligence and weaponry, he needed to win the information war. As Mr Putin sent the full force of the Russian military across the border in late February, Mr Zelenskyy knew the odds were not in his favour. With the charisma of a TV star, the wardrobe of an action hero, and the social media strategy of a savvy influencer, Mr Zelenskyy is fighting — and winning — the information war.

Veteran Aid Of Russian President Vladimir Putin Quits Over Ukraine ... (10 News First)

A veteran envoy of President Vladimir Putin has resigned over the Ukraine war and left Russia with no intention to return, two sources say.

Putin advisors 'on edge' as Ukraine war turned into fiasco: expert (Business Insider)

Russian President Vladimir Putin's advisors are "on edge" as Russia's war with Ukraine has devolved into a debacle — with Russian troops met by stronger ...

"I've seen reports about units being destroyed and things of that nature," Edmonds said of the Russian army. Putin's forces have since intensified their assault on multiple Ukrainian cities, including bombing and shelling residential buildings and hospitals. Russian commanders are moving up towards the frontline in an attempt to restore momentum to the invasion of Ukraine according to western officials, said Gordon Corera, a BBC security correspondent, in a tweet. According to The Times, some in Putin's orbit have voiced dissent over the war, including a former Federal Security Service official who said Russia had "underestimated" Ukraine and a group of Russian military officers who said invading Ukraine would be "pointless and extremely dangerous" and threaten the future of Russia. "It looks like everybody is on edge," Andrei Soldatov, an author and expert on Russia's military and security services, told the news outlet in a report published Tuesday. - "It looks like everybody is on edge," the expert on Russia's military and security services said.

Senior adviser to Russian President Putin resigns in wake of ... (UPI.com)

Russian climate envoy Anatoly Chubais has resigned, the Kremlin confirmed Wednesday, marking the first senior adviser to President Vladimir Putin to leave ...

Chubais has not publicly indicated his reason for resigning. That would make Chubais the most senior Russian official to break with Putin over the war on Ukraine. Russia has cracked down on opposition to the war, arresting protesters and criminalizing speaking out against the military or spreading "false news" about the invasion, which Russia calls a "special military operation." March 23 (UPI) -- Russian climate envoy Anatoly Chubais has resigned, the Kremlin confirmed Wednesday, marking the first senior adviser to President Vladimir Putin to resign his post since the invasion of Ukraine.

Putin announces gas currency switch for 'unfriendly countries' (Aljazeera.com)

Rouble firms after Putin announcent that Russia would start selling its gas to 'unfriendly countries' in roubles.

A bondholder said the payment had been received. It had gained 3.5 percent to trade at 110.50 versus the euro. Putin said the government and central bank had one week to come up with a solution on how to move these operations to the Russian currency and that gas giant Gazprom would be ordered to make the corresponding changes to gas contracts. “Russia will continue, of course, to supply natural gas in accordance with volumes and prices … fixed in previously concluded contracts,” Putin said at a televised meeting with top government ministers. He said Russia would start selling gas to “unfriendly” countries in roubles, after a freeze on Russia’s assets by foreign nations had destroyed Moscow’s trust. The Russian rouble briefly leapt to a three-week high past 95 against the dollar on Wednesday in Moscow, before settling close to 100, after President Vladimir Putin said Russia would start selling its gas to “unfriendly countries” in roubles.

Putin wants 'unfriendly' countries to pay for Russian gas in roubles (Reuters)

Russia will seek payment in roubles for gas sold to "unfriendly" countries, President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday, and European gas prices soared on ...

According to Gazprom (GAZP.MM), 58% of its sales of natural gas to Europe and other countries as of Jan. 27 were settled in euros. But unlike the United States and Britain, EU states have not sanctioned Russia's energy sector. Deals with companies and individuals from those countries must be approved by a government commission. Russian gas accounts for some 40% of Europe's total consumption. Ukraine and Western allies call this a baseless pretext. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com European nations and the United States have imposed heavy sanctions on Russia since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24. It pared gains but stayed well below 100, closing at 97.7 against the dollar, down more than 22% since Feb. 24. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com The European Commission has said it plans to cut EU dependency on Russian gas by two-thirds this year and end its reliance on Russian supplies "well before 2030." Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com But Europe depends heavily on Russian gas for heating and power generation, and the European Union is split on whether to sanction Russia's energy sector.