Section: The Guardian (The United Kingdom)
Vladimir Putin: west has tried to contain Russia for decades
President uses state of the nation speech to attack west as rouble slides under pressure of economic sanctions over UkraineVladimir Putin has accused the west of trying to contain and subvert Russia “for decades, if not centuries”, in a fierce and uncompromising attack during his state of the nation speech.Analysts were curious to see whether the...
Ukraine nuclear power plant fault adds to electricity shortages
Country forced to introduce power cuts amid short circuit at Zaporizhya facility and falling coal suppliesA short circuit at a nuclear plant in Ukraine posed no threat but had added to electricity shortages at a time when the country is struggling to keep the lights on, an official has said.The electrical fault at the Zaporizhya plant in the...
‘Kalashnikov: promoting peace and calm’ – notorious gun gets a makeover
Russian manufacturer of assault rifle that became the weapon of choice for guerrillas around the world has a slick rebrandingEquipped with a shiny new logo, shrugging off US sanctions and claiming its guns are “protecting peace”, the Russian weapons manufacturer Kalashnikov launched a major rebranding drive in Moscow on Tuesday.Kalashnikov...
Russia to fall into recession amid sanctions and plunging oil price
Economics ministry cuts its GDP growth forecast of 1.2% in 2015 to a 0.8% fall amid financial fallout over Ukraine and falling commodity pricesRussia will fall into recession next year under the weight of western sanctions imposed over Ukraine and lower oil prices, the economy ministry warned.Gross domestic product is now expected to shrink by...
Russia blames EU as it abandons plans for South Stream gas pipeline
Putin says EU’s opposition scuppered project but Russian leader outlines plan to pump more gas to Turkey on visit to AnkaraRussia is scrapping the South Stream natural gas pipeline project and may cooperate with Turkey on building a gas hub for southern Europe, President Vladimir Putin said on Monday.He said Russia could not implement the...
Finland set to agree joint nuclear venture with Russian energy company
Alexander Stubb, Finnish PM, rejects suggestions that by backing Rosatom’s involvement he is bowing to MoscowFinland’s parliament is poised to give the go-ahead to a controversial joint venture with the Russian state-owned energy company Rosatom to build a new nuclear power plant in the north of the country.The green light will come...
Chernobyl’s eerie desolation revealed by camera mounted on drone
British documentary maker Danny Cooke’s video Postcards from Pripyat, is first time area has been filmed from the airA camera mounted on a drone has revealed the eerie post-apocalyptic landscape of a town abandoned after the nuclear power station at Chernobyl exploded nearly three decades ago.The British documentary maker Danny Cooke has...
Russia exerts influence in France with tree diplomacy – and loans to Le Pen
After Paris halted delivery of warships in protest over Ukraine, Moscow has hit back with a Christmas tree and €9m to the FNThe Chinese have panda diplomacy. The Russians, it appears, prefer trees.France may have just announced it is delaying the delivery of two warships to Russia in a protest over the crisis in Ukraine, but the French...
Ukraine’s new parliament sits for first time
War in east of country visible in makeup of Rada, with dozens of men in fatigues walking the corridors as newly elected MPsParamilitary commanders in fatigues, investigative journalists and a fighter pilot absent because she is in a Russian jail are among the members of Ukraine’s new parliament, which sat for the first time on Thursday,...
The west is letting Putin get his way on Ukraine | Ian Birrell
Since Russia annexed Crimea, the response of western leaders has been gesture politics of the worst kindUkraine’s new parliament was sworn in today. More than 400 members took their oaths, but 27 seats remain vacant – the annexation of Crimea, plus the war in eastern Ukraine, prevented deputies being elected there.It is just one year since...
