Politics of Russia

Russia and Ukraine began fresh EU-brokered gas supply talks June 11, with Moscow extending a cut-off deadline to next week in the latest signs the worst East-West crisis in years may be easing.

Three-party gas negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and the European Union will continue on Tuesday in Brussels after the sides failed to reach an agreement on Monday.

The main issues are Ukraine's gas debt and the future prices. Gazprom has warned that if Kiev doesn't repay its USD 5.2B debt, it can stop the delivery.

Moscow, Kiev and Brussels will restart talks on Russian gas supplies today to try to resolve a dispute over price, a Russian energy ministry official said June 8.
 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel met Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time since the Ukraine crisis began in late 2013.

MOSCOW - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will pay a visit to Serbia on June 16-17, Alexander Lukashevich, spokesman for Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Thursday.

While in the Serbian capital, Lavrov will meet President Tomislav Nikolic, Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, and First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, Lukashevich said.

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin confirmed Wednesday preparations for a visit by his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov are under way.

Vigenin told Dnevnik.bg that no information had been officially given so far as the event was yet in the making and details could not be made public before having been settled.

World leaders urged Vladimir Putin on Wednesday to stop destabilising Ukraine or face further sanctions as they met without a Russian president for the first time since the 1990s.
      
Putin reached out a hand despite being banned from the Group of Seven summit following Russia's annexation of Crimea in March, saying that he was ready to meet Ukraine's president-elect.

Putin: U.S. conducts most aggressive, rigid policy

MOSCOW -- Russia is still ready for a dialogue with the United States, which is the best way to reach mutual understanding, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.

Gazprom plans to export 158.4 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas this year to Europe, including Turkey, down from 161.5 bcm shipped in 2013, the state-controlled company said on June 3.

Gazprom added that the average gas price it was charging its clients in Europe, including Turkey, was $387 per 1,000 cubic meters last year.

Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov has announced Moscow and Beijing are to jointly establish a rating agency.

Siluanov explained the new body will first be used for assessing bilateral Russian-Chinese projects, but could later provide services to third countries.