Russia and Georgia have met for reconciliation talks in Prague to bring the two countries in the wake of the 2008 August war.

• March 4, 2013

A Snapshot of Key Developments in the External Relations of the Russian Gas Sector
by Jack Sharples, EGF Associate Researcher on the external dimensions of Russian gas

Key points:

• Gazprom Gazprom expects gas prices for its European exports to fall by an average of 14 percent in 2013, as it prepares to grant $4.7bn in price discounts over the next year.
• Ukrainian wholesale gas importer Naftogaz refuses to pay a $7bn bill from Gazprom for unused gas in 2012, and challenges the take or pay terms of the Naftogaz-Gazprom contract.
• Nord Stream AG receives a construction permit for the pipeline’s final onshore German section, although plans for Nord Stream’s expansion are already facing delays.
• Gazprom increases its estimates of the cost of South Stream, with plans for extra investment in the pipeline’s onshore Russian section.
• Gazprom takes a final investment decision on its Vladivostok LNG terminal, with the Asia-Pacific region being the target market, while yet another meeting with China’s CNPC concludes without the announcement of concrete progress towards finalising Russian gas supplies to China.
• Gazprom’s export monopoly comes under further pressure, as Rosneft President, Igor Sechin, calls for the liberalisation of Russia’s gas exports.
• Celebrations of Gazprom’s 20th anniversary are overshadowed by the passing of its former-Chairman, Rem Vyakhirev.

• March 4, 2013

Russia may agree to make a concession to Ukraine regarding clearance of movements of the Black Sea Fleet units outside their bases, although no final agreement has yet been achieved on this matter, the Dzerkalo Tyzhnia Ukraine weekly has reported citing sources familiar with the process of negotiations.

• March 2, 2013

"Tactical nuclear weapons that are constantly threatening the United States must become the factor that will deter large-scale aggression. Holding it at gunpoint - this is the deterrent," General Colonel in reserve, MGIMO Professor, Leonid Ivashov, said in an interview with Pravda.Ru editor-in-chief Inna Novikova.

• March 1, 2013

Vozrozhdeniye CJSC (Russia) has signed a new contract for its operations in Turkmenistan, the official Turkmen source said.

• February 28, 2013

This time will be different. That is the word from U.S.  Secretary of State John Kerry to Syrian rebels who have become so frustrated by empty promises of help to overthrow President Bashar Assad that they had threatened to boycott a Thursday meeting in Rome of the Friends of Syria alliance.

• February 27, 2013

ISSUE # 06
02/25/2013
Ukraine has until May to show substantial progress in meeting conditions mentioned by the EU in the December conclusions of the EU Council of Ministers, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency has quoted the European External Action Service as saying on 21 February. READ MORE

• February 27, 2013

Will sophisticated diplomacy and shrewd lobbying make the EU sign an Association Agreement, with Kyiv?

• February 26, 2013