Romania
Tuesday 20 August 2019
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![Sputnik Serbia]()
Sputnik Serbia
Russian government-sponsored web portal
“The persecution of the SPC [Serbian Orthodox Church] in North Macedonia, as well as the latest heightened tensions and pressure on the SPC diocese in Montenegro can be interpreted as part of the wider strategy of the West to counter Orthodoxy.”
Read more...NATO is no enemy of Orthodoxy as several NATO member states are predominantly Christian Orthodox. The Orthodox churches of Montenegro and North Macedonia have been seeking independence even before the break up of Yugoslavia. -
![Russia's Black Sea Fleet]()
Russia's Black Sea Fleet
“The Ukrainian Navy’s claims that the Black Sea Fleet’s Smetlivy patrol vessel entered the closed area of the Sea Breeze 2019 exercise are untrue.”
Read more...Whether or not the Russian guided-missile destroyer Smetlivy sailed into a zone being used for multinational naval live-fire drills, the ship was present in the vicinity of the drills. Russia is demonstratively aggressive toward NATO’s presence in the Black Sea. -
![Maria Zakharova]()
Maria Zakharova
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokespersons
"Can NATO bring anyone closer? History does not know any such examples. What I can see is that NATO is adding new members, who are now being pulled in by various methods.”
Read more...NATO membership is based on invitation and approval by existing member states. Countries must meet certain standards to be eligible. -
![Vladimir Putin]()
Vladimir Putin
President of the Russian Federation
“Russia will be forced to create and deploy types of weapons that can be used not only for those territories from which there will be a corresponding direct threat to us, but also for those territories where there are decision-making centers on the use of missile systems that threaten us.”
Read more...In his speech to the Duma, President Vladimir Putin virtually admitted Russia has deployed intermediate-range missiles that the U.S. and NATO say violate the INF treaty. His threat against Washington is not new. Putin said early in 2018 Russia had developed missiles to strike the U.S. -
![Vladimir Putin]()
Vladimir Putin
President, Russian Federation
“We proceed from the premise that Russia will not place intermediate-range or shorter-range weapons … either in Europe or in other regions of the world as long as U.S. weapons of this kind do not appear in corresponding regions of the world.”
Read more...Despite the U.S. withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed Russia won’t deploy such weapons “in Europe” if the U.S. does the same. There is evidence Russia already has done so. -
![Talal Naji]()
Talal Naji
Deputy General Secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
“We love and are proud of President Vladimir Putin, because he is a friend of Palestine and not only Palestine, but all the people who are seeking freedom. President Putin succeeded in restoring Russia’s authority in the international arena and forced all to respect Russia.”
Read more...Independent polls show trust and respect for Russia and its president has significantly decreased globally. Under Vladimir Putin’s leadership, Russia has suppressed insurgencies in Chechnya and in Syria. Moscow has lost its membership or voting privileges in multiple international organizations. -
![Nikola Mirkovic]()
Nikola Mirkovic
French-Serbian political analyst
“The way the referendum is formulated is scam in itself… There is a strong opposition in Macedonia now; the President has said he’s against the referendum, so it will change a lot… What a lot of the Balkan countries are expecting is that by entering the European Union, they will get subsidies… I think most of them couldn’t care less about NATO, as it doesn’t have a good image over there.”
Read more...Contrary to the author’s claims, a majority of Macedonians supports Euro-Atlantic integration and joining the EU and NATO. -
![Russian foreign ministry]()
Russian foreign ministry
“Apparently, our American colleagues do not want to present any evidence of the ‘Russian cyber interference,’ which they supposedly have, and that is to avoid shame. There is not and there cannot be any [such evidence].”
Read more...Russia’s interference is detailed in multiple, publicly-available cyber security reports. The shuttered internet domains are connected to Fancy Bear, which the reports say has compromised and attacked Western leaders, governments, political groups and private corporations. -
![Semyon Slepakov]()
Semyon Slepakov
Russian TV Comedy host and singer
“Russia is ready to host the World Cup. The stadiums are open. The cops are polyglots. That is a quick recap of many years of work.We're not going to lose face in front of the planet. It’s not for nothing we terrified [the planet] with a missile. In general, all is well. But there is only one “but”: Our team, frankly, is sh-t.”
Read more...The International Federation of Football Association, the world soccer authority better known as FIFA, ranked Russia’s national team #70 and labeled it a “worst mover.” -
![Anatoly Antonov]()
Anatoly Antonov
Russian Ambassador to the U.S.
“After receiving this information I’ve expressed a strong protest regarding today’s unlawful actions by the United States of America and I emphasized that to this day there is not a single bit of evidence of Russia’s interference in the investigation of the case (Skripal) as such, as well as of Russia’s involvement in this tragedy that took place in Salisbury.”
Read more...The United States has acted in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, to which Russia is a signatory, and joins Britain and other allies in accusing Russia the poisoning of its former spy. -
![Igor Shuvalov]()
Igor Shuvalov
First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia
“We have not yet discussed this issue in the cabinet”
Read more...As the number of retirees overtakes the number of Russians in the labor market, there is broad discussion in society and in government on an increase in the retirement age. -
![Anatoly Antonov]()
Anatoly Antonov
Russian Ambassador to the U.S.
“We understand full well what the Americans and NATO members are doing. They are shifting [warships in and out of the Black Sea]. As a matter of fact, this is so-called shuttle presence. It is no secret that such activity, provocative activity, became more obvious after 2014, following the events that resulted in Crimea’s return to the Russian harbor.”
Read more...The U.S. and NATO allies have indeed rotated warships in the Black Sea. But they have done so not to provoke Russia but to show support for allies and partners after Russia annexed Crimea and embarked on the unprecedented naval buildup on the peninsula.
