By AFP

MOSCOW: Russia hit again on Wednesday at US threats of direct sanctions towards President Vladimir Putin, saying strikes towards the Russian chief could be ineffective and damage efforts to decrease tensions over Ukraine.

Officers from France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine met for talks in Paris within the newest bid to ease a disaster sparked by fears that Moscow is making ready an invasion of its pro-Western neighbour. The West has warned Russia of extreme penalties if it does invade, and on Tuesday, Washington mentioned there could possibly be sanctions personally focusing on Putin.

Reacting to the information, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the threats as nugatory as a result of senior Russian officers are barred from holding belongings overseas. However such a transfer, he mentioned, would do severe injury to diplomatic makes an attempt to ease ratcheting tensions over Ukraine. “Politically, it isn’t painful, it is damaging,” Peskov instructed reporters.

The Kremlin has beforehand mentioned any US sanctions personally focusing on Putin could be akin to crossing a pink line, warning the transfer may end in a rupture of bilateral ties. US President Joe Biden mentioned Tuesday that any Russian navy assault on Ukraine would set off “monumental penalties” and will even “change the world”.

Excessive-tech export sanctions

Echoing Biden’s message, a senior US official described potential financial sanctions “with huge penalties” that will go far past measures carried out in 2014 after Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea area.

The official sai that new measures would come with restrictions on exports of high-tech US tools within the synthetic intelligence, quantum computing and aerospace sectors. Chopping Russia off from these applied sciences would hit Putin’s “strategic ambitions to industrialise his economic system fairly laborious”, the official mentioned.

The speaker of Russia’s decrease home mentioned Wednesday that Washington’s risk towards Putin confirmed the US “needs a loyal Russian president that it will probably management”. “America will not be blissful that below President Vladimir Putin, the Russian Federation has turn into robust and unbiased,” Vyacheslav Volodin wrote on social media.

A senior Russian lawmaker in the meantime referred to as on the Kremlin to arm pro-Russian separatists in japanese Ukraine saying “the Kyiv regime should be stopped.” Andrei Turchak, an official in Putin’s United Russia celebration, mentioned Russia “should present” weapons to “deter navy aggression clearly being ready by Kyiv.”

Throughout weeks of talks between Russian, US and European diplomats, Western leaders have repeatedly warned of far-reaching financial measures towards Moscow within the occasion of an assault.

The talks in Paris Wednesday are bringing collectively certainly one of Russia’s deputy prime ministers and a senior aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in addition to diplomatic advisors to French President Emmanuel Macron and German chief Olaf Scholz.

Negotiations thus far have did not ease tensions, although Washington and Moscow have agreed to maintain speaking. 

Russia to take ‘obligatory measures’

Russia has mentioned it expects this week to obtain written US responses to sweeping safety calls for Moscow made final 12 months that search to dramatically restrict NATO’s attain and capabilities in Japanese Europe and the ex-USSR.

Russia Overseas Minister Sergei Lavrov warned in an tackle to lawmakers Wednesday that Moscow would take “all obligatory measures” if it did not obtain constructive responses and if the West continued its “aggressive coverage”.

A senior Western diplomat mentioned later that NATO was near finalising its response, describing most of the Russian calls for as “unacceptable or unrealistic”. Nonetheless, the diplomat recognized areas the place NATO may “work on their issues”. 

Moscow has in the meantime introduced a spate of navy drills together with in Belarus, and mentioned Tuesday it might maintain contemporary workouts involving 6,000 troops close to Ukraine and throughout the Crimea area. As a part of separate naval workouts introduced this month, Russia warships entered the Barents Sea on Wednesday, the North Fleet mentioned in an announcement.

The West has accused Russia of massing some 100,000 troops alongside the Ukrainian border. Ukrainian Overseas Minister Dmytro Kuleba mentioned Wednesday that the variety of Russian troops “is inadequate for a full-scale offensive” however does pose “a direct risk” to Ukraine.

Fears of a Russian invasion observe on from Moscow’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014 and the seize by pro-Kremlin separatists of two self-proclaimed breakaway republics in Ukraine’s east. Greater than 13,000 folks have died within the combating between authorities forces and the pro-Russian rebels.

By Related Press

WASHINGTON: The monetary choices being thought-about to punish President Vladimir Putin if Russia invades Ukraine vary from the sweeping to the acutely private — from chopping Russia off from U.S. {dollars} and worldwide banking to slapping sanctions on a former Olympic gymnast reported to be Putin’s girlfriend.

Publicly, the USA and European allies have promised to hit Russia financially like by no means earlier than if Putin does roll his army into Ukraine. Leaders have given few laborious particulars to the general public, nevertheless, arguing it’s finest to maintain Putin himself guessing.

And weeks into the negotiations, it’s removed from clear that People have succeeded in attaining U.S. and European consensus on what sanctions might be imposed, and what would set off them.

A take a look at a few of the monetary actions into consideration:

SWIFT RETALIATION

For the U.S. and its European allies, chopping Russia out of the SWIFT monetary system, which shuffles cash from financial institution to financial institution across the globe, could be one of many hardest monetary steps they might take, damaging Russia’s financial system instantly and in the long run. The transfer might minimize Russia off from most worldwide monetary transactions, together with worldwide earnings from oil and fuel manufacturing, which in all accounts for greater than 40% of the nation’s income.

Allies on either side of the Atlantic additionally thought-about the SWIFT possibility in 2014, when Russia invaded and annexed Ukraine’s Crimea and backed separatist forces in japanese Ukraine. Russia declared then that kicking it out of SWIFT could be equal to a declaration of struggle. The allies — criticized ever after for responding too weakly to Russia’s 2014 aggression — shelved the concept.

Russia since then has tried to develop its personal monetary switch system, with restricted success.

The U.S. has succeeded earlier than in persuading the SWIFT system to kick out a rustic — Iran, over its nuclear program.

However kicking Russia out of SWIFT would additionally harm different economies, together with these of the U.S. and key ally Germany. U.S. lawmakers stated final week the Biden administration remains to be analyzing how unhealthy that impression could be. Annalena Baerbock, the international minister for Germany, requested by reporters concerning the proposed Russian SWIFT ban, appeared to precise doubts.

“The hardest stick gained’t at all times finally be probably the most clever sword,” Baerbock stated.

DOLLAR CLEARING

The USA already holds some of the highly effective monetary weapons to wield in opposition to Putin if he invades Ukraine — blocking Russia from entry to the U.S. greenback.

{Dollars} nonetheless dominate in monetary transactions world wide, with trillions of {dollars} in play every day.

Transactions in U.S. {dollars} finally are cleared by way of the Federal Reserve or by way of U.S. monetary establishments. Crucially for Putin, which means international banks have to have the ability to entry to the U.S. monetary system to settle greenback transactions.

The flexibility to dam that entry provides the USA the power to inflict monetary ache nicely past its borders. Beforehand, the U.S. has suspended monetary establishments from greenback clearing for allegedly violating sanctions in opposition to Iran, Sudan and different nations.

Biden indicated to reporters that chopping off Russia’s and Russians’ capability to deal in {dollars} was one of many choices the U.S. was finding out. Not like the SWIFT possibility and the opposite monetary measures, it is one the U.S. might do by itself. Many Russians and Russian corporations could be stymied in finishing up even probably the most routine transactions, like making payroll or shopping for issues, as a result of they’d don’t have any entry to the U.S. banking system.

EXPORT CONTROLS

White Home press secretary Jen Psaki has confirmed that the U.S. is contemplating imposing export controls — probably chopping off Russia from the excessive tech that helps warplanes and passenger jets fly and makes smartphones sensible, together with the opposite software program and superior digital gear that make the trendy world run.

That might embrace including Russia to probably the most restrictive group of nations for export management functions, along with Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria, officers stated.

That may imply that Russia’s capability to acquire built-in circuits, and merchandise containing built-in circuits, could be severely restricted, due to the worldwide dominance of U.S. software program, know-how and gear. The impression might lengthen to plane avionics, machine instruments, smartphones, sport consoles, tablets and televisions.

Such sanctions might additionally goal crucial Russian trade, together with its protection and civil aviation sectors, which might hit Russia’s high-tech ambitions, whether or not in synthetic intelligence or quantum computing.

Like a few of the different penalties into consideration, U.S. export restrictions would danger motivating companies to search for options in different nations, together with China.

BOND MARKETS

The Biden administration restricted Russia’s capability to borrow cash by banning U.S. monetary establishments from shopping for Russian authorities bonds instantly from state establishments final yr. However the sanctions didn’t goal the secondary market, leaving this as a attainable subsequent step.

NORDSTREAM 2 NATURAL GAS PIPELINE

Republicans and Democrats within the Congress fought Russia’s new Nord Stream 2 pure fuel pipeline to Germany for years, arguing it could assist Russia use its management of the fuel provide as leverage to realize its coverage goals in Europe. Rival payments in Congress would sanction the pipeline’s operators — Republicans wish to impose the sanctions straight away, however Democrats provided that Russia invades Ukraine.

The Biden administration beforehand has held off from that degree of sanctions, to keep away from getting crossways with ally Germany.

German officers say blocking operation of the pipeline if Russia strikes in to Ukraine could be “on the desk” if there’s an invasion — however that is so far as they’ve gone publicly.

GOING AFTER THE OLIGARCHS … AND A REPORTED GIRLFRIEND

One of the vital-used sanctions techniques by the U.S. is sanctioning the rapid circles of leaders, their households, and army and civilian circles. Putin and his family and friends might face that as nicely, together with Russia’s highly effective enterprise oligarchs, and its banks.

Sweeping laws by Indiana Republican Rep. Jim Banks, co-sponsored by almost 40 different Home Republicans, would pile on sanctions even earlier than any additional Russian invasion of Ukraine, from the SWIFT cutoff to the Nord Stream penalties.

Additionally they would urge consideration of concentrating on many in Russia’s higher echelon with sanctions.

That features Putin’s household and a lady reported to be Putin’s romantic curiosity, Alina Kabaeva, who gained Olympic gold in 2004 as a gymnast.

By PTI

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Russia are in talks to finalise the plan for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s first go to to the nation this yr, based on a media report.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has already prolonged a proper invitation to President Putin.

He reiterated the invitation to Putin throughout his latest telephonic dialog with the Russian president.

The 2 leaders are additionally anticipated to fulfill in Beijing subsequent month on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics.

The go to of the Russian president was being mentioned by the 2 sides for the final two years however couldn’t materialise due to a wide range of causes together with the Covid-19 pandemic, officers conversant in the event advised The Categorical Tribune on Sunday.

The seemingly go to of President Putin would be the fruits of years of efforts by two sides to open a brand new chapter of their ties that have been marred by the Chilly Battle rivalry.

Moscow additionally desires that there have to be ‘huge ticket tasks’ or different initiatives that the Russian president would announce when he lastly undertakes the journey to Pakistan, the report mentioned.

Nevertheless, diplomatic sources mentioned Putin wished to undertake the go to when he had ‘one thing huge to promote’.

With the signing of the Pakistan Steam Fuel Pipeline settlement, the prospects of Putin visiting Pakistan have brightened considerably.

Pakistan is eager that President Putin inaugurates the groundbreaking of the multibillion-dollar fuel pipeline venture, which could kick off later this yr.

Pakistan desires Russian firms to put the pipeline from Karachi in Sindh province to Kasur in Punjab province.

The North-South Fuel Pipeline, which has now been renamed as Pakistan Steam Fuel Pipeline, is a flagship venture that the 2 nations intend to undertake ever since they determined to bury their Chilly Battle rivalry and enter into a brand new period of bilateral ties.

The settlement was initially signed in 2015 however due to doable US sanctions on the Russian firms and different points, the work on the 1,122km-long pipeline couldn’t be began.

Nevertheless, the 2 sides lastly crossed these obstacles and signed an amended settlement that may now give 74% stakes within the pipeline to Pakistan.

Earlier, the pipeline was to be constructed fully by Russia underneath the constructed, function and switch mannequin.

The venture will price round USD 2.25 billion.

As soon as full, the pipeline will assist tackle the scarcity of fuel in Punjab.

The LNG that Pakistan now imports might be re-gasified by way of this proposed pipeline.

Officers conversant in the event mentioned the venture not solely had financial however strategic significance for Pakistan.

They mentioned Pakistan wished to broaden ties with Russia as a part of its efforts to diversify its international coverage choices.

In April final yr, Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Islamabad after a spot of virtually 9 years.

Through the go to, he conveyed a message to Pakistani management on behalf of President Putin that Moscow was keen to increase all doable assist to Islamabad.

The 2 nations will not be simply exploring choices to deepen financial ties, however Russia can also be eager to promote arms to Pakistan, one thing it prevented up to now due to India’s opposition.

The 2 nations have already been holding common joint army workouts since 2016 in one other signal of deepening ties between Moscow and Islamabad.

Moreover, the 2 nations additionally share the identical view on key regional and worldwide points together with Afghanistan, based on the Categorical Tribune.

By Related Press

MOSCOW: Russia’s prime diplomat on Monday angrily rejected the U.S. allegations that it was making ready a pretext to invade Ukraine as Russian troops have remained concentrated close to the border.

The White Home stated Friday that U.S. intelligence officers had concluded that Russia had already deployed operatives to rebel-controlled japanese Ukraine to hold out acts of sabotage there and blame them on Ukraine in a “false-flag operation” to create a pretext for potential invasion.

Chatting with reporters on Monday, Russian Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed the U.S. declare as “whole disinformation.”

He reaffirmed that Russia expects a written response this week from the U.S. and its allies to Moscow’s request for binding ensures that NATO won’t embrace Ukraine or another ex-Soviet nations, or station its forces and weapons there.

Washington and its allies firmly rejected Moscow’s calls for throughout final week’s Russia-U.S. negotiations in Geneva and a associated NATO-Russia assembly in Brussels, which had been held as an estimated 100,000 Russian troops with tanks and different heavy weapons are massed close to Ukraine in what the West fears could be a prelude to an invasion.

A delegation of U.S. senators is visiting Ukraine to emphasise the U.S. help for the nation.

“Our bipartisan congressional delegation sends a transparent message to the worldwide group: america stands in unwavering help of our Ukrainian companions to defend their sovereignty and within the face of persistent Russian aggression,” Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat, stated in a press release.

Talking Monday on a go to to Kyiv, German Overseas Minister Annalena Baerbock warned that “any additional escalation would carry a excessive value for the Russian regime — financial, political and strategic” and emphasised the necessity to proceed negotiations.

“We’re ready to have a severe dialogue with Russia, as a result of diplomacy is the one technique to defuse this extremely harmful scenario in the mean time,” she stated.

Baerbock stated Germany has provided to ship cybersecurity specialists to Ukraine to assist examine final week’s cyberattacks, which Ukrainian authorities blamed on Russia. On the identical time, she famous that Germany hasn’t modified its refusal to offer it with weapons.

“We made clear that we’ll do the whole lot to keep away from escalating the disaster,” she stated.

Ukrainian officers have warned that Russia might launch an assault from varied instructions, together with from the territory of its ally Belarus.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has more and more relied on the Kremlin’s help amid Western sanctions over a brutal crackdown on home protests, stated that Russia and Belarus will maintain huge navy drills subsequent month.

Lukashenko stated the maneuvers might be performed on Belarus’ western border and in addition within the nation’s south the place it borders Ukraine.

Russia has denied having plans to assault its neighbor and in flip accused the Ukrainian management of hatching plans to make use of drive to reclaim management of rebel-held territories. Ukrainian authorities have denied it.

Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula after the ouster of Ukraine’s Moscow-friendly chief and in 2014 additionally threw its weight behind a separatist insurgency in japanese Ukraine. Greater than 14,000 folks have been killed in almost eight years of preventing between the Russia-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces within the nation’s industrial heartland referred to as Donbas.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Moscow will take unspecified “military-technical measures” if the West stonewalls its calls for.

Deputy Overseas Minister Sergei Ryabkov, who led the Russian delegation on the talks with the U.S. in Geneva, stated final week that he would “neither affirm nor exclude” the potential for Russia sending navy belongings to Cuba and Venezuela if the U.S. and its allies don’t curtail their navy actions on Russia’s doorstep. U.S. nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan has dismissed the feedback as bluster.

Requested Monday about the potential for Russian missile deployment to Cuba and Venezuela, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov advised reporters that “Russia is considering how to make sure its safety within the context of the present scenario.”