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President Joe Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin Tuesday afternoon, expressing U.S. objections to a variety of Kremlin actions, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday.

The Russian pipe-laying ship “Fortuna” has defied US sanctions on Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and resumed its work on the project in waters off Denmark…

 

The US is set to impose sanctions on the Russian pipe-laying vessel “Fortuna” for its involvement in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project. Work resumed on the project late last year despite threats from the US.

Russian foreign minister argued that Israel should notify Russia about security threats in Syria rather than going after them. Israel’s policy is to notify Russia before attacking such threats.

Russia said Friday it will withdraw from an international treaty allowing observation flights over military facilities following the U.S. exit from the pact.

William Burns, a well-known figure in diplomatic circles around the world, is President-elect Joe Biden’s choice to lead the CIA, a selection likely to be embraced by the rank and file at the nation’s premier spy agency.

James W. Carden tells IPA’s Sam Husseni that, “As Biden’s undersecretary of political affairs, Nuland would have immense influence over policy and personnel. Progressives in Congress and their partners in the media, think tank world and among grassroots activists should join forces with the growing caucus of anti-interventionist Republicans on the Hill and vigorously oppose this nomination.”

Stepan Bandera led the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, which fought alongside Nazi Germany during the Second World War, killed thousands of Jews and Poles.

We will return on Monday December, 28.

Second in a series of on-line discussions sponsored by the Simone Weil Center for Political Philosophy. Panelists Nicolai Petro, Susannah Black, Paul Grenier, Matthew Dal Santo, Michael Martin, Vasily Shchipkov will consider what Russia’s past tells us about Russia today.  What is Russia? What in its tradition – despite, perhaps because of, its differences from our own – calls forth our respect?  What doesn’t?

While the greatness of Russian art, thought and literature is widely acknowledged, it is less often granted that Russia forms a distinct civilization. And yet, increasingly, this is what Russians themselves believe.  For some, the apotheosis of this civilization is the Eastern Orthodox church (Holy Rus); for others it is the Soviet experience, especially its victory over Nazi Germany. For still others, it is both. (And of course some Russians reject all such notions, including any distinctiveness.)

[Read more…] about Panel Discussion: Theo-Politics, Tragedy and Memory: Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020 Noon EST.

Biden’s picks for top administration slots are making clear that economic restrictions on countries like Iran, North Korea, China, Venezuela and Russia will remain an essential tool, even if they don’t like everything about the way Trump used them.

The former 2020 presidential candidate had become best known in recent years for his outspokenness of the Russia investigation. He repeatedly insisted that Russians colluded with the Trump campaign during the 2016 election, something Special Counsel Robert Mueller ultimately put to bed.

The Russian ambassador to the United States said there is still time to extend the Strategic Arms Control Treaty, due to expire in early February, even despite the upcoming presidential transition.

VOA speaks to Russian experts on the prospects for US-Russia relations under a Biden administration.

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States, we give thanks to Stephen Cohen for not only his work in the REEES field but for the generosity he, Katrina vanden Heuvel, and the Kat Foundation have shown to budding Russia scholars. We honor him today by publishing the testimonials of some of current and former students who have benefitted from Cohen Fellowships.

Happy Thanksgiving to our loyal readers and to our donors.

 

The Trump administration has officially withdrawn from the Open Skies Treaty, six months after starting the process to leave.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a greater threat to the world than the coronavirus pandemic, former ally of the leader and head of opposition Turkish Future party Ahmet Davutoglu said.

The AP report below shows yet again the reckless disregard the Trump administration continues to show for arms control and nuclear non-proliferation agreements.

A Vatican official challenged the security theory of nuclear deterrence as immoral at the United Nations this week and called for “genuine progress” toward complete nuclear disarmament.