The biggest world oil companies doubt the USA and Europe courage to organize a real attack on Russian energy sector.
Christian Science Monitor.
Two agreements are mentioned in the article, which were signed between ExxonMobil, BP and Rosneft in May. The first agreement between ExxonMobil and Rosneft extends their partnership to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal on Russia’s pacific coast. The second agreement between BP and Rosneft is about exploring oil in the Volga-Urals region. The signing of the agreement occurred during a ceremony at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. The oil majors attended despite pressure from the White House to boycott the event. ‘By defying the White House, the oil majors salvaged what would have otherwise been an embarrassing event for the Kremlin.’ Nick Cunningham points out. French oil giant Total S.A. also signed an agreement with Lukoil – Russia’s second largest oil company – to explore for shale oil and gas.“My message to Russia is simple – business as usual,” Total’s chief executive Christophe de Margerie said at the event.
www.csmonitor.com
Der Standard:
Austrian oil and gas company OMV had signed a memorandum of understanding to build a spur of the South Stream gas pipeline to Austria. ‘It is hardly to say that the dependence on Russia has decreased.’ Rausher comments. ‘In the Ministry of Economic Affairs says that Austria is reluctant to impose sanctions on Russia as it might hit Austrian economy. Nobody in the EU needs the all-out economic war, but to be under control of Putin is also counterproductive.
derstandard.at
Yuzhmash keeps contracts with Russia for business reasons. The Globe and Mail: The plant of “Yuzhmash”, whose full name is the Southern Machine-building Plant, highlights the importance of defence ties between Moscow and Kiev for both sides. ‘In quiet defiance of a promise by Kiev’s pro-European government to cut arms ties with Moscow, a state-owned defense facility in eastern Ukraine has stated to work around the clock to fill every Russian order it gets.’ The Globe and Mail writes. ‘Not only are companies like Yuzhmash dependent on contracts with Russia, but their cooperation has also been key to Russia’s own multi-billion dollar military modernization – and Russian President Vladimir Putin is loath to lose this.’ the article says. Yuzhmash, which produces rockets for some of Russia’s most powerful missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missile Satan, said it was keeping its contracts with Russia solely for business reasons.
www.theglobeandmail.com
EU hopes Moscow “will use its influence on the well-armed separatists”, Berlin does not want to impose sanctions on Russia. Die Presse informs that EU leaders call for Russia to cooperate with president-elect Petro Poroshenko. Brussels expects Moscow to continue troop withdrawal from Ukrainian borders and to use its influence on the well-armed separatists to de-escalate the conflict in Ukraine. According to the official statement of EU leaders, Russia needs to stop separatists with weapon moving into Ukraine . Though they do not mention about imposing new sanctions on Russia, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said they could turn back to their decision from 21 March, when triple sanctions had been introduced to Kremlin. Answering the question whether the crisis in Ukraine after presidential election have been put to and end, she replied “Definitely, not.”
/diepresse.com
German diplomat Wolfgang Ischinger, the OSCE’s negotiator for Ukraine, calls for the next international conference in Geneva to resolve the conflict between two states.
Deutsche Welle:
‘I certainly hope the signals that we’re all picking up not only from Washington, but also from Moscow, appear to demonstrate that there is a willingness on both sides to kick-start the overdue discussion about further reductions in strategic launchers,’ he tells in an interview Deutsch Welle in Berling. Ischinger thinks Moscow could play a big role in easing the situation if it states it’s willingness to talk to newly elected president.
/www.dw.de
Ambassador of Ukraine to the OSCE Igor Prokopchuk: EU had to give an immediate response to Russia.
Die Presse:
Prokopchuk thinks that it is impossible to hold negotiations with separatists. ‘An armed people who committed crimes are terrorists. We do not conduct talks with terrorists.’ He has no doubt that separatists act with Russia’s support. ‘They deprive people from voting and it is a human rights violation which couldn’t be left without aftereffect. EU should have given an adequate response immediately.’
/diepresse.com
Russian aggression towards Ukraine – Western media summing up: Ukraine does not have a hope for stability.
The Times.
‘A deadly gamble on Putin’s restraint’ is the title of the article in The Times. ‘Petro Poroshenko has launched his presidency with a gamble that will probably define it. He believes that even dozens of Russian deaths in the battle for Donetsk will not provoke a Russian invasion because Vladimir Putin still wants a client state on his western flank, not a war zone.’ observer Giles Whittell thinks. The journalist thinks that the worst scenario could be if ‘Kremlin decides that Poroshenko has gone too far then Russian and pro-Russian well-armed groups will increase tensions in the eastern part of Ukraine to delegitimized newly elected regime before it becomes stronger. ‘ the article informs.
/www.thetimes.co.uk
Putin needs to wait until the West becomes tired of Ukraine.
Los Angeles Times
The author states that now it is all in the hands of Poroshenko. He needs to negotiate a new relationship with Putin while also meeting the demands of a Ukrainian electorate that still wants the country to move toward the West. Russian President ‘has played an old-fashioned game of international brinkmanship masterfully — and so far, he’s coming out ahead.’ Doyle MacManus states. The author describes ‘the score card’: Putin has pocketed Crimea, he has forced the European Union to put the brakes on Ukraine’s progress toward membership in the Western economic club, he has kept most of Russia’s business with the West intact and signed a big new natural gas deal with China. “Even Poroshenko is saying it’s time for normalization with Moscow,” Fiona Hill of the Brookings Institution noted. “He knows who’s going to call the shots over Ukraine’s future: not Brussels, not Washington. It’s Moscow.”
/www.latimes.com
ELECTIONS IN UKRAINE. “We will put it to the end” first interview with Poroshenko and Klitschko.
Bild:
Vitalii Klitschko does not see something unusual in the fact that after the protests on the Maidan, such a large majority of the people have voted for an oligarch as president. “That is a historical outcome,” Klitschko assures. “Poroshenko is a successful businessman; why should that speak against him? He fought with all of us on the Maidan, his TV station covered the events 24/7 and his Roshen Group was slapped by Russia with import embargoes because of his commitment. Poroshenko wants to change the Ukraine just as much as I do!” “I have not yet been sworn in as president and until then I cannot give any commands,” Poroshenko continues. “We will no longer allow terrorists to kidnap people and shoot them, to occupy buildings and turn the law upside down. We will put an end to this horror – here true war is being carried out against our country.” adds Poroshenko. According to the new elected president, the army is his top priority. “In a time of war, we urgently need to spend more to better equip the soldiers.”
/www.bild.de
Poroshenko has got a flawless victory.
Tribune de Geneve:
‘Chocolate King’ Petro Poroshenko is the first Ukrainian president who wins elections in the Eastern, Souther and Western parts of Ukraine,” Swiss Tribune de Geneva writes in the article entitled “Is Poroshenko a president of national unity?” “It sounds as the flawless victory of Petro Poroshenko legitimizes Ukrainian’s needs for unity and readiness to act,” newspaper summarizes. Financial Times writes in its editorial article on Wednesday that Petro Porosheno needs to use his success at the presidential elections to return peace to Ukraine. The newspaper from London advices Poroshenko to disarm ‘Right Sector’ organisation, which helps to oust the former president Yanukovich. It also advices to flush the separatists from their bastion.
/www.ft.com
Ceremony in Normandy: Merkel saves Puting from political isolation.
Deutsche Welle:
German Chancellor Angela Merkel doesn’t mind sitting next to Russian Presindent at the ceremony to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy.
//www.dw.de
Bild:
Nobody wants to stay near Putin. Thus, several Heads of State and Government (including U.S. President Barack Obama, Queen Elizabeth II) have previously indicated that they do not want to sit next to Putin or to make a final photo. Chancellor’s Office thinks that the distance with Putin should be demonstrated, the article points out.
//www.bild.de
