INSIDE RUSSIA
Putin Signs Bill Ratifying Strategic Partnership Agreement Between Russia, Iran
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a bill that ratifies the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement between Russia and Iran, according to a relevant decree published on the legal information portal on Monday.
The agreement was signed on January 17 during the visit of Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian to Moscow.
According to the document, the parties strive to deepen and expand relations in all areas of mutual interest, strengthen cooperation in the field of security and defense, closely coordinate activities at the regional and global levels, which corresponds to a long-term, comprehensive and strategic partnership.
Russia Still Global Leader in Digitalization, Despite Restrictions – Foreign Ministry
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia confidently retains its leading global position in digitalization, despite the foreign attempts to hack its equipment, restrictions on technology transfer and sanctions, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin told Sputnik.
“Despite large-scale attempts to hack equipment, restrictions on technology transfer, and sanctions, Russia has not only ensured the integrity and security of critical information infrastructure, but also confidently maintains its leading global position in digitalization. Programs launched by the government to replace foreign information and communication technologies are yielding results,” Vershinin said.
Russia is ready to share with its partners the experience of protecting sovereignty in the information space, the deputy foreign minister said.
“[Russia] perhaps like no other in the world, has faced in recent years an unprecedented malicious campaign, pressure on domestic computer networks, and externally supervised computer crime,” Vershinin said.
PREVIEW: Putin to hold talks with visiting Omani Sultan Al Said
The Kremlin has announced that the two sides will focus on key areas of cooperation in the economic, financial, and cultural spheres as well as pressing international and regional issues.
MOSCOW, April 22. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold his first meeting ever with Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq Al Said on Tuesday.
Putin and Al Said held their only phone call on March 23, 2023, when the first bilateral contact between the two countries’ leaders took place since diplomatic relations were established between Russia and Oman. Al Said arrived in Moscow on Monday.
The Kremlin has announced that the two sides will focus on key areas of cooperation in the economic, financial, and cultural spheres as well as pressing international and regional issues. They may also discuss the Iranian nuclear program.
The Omani ambassador to Russia, Hamoud bin Salem Al Tuwaih, has said that the two delegations plan to sign 10 agreements, including on abolishing mutual visas for holders of regular passports, as well as a protocol on the establishment of a joint commission for trade-and-economic and technical cooperation.
The Omani sultan’s state visit is timed to coincide with the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The Russia-Oman talks come as Moscow has been restoring relations with Washington, with Russia and the United States discussing not only bilateral relations but also resolving the Ukraine conflict. Meanwhile, Oman has hosted several rounds of negotiations between Washington and Tehran on Iran’s nuclear program.
This will be Putin’s fourth meeting on the Middle East over the past week. Last Wednesday, the Russian leader met with former Gaza hostages, Alexander Trufanov and his family members. And on Thursday, Putin held talks in the Kremlin with the emir of Qatar and Iran’s top diplomat.
Russia must repay moral debt to residents of Donbass, Novorossiya
The president noted that restoration of Donbass and Novorossiya is a complex but gradually advancing process
MOSCOW, April 21. /TASS/. Residents of Donbass and Novorossiya made a resolute choice to return to their historical homeland, and now Russia must reciprocate by taking care of them, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with the heads of municipalities.
“We need to think about how to fulfill our duty to the people. Especially those who supported the return to their historical homeland, Russia. And, of course, we must respond in kind and support them. To resolve the problems that the territories face and that have been accumulating for decades,” he said.
He noted that restoration of Donbass and Novorossiya is a complex but gradually advancing process. There is a “huge program” for this.
“There is probably no other such large-scale regional program in Russia today. It is very important to implement all the planned resources properly, with proper quality and on time,” he said.
OUTSIDE RUSSIA
Putin praises legacy of Pope Francis
President Vladimir Putin has expressed heartfelt condolences and praised the legacy of Pope Francis following the pontiff’s death
President Vladimir Putin has expressed heartfelt condolences and praised the legacy of Pope Francis following the pontiff’s death, highlighting his efforts to foster dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Vatican, as well as his broader humanitarian contributions.
Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, died at the age of 88, a day after attending Easter Sunday Mass at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
“Pope Francis was held in great respect internationally as a devoted servant of the Christian faith, a wise religious leader and statesman, and a consistent defender of the high values of humanism and justice,” Putin wrote in a formal condolence message to Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church.
Putin also reflected on the symbolic timing of the Pope’s passing during Easter, which he described as significant in Orthodox Christian tradition, in response to a journalist’s question during a press engagement later on Monday.
“If God calls a person to heaven during Easter time, it is a special sign that that person has not lived his life in vain,” he said. “I think this is the case. The Pope has done a lot of good not only for his flock, but for the world at large.”
The Russian president recalled his personal relationship with Pope Francis, noting their multiple direct and indirect communications over the years. Putin highlighted the Pope’s “highly positive attitude towards Russia,” stating that this would not be forgotten. He further emphasized the pontiff’s role in promoting interfaith dialogue and international cooperation.
“Throughout the years of his pontificate, Pope Francis actively promoted the dialogue between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches, as well as constructive interaction between Russia and the Holy See,” he said, adding that he would “forever cherish” the memory of their conversations.
During his 12-year papacy, Francis worked to improve relations between the Catholic Church and other religious denominations, visiting the Arabian Peninsula and Iraq, and meeting with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in 2016 – the first such encounter in history. Putin met with Pope Francis three times, in 2013, 2015, and 2019, with their discussions typically focusing on international crises, religious cooperation, and humanitarian concerns.
Putin reacts to EU threats over Victory Day
Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised the bravery of European leaders who defy Brussels to visit Moscow for the May 9 celebration
Russian President Vladimir Putin has commended the courage of European leaders who have indicated they will travel to Moscow for events commemorating the 80th anniversary of victory in World War II, despite pressure on them from EU officials.
Last week, the bloc’s top diplomat and former Estonian prime minister, Kaja Kallas, warned the leaders of EU member and candidate states against flying to Russia to take part, recommending instead that they visit Kiev to show solidarity with Ukraine. Other EU officials have reportedly threatened to derail membership bids for candidate countries whose leaders defy Brussels on the matter.
Journalists asked Putin to comment on the reports after the All-Russian Municipal Service Award ceremony in Moscow on Monday.
“Those who are going to come to Russia have much more courage than those who are hiding behind someone’s back and trying to threaten others,” he replied.
“In this case, [threatening] those who are going to celebrate the historical merits of people who gave their lives in the fight against Nazism,” Putin said.
According to Kallas, participation in this year’s events in Moscow “will be not taken lightly.”
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, the only EU member state leader who has promised to attend, blasted the statement as outright “disrespectful.”
“Is Ms. Kallas’s warning a form of blackmail or a signal that I will be punished?” he wrote on X last week.
“The year is 2025, not 1939,” he added.
The president of EU candidate Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, similarly indicated that he would not change his plans in the face of pressure from Brussels.
“I have not changed my decision… Eight months ago, I announced my visit to Moscow, publicly,” he said last week, according to Serbian media.
Moscow has extended multiple invitations to this year’s landmark celebrations, including to the heads of China, India, and Brazil, as well as a number of other international leaders.
Victory Day is one of the most important national holidays in Russia. The event is celebrated annually on May 9 to mark the 1945 triumph of the USSR over Nazi Germany and its allies, and to honor the estimated 26.6 million deaths the Soviet Union suffered in World War II. Around 18 million were civilian deaths.
Russia will not abandon its other partners for sake of dialogue with US
“The United States, we welcome you. But you are not the only one. And we will see what becomes of the dialogue with you,” he added
- PETERSBURG, April 21. /TASS/. Moscow will not forget its other partners while resuming dialogue with the United States, a high-ranking Russian foreign ministry official said.
“We see that people are now expecting us to shove everyone else aside and jump into the arms of the Americans. Well, that’s the wrong approach. We shouldn’t ignore our other partners and those who are ready to cooperate with us for the sake of the Americans,” Alexander Alimov, director of the ministry’s multilateral humanitarian cooperation and cultural ties department, told TASS.
“The United States, we welcome you. But you are not the only one. And we will see what becomes of the dialogue with you,” he added.
He stressed that national interests are of top priority in Russia’s foreign policy. “Time will show whether our partners or non-partners to speak on these terms. The current US administration is demonstrating willingness. But this is laborious work. At least, I would say there is cautious optimism, as diplomats say,” Alimov noted. “As for cultural and humanitarian cooperation, it may go ahead of these things. And there are things the Americans are interested in.”
SPECIAL MILITARY OPERATION IN UKRAINE
Putin: Easter Truce Ends, Russia Will Reflect on Its Impact
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The fighting resumed after the Easter truce, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday.
The Easter truce announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin was in effect from 6:00 p.m. Moscow time (15:00 GMT) on Saturday until midnight from Sunday to Monday (21:00 GMT on Sunday). Putin said that he assumed that Ukraine would follow Russia’s example, but noted that Russian troops must be prepared to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations from the enemy.
“The fighting has resumed, we said this from the very beginning when we announced the truce,” Putin told reporters.
Russia has always respected truces and that is why it proposed such an idea, Putin said, adding that Moscow will reflect on the experience of declaring Easter truce.
Almost 5,000 violations of the Easter truce by the Ukrainian armed forces were recorded, but in general there was a decrease in activity, Vladimir Putin said.
“In general, we see a decrease in combat activity on the part of the enemy, this is true. These are assessments, including those of our group commanders. Nevertheless, there were almost 5,000 violations – 4,900. Six attacks and 90 attempted attacks by aircraft-type UAVs, I think 1,400 artillery shelling. But in general, there was still a decrease in activity,” Putin stressed.
Kiev is trying to seize the initiative on a truce and talk about expanding the scope of targets, Vladimir Putin added.
“Now we see that the Kiev regime is trying to intercept and talk about expanding the scope both in terms of time and targets,” Putin underscored.
Kiev’s Western handlers prompted its leadership not to reject the Easter truce initiative, Putin stressed.
On Sumy Strike: Kiev Turns Civilians Sites Into Military Targets
The proposal to refrain from strikes on Russian and Ukrainian civilian infrastructure facilities needs to be examined, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
“As for the proposal not to strike civilian infrastructure, this should be examined … We will analyze it and make a corresponding decision,” Putin told.
The Kiev regime uses civilian facilities for military purposes, the president said, adding that Russia’s strike on Sumy on April 15 targeted the building of the Sumy University, a civilian facility, which, however, was used by Ukrainian forces to host an award ceremony for those who committed crimes in Russia’s border regions.
“Those were the people whom we consider criminals, who should have received deserved retribution for what they have done in [Russia’s] border area, including in the Kursk Region, and they have faced this retribution,” the Russian leader added.
Kiev, together with foreign curators, tried to organize a test of missile systems at a civilian facility in the Odessa region, Russian President stressed.
“Quite recently, a few days ago, our armed forces struck in the Odessa region. This is a small town in the Odessa region, 82 kilometers [50 miles], in my opinion, from Odessa. So what is this target? Agricultural facilities, hangars, and agricultural enterprises. There, the Kiev authorities, together with foreign curators and assistants, organized and tried to organize not only the production, but also the testing of a new missile system. That is where we carried out a strike. Is this a civilian facility or not? It was civilian, but it was used for military purposes,” Putin told reporters.
INSIGHTS
Why is Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant’s Neutrality a No-Go?
The Trump administration reportedly mulls ‘neutral status’ for the Zaporozhye nuclear facility. Experts argue it’s “entirely unrealistic.” Here is why.
Security Vulnerability
“In addition to being a key infrastructure facility, it represents a vulnerability [for Russia] – one that the Americans and the Ukrainians want to create on the left bank of the Dnepr,” nuclear expert Alexey Anpilogov tells Sputnik.
Potential US-Ukraine Foothold
Apparently, the US could turn the nuclear plant into a “foothold that can later be used not only for the power station to generate electricity, but also as a place for troop accumulation.”
It Belongs to Russia. Period
The Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant is located in the Zaporozhye region, which joined Russia in 2022 after a referendum. From a legal standpoint and Russia’s interests, the neutrality of the facility is “unacceptable,” Anpilogov stresses.
Not Up For Discussion
In talks with the US, it was repeatedly emphasized by Russia that the nuclear plant’s territorial status or transfer to Ukraine is not up for discussion, the expert says.
Trump’s Maneuvers?
“US control over the Zaporozhye power plant is highly unlikely because Russia controls it. I think these all are only tactical maneuvers by the US,” professor Stevan Gajic from the Institute of European Studies in Belgrade tells Sputnik.
Will the US Leave Ukraine and EU in the Lurch?
The US wants out, while the Kiev regime, backed by the EU, pushes for NATO membership — despite the US urging it to drop the bid — and prolongs the conflict. In the end, the EU and Ukraine are bound for defeat, the academic says.
