A group of Republican and Democratic U.S. senators introduced legislation on Tuesday seeking sanctions targeting the Nord Stream 2, a planned gas pipeline from Russia to Germany under fire from the United States and some European Union countries. The bill introduced by Republican Senators Ted Cruz, John Barrasso and Tom Cotton and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen, seeks to impose travel and financial sanctions on companies and individuals involved in constructing the pipeline. The legislation reflects continued U.S. concerns over Russian influence in Europe, but the measure is many steps from becoming law. It would need to pass both the Senate and House of Representatives and be signed by President Donald Trump to go into effect. The Nord Stream 2 project is led by the Russian state-owned gas company Gazprom, with funding from Germany's Uniper and BASF unit Wintershall, Anglo-Dutch firm Shell, Austria's OMV and France's Engie. Opponents of the 11-billion-euro ($12 billion) … [Read more...] about U.S. Senators Introduce Bill Targeting Russia-Germany Pipeline
Russia
What Did Pompeo Discuss With Putin in Russia?
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo traveled to Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday. Pompeo’s trip marked the first high-profile U.S. visit to Russia since allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and a subsequent investigation rankled bilateral relations. Meeting in the southern city of Sochi, Pompeo, Putin and Lavrov expressed a mutual desire to improve their countries’ battered ties. At the same time, Pompeo clashed with Lavrov on a number of foreign policy issues. A Kremlin aide said the talks did not result in a breakthrough, but added that they were held in a business-like atmosphere. Here's what they discussed: Restoring U.S.-Russia ties Putin to Pompeo: "I've formed the impression that your president [Donald Trump] wants to repair Russia-U.S. ties and contacts and wants to solve issues which are of common interest for us. We've said many times that we also want to fully restore … [Read more...] about What Did Pompeo Discuss With Putin in Russia?
UPDATE: IEA: Russia’s oil output falls by 190,000 bpd in April
(Adds paragraphs 3–4) MOSCOW, May 15 (PRIME) -- Russia’s oil production fell by 190,000 barrels per day from October 2018 to 11.56 million barrels per day in April, which accounted for 80% fulfillment of the OPEC+ agreement, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a report on Wednesday. Non-OPEC states fulfilled the OPEC+ oil production cut agreement by 151% reducing the output by 580,000 barrels per day. The OPEC states complied with the deal by 131% cutting the output by 60,000 barrels per day to 30.12 million barrels per day in the month with Saudi Arabia being the main contributor. The IEA also reduced its forecast for global oil demand in 2019 by 90,000 barrels per day to 1.3 million barrels per day. In November 2016, OPEC and non-OPEC states including Russia first agreed to reduce their oil output to rebalance the market. In December 2018, the participants of the deal decided to cut production by an additional 800,000 barrels per day for OPEC and 400,000 … [Read more...] about UPDATE: IEA: Russia’s oil output falls by 190,000 bpd in April
IEA: Russia’s oil output falls by 190,000 bpd in April
MOSCOW, May 15 (PRIME) -- Russia’s oil production fell by 190,000 barrels per day from October 2018 to 11.56 million barrels per day in April, which accounted for 80% fulfillment of the OPEC+ agreement, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a report on Wednesday. Non-OPEC stated fulfilled the OPEC+ oil production cut agreement by 151% reducing the output by 580,000 barrels per day. In November 2016, OPEC and non-OPEC states including Russia first agreed to reduce their oil output to rebalance the market. In December 2018, the participants of the deal decided to cut production by an additional 800,000 barrels per day for OPEC and 400,000 barrels per day for non-OPEC states, including 230,000 barrels per day for Russia, from the level of October 2018. End 15.05.2019 11:44 … [Read more...] about IEA: Russia’s oil output falls by 190,000 bpd in April
Russia says S-400 deal’s implementation in ‘full swing’
MOSCOW- Anadolu Agency Implementation of the deal for the delivery of Russia's S-400 air defense system to Turkey is in full swing despite U.S. pressure, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said on May 14. Speaking at a press conference in the southern resort city of Sochi, Ushakov said Moscow is aware of U.S. attempts to persuade Turkey to suspend the deal. "What the Americans insist, we know. But the implementation of the agreement, which was reached a few months ago, is in full swing," he said. He added that during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo suggested the idea of Russian-U.S. presidential contacts on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Osaka in late June. "We touched in general on the possibility of contacts between the presidents of Russia and the … [Read more...] about Russia says S-400 deal’s implementation in ‘full swing’