Latest news with #MoskovskyKomsomolets
India.com
5 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
Trump Says He Deployed Nuclear Submarines Near Russia; Putin Still Hasn't Blinked – Why?
New Delhi: Upset over a social media post by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, U.S. President Donald Trump told a right-wing news outlet that he had ordered two nuclear submarines near Russia. The announcement spread across platforms and set off alarms and questions. Would a tweet trigger a nuclear faceoff? Was this a bluster or something far more dangerous? Russia has not reacted so far. There is statement from the Kremlin, nothing from the foreign ministry and no mention from the military. The silence from Moscow is not without meaning. Either Moscow sees no point in reacting, or it is still figuring out how. Russian Media Downplays It There was no breaking banner and no war-room urgency. Moscow's largest circulating newspapers did not give it prime-time panic. A military analyst, quoted in Moskovsky Komsomolets, brushed it off. Trump, he said, was putting on a show only theatrics. Kommersant, a nationally distributed newspaper, cited a retired lieutenant general calling Trump's remarks 'nonsense'. 'That is how he enjoys himself,' he told the daily. Speaking to the same publication, a national security expert did not even believe Trump gave any real submarine order. 'I am convinced there was no such instruction,' he said. The newspaper reminded readers of another Trump moment. Back in 2017, he claimed he had sent nuclear submarines to the Korean Peninsula. It never led to conflict. In fact, he later posed for photos with Kim Jong-un. Could this be the same playbook? Raise the stakes, then offer a handshake? It is still not clear. Moscow Watches, But Stays Quiet Russia has not announced any naval buildup. No submarines have moved closer to American shores. Moscow may be observing, assessing and waiting, or it may believe this is not serious enough to warrant a response. Russian media's tone suggests indifference. What Triggered This Showdown? The spark came from a few lines on social media. Trump had recently tightened his deadline for Russia to end its war in Ukraine. He first said 50 days and then less than two weeks. Medvedev did not like it. He said in a post that Trump was playing 'games of ultimatum' with Russia. Each ultimatum, he wrote, was a step toward war. Trump hit back. 'Tell Medvedev to be careful with his words. He is a failed president who still thinks he has power. He is stepping into dangerous territory,' he wrote. Then Medvedev posted again. This time, he mentioned 'Dead Hand', a Cold War-era Soviet system designed to automatically trigger nuclear retaliation if Russian leadership was wiped out. That set Trump off. A New Era of Nuclear Talk From 2008 to 2012, Medvedev, the longest serving president of Russia and a Putin loyalist, was seen as a moderate. He once said, 'Freedom is better than non-freedom.' That version of Medvedev is long gone. Since Russia launched its full invasion of Ukraine, his tone has shifted. His posts have grown darker, fiercer and far more hostile to the West. Until now, most global leaders ignored them. Medvedev had no official role in diplomacy and no real authority to speak for Russia. But Trump paid attention. And he did not watch like a mute spectator. He responded with threats of submarines and nuclear might. Why Trump Took It Personally In an interview with Newsmax, Trump explained, 'Medvedev said awful things about nuclear weapons. Anytime someone mentions 'nuclear', I get alert. That is the final threat.' Medvedev has long thrown around the nuclear card online. This was not new. But Trump seemed to take it personally. Was it only an outburst or part of a strategy? Those close to Trump often say he likes disruption in business, politics (sometimes in diplomacy), unexpected moves and calculated chaos. Maybe this submarine talk is part of that. Maybe it is a way to rattle Russia before any real negotiation begins. For now, two men with no love for filters exchanged words online. One had once held the nuclear codes, while the other is close to someone who still does. There are two submarines somewhere in the ocean, and there is a silence stretching from Moscow to Washington.
Miami Herald
16-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Putin Warned of Russian Demographic Crisis
Officials have warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that a demographic crisis could mean the country he leads will be short millions of workers by the end of the decade. In a meeting reported by Russian state media and posted on the Kremlin website, labor minister Anton Kotyakov told Putin that by 2030 the country could be as many as three million workers short in the labor force. Russian demography expert Igor Efremov told Newsweek the only measure the Russian government can take to address the shortage is to draw on migrant workers, but this would be difficult because the move would be considered a security threat. Newsweek has contacted the Kremlin for comment. Sanctions have buffeted but not delivered a knockout blow to Russia's economy, although war losses in Ukraine and escaping the draft have contributed to a labor shortage that has contributed to rising inflation. Putin has highlighted population growth as a national priority following a yearslong decline in Russia's birthrate. An inability to replace retiring workers and boost a dwindling workforce could pose an economic problem for Russia that may outlast the current conflict with Ukraine. During a cabinet discussion Tuesday, Kotyakov, minister for labor and social protection, warned that Russia is entering a period of profound transformation of its labor market. By 2030, Russia will need at least 2.4 million additional workers according to his ministry's forecasts. The upper range of this prediction is 3.1 million or the combined population of the major cities of Kazan and Novosibirsk, he added. Citing a survey of 260,000 employers, Kotyakov said there was a shortage of skilled workers, especially in construction and manufacturing. By the start of the next decade, Russia needs to involve 10.9 million people in the economy, to make up for the 10.1 million who will retire and fill an additional 800,000 jobs, he added. Other lawmakers have also sounded the alarm about the country facing a demographic crisis. Valery Tumin, from the parliament's economic policy committee, said an aging population and a declining birthrate have exacerbated worker shortages in industry, agriculture, transport, and the high-tech sector. Efremov told Newsweek Russia's labor shortage has been ongoing for years in Russia and has led to a slowdown in economic growth and a relative acceleration of inflation. The only government policy that can reduce the severity of this problem, without solving it completely is to lower barriers to international labor migration, he said. However, the current migration policy of the government is increasingly restrictive, because labor migration is often seen as a security threat, he added. The labor shortage due to demographic problems is an inevitable property of the demographic structure of the Russian population, about which "little can be done" in the immediate future, Efremov said. Russian Labor Minister Anton Kotyakov, per the newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets: "By 2030, the Russian economy will need at least 2.4 million additional workers, and the total number of people who need to be involved in labor activities will be 10.9 million." He added: "there is a particularly acute shortage of skilled workers." Russian demography expert Igor Efremov told Newsweek: "The labor shortage has been observed for years in Russia and has already led to a slowdown in economic growth and a relative acceleration of inflation. This process is... slow and lasting." He added: "The only government policy that can reduce the severity of this problem in the coming years, but not solve it completely, is to weaken barriers to international labor migration. But the migration policy of the government is increasingly restrictive, because labor migration is often seen as a security threat." Russia's worker shortage and declining birthrate are long-term problems for the Kremlin. Kotyakov has called for education reform, career guidance, internships, training and increasing the attractiveness of blue-collar professions through salaries, working conditions and career prospects. At the same cabinet meeting, Russia's deputy prime minister Tatyana Golikova reported on the Kremlin's national family project over the next six years, which includes financial support for those with large families as well as first-time parents. Related Articles U.S. Spy Plane Tracked Near IranRussia Strikes NATO Ally's Factory in 'Deliberate' AttackIran Seeks Backing from China and Russia After U.S. AirstrikesNATO Spy Planes Make Pincer Move Over Russia 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US tariff threat leaves Russia less rattled than relieved
In the Oval Office on Monday, Donald Trump was talking tough, announcing new US arms shipments to Ukraine paid for by European governments, and threatening new tariffs which, if imposed, would hit Russia's war chest. But, back in Moscow, how did the stock exchange react? It rose 2.7%. That's because Russia had been bracing for even tougher sanctions from President Trump. "Russia and America are moving towards a new round of confrontation over Ukraine," Monday's edition of the tabloid Moskovsky Komsomolets had warned. "Trump's Monday surprise will not be pleasant for our country." It wasn't "pleasant". But Russia will be relieved, for example, that the secondary tariffs against Russia's trading partners will only kick in 50 days from now. That gives Moscow plenty of time to come up with counter proposals and delay the implementation of sanctions even further. Nonetheless, Donald Trump's announcement does represent a tougher approach to Russia. It also reflects his frustration with Vladimir Putin's reluctance to sign a peace deal. Trump weapons pledge marks major step forward for Ukraine On his return to the White House in January, Donald Trump had made ending Russia's war in Ukraine one of his foreign policy priorities. For months, Moscow's response was: "Yes, but…" Yes, Russia said in March, when it welcomed President Trump's proposal for a comprehensive ceasefire. But first, it said Western military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv should end, along with Ukrainian military mobilisation. Yes, Moscow has been insisting, it wants peace. But the "root causes" of the war must be resolved first. The Kremlin views these very differently to how Ukraine and the West see them. It argues that the war is the result of external threats to Russia's security: from Kyiv, Nato, 'the collective West.' Yet, in February 2022, it wasn't Ukraine, Nato or the West that invaded Russia. It was Moscow that launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, triggering the largest land war in Europe since World War Two. For quite some time, the "Yes, but…" approach enabled Moscow to avoid additional US sanctions, while continuing to prosecute the war. Keen to improve bilateral relations with Russia and negotiate a peace deal on Ukraine, the Trump administration prioritised carrots to sticks in its conversations with Russian officials. Critics of the Kremlin warned that with "Yes, but"… Russia was playing for time. But President Trump hoped he could find a way of persuading Vladimir Putin to do a deal. The Russian president has appeared in no rush to do so. The Kremlin believes it holds the initiative on the battlefield. It insists it wants peace, but on its terms. Those terms include an end to Western arms shipments to Ukraine. From Donald Trump's announcement it is clear that is not going to happen. President Trump claims that he is "not happy" with Vladimir Putin. But disillusionment is a two-way street. Russia, too, has been falling out of love with America's president. On Monday, Moskovsky Komsomolets wrote: "[Trump] clearly has delusions of grandeur. And a very big mouth." US has resumed military supplies to Ukraine, Zelensky says Russia's summer push in Ukraine targets three fronts but faces stern resistance
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Rosenberg: US tariff threat leaves Russia less rattled than relieved
In the Oval Office on Monday, Donald Trump was talking tough, announcing new US arms shipments to Ukraine paid for by European governments, and threatening new tariffs which, if imposed, would hit Russia's war back in Moscow, how did the stock exchange react? It rose 2.7%.That's because Russia had been bracing for even tougher sanctions from President Trump."Russia and America are moving towards a new round of confrontation over Ukraine," Monday's edition of the tabloid Moskovsky Komsomolets had warned."Trump's Monday surprise will not be pleasant for our country."It wasn't "pleasant". But Russia will be relieved, for example, that the secondary tariffs against Russia's trading partners will only kick in 50 days from now. That gives Moscow plenty of time to come up with counter proposals and delay the implementation of sanctions even Donald Trump's announcement does represent a tougher approach to also reflects his frustration with Vladimir Putin's reluctance to sign a peace deal. Trump weapons pledge marks major step forward for Ukraine On his return to the White House in January, Donald Trump had made ending Russia's war in Ukraine one of his foreign policy months, Moscow's response was: "Yes, but…"Yes, Russia said in March, when it welcomed President Trump's proposal for a comprehensive ceasefire. But first, it said Western military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv should end, along with Ukrainian military Moscow has been insisting, it wants peace. But the "root causes" of the war must be resolved first. The Kremlin views these very differently to how Ukraine and the West see them. It argues that the war is the result of external threats to Russia's security: from Kyiv, Nato, 'the collective West.'Yet, in February 2022, it wasn't Ukraine, Nato or the West that invaded Russia. It was Moscow that launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, triggering the largest land war in Europe since World War Two. For quite some time, the "Yes, but…" approach enabled Moscow to avoid additional US sanctions, while continuing to prosecute the war. Keen to improve bilateral relations with Russia and negotiate a peace deal on Ukraine, the Trump administration prioritised carrots to sticks in its conversations with Russian of the Kremlin warned that with "Yes, but"… Russia was playing for time. But President Trump hoped he could find a way of persuading Vladimir Putin to do a Russian president has appeared in no rush to do so. The Kremlin believes it holds the initiative on the battlefield. It insists it wants peace, but on its terms include an end to Western arms shipments to Ukraine. From Donald Trump's announcement it is clear that is not going to Trump claims that he is "not happy" with Vladimir disillusionment is a two-way street. Russia, too, has been falling out of love with America's president. On Monday, Moskovsky Komsomolets wrote:"[Trump] clearly has delusions of grandeur. And a very big mouth."
Indian Express
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Russia, Ukraine set to hold more peace talks after Kyiv strikes nuclear-capable bombers
Russian and Ukrainian officials arrived at a palace in Istanbul on Monday for their second round of direct peace talks since 2022 with no sign they are any closer to an agreement, one day after Kyiv struck some of Moscow's nuclear-capable bombers. The two sides are expected to discuss their respective ideas for what a full ceasefire and a longer term path to peace should look like amid stark disagreements and pressure from US President Donald Trump, who has warned the US could abandon its role as a mediator if there's no progress. The Russian and Ukrainian delegations arrived at Istanbul's sumptuous Ciragan Palace by the Bosphorus, along with senior Turkish officials, though there was an unexplained delay in the start of talks, which had been slated to start at 10 GMT. Vladimir Medinsky, the head of Moscow's delegation, said that Russia had received Ukraine's draft memorandum for a peace accord ahead of the talks. Russia has said it will present its own draft peace accord at the talks along with unspecified ceasefire proposals. Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov is heading the Ukrainian delegation. Their last round of talks in Istanbul on May 16 yielded the biggest prisoner swap of the war with each side freeing 1,000 prisoners, but no sign of peace – or even a ceasefire as both sides merely stated their opening negotiating positions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in Lithuania for talks, said on Monday that ceasefire and humanitarian issues, such as returning more prisoners from Russia would be a priority for Kyiv at the Istanbul talks. Ukraine regards Russia's approach to date as an attempt to force it to capitulate – something it says it will never do – while Moscow, which advanced on the battlefield in May at its fastest rate in six months, says Kyiv should submit to peace on Russian terms or face losing more territory. Amid low expectations of a breakthrough, a Ukrainian source told Reuters ahead of Monday's talks that Kyiv was ready to take real steps towards peace if Moscow showed flexibility and what they described as a readiness to 'move forward, not just repeat the same previous ultimatums.' The mood in Russia before the talks was angry, with influential war bloggers calling on Moscow to deliver a fearsome retaliatory blow against Kyiv after Ukraine on Sunday launched one of its most ambitious attacks of the war, targeting Russian nuclear-capable long-range bombers in Siberia and elsewhere. Ukraine's air force said Russia had launched 472 drones at Ukraine, the highest nightly total of the war. Russia's Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper cited Vasily Stoyakin, a political analyst, as saying it was hard to imagine the Istanbul talks producing much given how far apart the two sides were. 'It's some kind of theatre of the absurd going on in Istanbul right now. The two sides are going to discuss completely different agendas,' it cited Stoyakin as saying.
