RT News - November 29th 2022

Russia-China Energy Business forum: Pres. Putin and Pres. Xi Jinping herald the start of the 4th Russia-China energy business forum, saying the economic partnership of their countries' is needed more than ever amid pressure from the West. Over 100 major Russian and Chinese companies have attended. By the end of this year, the trade turnover between Russia and China may reach $180-190 billion, Rosneft CEO believes. According to him, the figure has already reached $153.9 billion in ten months.

The Pope and racist commentary: Politicians from two ethnic groups in Russia, slam comments from the Pope, who said soldiers from those minorities are 'the cruellest' on the Ukraine frontlines.

World Cup: FIFA representatives confiscate a flag at the World Cup, of the Ukrainian neo-Nazi Azov battalion. It had been unfurled by Spanish fans during their team's match against Germany. (QS: I feel really sorry for the organisers and .gov of Qatar who have gone out on a limb to deliver a good experience to the fans and I'm not even a football fan)

Food crisis in Africa: The first shipment of free fertiliser from Russia is finally on it's way to Africa (Malawi). Previous shipments had been hijacked by EU, UK and other rich countries, despite them having been brokered by UN, Turkey and Russia to alleviate the food crisis in the world's poorest countries.

Iran, USA and Israel. USA and Israel will hold drills simulating strikes on Iran's nuclear infrastructure. (QS: *^%&&%*!!). USA is identifying potential strike areas for Israel's nuclear infrastructure. (QS: what is the riskiest bombing of Zaporozhye - chopped liver? why haven't USA and NATO concentrated on that in the past months??)

Jens Stoltenberg (NATO chief protagonist in Europe) spoke in Bucharest. Long report.

A young Zambian man has been killed in Ukraine whilst he was volunteering for Russia. He had previously been detained in prison in Russia on drugs charges.

China is sticking to it's zero-COVID policy despite protests and criticism.
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via RT website 29 Nov, 2022 15:30

---- Kremlin outlines conditions for Ukraine talks ----

President Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov says Kiev has to demonstrate readiness to discuss demands made by Moscow earlier

Peace negotiations could start between Russia and Ukraine if Moscow sees genuine “political will” on the part of Kiev to engage in dialogue, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said. Earlier this month, he noted that the Ukrainian leadership seemed reluctant to sit down for talks at present.

When asked by Russian journalists on Tuesday whether there are any preconditions for any potential dialogue to begin between Moscow and Kiev, Peskov said: “It has to be political will, readiness to discuss those Russian demands which have been known for long.”

Speaking via video-link during the G20 summit in Indonesia’s Bali in mid-November, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky emphasized that “there will be no Minsk-3 [agreement], which Russia would violate right after sealing it.”

The Ukrainian head of state was referring to the Minsk-1 and Minsk-2 agreements brokered by Germany and France back in 2014 and 2015, respectively. The accords, among other things, envisaged special status for Donetsk and Lugansk regions within the Ukrainian state.

Russian President Vladimir Putin cited Kiev’s failure to implement the agreements as one of the reasons for the start of Moscow’s military campaign against its neighbor in late February 2022.

Commenting on Zelensky’s remarks at the G20 summit, Peskov argued at the time that they “absolutely confirm” Kiev’s unwillingness to engage in talks.

Addressing leaders in Bali, the Ukrainian head of state proposed ten steps that, in his view, would lead to peace. Among the key points of his plan is the complete withdrawal of Russian forces from all Ukrainian territories and respect for the country’s borders drawn up in 1991, following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Meanwhile, Moscow claims some of those regions, most notably Crimea, as its own, following referendums it had held there.

It came shortly after The Washington Post reported in early November that the Biden administration had privately asked Zelensky to signal willingness to hold talks with Russia, if only just for show. Washington was reportedly concerned that Kiev’s irreconcilable position could see support from some of its Western allies dwindle amid what anonymous White House officials described as a growing “Ukraine fatigue.”

The article claimed that Washington was not serious about getting Kiev to negotiate, and only sought to ensure that weapons and other aid kept flowing from as many nations as possible.
https://www.rt.com/russia/567378-peskov-names-conditions-ukraine-russia-talks/
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