russia. russia decided, 2014, enough was enough. they decided that they were just going to invade. they marched over the border and they took part of that neighboring country for themselves. they declared that part of ukraine was now part of russia instead. and this, to say the least, was an unusual occurrence in the modern world. since world war ii, we have not seen countries using their militaries to just seize parts of other countries and make them their own, particularly on the edges of europe. but that's what putin did in 2014. and the west was horrified, right? the international order was shaken. for starters, the g8 group of countries kicked russia out. the g-8 became the g-7 instead, because russia was no longer considered worthy of inclusion in that group. the western world also united behind strong sanctions against russia to punish their behavior, to pressure them to reverse course. after russia did what it did to ukraine, nobody was quite sure if that was all they were going to do

for russia, it isa moscow to budapest. for russia, it is a foothold in europe. apolitical. we never do anything politically motivated. five eu countries are members but russia is by far the largest shareholder. and until recently, the bank was listed as an official organ of the russian state. critics of your bank call it vladimir putin's trojan horse or the kgb bank. in other words, the suspicion is...|j horse or the kgb bank. in other words, the suspicion is... i am a spy words, the suspicion is... i am a spy they also say. the suspicion is is it is tool of moscow to bread spies and agents across europe. is there any truth in that? absolutely not. it is all allegations and even though they repeated hundreds of times, they have nothing to do with the reality. can you understand where the suspicion comes from? because, apologies for getting personal, but you yourself are from afamily of personal, but you yourself are from a family of soviet spies. your father was the head of the kgb. in budapest, yes. that is how i like the city many years ago. and your mother wa

ruling party side they want russia to come and invest in zimbabwe in kids take the credit that russia has helped them to revive the economy we see is not performing well at the moment. and zooming out a bit from the whole continent is russia's strategy russia strategy oversleep realizing a kind of compete with the likes of china is to focus on sectors where it can do really well and those sectors would be defense energy and mining and that's why i like invested in zimbabwe the mining sector over there these are areas where it has realized that it can actually. come up with long term commitments from african governments mining because it has a huge mining industry itself and its nuclear technologies can also be exported to africa hopes in the future and of course defense for which it is the largest supplier of arms to african countries. in berlin and privilege was an eery in zimbabwe thank you very much. south africa's parliament has approved of $4000000000.00 bailout for embattled power company eskom the measure comes just a week after the country was hit by another set of blackouts e

today's russia wants to forget about 1989. but three decades on, russia is reasserting itself.re fears of a new stand—off with the west. the baltic has become one of the front lines of what feels like a new cold war. as russia pushes for greater influence, i ask its leader how he sees his country. i am on a journey that will take me back to 1989 and across europe, to find out what it was like for moscow to lose an empire and whether russia is building a new one. moscow — it is a city that oozes empire. from the skyscrapers ofjoseph stalin, to the residence of the czars. the message is unmistakable — this is a country with ambition. throughout its history, russia has had an unswerving belief in its own greatness. you can feel that inside the kremlin. this is stunning. look at this. this says power, omnipotence, this says empire. russia was built as an empire, russia has existed as an empire because the essence is we are great, we have to have areas of influence and we have to have buffer states between ourselves and the outside world. so this is an empire. but in 1989, the buffe

africa some as russia's attempt to jumpstart relations with the continent 3 decades after the fall of the soviet union when which then was a major player in africa. but russia does not want to stand aside while other powers like the huge china and india strategically to increase their influence and investment on the continent has big plans for africa especially with its rich mineral resources that's a quick look at selected activities of russian companies on the continent this energy a multinational corps which is involved in a natural gas development project in the republic of congo in sudan and the central african republic a close ally of president putin has secured licenses for mining gold in guinea russian element in produce roussel is digging up bauxite and in zimbabwe russia wants to dig for platinum until now russia's trade with africa was muted last year exports to imports from the entire continent well value that only $20000000000.00 in comparison china's trade volume was 10 times bigger as the more than $200000000000.00. africa's largest trading partner of course that during

russia. from my perspective with the russians they want their people back an putting pressure on other countries, particularly european countries, to take theirs. my concern is what happens to those people, particularly family members of those fighters, who get sent back to russia. cy which is one of the limitations on our counterterrorism dialogue. there are limits in what we can -- we can work with them because of their behavior. >> were you aware that rudy giuliani had opened a second channel of diplomacy, if you want to call it that, second channel of effort in ukraine? mr. sullivan: as i said in response to questions from senator menendez, i was aware at mr. giuliani was involved in ukraine issues. my knowledge particularly in april, may, june time frame, even into july, was focused on s campaign, basically, against our ambassador to ukraine. senator shaheen: is that the normal way the state department does business? to open a second channel? mr. sullivan: i will say there are examples g

that russia did it. position of the trump administration, of course, is that russia didn't do it, and now the attorney general's inquiry, which is apparently designed to prove that, now that is a criminal investigation with, quote, the power to subpoena for witness testimony and documents, to impanel a grand jury, and to file criminal charges. that means that the law enforcement and intelligence officials who were involved in investigating russia's attack on our election are now potentially the subjects of criminal charges. this, of course, is happening against the backdrop of impeachment proceedings in the house. i am sure that is totally unrelated. >>> joining us is congressman shan maloney, the lead committee on the impeachment matter. thank you for being here. >> great to be with you. >> i had a whole bunch of different things to talk to you about, but then this news broke. i have to get your reaction to it. >> it's alarming because we know trump is itching to politicize the justice department. they

hollywood movies that demonize russia. hollywood movies that demonize russia. thousands of hours of cable television russia becomes blamed for also thousands of hours of cable television russia becomes blamed for all sorts of things so. russia is the prime candidate for demonization it's very difficult to do the same thing to china because that would be considered raise lots of things so. russia is the prime candidate for demonization it's very difficult to do the same thing to china because that would be considered racist whereas russians pass for white people so russia's state just whereas russians pass for white people so russia's state the obvious target but it's sort of shadow boxing because they are really hitting russia there will be a star get but it's sort of shadow boxing because they are really hitting russia they're. pretty much like watching each other over russia that's what it looks like from here pretty much like watching each other over russia that's what it looks like from here yeah and i think that there's a point there you know the social ju

at this point it is impossible for russia. i'm not sure that it ever was very realistic but at this point it is off the table as a possibility with a lot to undermine the nato alliance and european union more broadly that is a fundamentally stable situation and unresolved. that's factor number one, number two the united states and russia over the past 25 years have gradually each come to the belief that the other side not just as a competitor but actually wants to destroy it if led them to believe that the united states was trying to encircle russia with hostile regime's expanding the nato alliance up to the borders and ultimately regime change inside of moscow to break the country apart. now, we think that's crazy. we look at this to say they are go the russians again. they are paranoid. in fact, when we talk about russia and its perceptions, you hear that word paranoia a lot. it's almost like russia and paranoia go together. what happened with the united states particularly over the past two years? .. things. in the pentagon

of free press abroad reports on corruption in russia. are helping to establish authoritarian regimes abroad crackdown on the free press would have similar effects for a genuine distaste for democracy or fear that nato is creeping on the borders how do you split that difference? >> i think my reaction to that is yes. this is one of the things that makes for difficult problem. very seldom dealing with the paradigm issues you have diagnostic evidence. that's only consistent with one explanation most of the time the fax you have in front of you can be connected in different ways simultaneously. this model can be true and this model can be true so this rules this out. you are right. part of the problem is you can explain them in different ways but what i'm advocating is this is the only way you explain it the others are not plausible and the stakes are so high we better think hard for the el terrier explanation it matters a lot. now one of the things that i would say however about the time is that do they and those that do happen. >> so i als

little bit of that you work for russia today don't you while it is because of people like you that russia were accused of meddling in the election because you just said now that trump could be reelected they will say gotcha this is russia interfering with the election campaign jokes aside we all know what president trump says about russian american relations and how he talks about them we know that during his previous campaign he called for relations to get back to normal but unfortunately nothing has been done but we do not hold it against anyone because we can all see what is going on in the american domestic political scene these days but the domestic political agenda prevents the incumbent president from embarking on a drastic improvement in relations between our countries in any case we will work with any administration to the extent it's willing to work with us however we cannot help but feel concerned over overall global security and strategic balance this is obvious in 2002 and president trump has nothing to do with it the united states withdrew from the a.b.m. treaty which i woul

to boost military cooperation with russia they hope that russia would say and secure to experts like has been the case in the central african republic so they can be able to fight off the different music groups that they have to do with on a daily basis only it's the day russia sent to block the boom bust there was biggest profit to south africa as part of a defense cooperation agreement at the same time nigeria send an agreement with russia to purchase 2 of combat helicopters which he tends to use in its fight against boko haram militants now i wait for a major corporation just like my colleague yuri name most guys mentioned russia has made a name for itself in the coordinates for sending nuclear technology to developing nations example round egypt and nigeria that among those in the market for russia bitch nuclear power plants and for starters also south africa's been russia's business but now for some time now under the brics regiment so there's a lot at stake for lead as you know in sochi ok so you're coming back here we're talking about a nuclear technology here economic investm

and russia iran as well. as atlanta. have already agreed in uncle summit last month on the establishment of the constitutional committee in order to have a new constitution for syria and live that way for but as the elections in 2021 if the russians actually manage to do that i think they will be have. most probably did they have succeeded actually in achieving most of their objectives in syria but in order to do that the actions believe that the 1st step should be that america must must be out of syria that is really important for russia because they cannot actually control the whole syrian issue without actually the americans are out for the iranians they are very concerned about the american presence in the east of the if it is because it cuts. the land corridor between you know iraq syria and to lebanon for turkey and the presence of the united states in the region is also threatening because america is supporting the syrian democratic forces and supporting what the turks believe. separatists. scheme of the syria dem

russia at the e.u. they had gary lee hopes to the relations between russia and nato russia at the e.u. he had gary leader once again made it clear that he was beautiful has to be called this bridge between or once again made it clear that he was beautiful to be called this bridge between the west and east and he's happy to play this role here's what exactly he tweeted the west and east he's happy to play this role here's what exactly he said all that was each more odd of course hungry is a member of nato and the e.u. said all that was each morag of course hungry is a member of nato and the e.u. and it will remain there but it doesn't exclude cooperation with russia including a political and it will remain there but it doesn't exclude cooperation with russia including a political levels hungary is interested in improving relations between nato and russia levels hungary is interested in improving relations between nato and russia who have this political and historic experience in relations between western

russia's delighted. within just a few days trump was due to travel, later on that same week, thursday of that week he was due to travel to the g-20 conference. there was already an announced plan for president trump to have a bilateral head to head meeting with russian president vladimir putin. now, obviously under these circumstances where russian forces have just opened fire on a u.s. ally, wounded some of their sailors, seized three of share ships by force and taken those sailors prisoner, the russian president who just did these things cannot then have a friendly meeting with the u.s. president. not just days after this attack on one of our allies, right? you're meeting with president putin is off, sir, right? that's not happening anymore, is it? >> i think it's a very good time to have the meeting. >> of course. why not have the meeting? what could possibly get in the way of you having yet another opportunity to stare into those steely blue marbles? now, ultimately, however good a time president tru

as russia has to to sell its gas 60 to 70 percent of the budget of the federal state budget in russia dependent on the revenues from gas so they have to sell and europe has to buy it's a double dependency it's another story for ukraine ukraine is not buying gas anymore from russia it's now getting its gas actually from vest in europe but ukraine is dependent on the fees it's charges for gas transported via the pipelines running through ukraine and russia wants to get rid of these fees and the dependency on ukraine and therefore is building these new pipelines around ukraine terex stream in the south and north stream in the north. thank you very much. google's parent company alphabet said its quarterly profits fell 23 percent to $7000000000.00 mistake market expectations alphabets as profits were hampered by rising research and development costs the company is trying to maintain growth while investing in a variety of new gadgets and services revenue growth from advertising is also down . its leaders says the city is ad risk of falling into recession as it enters its 5th month of pro-de

jacqueline hi again so this week africa is russia's guest to get russia to be africa's guest more often or even permanent in some cases the rush hour for an economic forum and summit that's what they're officially cord called are well underway and we know that before the summit all the african leaders got an invitation almost all of them made a 2 sought she so now nearly 50 heads of state from africa are here getting together and also most of them will get an opportunity to talk face to face with vladimir putin we know that such economic and global powerhouse is such as the u.s. europe and china of course previously through similar events now it is russia's start although some people would say that in many cases the countries that i mentioned western countries plus the u.s. china sometimes they're way too eager to get that slice of the african pawing after all 30 percent of the global natural resources that's something that does sound quite tempting although top russian officials have been saying that russia's approach is completely different russia isn't bishan when it comes to africa

and open to both russia and china. ok so isaac some of africa's most influential leaders have gathered for this summit tell us more about why this is important to them you know what are they gaining from this deeper partnership with moscow. would the needs from russia vary from country to another country for instance some country would lead to boost military cooperation with russia they hope to trust shall we say and security experts like has been the case in the central african republic so they can be able to fight off the different mission groups that they have to do with on a daily basis only yesterday russia sent to block that bomb but there was biggest major aircraft to south africa as part of a defense cooperation agreement i did same time nigeria sent an agreement with russia to purchase 2 of combat helicopters which he tends to use in its fight against boko haram militants now i wait for a major corporation just like my colleague yuri moskos mission to russia has made a name for itself in the court and for send

the city of man bush becomes a potential flashpoint between turkish and syrian forces but russia says it's working to prevent any direct confrontation. i'm stan grant this is al jazeera live from doha also coming up another trial delay in south africa president jacob zuma appeals for a permanent stay from prosecution in a corruption case the e use lead breaks it negotiated says it is possible to reach a deal with the u.k. this week but the chances of very slim. the international monetary fund warns global growth this year will be the weakest since the 2008 financial crisis blaming conflicts from trade to the middle east. it's the latest sign that a potential new flashpoint is emerging in the turkish offensive in northern syria turkey says 2 of its soldiers now were killed in an attack near man because it happened just as the u.s. completed its withdrawal from the city a small unit of syrian government soldiers is now inside man bitch their presence sets up a potential class from turkish forces and this syrian rebel allies who are on the outskirts of the city russia says it's patrollin

this is news africa coming up in the next 15 minutes they returns to africa russia has its a focus on the continent and the 1st is about russia africa's summit is underway find out why so many african leaders hakim often a ship was lost. and needs to cindy and wall to cameroonian couple making it's been good they say they're living the russian dream. to have coffee ballots in the country's titus election at 50 is people day it will tell us what their expectations are. and it's back to the ocean penguins but they're facing extinction. hello i'm christine window welcome to news africa it's good to have you along doesn't that look like a bromance well here's a question for you how do you get 43 african leaders to leave the continent for 2 days well that's one russia's right in recruited can't answer because that's exactly what he's done the 1st of a russia africa summit is underway in the russian resort town of sochi and the attendance is remarkable in this picture and you see the president's off malawi egypt. south africa now the russians also have to be looking for money and friends al

zelensky, in fact, signed up to a new deal with russia, very much on russia's exact terms after trump publicly pressured him to do it. that has led, among other things, to these large protests in the main square in kiev with ukrainians asking why their new president is capitulating to russia after five years of war. maybe it has something to do with the fact that their strongest military ally, the united states, just told them to do it, after withholding money for military aid until president trump could extract some favors from that government having to do with his next re-election effort. i mean, what might putin want from the u.s. government that he's not getting? in recent weeks president trump also advocated that putin had to be allowed back into the g-7, but the g-7 should be called the g8 again. putin was kicked off after invading ukraine and taking crimea. putin is advocating for them to be let back in. "the washington post" reports in a phone call to the u.k. president trump argued and argued and argued and wouldn't let it go that russia shouldn't be blamed for the attempted

russia doesn't have that kind of a corruption and i think about russia russia doesn't have that kind of financial center is gotten it's kind of like divorcing its own anshul center is gotten it's kind of like divorcing itself from the financial ization of the global economy by buy off from the financial ization of the global economy by buying hundreds and hundreds of tons of gold you know they're going is russia going to come out with a gold backing hundreds and hundreds of tons of gold you know they're going it is rough. you're going to come out with a gold backed currency i realize this is a bit of speculation but it seems like russia maybe russia and china a currency i realize this is a bit of speculation but it seems like russia may be russia and china are going to come out with a gold back or partially gold backed currency or china are going to come out with a gold back or partially gold backed currency or china has been speculated well now they've got 20000 tons of gold which is more than anyone has been stance by that i q lated well now they've got 20000 tons of gold which is

folks they will russia and china at the top and typically say russia short-term they have a capability to a stronger economy and population etc.. it does china want to surpass the u.s. come absolutely. it's about regaining their rightful place at the top of the world. what's interesting is russia had a similar mindset going back not as far but the collapse of the soviet union they feel they were humiliated and folks know better in the room tammy what's interesting chinese leaders to study the fault and collapse, china studies at and they say we don't want to be that. >> by impression is they say knock it off and it kind of works for a period. >> the former deputy director of the nsa, basically the cyber operations response. he said after obama delivered a tough warning that there was a discernible downturn in activity in terms of volume but not a substantive change in the aggression. it's still as active as what they were taking away in the public and private sectors. >> they basically la lay out wht they are going to do so i mean, what is it that they are going to do in general they w

russia still occupies and threatens ukrainian territory. russia has not withdrawn mr. putin doesn't deserve any breaks from the sanctions and actions that were taken by the international community. let's fast-forward to the current situation with the impeachment inquiry and the scandal that we are witnessing here. even before the phone call that president trump may 2 president zelensky on july 25 of this year, key, according to media reports, had a very negative view of ukraine. the "washington post" reported, for example, that it a former senior administration official who were people he discussed the issue with president trump said that the president thought court, what we were doing in ukraine was pointless and just aggravating the russians. the official went on to say the president position basically is we should recognize the fact that the russians should be our friend, and who cares about the ukrainians? the "new york times" had a similar report, saying that president trump has had harsh words about ukraine. they are terrible people, he is quoted as having said.

of russia germany is totally controlled by russia because they were getting . from 60 to 70 percent of their energy from russia and a new pipeline from 60 to 70 percent of their energy from russia and a new pipeline now despite the push behind nonstory which will transit russian gas directly to germany now despite the push behind nonstory in which will transit russian gas directly to germany passing through the baltic sea germany's economy minister said it's still vital that the original gas transit repassing through the baltic sea germany's economy minister said it's they'll fight all that the original gas transit route through ukraine through the crack main aim is to main to test. some analysis on it now from journalist thomas fassbender joins me very good evening thomas are you surprised fassbender joins me very good evening thomas are you surprised because it seems that there was some pressure coming from the u.s. saying you know you don't want to be buying russian gas probably seems like there was some pressure coming from the u.s. saying you know you don'

former director of russia analysis at the cia and white house advisor on russia for vice president shiny, george beebe is director of intelligence national security at the center for national interest, draws on 25 years of experience to when the us and russia are on a collision course. describing a situation more dangerous than the cold war he shows how factors including new strategic weapons, shifts in world power, unsettled regional conflict and the advantages of cyberattacks on cyberdefense are heightening competition between the countries to the point were small and predictable event could set off a deadly conflict. here to talk about it please help me welcome george beebe. [applause] >> thank you for that introduction and thank you for coming tonight. i have given a lot of talks over the last few years since leaving government but i think this is the first time i have given a talk with a book, this is the first book that i published in the first time i have ever given a talk where my wife has been in the audience. that is a special occasion and great to see so many colleagues and fr

bigger picture people ask me because intel will put russia and china at the top and typically sayll russia short-term or dangerous short-term long-term china is a threat and to have that capability does china want to surpass? olabsolutely read the speeches and the editorials this is about regaining the rightful place. >> what's interesting is and then the villain not the hero. and so you are with the obama administration event is a knock it off. is that true. >> talking to the former deputy director highly evolved. and then said after he delivered that morning there was a discernible downturn in activity in terms of volume but not substantive change chinese aggression in terms of what they are taking away. >> with the chinese liberation army where they basically lay outt what they are going to do. so what is it? you touch on a lot of it but in general so what is their approach the shadow war is the asymmetric warfare and then to roll the tanks acrossr the border with this old ukrainian thing right they will not build 12 aircraft carriers so they do it in the asymmetric fashion and the stra

well that big difficult for russia because russia is also dependent on europe and also on the custom as russia has to to sell its gas 60 to 70 percent of the budget of the federal state budget russia dependent on the revenues from gas so they have to sell and europe has to buy it's a double dependency it's another story for ukraine ukraine is not buying gas anymore from russia it's now getting its gas actually from western europe but ukraine is dependent on the fees it's just for gas transport via the pipelines running through ukraine and russia wants to get rid of these fees and the dependency on ukraine and therefore is building these new pipelines around ukraine the turks remain in the south and north stream in the north battling that thank you very much. hong kong's leader carrie lam says the city is a risk of falling into recession as it enters its 5th month of pro-democracy protests over its numbers have dropped and retail businesses as they have been forced to shut of their doors doing protests and rallies. after 5 months of pro-democracy protests some people in hong kong are

russia has set out to win the hearts in africa. this woman says she loves russia for organizing the event . russian money was also spent on a beauty contest that crowned miss central africa the sponsor at events like these is a radio station promoting russian african time as radio lingo is sung though. so what's it like it a broadcaster that does advertising for moscow we don't get mensura to that question that its headquarters in a suburb of bangor. but we do get to view an animated clip aimed at showing russia's friendly feelings toward the country's children it was paid for by low buy invest. that's a company with ties to russian president vladimir putin a company that was named for a region known for its diamonds the government here has granted by invest a lot of mining rights the country wants to look for the precious stones more efficiently whether with russia or other partners the. president has said that we are open to anyone who wants to cooperate in public private partnerships to exploit these valuable resources. this is

this is deja vu news africa coming up in the next 15 minutes the fare returns to africa russia as it's supposed is on the continent and the 1st is a russia africa summit is under way we'll find out why so many african leaders are keen on often a ship that was lost. and needs to cindy and walter cameron has a couple making it involves book they say they're living the russian dream. lotus is able to want to have coffee ballots in the country's tight as you mention it 50 good people day it will tell us what their expectations are. kind of back to the ocean will be nice penguins bats they're facing the exchange. hello i'm kristie want to welcome to news africa it's good to have you along doesn't that look like a grown man's well here's a question for you how do you get 43 african leaders to leave the continent for 2 days well that's one russia's right and recruited can answer because that's exactly what he's done the 1st of a russia africa summit is underway in the russian resort town of sochi and the attendance is remarkable. in this picture alone you see the president's off malawi egypt

of the deal announced by russia and turkey on tuesday the s.d.f. need to thank moscow for its work to end hostilities in northern syria so them concealed it has more now from istanbul. took agave to assure insisted the united states so that they could lift the sanctions imposed on track at the 1st song was halting the military operation that was launched in october 9th against the syrian kurdish fighters group wipe each of which turkey designates as a terrorist organization and make the recently deal recently signed deal the cease fire there as permanent so that turkey would not again attack the syrian kurdish fighter group y p g in northern syria again and the 2nd best surance was that turkey would secure the arsenal fighters who are in prison who were captured by the syrian kurdish fighter group during their can't counter eisel operations in northern syria and turkey would not let them escape or anything happen both the united states and turkey market this deal as a very historical success as u.s. president donald trump is prepping up for an elec

i think the 1st time was proposed by russia it was probably more than 10 years ago so. we can discuss that in more detail but the monitoring system makes every sense the issue is bring it about all but as a former un official document that is also an indication of how little trust russia or perhaps other countries in the best in the u.n. ability to do that kind of investigative work because you know has a number of bodies to investigate chemical attacks and other sort of attacks. russia's skepticism about the use of those mechanisms is well known don't you think that perhaps it's an indication that the un has not been doing its job if not properly with enough neutrality that such a country like russia with call for the creation of the in the other mechanism to do that what well i'm. not mistaken i think the secretary general has already dispatched a team. to saudi arabia to verify what has happened i'm not aware of the russian proposal. is is designed for the un not to be involved and i'm not sure i mean i know russia has a right it's not that about not involving the un

no, according to this conspiracy theory, russia didn't do that, russia didn't intervene. what actually happened is that it was the obama administration that was setting this all up as a frame job. they were colluding with foreign countries to set up russia to make it look like russia was interfering and to set up the trump campaign to make it look like they were getting help from russia. but it was all a frame job. it was all a false flag operation set up by the obama administration to somehow get trump elected and then undermine him once he was in office? it's never been totally clear how it all worked. but that's the conspiracy theory, that the attorney general of the united states appears to have been going around the world trying to prove. just yesterday we had this remarkable reporting about the prime minister of italy who was dragged before that country's parliament. the intelligence committees of his parliament to answer questions about what he and the italian government and italian intelligence service had been talking about with attorney general bill barr who has

is currently the case double or increase russia's involvement there russia though faces competition from western powers they have. russia though faces competition from western powers they have historically had a strong. colonial near colonial presence there in the region for many many decades historically had a strong colonial near colonial presence there in the region for many many decades and they still do so russia's efforts to improve those economic ties political ties and they still do so russia's efforts to improve those economic ties political ties trade ties are often portrayed and viewed as a negative by western powers and media this is something to trade ties are often portrayed and viewed as a negative by western powers and media this is something president putin touched upon recently in an interview a number of western states are resorting to president putin touched upon recently in an interview a number of western states are resorting to pressure intimidation and blackmail when it comes to certain sovereign african states intimidation and blackmail when it comes to certain s

russia. let's agree is interested in improving relations between nato and russia about this very little and historical and his. spirit koreans were like no relation between western. europe a strong europe a strange hungry loses if the good hungary is it will still win. green loses it is a ration is a good hungry it will see it when. we see whether or not this is what whether this plan that will work work or not we will find out if the big big dogs or yours does but it's clear that victor or bad who's been put at least once it's clear that victor or bad who's been beating blabber put at least once a year what's to keep trying and it looks like a lot of reputed victims here what's to keep trying and it looks like a lot of reputed victor or bad want to keep up that pace well we have been georgism what were bad want to keep up that pace well we had been georgism wally he's a senior. fellow senior and it was a search will. be in the post. and he explained. why hungary has become russia's key ally

opinions on that there might be a temptation on the other hand that's my question to russia russia. justified the intervention by the need to protect russia. justified the intervention by the need to protect country men so if one could only sell 65. country men so if one could only sell $65.00. maritime interest and. never to i mean this was a strategic time interest and they of crimean based it was never to you i mean this was a strategic reasons which is much more important than that but this notion to protect it degrees is much more important than that but this notion to protect country men has particularly. in their boat country men has particularly. in the baltic states because they have a lot of country men russian speaking minorities it takes that it's because they have a lot of country men speaking minorities if you could to step back from that and make clear we don't interfere mutually dress appropriately we don't feel quick to step back from that and make clear we don't interfere mutually reciprocally we don't. neighboring countries it would be a major step forward looking