Thread: Russian prime minister warns Obama is bringing the world to the brink of 'a second Co

Russian prime minister warns Obama is bringing the world to the brink of 'a second Cold War that nobody needs'

• Dmitry Medvedev blasted Obama for not 'know[ing] how to make reserved, careful, subtle, wise and intelligent decisions'
• A more 'competent politician,' he said, wouldn't have slapped Russia with economic sanctions after it marched across the Ukraine border
• 'We probably could cause some unpleasantries for the country that imposes those sanctions,' he hinted in a moment ripe for The Sopranos
• The interview came as state-run TV reported that Russian soldiers near Ukraine are standing down and returning to their bases
  

By David Martosko, U.s. Political Editor
Published: 11:20 EST, 20 May 2014 | Updated: 12:48 EST, 20 May 2014

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has blasted the Obama administration for bringing the world to the brink of 'a second Cold War that nobody needs.'
In a videotaped interview published Tuesday, he told Bloomberg Television that 'we are slowly but surely approaching a second cold war,' in part because President Barack Obama 'could be more tactful politically.'
Seated at his private residence outside Moscow and speaking through an English translator, Medvedev blasted Obama for leveling sanctions at the Russian government and its wealthiest oligarchs.


Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev blasted the Obama administration -- with a smile! -- for bringing the world to the brink of 'a second Cold War that nobody needs'


Nerves fraying: Russia claims it has withdrawn troops from near the Ukrainian border, but tank commanders at checkpoints are still standing guard


Naive? Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov pressed a red prop 'reset button' along with then- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in March 2009, but the two countries' relations are now at a post-Cold War low

'Let's be honest: Those sanctions are a sharp knife for European business,' he claimed. 'And American business doesn't need them either. The only ones who want sanctions are politicians, who use them to reinforce their convictions and demonstrate their power.'
And in a mafia-like jab, the Russian legislative leader hinted that if he wanted to, he could push back against U.S. sanctions.

More...

• The Cold War really IS back: Russian aircraft carrier group full of Soviet-era ships escorted through the English Channel by state-of-the-art Royal Navy destroyer
• Shocking moment Ukrainian politician is mobbed by furious crowd hours before being abducted and 'tortured to death' by pro-Russian militia
• Pictured: Menacing masked pro-Russian thugs behind eastern Ukraine's 'people's mayors' - as death of politician and shooting of military jet deepen tensions

'You've probably noticed that we have not commented on them a great deal or responded to them harshly,' he told Bloomberg reporter Ryan Chilcote, 'although we probably could cause some unpleasantries for the country that imposes those sanctions.'
Asked about the now-infamous 'reset button' effort that he co-engineered with then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in March 2009, Medvedev said the Obama administration has unraveled any Russian good will that may have existed five years ago.

'Yes, I believe that President Obama could be more tactful politically when discussing those issues,' he said. 'Some decisions taken by the U.S. administration are disappointing.'


Pressure: Russian President Vladimir Putin joined with Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) to oversee joint naval exercises on Tuesday as the two powers seek to build ties in the face of Western criticism and territorial disputes


Medvedev hinted at repercussions for U.S. economic sanctions, saying that 'we probably could cause some unpleasantries for the country that imposes those sanctions'

'We have indeed done a lot for Russian-U.S. relations. I believe doing so was right. The agreements that we reached with America were useful. And I'm very sorry that everything that has been achieved is now being eliminated by those [U.S.] decisions.'
'Basically,' he claimed, 'we are slowly but surely approaching a second Cold War that nobody needs. Why am I saying this? Because a competent politician knows how to make reserved, careful, subtle, wise and intelligent decisions – which, I believe, Mr Obama succeeded at for a while.'
'But what is being done now, unfortunately, proves that the US Administration has run out of these resources. And the United States is one of the parties to suffer from this.'
Medvedev's interview came as the U.S. was still seeking 'firm evidence' to support Russia's claim that it has withdrawn soldiers from the borders of Ukraine.
Ukraine is gearing up for an election to replace former president Viktor Yanukovych, who fled to Russia in February after months of street protests.

Russia's relations with the United States and European Union are at a post-Cold War low following Moscow's seizure of Crimea.

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz32I8hfhvI

Russia, China Plan to Expand Payments in National Currencies

Russia, China Plan to Expand Payments in National Currencies

© Fotolia/ selensergen
14:01 20/05/2014
Tags: national currency, trade, China, Russia

SHANGHAI, May 20 (RIA Novosti) – Russia and China are planning to increase the volume of direct payments in mutual trade in their national currencies, according to a joint statement on a new stage of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation signed during high-level talks in Shanghai on Tuesday.
“The sides intend to take new steps to increase the level and expansion of spheres of Russian-Chinese practical cooperation, in particular to establish close cooperation in the financial sphere, including an increase in direct payments in the Russian and Chinese national currencies in trade, investments and loan services,” the statement said.
The two countries are also set to deepen dialogue on macroeconomic policy issues, as well as boost growth in mutual investment, including in transportation infrastructure, the development of mineral deposits, and the construction of budget housing within Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in China on Tuesday for high-level talks with President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping. A large package of documents, including bilateral, intergovernmental, inter-departmental and corporate agreements are expected to be signed during the two-day visit, aimed at cementing Russian-Chinese relations.
The decision to switch to the national currencies, thus reducing dependence on the US dollar was first announced in 2010 by then-Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. The announcement was followed by a deal struck by the central banks of the two countries that allowed bilateral trade in the ruble and renminbi, as well as in freely convertible currency.

http://en.ria.ru/russia/20140520/189...urrencies.html