Inside Russia-Outside Russia is a news insight by the Federation of Russian Embassy in Bangladesh on 16.02.2025
Dhaka 17 February 2025 :
INSIDE RUSSIA
Lavrov and Rubio hold phone call
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has held a conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Saturday. According to Moscow, the two diplomats agreed to maintain regular contact in an effort to eventually lift unilateral sanctions that have hindered “mutually beneficial” economic cooperation.
The call came just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump held a phone conversation, marking their first known direct interaction since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022.
According to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry, Lavrov and Rubio reaffirmed their commitment to restoring a “mutually respectful dialogue” and addressing “longstanding issues in Russian-American relations.”
“Their goal is to remove unilateral barriers inherited from the previous US administration that have hindered mutually beneficial trade, economic, and investment cooperation,” the ministry stated. The diplomats also discussed ways to resolve the tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions and consulate closures of recent years.
A brief readout from the US State Department noted that Rubio reiterated Trump’s dedication to resolving the conflict in Ukraine. The statement added that the two officials explored potential cooperation on “a number of other bilateral issues.”
Moscow said Lavrov and Rubio agreed to maintain regular contact, including coordinating preparations for a meeting between Putin and Trump. Hours after his call with Putin on Wednesday, Trump told reporters at the White House that an in-person meeting with the Russian leader could take place soon. Trump also spoke with Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky, who allegedly told him he was prepared to seek an end to the conflict with Russia.
Senior US officials, including Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, are reportedly set to travel to Saudi Arabia in the coming days to begin peace talks with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators. Major European powers are not expected to participate, Politico reported on Saturday, citing sources. Kiev has reportedly been sidelined from discussions regarding the upcoming summit.
During his presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly vowed to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict swiftly. Since taking office last month, the Republican has taken a markedly different approach from his predecessor, Joe Biden.
Trump has claimed he understands Russia’s concerns over Ukraine joining NATO and has stated that Kiev would not become part of the alliance under any settlement.
Russia has repeatedly said it remains open to negotiations but insists that key issues, such as Ukraine’s NATO ambitions, must be addressed.
Medvedev applauds Vance’s ‘humiliating rebuke’ of Europe
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has applauded US Vice President J.D. Vance’s speech at the Munich Conference
The deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, has hailed US Vice President J.D. Vance’s speech at the Munich Security Conference, calling it a rare moment of American honesty about Europe’s weaknesses and Vance himself “a brave guy.”
In his speech on Friday, Vance touched on the migration crisis, security, freedom of speech, and apparent democratic backsliding on the continent.
Medvedev said Vance “unexpectedly lit up” the conference, calling his remarks a harsh but truthful indictment of modern Europe.
“Everyone expected to hear the usual partner-like curtseys to Europe and comments on Donald Trump’s words about the end of the Ukrainian conflict. But he went and harshly scolded the Europeans who have completely lost themselves in recent years: your democracy is weak, your elections are crap, your rules that violate normal human morality are crap,” Medvedev wrote.
He added that the Europeans would retaliate against him if he did not hold such a high post. “However, they will forgive him; they will begrudgingly accept the humiliating rebuke from their senior partner with resentment,” Medvedev concluded.
Vance was particularly severe in his indictment of European democracy. He voiced concerns over the erosion of democratic values in Europe, drawing attention to the annulment of the presidential election in Romania. The first round in November saw right-wing anti-establishment candidate Calin Georgescu come out on top with 22.94%, beating liberal leftist and social democrat candidates. Romania’s top court cited intelligence documents alleging “irregularities” in his campaign performance in making their ruling, although the validity of that evidence has been questioned.
The US vice president also cautioned against rising censorship in the region, told European member-states to take greater responsibility for their own defense, and raised the alarm over mass migration.
US President Donald Trump praised Vance’s speech as “brilliant.” However, some European officials were not so keen on the address. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas warned that it signaled growing transatlantic tension. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius meanwhile, blasted the remarks, calling them “not acceptable.”
On the other hand, Russian Senator Alexander Shenderyuk-Zhidkov described Vance’s statements as a “cold shower” for European Russophobes.
G8 has lost its relevance
The current Group of Eight format does not represent the drivers of global economic growth, according to spokesman Dmitry Peskov
The Group of Eight (G8) has become obsolete because it no longer represents the world’s economic growth engines, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Friday, in response to US President Donald Trump’s proposal to readmit Russia.
Under the proposal, Russia would rejoin the group currently consisting of the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan. However, three of the top-10 global economic powers in terms of GDP and PPP – China, India and Brazil – aren’t in the club.
Peskov pointed out that the group has “lost its relevance” because economic growth centers have shifted to other parts of the world and are not represented in the current configuration.
“The G7 does not represent the world’s leading economic and social development centers,” Peskov said.
He emphasized Russia’s preference for the G20 format, which includes China, India, and Brazil alongside the G7 members. “The G20 better reflects the economic locomotives of the world,” Peskov added.
Trump suggested on Thursday that Russia should be reinstated in the G8, calling its 2014 exclusion a mistake. “I’d love to have them back. I think it was a mistake to throw them out,” the US president stated at the White House.
Russia joined the group in 1997 as a “non-enumerated member.” However, its membership was suspended in 2014 following the country’s reunification with Crimea, after which the G8 reverted to the G7. Crimea voted to leave Ukraine and become part of Russia through a referendum after the Western-backed Maidan coup in Kiev.
‘It doesn’t harm us’: Russian scientist busts myths about microplastics
Alarming media reports about the harm of microplastics to the human body and the environment are greatly exaggerated
Microplastics are among the most widely discussed environmental topics today. The media often highlights the harmful effects of polymer nanoparticles on living organisms. However, as head of the Department of Polymer and Crystal Physics at Moscow State University, and a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Alexei Khokhlov told RT, there is no scientific basis for these claims. Khokhlov argues that microplastic particles are no more hazardous to humans than tiny wood or concrete particles which exist in the environment in much greater quantities.
RT: In recent years, many scientific studies and media reports have been published about microplastics. What exactly are they made of?
Khokhlov: Microplastics are defined as fragments of polymer materials smaller than 5 mm. These particles can break down into even smaller micron-sized pieces, and there are also polymer nanoparticles.
We live in an era dominated by new materials. Just 100 years ago, the polymer industry was virtually nonexistent. The widespread use of plastics began in the 1950s, and today, approximately 400 million tons of various plastics are produced annually worldwide.
The main types of polymers include polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, and polyvinyl chloride. These materials are used to make plastic wrap, packaging, and so on. Essentially, we are surrounded by polymer materials; life today would be unimaginable without them.
RT: Is it true that microplastics are everywhere, even in our food and water?
Khokhlov: The molecular structure of polymers consists of long chains of monomer units. Interestingly, we are made up of polymers ourselves, since proteins, DNA and RNA chains are molecules of such type. As for their presence in the environment, particles from all natural and man-made materials find their way into the environment.
Nanoparticles of dust, sand, and natural polymers like cellulose can enter cells. Wood itself is essentially a composite material made from cellulose and lignin. Annually, around 2.5 billion tons of wood are produced globally, while plastics account for only 400 million tons. It’s a very small amount compared to natural polymers.
RT: How do microplastics affect living cells? Can particles penetrate cells and disrupt their function?
Khokhlov: Any material will break down into smaller particles as a result of environmental exposure. All nanoparticles can enter the human bloodstream, not just microplastics. For instance, walls gradually disintegrate into dust and sand, which also make their way into the human body. There is no evidence that microplastic particles are particularly harmful.
Humanity has coexisted with ordinary dust for millions of years, and it doesn’t harm us. When any particle enters the human body, it is coated by biological fluids that include fragments of bacteria, proteins, etc. A ‘biocorona’, or coating made up of these fragments, forms around the particle, so it cannot affect the human organism. This process occurs with all particles, regardless of their composition — microplastics included. For the body, there is no difference between microplastics and dust.
Currently, plastic makes up only 15% of the total volume of solid waste. This is relatively low, and the concentration of microplastics in the environment remains minimal. Laboratory studies claiming harmful effects are often conducted using extremely high concentrations of microplastics that do not reflect real-world scenarios.
RT: If the environmental impact isn’t significant, why do you think the media and public are so concerned about this issue?
Khokhlov: Because the media needs sensational stories. The idea that wood particles can enter human cells isn’t shocking because wood is familiar to us and no one believes it could pose any risk. Synthetic polymers, however, evoke fear because they are unfamiliar and artificial. But there’s no evidence to suggest they act differently than other particles.
For example, there has been a lot of talk about eliminating plastic bottles since microplastics can get into the water. However, further research has shown that most of the microplastics found in water primarily come from polyamides, which are synthetic fibers used in textiles. When these fabrics are washed, tiny particles make their way into wastewater and eventually into our waterways.
RT: Can we replace plastic containers with alternatives that won’t break down into microplastics, or ones that would be made up of particles that are safe for nature and humans?
Khokhlov: There are always alternatives, but they tend to be much more expensive. And in many industries, such as healthcare, the alternative isn’t the same. For example, we can switch from single-use syringes and gloves to reusable options, but what will the consequences be?
In regions where access to clean water is inconsistent and sanitation is poor, single-use items and plastic bottles serve as the only means to avoid poisoning and infectious diseases.
However, it’s crucial to ensure that plastic packaging isn’t carelessly discarded outdoors but is properly disposed of. Out of 400 million tons of plastic, 300 million end up in landfills or incinerators, meaning that 100 million tons aren’t disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner. This is a significant issue that warrants attention and action.
Moreover, the primary sources of microplastics are not plastic utensils or packaging but washed [synthetic] clothes, worn automobile tires, urban dust, and even road markings and marine paint. This suggests that combating microplastics would require us to give up driving cars and using washing machines. But what would that lead to? People cannot forgo hygiene standards, and our current infrastructure and logistics cannot provide alternative solutions that would meet the needs of society.
OUTSIDE RUSSIA
Russian citizen among hostages released by Hamas
Alexander Trufanov has been freed following diplomatic efforts by Moscow
Hamas has released three hostages, including a Russian national, as part of a ceasefire agreement with Israel. The men were identified as Sagui Dekel-Chen, a dual US-Israeli citizen; Aleksander Trufanov, a dual Russian-Israeli citizen, and Yair Horn, a dual Argentinian-Israeli citizen.
The hostages have been handed over to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israeli Security Agency (ISA) in Gaza and are returning to Israeli territory, where they will undergo an initial medical assessment, the IDF said in a statement.
In January, President Vladimir Putin urged the Foreign Ministry and other relevant government agencies “to do everything” to secure the release of the Russian citizen held by Hamas. The next day, Russian Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov revealed that Hamas had assured Moscow of Trufanov’s imminent release.
The diplomat went on to say that Trufanov had been wounded during the hostage-taking and his condition was “not quite satisfactory.” He stressed however, that the Hamas leadership had given Russia a “firm promise” that Trufanov would be returned “alive and well.”
“Aleksander was placed on the list of hostages to be released at the first stage of the agreement between Israel and Hamas, rather than the second stage, at Russia’s request. According to the Palestinian leadership, this was done as a sign of respect for our country’s position in support of a just settlement of the Middle East conflict,” Russian Ambassador to Qatar Dmitry Dogadkin said.
Russia has maintained ties with Hamas and other Middle Eastern actors, positioning itself as a mediator in conflicts involving Israeli hostages. Moscow maintains that the two-state solution, namely the establishing of the State of Palestine alongside Israel, is the only way to settle the decades-long Middle East crisis.
Saturday’s exchange is the latest in a series of swaps under the current ceasefire, which began on January 19. To date, 21 hostages have been released by Hamas, with Israel freeing over 730 Palestinian prisoners in return. Another 73 hostages are still held in Gaza, with half of them believed to be dead.
The hostages, including Trufanov, were abducted during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 people. Some 250 people were taken hostage. In the past 15 months, nearly 47,000 people in Gaza have been killed, according to the enclave’s health authorities.
Trufanov was taken hostage with his grandmother Irena Tati, mother Elena and girlfriend Sapir Cohen. His father Vitaly Trufanov was killed in the attack. The women were released as part of the Hamas-Israel truce in November 2023.
The Trufanov family emigrated from the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don in the late 1990s. Prior to the kidnapping, Trufanov worked as an engineer at Annapurna Labs, an Israeli subsidiary of the technology giant Amazon. The e-commerce company had been repeatedly criticized for its silence regarding the capture of its employee by Hamas.
SPECIAL MILITARY OPERATION IN UKRAINE
Russian cameraman wounded in Ukrainian drone strike
A cameraman with Channel One Russia was wounded in a Ukrainian drone strike while filming on the front line in Kursk Region
Yury Sholmov, a camera operator with Channel One, was wounded when a Ukrainian drone attacked his crew in Russia’s Kursk Region on Friday. Moscow’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described the attack as deliberate and condemned it as another “bloody crime” committed by Kiev against civilians.
The TV crew was targeted while filming on the front line in the village of Cherkasskaya Konopelka on Friday, when a Ukrainian bomber UAV dropped at least one explosive. The cameraman, who was reported injured by the explosion and wounded in the shin with shrapnel, received first aid at a local hospital and will be transferred for further treatment to Moscow, according to Acting Kursk Governor Alexander Khinshtein.
“By targeting unarmed military correspondents, journalists, cameramen, and photographers – waging a real hunt for them – the Ukrainian Nazis are seeking, by all means, to conceal the truth about their brutal violations of international humanitarian law and atrocities against civilians,” Zakharova said in a statement.
The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman urged international organizations like UNESCO, the OSCE, and the UN to condemn the attack, warning that their silence could be interpreted as complicity and encourage further atrocities.
“I am certain that this vile act of the Nazi regime should be met with the most principled assessment at the international level,” added Khinshtein, who had been a journalist himself before pursuing a political career. He urged all frontline reporters to take every possible precaution in their work.
Sholmov went on air with Channel One shortly after the incident, stating he would get treated “a little” and likely head straight back to Kursk to continue covering the Ukrainian incursion into the Russian region.
The village of Cherkasskaya Konopelka is located southeast of the town of Sudzha, the largest community under Kiev’s control in Kursk Region. It has seen active combat recently, with Ukrainian forces launching multiple attacks in its vicinity early this month in an attempt to gain more territory.
The Kremlin has dismissed Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky’s hope for a potential territory trade with Moscow as “impossible.” Zakharova previously quipped that the only land that “neo-Nazis rampaging in Kursk” will receive is a grave plot.
Back in 2022, Sholmov gained international attention on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Indonesia, when then-US President Joe Biden was captivated by the cameraman’s impressive physique.
“There’s a man. I hope we’re on the same side,” Biden said as he moved in to squeeze the journalist’s bicep. Upon learning Sholmov was Russian, Biden remarked, “I don’t care who he is. He’s got some real biceps. We call ‘em guns.”
Moscow responds to Chernobyl strike accusation
The alleged drone attack on the facility could have been a Ukrainian provocation, according to Dmitry Peskov
The Russian military does not target nuclear infrastructure, including what remains on the site of the destroyed Chernobyl power plant, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Friday.
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky had alleged earlier in the day that a Russian drone had attacked the containment structure built over what remains of the Soviet power facility which was devastated in a 1986 disaster. Zelensky reported “significant damage” in the incident.
Peskov stated that any claims that Russia is targeting nuclear facilities are false by default. He said he has no verified information about the situation, but assumed that most likely it was “the latest provocation, a frame up” orchestrated by Kiev. He added: “This is what they love doing.”
The Chernobyl protective dome, also known as the New Safe Confinement, was built in the 2010s to protect the remains of the destroyed reactor 4 unit from the elements and prevent the escape of contaminated material into the environment. The project cost a reported €2.1 billion ($2.2 bn) in international funding.
The alleged drone incident came days after the administration of US President Donald Trump ruled out Ukraine’s accession to NATO or restoration of control over all of its claimed territories as part of a potential peace deal with Russia. Zelensky had previously called both goals essential for Ukraine’s interests.
Russian officials have warned that Kiev could resort to extreme measures, including false flag operations meant to frame Moscow, in an attempt to derail Washington’s peace efforts and ensure the continued flow of Western aid to Kiev.
INSIGHTS
Fyodor Lukyanov: Vance only said what Americans really think
The EU needs the Cold War to continue, but the US VP’s Munich speech signals a transatlantic divorce
US Vice President J.D. Vance’s landmark speech at the Munich Security Conference on Friday has been attributed to various factors. Some say it was an act of revenge. For years, Western European leaders have denounced Donald Trump and his supporters, never considering that they might one day have to answer for their words. Now, the response has arrived, and the EU is left bewildered, asking: “Why us?”
But beyond personal grievances, there is a deeper ideological divergence at play. In many ways, Vance’s critique of the Europeans echoed the same accusations that the settlers of the New World leveled at the Old Continent centuries ago: tyranny, hypocrisy, and parasitism. The rejection of European political traditions laid the ideological foundation for the American state three hundred years ago. Now that dispute over what constitutes real democracy has evolved from an internal American debate into a transatlantic one – and its outcome will shape the future.
Yet the most crucial element of Vance’s speech goes beyond personalities or ideological rifts. It reflects a fundamental shift in global politics. The key question today is whether the Cold War should finally end within the framework of the 20th century or whether it should continue indefinitely. Western Europe insists on the latter – not because of any grand strategy, but because it has failed to integrate its former adversaries peacefully. The US, on the other hand, appears ready to move on.
This shift is not a product of Trump, nor even of Vance, but rather of America’s evolving priorities. The pivot away from Europe began under George W. Bush and has continued under every president since. Trump merely said out loud what his predecessors preferred to leave unsaid.
For Western Europe, clinging to the ideological and geopolitical framework of the Cold War is about survival. Maintaining the old order allows the EU to sustain its centrality in global affairs and, more importantly, to preserve its own internal cohesion, which is already under strain.
For the United States, however, letting go of Cold War-era structures offers a chance to focus on present and future challenges — China, the Pacific, North America, and the Arctic. Western Europe cannot prove itself indispensable in any of these areas, but it can serve as a costly distraction.
This leads to an uncomfortable conclusion: The EU has a vested interest in escalating tensions to a level where even a reluctant US administration cannot stand aside. The real question now is whether the Old World is capable of pushing events in that direction.
