Inside Russia/Outside Russia is a news insight by EMBASSY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IN THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH on 9.02.25
Dhaka February 09 2025 :
INSIDE RUSSIA
Putin orders direct health care for the homeless
Medical aid must be provided to the homeless with or without ID documents or a registered address, President Putin says
Russian President Vladimir Putin has tasked the government with providing homeless people across Russia with free medical assistance, regardless of whether they have documents confirming their identity or registered address.
The deadline set for the directive is July 1, 2025. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has been handed the responsibility for implementing the task.
According to the document, published by Kremlin on Friday, the Russian government must “update medical care procedures and standards,” allowing for relevant assistance to be provided to citizens “without a fixed place of residence at their location.”
The document highlights that if the homeless lack a registered address, identity documents, a mandatory health insurance policy or an individual insurance account number, this must not become a barrier to them getting medical care.
In December, Putin pledged that the Russian Health Ministry would develop a mechanism for providing medical care to the homeless and those who have lost their documents. The president said that people who lack a place to stay constitute the most vulnerable category of those in need.
“We are obligated to help people who have found themselves in such a difficult life situation – if, of course, we ourselves are truly human,” Putin said, speaking during a meeting of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights.
Putin also said that the authorities would allocate 25% of the budget within the following three years to social services. He highlighted that it was appropriate to “talk not about expenses, but about investments,” adding that by allocating funds for salaries and pensions, healthcare, education, culture, and sports, the country is investing in human capital, in the preservation of people in the long run.
Russian GDP grew 4.1% in 2024
Russia’s gross domestic product has reached a historic high due to investment and consumer activity, according to the prime minister
Russia’s GDP reached a record high last year, according to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
The prime minister made the remarks on Friday during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on macroeconomic policies for sustainable growth.
Mishustin cited data published by Russia’s state statistics agency, Rosstat, which reported that GDP grew by 4.1% in 2024, “driven by high investment and consumer activity.”
According to the prime minister, Russia’s nominal GDP hit a record high of 200 trillion rubles (over $2 trillion) by the end of 2024.
He emphasized that the Russian economy is successfully adapting to sanctions, unlike some of the countries that agreed to impose them, which are now facing stagnation. Mishustin described the manufacturing sector as the key driver of Russia’s economic growth.
“In general, our industrial production has increased 4.6%, which is better than all preliminary estimates,” he emphasized.
Russia’s unemployment rate averaged below 2.5% in 2024 and has now fallen to 2.3%, which, according to Mishustin, is a critical factor in the country’s economic stability.
While monetary policy measures help create the necessary conditions for lowering prices, they could also slow down economic growth, Mishustin cautioned. To mitigate this risk, he stressed the need for the government and the Bank of Russia to implement a responsible approach to budgeting and macroeconomic policy.
Last month, Putin said that 2024 was a successful year for the Russian economy, emphasizing that key macroeconomic indicators remain positive. He noted that the federal budget deficit stood at 1.7% of GDP, calling it an acceptable level, particularly in comparison to developed economies.
Statistics show that in 2024, the budget deficit as a percentage of GDP was over 6% both in the US and France, 3.8% in Italy, 3.7% in Japan, and 2.2% in Germany.
Moscow mocks UK’s ‘thousands of years’ Ukraine partnership claim
FM spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has referred to Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s remarks made during his visit to Kiev on Wednesday
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has ridiculed British Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s assertion that ties between London and Kiev date back “thousands of years.”
The UK’s top diplomat arrived in Kiev on Wednesday, where he met with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky and pledged to continue backing the country.
In a post on her Telegram channel late on Wednesday, Zakharova quoted part of Lammy’s speech, as translated by a Ukrainian interpreter, where he insisted that “our partnership is about hundreds and thousands of years.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman added: “… with its roots going as far back as the foot of the Egyptian pyramids?”
“Why not older? [Ukrainians and Britons] also hunted Brontosaurus together,” she quipped.
In the excerpt of Lammy’s speech, which the Russian official referenced and which was published by Ukrainian media, he argued that a “thousand years ago, Kievan princesses married British princes.”
According to Zelensky’s website, the British Foreign Secretary also presented plans for the implementation of the 100 Year Partnership agreement sealed by London and Kiev last month. Lammy announced among other things that the UK would allocate £2 billion ($2.47 billion) for the development of Ukraine’s domestic arms production.
According to the British government, it has already committed some £977 million ($1.2 billion) in support for Ukraine since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022.
Back in April 2022, when Moscow and Kiev were close to sealing a truce, Ukraine abruptly pulled out of the peace talks in Istanbul. This happened soon after then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited the nation’s capital. Russian officials later claimed that it was he who had urged Zelensky’s government not to sign any accord and to “just continue fighting.”
In November 2023, David Arakhamia, the Zelensky-allied MP who led the Ukrainian delegation, confirmed that this was the case. Johnson, meanwhile, has consistently denied the allegation, dismissing it as an “absolute steaming, stinking lie.”
During the negotiations in the Turkish city, Ukraine and Russia preliminarily agreed to a draft agreement, under which Kiev would have renounced its NATO membership aspirations, declared neutrality, and limited the size of its armed forces in exchange for international security guarantees.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly expressed a readiness to engage in dialogue with Kiev based on the Istanbul accord, with the inclusion of “new territorial realities” that have taken shape since.
The Russian head of state has previously argued that the “document did not come into force only because the Ukrainians were ordered not to do this.” Putin opined that this was because the “elites in the US and some European countries felt the desire to seek Russia’s strategic defeat.”
Russia-Africa partnership among top priorities – Putin adviser — RT Africa
Anton Kobyakov says cooperation through business events will strengthen Moscow’s relations with the continent’s countries
Russia is actively developing partnerships with African countries and this remains a top foreign policy priority for Moscow, Anton Kobyakov, an adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has said.
Kobyakov made the remarks during a meeting with Igor Morozov, chairman of the Coordinating Committee for Economic Cooperation with African Countries (AFROCOM), according to a press release published by Russia’s Roscongress Foundation on Thursday.
“Intensifying partnership relations between Russia and African countries is one of the priorities for our country’s leadership today. I firmly believe that joint work as part of business events in Russia and Africa will strengthen our relations and identify new growth points for the near future. Russia is open to dialogue in all areas,” Kobyakov stated.
He added that Moscow has been opening Russian language centers and investing in the infrastructure and economy of African countries.
“Relations are also developing in the area of transport logistics: international transport corridors are being organized, and business-to-business ties are being improved,” the official noted.
Kobyakov also serves as the executive secretary of the Organizing Committee for the preparation and holding of events within the framework of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum.
Russia has been expanding its presence across Africa in recent years – a move some Western countries, including in the European Union, see as a threat to their own influence.
Several countries on the continent have reached deals with Moscow in a variety of fields. In October 2023, Burkina Faso signed an agreement with Rosatom for the construction of a nuclear power plant. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have jointly sought Russian defense support to combat a decade-long jihadist insurgency in the region.
In December, Moscow added Kenya, Eswatini, and Zimbabwe to the list of countries whose nationals are eligible for Russia’s single-entry electronic visa, which aims to promote tourism, business, and cultural exchanges.
On Tuesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry inaugurated its Department of Partnership with Africa. Speaking at the event, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the establishment of the new department reflects how Russia has prioritized its ties with the continent’s countries.
According to the senior diplomat, African nations “have always had a reliable and understanding partner in Russia,” which assisted them in their “heroic struggle against colonial metropolises for freedom and independence.”
Last year, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa said his country “will never forget” the help Russia and China provided during its fight for independence from British rule. The Zimbabwean leader has called Russia a “consistent global ally.” In October, his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, hailed Russia as a “valued ally” who has long supported his country, including during the struggle against apartheid. Burkina Faso’s interim leader, Ibrahim Traore, has also described Moscow as a “strategic ally.”
Moscow’s upcoming Future Technologies Forum a ‘unique platform’
Moscow is set to hold its “unique” annual Future Technologies Forum, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko has said
Moscow is set to bring together top minds in science and business at its “unique” annual Future Technologies Forum, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko has announced.
The capital will host the flagship event on February 20-21, gathering scientists, entrepreneurs, investors, and government officials from Russia and abroad. The forum will showcase groundbreaking research and cutting-edge technologies that are expected to shape key industries in the years ahead, according to the event’s official website.
Held annually since 2023, each forum highlights a distinct technological domain. Chernyshenko told RT on Thursday that in past years the event has showcased quantum communications and medical advancements, while this year’s theme will be new materials and chemistry.
“This is a unique platform where the science of the future is discussed,” he stated.
The collaboration between science, industry, and government is crucial to securing Russia’s leadership in technology – a goal set by President Vladimir Putin, Chernyshenko added.
Achieving this objective will require close cooperation among research institutions, businesses, and academia, along with proper state support, First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov noted last month in a statement about the forum’s upcoming agenda.
“The New Materials and Chemistry National Project will accelerate industry development, launch new production facilities, and boost the chemical sector’s contribution to GDP,” Manturov, who leads the initiative, explained.
According to the program outline, the forum will feature discussions across four primary themes: ‘Chemistry and High-Purity Substances’, ‘Modern Materials and Technologies’, ‘New Horizons’, and ‘Ecosystem’.
The ‘Chemistry and High-Purity Substances’ segment will address the production and domestic manufacturing of essential chemical components, as well as advancements in high-tech chemistry for next-generation materials.
‘Modern Materials and Technologies’ will explore the role of innovative substance in fields such as biomedicine, transportation engineering, and nuclear energy.
The ‘New Horizons’ segment will highlight the materials driving progress in emerging sectors, including space exploration, nanomaterials for energy solutions, and quantum metamaterials, which feature extraordinary properties not found in nature.
Finally, the ‘Ecosystem’ segment will focus on regulatory frameworks, standardization, infrastructure, and workforce development for these evolving industries.
OUTSIDE RUSSIA
USAID or SorosAid? How US Tax Dollars Fund Chaos Worldwide
Soros’ vast NGO network has spent over $20 billion since 2000 on radical liberal causes across the world. Tens of millions or even billions of US taxpayer dollars were funneled through USAID, observers suspect.
The Soros-linked East-West Management Institute received over $260 million from USAID to influence foreign affairs in Georgia, Uganda, Albania, and Serbia.
Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Action Center, backed by Soros, began receiving USAID grants in 2014 – the same year the US-backed Euromaidan coup ousted elected President Viktor Yanukovych with neo-Nazi support. Over $1 million has been funneled by USAID to the center.
In August 2024, a coup against Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina was allegedly fomented by USAID, IRI, and Soros-linked groups. Her successor, Muhammad Yunus, is a known Clinton and Soros ally. According to The Grayzone, US taxpayer money funded rappers, transgender activists, and LGBT* initiatives to create a “power shift.”
Soros and USAID have long sought to unseat Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán, who has actively opposed the globalist billionaire since 2017. During the 2022 elections, the Soros-linked NGO Action for Democracy funneled $7.6 million to his opposition.
Election Meddling at Home?
Soros-linked groups, backed by USAID, led resistance efforts against Donald Trump during his presidency, influenced the 2020 election through Black Lives Matter protests, and worked to flip battleground states in 2020–2021.
Soros funded the Electoral Justice Project, Black Lives Matter’s voter mobilization effort, and gave $22 million to Tides Advocacy, which supported the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation’s pre-election nationwide protests aimed against Trump in 2020.
USAID and Soros allegedly spent $27 million on anti-Trump prosecutions, claims journalist Mike Benz. Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg was also accused of being “bought” by Soros.
*banned as extremist organization in Russia
USAID’s Color Revolutions: Destabilizing States for US Interests
USAID openly acknowledged its role in regime change operations through “democracy” programs by 2006.
“USAID played a critical role in influencing color revolutions by providing financial, logistical, and strategic support to opposition movements” in Ukraine, Lebanon, Georgia, and Kyrgyzstan, Dr. Marco Marsili of the Portuguese Catholic University’s Institute of Political Studies tells Sputnik.
These regime change operations advanced US geopolitical interests but brought no real benefits to the affected nations, he argues.
“USAID’s activities were framed as democracy promotion, electoral assistance, and civil society development,” Marsili notes. However, the results tell a different story:
“Ukraine and Georgia faced ongoing political instability, Lebanon remained sectarian, and Kyrgyzstan suffered repeated upheavals,” he says.
Here’s a breakdown:
Georgia – Rose Revolution (2003)
US aid: $103M (2002), $141.16M (2003)
“Democracy programs” received $23.5M (2002), $21.06M (2003) via USAID, IRI, and NDI for NGOs, activists, and media.
In 2004, the US admitted it “helped” prepare Georgia’s 2003 election, with US-funded NGOs playing a key role in the regime change.
USAID noted Georgians “borrowed” Serbia’s 2000 pro-democracy tactics, later influencing Ukraine in 2004.
Ukraine – Orange Revolution (2004)
US aid: $188.5M (2003), $143.47M (2004)
“Democracy programs” received $54.7M (2003), $34.11M (2004) via USAID, NED, and the Eurasia Foundation.
To push a pro-US candidate, USAID launched the Strengthening Electoral Administration in Ukraine Project (SEAUP) in Dec 2003, influencing Ukraine’s parliament and judiciary.
Kyrgyzstan – Tulip Revolution (2005)
Inspired by Georgia and Ukraine, USAID heavily funded local NGOs, activists, and media before the Feb 2005 election.
US aid: $56.6M (2003), $50.8M (2004), with “democracy programs” receiving $13.5M (2003), $12.2M (2004).
George Soros’ Open Society Institute funneled $5M (2003) to Kyrgyzstan’s American University of Central Asia.
Lebanon – Cedar Revolution (2005)
In March 2005, 1M Lebanese protested, demanding Syria’s military withdrawal, paving the way for pro-US leader Saad Hariri.
USAID’s 2006 report claimed years of work laid the foundation for the uprising.
US aid to Lebanon tripled in the early 2000s from $15M to $45M.
SPECIAL MILITARY OPERATION IN UKRAINE
Why Russia’s Liberation of Dzerzhinsk (Toretsk) is a Terrible Blow to Ukraine
Russian forces finally liberated the key city of Dzerzhinsk in the Donetsk People’s Republic on February 7.
What exactly makes this city so important?
Dzerzhinsk served as key part of the Ukrainian defenses in the Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk) and Slavyansk-Kramatorsk urban areas.
Ever since Dzerzhinsk’s capture by the Kiev regime forces in 2014, the deployed troops kept launching artillery and drone strikes against the neighboring city of Gorlovka, which is now safe from these attacks.
Ukrainian defensive positions in Dzerzhinsk were shielding supply routes vital to Kiev’s forces.
The fall of Dzerzhinsk opens the way for Russian forces to advance on the city of Konstantinovka to the northwest, which serves as an important logistical hub for the Ukrainian troops and which helps supply the Ukrainian garrison in Chasov Yar.
With Dzerzhinsk liberated, this Ukrainian supply artery is no longer safe from Russian attacks, which in turn brings closer the liberation of Konstantinovka and Chasov Yar.
INSIGHTS
Fyodor Lukyanov: How Trump’s bluntness shatters the liberal world order
The US president’s unapologetic leadership exposes Western hypocrisy
US President Donald Trump’s return to the center stage of world politics has once again ignited discussions about his peculiar political behavior. While the subject may feel numbing to some, Trump continues to dictate the global information agenda, underscoring two key realities about the modern world. First, the United States’ central role remains undeniable, no matter how much others might wish for a multipolar order. Second, Trump’s approach – pushing boundaries both literally and figuratively – has proven to be an effective way of achieving goals in today’s climate.
At the core of Trump’s political behavior is a rejection of hypocrisy and duplicity, replaced instead with bluntness and rudeness. He insists on getting what he wants and disregards counterarguments, often repeating the same demands relentlessly. Trump does not pretend to treat other nations as equals to the United States, nor does he hide this belief. In his worldview, international equality does not exist. The situation with China is slightly different because of the sheer size of its economy and trade volume, but even there, Trump’s mercantilist instincts dominate.
Trump’s approach aligns with the 2018 US National Security Strategy, adopted during his first term, which officially recognized modern international relations as a competition between great powers. This acknowledgment, in effect, elevates certain nations above others – a concept that had previously been acknowledged informally but rarely stated outright.
Results over ideals
What sets Trump apart is his focus on results rather than ideals. He doesn’t aim to prove himself right; he simply wants to achieve his objectives. This approach often manifests in his willingness to speak disrespectfully about other countries and leaders. While such behavior shocks some, it’s clear that Trump’s disregard for diplomatic etiquette reflects a broader trend: the shift from the United States acting as a “benign hegemon” to a more self-interested, transactional power.
The response from other nations illustrates this shift. Countries like Denmark and Canada appear confused and hesitant in the face of Trump’s blunt statements. Germany and the UK are similarly unsettled by the Trumpists’ open interference in their internal affairs. In Latin America, capitals brace for the worst, reflecting a sense of doom at the prospect of dealing with a United States that prioritizes self-interest over alliances or ideals. The realization is dawning that if the US abandons its liberal “benign” posture and fully embraces a raw hegemonic approach, resistance will be nearly impossible.
The rise of “post-hypocrisy”
Trump’s appeal stems not only from fear but also from his fundamental rejection of what can be termed “post-hypocrisy.” In traditional politics and diplomacy, hypocrisy has always existed as a tool to smooth over conflicts and enable dialogue. However, in recent decades, it has evolved into the very essence of politics. The culture of silence and the obsessive smoothing of rough edges have made it nearly impossible to articulate or address real contradictions.
In the modern Western framework, issues are no longer framed as competing interests but as a clash between “right” (embodied by the Western model) and “wrong” (those who deviate from it). This absolutist approach leaves no room for compromise. What is deemed “right” must prevail, not through persuasion but through force. The triumph of post-liberalism has turned international discourse into a confusing puzzle, where terms lose their meaning, and words become disconnected from substance.
In this context, Trump’s bluntness acts as a reset button. By stripping away the pretense, he forces discussions to focus on tangible interests rather than vague value-based rhetoric. His preference for reducing complex issues to material terms may oversimplify the world’s intricacies, but it also makes conversations more concrete and, paradoxically, more meaningful.
Fear and acceptance
Trump’s rise has not changed his character – everyone knew about his peculiarities long before his political ascent. What has changed is the world’s reaction. The fireworks that once caused consternation are now met with resignation, if not acceptance. This shift reflects a combination of fear and adaptation. Many countries recognize the sheer power of the US and the futility of resisting its demands when backed by Trump’s unrelenting forcefulness.
America’s transformation under Trump mirrors broader changes in global politics. The absolutization of hypocrisy, particularly in the West, created an environment where meaningful dialogue became almost impossible. Trump’s return to bluntness and directness, while unsettling, offers a more honest reflection of international realities. It exposes the contradictions and tensions that post-liberalism tried to bury under layers of rhetorical finesse.
The price of simplification
Trump’s approach promises neither comfort nor stability. Reducing global issues to their mercantilist core ignores the complexities that underpin international relations. However, the alternative – endless posturing and ideological rigidity – has proven equally ineffective. The choice between these two flawed models defines the current era of geopolitics.
Ultimately, Trump’s willingness to “rip the band-aid off” forces the world to confront uncomfortable truths. Whether this approach leads to resolution or further conflict remains to be seen. What is clear is that the era of subtlety and diplomatic niceties is giving way to a new age of bluntness, where power and self-interest dominate the conversation. In this context, Trump’s unapologetic pursuit of results, unencumbered by hypocrisy, may be both a symptom and a driver of the changing global order.
