RFE/RL's Russian Service cites a Russian media report suggesting there is "practically zero" chance that country will ever repatriate to the "new authorities" in Ukraine ousted president Viktor Yanukovych, his son, or any other former senior Ukrainian officials.
Ukraine's state prosecutor sought an international warrant against Yanukovych early this year for alleged crimes related to the death of Maidan protesters and the alleged embezzlement of tens of billions of dollars' in state assets, some of which was reportedly hauled in trucks to Russia -- where Yanukovych remains in exile.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who diplomats quoted by dpa claimed met with Putin for an hour at his hotel, had this to say to reporters when asked about possible further EU sanctions against Russia:, according to Reuters.
"The present situation is not satisfying," Merkel told reporters at the G20 leaders summit in Brisbane. "At present the listing of further persons is on the agenda."
From our newsroom:
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Western sanctions against his country could backfire.
Speaking in a brief excerpt of an interview with German ARD television broadcast November 15, Putin said that cutting Russian access to capital markets would hurt Western exports. The full interview is to be broadcast on November 16.
Putin also said Russia does not intend to demand early repayment of $3 billion that Russia lent to Ukraine last year.
But he warned that the sanctions could hurt some Russian banks, such as Russia's state-controlled Gazprombank, leading them to demand repayment of multibillion-dollar loans they have given to Ukraine.
Putin also said Russia will not allow the Ukraine government to "destroy" its political opponents and adversaries in eastern Ukraine.
He accused Western media of biased reporting on Ukraine.
Based on reporting by AP and Reuters
British Prime Minister David Cameron in an interview today with the U.K.'s Sky television in Brisbane, Australia, about his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the G20 summit:
"I don't call it a Cold War, but obviously it won't be in anybody's interest for this to happen and, I would argue, least of all [in] Russia['s interest]. Russia needs to have its engagement with Europe, with Britain, with America for the sake of its economy and its people and I thin they are taking the wrong course."
"I want to try and have a relationship with this president where I can put on the table very robustly what I think needs to happen in order for there to be a better relationship between Britain and Russia, Europe and Russia, and all the rest of it. But I'm very frank when I meet with him that the things that Russia has done in Ukraine are unacceptable and if they continue in this direction, I think, there'll be further consequences."
Interfax reports that Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed a decree yesterday asking the legislature to repeal legislation passed pursuant to the Minsk Protocol that grants elements of "self-government" to parts of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Some interesting comments from the CEO of Russia's second-largest bank, VTB Group, Andrei Kostin, in an interview with CNN's Richard Quest on the effect of the U.S. and EU sanctions:
"It does harm us, but at the moment we can cope with the help of the Russian Central Bank, which provides additional refinancing for Russian banks, including VTB, and also Russian government [represented by] the Russian treasury that also provides additional funding."
"We did not invent these sanctions, we did not introduce these sanctions. We are the hostage of, we believe, a geopolitical situation. As any hostage we can't influence the situation very much. We are going to be either killed, or paid out, or something should happen. But, I am afraid, we have to adjust to the situation now and try to continue our business."
"The UK listing authorities will do it for us for free" -- a reference to de-listing VTB from the London Stock Exchange -- "because they went beyond the sanctions -- beyond what the U.S. or [European authorities] are saying. They are forbidding to swap Russian stocks into ADR [American depository receipts] in London, and it means that sooner or later there will be no ADRs at the London Stock Exchange, and, of course, it's created a problem for our investors."
Interfax flashes:
RUSSIA'S PUTIN SAYS THAT RUSSIA WON'T DEMAND EARLY REPAYMENT OF $3 BLN LENT TO UKRAINE
Meanwhile, with criticism raining down on Russia's president in Brisbane, Interfax opts for this headline:
Pictures taken of Putin, Abbott holding koalas - spokesman