The Independent reports that Gulf Arab states have been engaged in secret talks with Russia, China, Japan and France to replace the US dollar with a basket of currencies in the trading of oil:  'This sounds like a dangerous prediction of a future economic war between the US and China over Middle East oil'.  Saudi Arabia's central bank chief has vociferously denied these claims, says the Washington Post.  An unlikely venture for Gazprom: the company apparently plans to start a chain of fast-food and supermarket outlets.  It is likely that the gas giant will recommence gas purchases from Turkmenistan this month or next, following a long suspension due to April's pipeline explosion.  Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko will postpone the electorate-displeasing move of raising domestic gas prices until after the Jan. 17 presidential election, despite a ...

TODAY: US to modify or jettison missile defense plans? NATO chief to meet with Russian envoy; Lukaschenko sends out mixed messages.  South Ossetia denies book burning; think tank leader says Putin could be heading for Brehznev-style decades in power; Medvedev finds inspiration on blogosphere.The Wall Street Journal reports that the White House may abandon the Bush-era missile defense plans which have caused consternation in Russia.  AP sources quoted on the Washington Post suggest a compromise measure, tempered to Russian concerns.  RFE/RL has an entertaining list of the 'dissidents' President Medvedev might like to meet on his upcoming US trip.  NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Russian envoy to the alliance Dmitry Rogozin will hold an ...

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez is known for his erratic behavior, but his latest move to extend official recognition to Georgia's separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia during his visit to Moscow is a bit of a head-scratcher.  In theory, it shouldn't come as a surprise, as probably the strongest predictor of Chávez's future behavior is anything perceived to be contrary to U.S. interests.  That includes sometimes illogical policies and relationships, such as red carpet welcomes for Sudan's Omar al-Bashir, cooperation with Iran on missile and nuclear technology, hugs for Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, and tea parties with Coronel Muammar Qaddafi. 

What is strange is that Chávez waited a whole year before joining up with his surrogate state

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Reuters points out some members of the CIS are having some disagreements with the Kremlin.

This year's Presidential Cup horse race, a traditional cue for an informal gathering of the 11-member Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), drew only five top guests: the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Moldova and Tajikistan.

The presidents of Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan all failed to show up, citing personal reasons. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko went instead to ride a Harley-Davidson at a local bikers' rally.

"The CIS leaders used the chance ... to show they are unhappy with the state of relations with Russia," said Alexei Mukhin, head

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TODAY: 'Milk war' steps up a notch; Lukashenko absent from security summit in Moscow; rapid reaction force agreed upon at CSTO meeting; Kremlin hopes for larger role in Afghanistan resolution; third killing in North Caucasus in week of violence; US says WTO bid for three needs to be examinedBelarussian President Alexander Lukashenko has vexed President Medvedev by boycotting a meeting of the CSTO, the post-Soviet security bloc, without personally informing him.  Tensions have been high recently due to trade disagreements on dairy products.  Russia has emphasized that the milk import ban is a technical matter and has been over-politicized by Belarus.  Belarussian experts will arrive in Moscow today to continue discussions over the issue, which it hopes will be settled within ...

TODAY: Kremlin downplays hopes of START breakthrough; Belarus won't offer political support for money; Gorbachev argues need for perestroika on global level; Putin playing to the crowd, Medvedev left in the wings?; Litvinenko suspect to sit in duma; Sochi construction chief ousted The Kremlin is being 'pragmatic' and does not have 'high expectations of the outcome' of Obama's upcoming Moscow trip, saying as long as the issue of missile defense remains 'unclear', it will be unwilling to reduce its own weaponry.  Mikhail Gorbachev has penned an article in the Washington Post suggesting that the US is in need of its own perestroika.  Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko has rejected Russia's offers of a $500 million loan as it is reportedly contingent upon ...

TODAY: Talks on Russia joining WTO require work; South Ossetia election sees Georgia tensions simmer; no 'begging' for Belarus; Moscow opposition march broken up by police; Russian dolls President Dmitry Medvedev and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso have agreed on the need for a 'serious response' to North Korea and Moscow will apparently back sanctions.  The European Union, the United States and Russia will hold in-depth ministerial talks this week on the Kremlin's hopes to join the World Trade Organization.  According to Washington, 'a great deal of work remains, particularly by the Russian Federation, in order to take the accession process forward'. 'The statement itself is very unfortunate': UN Secretary-General Ban ...

TODAY: Diplomat accuses US of overplaying threat from Iran; what did Putin tell Bill Clinton?; Russia-Belarus tensions flare on loan; Amnesty slams human rights standards; reclaiming Soviet-confiscated art Russia will not object to a new UN Security Council resolution over North Korea but will continue to oppose sanctions.  According to the Guardian, senior diplomat Alexander Sternik has criticized the US for grossly exaggerating the nuclear threat posed by nations such as Iran.  The Moscow Times reports that at a private meeting in January, Prime Minister Putin offered assurances to ex-US President Bill Clinton that Medvedev is not his puppet and that the Kremlin and Washington would be able to come to an agreement on missile defense.  Poland is apparently pushing the US to ...

TODAY: Medvedev the latest to criticize NATO exercises; perseverance required in nuclear talks; budget revenues may fall short; one million temporary jobs to be created; London's Speakers Corner 'cool' President Medvedev has spoken out against the NATO war games to take place in Georgia, calling the move 'the wrong decision'.  China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have engaged in military exercises for the first time since Kyrgyzstan said it would close down the Manas air base, the last U.S. air base in Central Asia.  At a conference for 'Overcoming Nuclear Dangers', Mikhail Gorbachev and former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz have discussed their failed 1986 US-Russia Reykjavik summit and urged the new presidents to persevere when it comes to nuclear disarmament talks. ...

TODAY: Lavrov unhappy with US sanctions on arms; EU to restructure Russian relations; Kremlin keeping tags on bloggers?; Lukhkov accused of influencing foreign policy under Vladimir Putin; UK’s Peter Mandelson under scrutiny for ties with Oleg Deripaska. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has condemned sanctions imposed on Rosoboronexport by the US State Department for selling arms to Iran as having ‘no international legal foundation whatsoever’. A new EU policy document suggests that Europe should restructure its discussions with Russia to solve ‘numerous difficulties’ affecting relations. Nguyen Minh Triet, the president of Vietnam, has arrived in Russia for talks on cooperation, closely following a visit by the Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko aimed at strengthening financial ties. Over 50% of Lithuanians see Russia as a threat to the security of Balkan countries, says a public opinion ...