Russia is planning to contribute $6.5 million to the IAEA Nuclear Security Fund in 2010-2015, the fund which supports, among others things, the use of nuclear security measures to counter nuclear terrorism.  Satellite photos apparently suggest that Iran has increased production at a uranium mine, emphasizing the necessity of broader UN inspections.  Russia is showing no hesitation regarding the Bushehr nuclear plant in Iran, according to Iranian Ambassador to Moscow Seyed Mahmoud Reza Sajjadi.  Siberia-oriented oil group Exillon Energy is hoping to become the first major Russian company to list on the London Stock Exchange in the 18 months since the financial crisis paralyzed the stock market - envisaging an IPO of $500 million.  Russian state oil company Zarubezhneft has come to a deal with Cuba Petroleos to explore the island's northern coast - a sign of ...

Gazprom has expressed an interest in acquiring a U.S. shale-gas producer, to access the know-how to develop similar resources domestically, says the Moscow Times.  GDF Suez has said it has discussed a 10-20% increase in its Russian gas supply with Gazprom, as part of broader negotiations to usher the French company into the Nord Stream gas project.  Electricite de France may acquire a stake in Gazprom's South Stream pipeline to supply its increasing number of power plants.  Turkey's government has apparently approved geological exploration work for South Stream in its Black Sea economic zone.  The partnership behind the Nabucco pipeline project is, says Bloomberg, 'confident' it will have enough fuel, including gas from the Azeri Shah Deniz field.  Russian oil and petrochemical exporters reported a 45% decrease in revenue in the first nine months of 2009 to ...

Luke Harding has two pieces on Russian climate change in today's Guardian: an audio report on Northern-Siberia's seasonal shifts, and a special report on the Yamal peninsula.  Rumors abound that China, Japan, Russia and France have been in secret talks on using an alternative to the dollar for oil trading, but OPEC's Secretary General says that, even if there were to be a shift, it would be a long process, and that 'tradition' would make it difficult.  Serbian oil monopoly NIS, majority owned by Gazprom Neft, has signed a $100 million loan with Bank of Moscow on the back of Medvedev's Belgrade visit.  Italy, Russia, and Turkey, have signed a joint statement on the construction of the Samsun-Ceyhan oil pipeline linking Turkey's Black Sea coast and Mediterranean coast (the New York Times has a special report today ...

TODAY: Lavrov keeps eagle eye on Georgia; Netanyahu's fears about Russian rogue scientists; Chubais takes the fall for hydropower plant disaster.  Litvinenko widow despairs over apparent British moves towards rapprochement.  Luzhkov-Baturina to take Nemtsov to court. UN report pessimistic on Russia's demographic decline; Ban Ki-moon voices approval for ecological care.According to the Moscow Times, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says that Russia will survey shipping in the Black Sea to monitor Georgian 'provocations' which are a 'serious concern'.  Jorg Himmelreich in the International Herald Tribune suggests that much analysis of last year's Georgia-Russia conflict has overlooked the crucial matter of President Bush's Georgia policy.  Spokesman Andrei Nesterenko says that he believes that the ratification of the Lisbon treaty would benefit ...

Naftogaz Ukrainy apparently intends to pay the interest due on its debts, to avoid default on its eurobonds which mature today.  'With its debt considered quasi-sovereign, a default by Naftogaz would be a first for a sovereign company in eastern Europe this year' says the FT.  Ukraine will break its bailout promise to the IMF and not raise natural gas prices for households.  Lukoil and Rosneft may consider buying more assets from Total.  Poland says that Russia canceled this month's talks regarding gas; the EU member hopes to reach a gas deal soon for 2010 and beyond.  A candidate to the post of the Greek prime minister has said that were he elected he would seek better terms for the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline project, particularly in regards to 'environmental protection'.  Gazprom is apparently planning ...

TODAY:  Georgia-Russia tensions simmer in advance of EU report; Council of Europe hullabaloo.  Russia edgy on Washington's new defense scheme; Obama forward looking; Kremlin does not feel Iran missiles justify sanctions.  Journalist in hiding over anti-Soviet article; no joy for beer drinkers and hackersAccusations are flying ahead of today's publication of EU-backed report on the war in Georgia which is expected to be critical of both parties.  The Times says that Georgia has preemptively accused Russia of spreading 'patently false information about fictitious attacks on Russian peacekeepers'.  Tbilisi has also claimed that the report has concluded that Russian troops were responsible for ethnic cleansing during the conflict.  Russia is bristling at motions in the Parliamentary ...

Gazprom is set to bid for gas and oil fields in Iraq with Turkey's state-run oil company Turkish Petroleum Corporation.  Rosneft, Lukoil and Gazprom Neft will also participate in bids.  Venezuela's Science and Technology Minister Jesse Chacon has asserted that it is Russia that is helping the country search for uranium, not Iran.  Iran's Oil Ministry has apparently said that the country needs $19 billion to finish uncompleted natural gas projects.  Gazprom Neft has filed a request to the anti-trust watchdog to buy 100% of oil company Sibir Energy.  Kazakhstan, which hopes to increase two-fold its oil production over the next ten years, is in talks with Azerbaijan to establish new routes for delivering extra crude volumes to the Black Sea and is even considering a new pipeline.  The Moscow Times reports that Chinese investors are negotiating ...

Vladimir Putin told a meeting of international oil company heads that he is seeking 'stable and long-term' cooperation for gas extraction in the Yamal peninsula, which the country hopes could lead to a 25% share of the world's LNG market.  'Mr Putin indicated that favourable fiscal treatment might be on offer' at his warm reception for the companies, the Times says.  Putin's unusually solicitous welcome is the mark of 'desperation', the Telegraph suggests and argues that if Western companies consider their previous altercations with Russia in the oil industry, the luster of Putin's offers may fade.  Oil and Gas Eurasia details which former Yukos assets belonged to SeverEnergia, the Italian firm in which Gazprom has just bought a controlling interest.  Russia plans to ship 4.5% more Urals and Siberian Light crude oil from four Baltic and Black ...

TODAY: Chief of staff denies decisions on Kaliningrad plan; Churkin criticizes US 'cold war attitude'; arms reduction talks not progressing as smoothly as they may appear.  Israel maintains choice in Iran; Russia suggests onus on NATO to improve ties; ship plans for Abkhaz waters.  Moscow court rejects appeal for Vasily Aleksanyan; 'anti-Soviet' restaurant feels Mitvol's wrath.Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin has said that US Defense Secretary Robert Gates's insistence that the decision on missile defense was not about Russia reveals 'a rather difficult negotiating partner, a partner who is loaded in many ways by a Cold War mentality'.  The Chief of Russia's general Staff has stated that no decision has yet been made on plans to deploy ...

TODAY: Obama firm on reasons for missile defense decision; Medvedev and Putin seem to take it as a positive sign; Putin wishes to see trade the next barrier broken; Russia will abandon Kaliningrad missile plans.  Pressure mounting regarding Iran situation; Israel apparently promises Medvedev no attack on Ahmadinejad regime.  Top cleric murdered in Ingushetia; disappearances abound.Barack Obama is still arguing the independence of his decision on missile defense saying, 'the Russians don't make determinations about what our defense posture is,' but if they are 'less paranoid' as a result, than can be considered a 'bonus'.  Defense Secretary Robert Gates has reiterated this position in an article in the New York Times.  Medvedev sees otherwise: '...