Putin Vows to Fulfil  Ukraine Gas Liabilities, US Exit From Afghanistan Risks Souring Ties

LOCAL NEWS

• Putin says Russia will fulfil its liabilities on gas transit via Ukraine, stressing that gas transit should not be linked with the Normandy format talks on the settlement of the conflict in Eastern Ukraine as they have nothing to do with Nord Stream 2
• Ryabkov says Russia is deliberating with the US on possible consequences of pulling out of Afghanistan at various levels, such as maintaining contacts between special envoys for Afghanistan.
  • Says the removal of US forces is unacceptable to Russia and would alter relations with the US and stability in the region
• Russian Senator calls Kiev's policy "insane" after Zelensy's comments on Nord Stream 2, saying his attempts to intimidate Europe with Nord Stream 2 will not affect Germany.
  • Notes that Ukraine is trying to achieve independence from Russia on all fronts but still maintain dependence on Russian gas transit via its territory.
  • Notes Zelensky's policy of using the US to derail progress on Nord Stream 2 will not impact the project as Germany has its own relationship with the US
• Russia on Tuesday reported 24,702 new coronavirus cases and 780 deaths — a new single-day mortality record — as the country battles the surging Delta variant.
  • Russia has overtaken France as having the world's fourth-highest number of confirmed Covid-19 cases, according to the World Health