Windows to Russia

Hello,

Moscow has just set a World record but not in what you would think at a skiing event.

The FIS world cup alpine promotional event has been held in the center of Moscow. A state of the art movable ramp of Guinness book of world record dimensions was erected next to the State University. The Russian capital is the first city in the world to host such a highly rated international event on a practically flat landscape. The organizers managed to gather 14 top skiers to ensure the unique experiment is successful.(Link)

This is one huge ramp and it has been designed to transport all over the world and be used at any city to host a ski event. Problem this year was that Moscow had a shortage of snow for the ramp. It needs 4,000 cubic meters of snow to function, so trucks came from Siberia and made sure that Moscow had the snow it needed.

Cool!

Kyle & Svet

Our Prize: Russian – Georgian Style Lavash Bread! (Yummy)

Hello,

Russia is in her Winter holidays. The days off are from the 1st of January to the 11th of January. This is a time when everyone (literally)is off work in Russia. The only places that you might find open are grocery stores and gas stations. This is a tradition that came about after the fall of the Soviet Union and Svet tells me she does not like the tradition. Svet feels that because the weather is so cold and snowing everyday, that to be off now is only conductive to sitting in the house and watching TV. If mandatory off time was in the summer then people could go to their Dachas and enjoy the time off.

I agree with her 75%. I like to walk in the snow so I really do more walking at this time of the year. I am a winter person though.

An example of what happens at this time of the year: Last night we took a walk to go buy groceries. We finally found a store that was open! We really had most groceries that we needed except bread. (Of course, the store had no bread because all bakeries are closed.) We left that store and went to several more, all out of bread. We stopped at a little side store that sold beer and vodka. They had two loaves of bread, that they had baked, for sale. We grabbed those last two loaves and behind us came in at least 10 people looking for bread also. The little store was now was full of people looking for the last bread on the street. I looked at my wife and said: “You know we could name our price and make lots of money off this bread!” Svet and I made it out of the store alive, as everyone was having a fit inside because we got the last two loaves. We did not feel bad because we searched for our loaves of bread and discovered them first.

In fact when we got home and took a bite of that fresh bread it was the best prize we ever had. 🙂

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

RBC, 01.01.2009, Kiev 19:45:42.At today’s news conference, Oleg Dubina, chairman of Naftogaz of Ukraine, told journalists that the company was planning to import 46bn cubic meters of gas in 2009, with gas transit expected to reach 120bn cubic meters. The gas price of $250 per 1,000 cubic meters proposed by Russia, combined with the gas transit fee maintained at its current mark of $1.7 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas per 100 kilometers, will drive Ukraine’s losses up to $500m, Dubina said. Naftogaz suggested buying gas at $235 per 1,000 cubic meters, and charging $1.8 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas carried for 100 kilometers. According to Dubina, after the proposal was made the talks with Gazprom were suspended rather than ended altogether. He assured journalists that Ukraine did not withdraw from the negotiations, adding that he had been on the phone with Gazprom’s CEO Alexei Miller this morning. He stated that he was ready to restart talks any time, if Russia adopted a “constructive” stance.

RBC, 01.01.2009, Kiev 19:30:01.Gas talks with Russia should be resumed over the next few days, to be completed by January 7, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said in a statement today. “I think we are close to a compromise solution, and I would like to ask the Russian president and prime minister, as well as the Ukrainian delegation in the talks with Gazprom, to do everything possible to complete these negotiations as soon as possible,” he emphasized.

RBC, 01.01.2009, Moscow 17:52:12.Alexei Gudyma, advisor to Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko on fuel and energy matters, believes that Russia and Ukraine are on track to sign a gas deal before the Russian Orthodox Christmas on January 7. The deal is to cover all issues, including the Russian gas transit price via Ukraine, the Echo of Moscow radio quoted the advisor as saying.

RBC, 01.01.2009, Moscow 17:45:52.Ukraine prevents independent observers from inspecting gas compressor stations on its territory, Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov reported. “We can see a barrage of statements from Ukraine that it will ensure the transit of Russian gas to European consumers. This is good news for us, but the question arises: why independent observers, who arrive at the borders of Ukraine’s gas transportation system and are already working at both gas-compressor and gas-holder stations in Russia and Slovakia, are prevented from entering Ukraine’s stations,” Kupriyanov said. An independent auditor, which has enough experience, is currently inspecting the amount of Russian gas transit through Ukraine, with the inspection results to be announced on January 2, according to Kupriyanov.

RBC, 01.01.2009, Moscow 16:55:53.Gazprom has signed gas contracts with Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan providing for a gas price of more than $301 per 1,000 cubic meters. The gas price, based on an average European gas price level, has been set for the first quarter of 2009, Echo of Moscow quoted official spokesman for Gazprom Sergei Kurpiyanov as saying. He also noted that Gazprom had been supplying the gas from Central Asia to Ukraine. Yesterday, Gazprom’s Deputy Chairman of the Management Committee Alexander Medvedev said that Gazprom had reached deals with all of its suppliers (Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan), but the contracts had not yet been signed. He gave no prices at that time.

RBC, 01.01.2009, Moscow 15:24:26.Gazprom increased supplies to Belarus by 20m cubic meters of natural gas in a move not related to the lack of a gas deal with Ukraine, the gas giant’s official spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov told a news conference. The increase stems from a rise in consumer demand, Kupriyanov stressed.

RBC, 01.01.2009, Moscow 14:45:23.Gazprom has cut gas supplies for Ukrainian consumers by 110m cubic meters of gas, while gas export shipments were increased to 326m cubic meters, official spokesman for Gazprom Sergei Kupriyanov told a news conference today. He reiterated that Gazprom and Ukraine still had no gas deal for 2009, suggesting Russia had no legal ground to continue gas supplies. With this in mind, Gazprom halted gas deliveries to Ukraine. Kupriyanov noted that Russia was pumping less gas from its underground storages, while the cut has had no effect on the gas giant’s output.

RBC, 01.01.2009, Moscow 14:30:05.Gazprom is urging Naftogaz of Ukraine to continue talks on the 2009 gas contract, Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov reported. He said information about gas price levels acceptable to Ukraine appeared on Wednesday evening, but it was after the Ukrainian delegation left Gazprom.

RBC, 31.12.2008, Moscow 19:30:21.Gazprom has offered Ukraine a preferential gas price for 2009, at $250 per 1,000 cubic meters, but Ukraine rejected it, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with President Dmitry Medvedev broadcast by Vesti TV Channel. Putin said he had discussed the matter with Ukrainian Prime Minister Julia Timoshenko earlier today. He said Russia was ready for further gas talks with Ukraine.

RBC, 31.12.2008, Moscow 16:58:07.Naftogaz of Ukraine has informed Russian gas giant Gazprom that it could seize Russian gas intended for European consumers, Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov told reporters today. “If no agreement is reached on the terms of transit transportation, there will be no legal grounds to accept Russian gas into Ukraine’s gas transportation system,” says a letter signed by Naftogaz of Ukraine CEO Oleg Dubina. Such gas could be identified as gas owned by an unknown owner, and seized as such, the document warns.

RBC, 31.12.2008, Moscow 16:30:44.The issue of Ukraine’s debt for Russian gas has been settled without any help from Gazprom, the company’s spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov told reporters today. “This means we were right,” he stressed. After denying its Russian gas debt for the past few months, Ukraine yesterday formally recognized that it owes $2 billion for Russian gas, taking steps to settle the debt, according to Kupriyanov. “It turned out that Ukraine has had the money all this time; the issue has been settled without Gazprom’s financial help,” he said, criticizing Ukraine’s actions as the “purposeful delay” of negotiations on the terms of cooperation in 2009. Naftogaz of Ukraine said yesterday it had transferred over $1.522 billion to the bank accounts of RosUkrEnergo. RosUkrEnergo has confirmed that it received the money, adding that Ukraine still owed it more than $600 million. Kupriyanov stressed that Ukraine had to pay its debt in full.

Hello,

Russia has had to start the New Year by doing something that she did not want to do. Cut the gas supply to Ukraine because of default in payments. Ukraine pressed the situation and played lots of games.

We have a saying in America: “The check is in the mail!” This saying comes about because everyone writes checks in America and mails payments through the postal service to pay bills and then tells the bill collector that “The check is in the mail!”

Ukraine was playing this same game. Ukraine said we sent payment through a mediator company. Ukraine said we paid our bill. The President of Ukraine said the bill is paid. The Prime Minister of Ukraine said the bill is paid. Other words the “Check is in the Mail!”

Russia (Gazprom) said: “You might have paid the bill, but we never got the money!”

So: In America we also like to say, ” The Postal Service has lost the payment!” It looks like the same thing has happened to Ukraine. Some one lost the 2 billion dollar payment. Ouch!

The core of the situation right now is that Ukraine has a huge supply of gas in underground storage facilities. This gas is from Gazprom and this is some of the gas that Ukraine refuses to pay for. For every cubic meter of this stored gas that Ukraine uses they are stealing from Russia. Ukraine is selling this gas to Europe and using this gas for its own uses. Ukraine also no longer has a contract for gas. This means that Gazprom can not legally ship gas to Ukraine. Russia has for years given Ukraine a huge discount on gas price. Russia calls it charity and only expects Ukraine to pay about half the normal cost of gas. The gas that was being shipped to Ukraine costs Russia 340 dollars a 1000 cubic meters. Ukraine got it for 179 dollars a 1000 cubic meters. Europe pays almost 500 dollars per 1000 cubic meters. Russia has now asked Ukraine to pay 250 dollars a 1000 cubic meters as of the 1st of the year 2009. remember this is still costing Russia 340 dollars per 1000 cubic meters……

Ukraine refused

This gas will run out soon and then Ukraine will still owe for all that gas plus fees, fines and penalties…….

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

From Windows to Russia to All Our readers!

Svet and I wish everyone a Happy New Year!
May 2009 have Peace in the World.

Kyle, Svetlana and Boza

Dear friends!

We will soon be seeing in the New Year, greeting 2009.

Getting straight to the point, I would like to give you all my best wishes for this, everyone’s favorite celebration, when we take a moment to remember the past year, in which we saw happiness and disappointment, joy and loss. We each have our own experiences, and now is the time to remember them. And all our individual lives, actions and feelings are what combine to make our great country, Russia.

We have already proved how much we can do together, that we can triumph. And this year our nation has been sorely tested, and has come through with confidence and dignity, thanks to you – its citizens. I am certain that we will be able to deal with whatever difficulties we may meet in the future. And also that the state will do everything it can to make this possible.

In a few moments the dates on the calendars will change, but our essential values remain unchanging, these values – devotion to our loved ones, friendship, loyalty, sympathy and charity – remain as an anchor for us at all times. They give us strength in any difficult situation and help us not just overcome difficulties but raise us to new heights.

Now, in these minutes I would like to turn to our parents and thank them for their care and understanding, and wish them above all good health. We really do need you, and you are very dear to us. I would like also to congratulate our children on this holiday. We will do everything we can to make sure you are happy, but remember, that a lot depends on you yourselves.

Dear friends. It is time to greet the New Year. Let us take this moment to wish our loved ones, our dear ones, well. Wherever we are seeing in this New Year – whether we are at home, among friends, or even at work, now we are thinking about our nearest and dearest.

New Years Eve is a time of hope. I wish each of us peace, love and the fulfillment of all your wishes.

I wish you happiness! Happy New Year!

Medvedev

С Новым Годом! (Happy New Year!)

Hello,

I was drinking my cup of wonderful coffee and was thinking about who is some of the first to get to celebrate New Years?

Russia of course!

There is an island owned by Russia, located right next to the border of the USA. It is called the Romanov Frontier Outpost. Just four kilometers away from the USA, It is called ‘The International Date Line’, as it starts the new day on earth every day. Well today is a special day for them. The guardsmen who stay at this outpost are some of the first people on earth who get to celebrate The New Year!

The guardsmen got to celebrate the New Year even though they were on duty: fireworks were shot off and Father Frost and his granddaughter (Snegoruchka) came by helicopter to give some gifts to the Romanov Frontier Guardsmen.

This is not the only interesting thing about Russia on New Years: The New Year time period will last for 11 hours across Russia (11 time zones) and will conclude at 1 am Moscow time in Kaliningrad.

So Russians are tucked away in bed before America starts the New Year parties!

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee and thinking about what Putin said, “They don’t want to pay”

Putin is talking about the Refusal of Ukraine to pay her very past due gas bill to Russia. I think that the better statement is “Ukraine can not pay her gas bill”. Ukraine is flat busted, the piggy bank is broke, the coffer is empty and the pantry is bare! I am not excusing Ukraine and Ukraine has had the money to pay her gas bill. (it is lining someones pocket)

You see this past year Ukraine has been receiving gas to sell from Russia to Europe. Ukraine is to pay $179 per 1,000 cu m to Russia. Then Ukraine sells the gas to Europe at market rate of $400 to $500 per 1,000 cu m. So as you can see Ukraine makes a tidy profit on gas. They should have more than enough to pay Russia and then have extra money to help the country.

Europe pays her gas bill on time and in full. As far as I can tell Europe is not behind in gas payments. Ukraine is just a supply route country from the old Soviet Union days.

Russia in trying to help out Ukraine gives Ukraine a good deal on gas and Ukraine gets to turn a sweet profit.

The issues of gas started during the Rose revolution era. The new government of Ukraine has turned their back on Russia and expect Russia to forever supply discounted gas. What Ukraine has not learned is that you must not burn bridges with the neighbors.

The discounted gas was a favor not a right! Ukraine has destroyed her right to discounted gas by the lying and cheating against Russia over the gas issues!

Russia now says that Ukraine should pay the market rate for Russian gas of $418 per 1,000 cu m from January 1, 2009. Russia says that they no longer feel that Ukraine deserves the discount with all her past accusations and issues.

Russia is correct and Ukraine should have better control of the money and how it disappeared!

But I feel sorry for the Ukraine and European people who are caught in the middle…….

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

RBC, 29.12.2008, Kiev 17:43:45.The Ukrainian president’s administration does not rule out the possibility that Naftogaz of Ukraine could file for bankruptcy in 2009, RBC Ukraine reported today. The source in the administration said that the 2009 budget provided for a mere USD 211.9m to cover the gap between the gas import price and prices for the population. However, the actual amount could run up close to USD 1.22bn, suggesting that Naftogaz of Ukraine will either raise gas tariffs, or go bust.

RBC, 29.12.2008, Moscow 17:15:33.No crises can affect the priorities of Russia’s economic and social policy, Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev told the final government meeting today. The priorities, including innovative development, upgrading of and maximum support for the social sphere, and entrepreneurship development, remain unchanged, he stressed. However much macroeconomic forecasts may change, the major development guidelines for the economy must remain unshakable.

RBC, 29.12.2008, Moscow 16:27:00.Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev termed Russia’s overall performance for the full year as “decent,” with the government moving confidently towards objectives it had set. At the government’s final meeting this year, he stressed that their efforts had been focused on implementing fundamental principles of the social and economic development strategy until 2020, as well as those laid down in short- and mid-term planning documents. In the second half of 2008, Russia was forced to kick-start preparations for the global economic crisis. “We are fully aware that the source of the crisis lies outside the Russian economy, and we are effectively paying a high price for a string of irresponsible decisions made in other countries,” which “warmed” their economies by putting the global economy at risk, the president stated.

RBC, 29.12.2008, Moscow 15:57:45.At today’s government meeting, Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev lauded the government’s anti-crisis program as well-balanced. Although the program “is not perfect,” it is nevertheless able to withstand “the toughest challenges,” the president observed. Moreover, the program is being adjusted on a weekly basis, he noted, adding that this was an indispensable measure.

RBC, 29.12.2008, Moscow 15:42:49.It is vital to preserve the unity of power in the face of global challenges and Russia is lucky to have it, Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev said today. He elaborated that the president, the government and the Federal Assembly had been cooperating closely to tackle their common tasks. This has to be maintained, Medvedev asserted, lest the nation be confronted with tremendous problems.

RBC, 29.12.2008, Moscow 15:19:57.Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin believes that Russia has built an “anti-crisis decision-making architecture.” According to a statement he made at a government meeting today, he expects that all the measures will work in 2009, particularly the system to prop up liquidity in the financial sector, steps to maintain demand, and aid to strategic core companies in the real economy. The moves the government has made so far will help prevent a sharp drop in living standards and production, and lend resilience to the financial system. The government, is even ready to take further action, if needed, the PM said. He thanked the State Duma for rapidly passing anti-crisis laws, as prompt implementation of the measures was of critical importance for the economy.

RBC, 29.12.2008, Moscow 11:22:48.According to an unofficial source in the Bank of Russia, the bank has once again widened the ruble’s trading band against the basket of two currencies – the euro and the dollar. The source, however, withheld any further details.

RBC, 29.12.2008, Moscow 15:24:19.Rosneft is planning to refinance or pay back roughly $9bn of its debt, the Russian oil company’s President Sergei Bogdanchikov said in an interview today. He pointed out that the company’s total debt currently amounted to $23bn. Bogdanchikov reiterated that Rosneft paid back $16bn in 2008, including $7bn from its own funds. The company is also planning to repay another $250m before the year-end.

Speaking to reporters today, Putin was expressing about the facts that he had an hour-long phone conversation with Ukraine’s President Viktor Yushchenko on the issue of non payment of the gas bill.

It was stated that he said, there was “no deal yet”.

When asked why, he added: “They don’t want to pay”.

Oh the Ukraine – Russia Gas deal is going to get interesting.

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.