Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children

US working on reducing post-Soviet states dependence on Russia

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 1 Dec 2022 00:23
5 Min Read

The United States wants former USSR states to reduce their independence from Russia as enmity for Moscow grows.

  • x
  • US Ambassador to Russia nominee Lynne Tracy
    US Ambassador to Russia nominee Lynne Tracy

The United States is trying to reduce the dependency of former Soviet states on Russia, US President Joe Biden's nominee for Russian Ambassador, Lynne Tracy, said Wednesday during a confirmation hearing as Washington tries to further isolate Moscow.

Tracy, inquired about Washington's stance on Armenia, said that since the Ukraine war broke out, she has been perceiving "a sense of real concern among other former Soviet countries about the future of their independence and sovereignty and territorial integrity,"

"The United States and our media, with the support of Congress, has thankfully been able to work on reducing some of those dependencies," the US ambassador to Armenia said.

Additionally, she revealed that the United States was having important conversations about how the United States would be able to help Armenia as it "continues to seek a more democratic and secure future."

This comes around three months after the chief of the Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Defense Forces of the Russian Armed Forces, Igor Kirillov, said the United States was planning on transferring its programs of biological research from Ukraine to post-Soviet republics, as well as Eastern European and Baltic states.

The Russian official underlined that Washington was working on putting its plans into high gear at the soonest time possible, noting that this would allow the US to develop and store components of biological weapons, which pose a threat to the security of Russia.

Russia and the United States have been undergoing major tensions for months, with Moscow accusing Washington of having biological laboratories in Ukraine and the latter denying it. Eventually, the US confirmed that it did have what Under Secretary for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland referred to as "biological research facilities".

"The Pentagon is poised to shortly relocate the programs unfinished in Ukraine to other post-Soviet states, as well as to Eastern European states, such as Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, and the Baltic states," Kirillov revealed.

New START treaty instrument of stability

Tracy underlined that the New START treaty was instrumental for peace between the United States and Russia, noting that the Biden administration would continue holding talks with Moscow to resume reciprocal nuclear arsenal inspections.

"I think having some ability to agree on the inspections for the verification is one measure that we can continue to pursue and I believe the administration, which was ready to meet to talk about resuming inspections, is still prepared to do. We see the treaty as an instrument of stability," Tracy added during her confirmation hearing.

Related News

Cholera devastates Darfur region amid conflict, US aid cuts

US uses tariffs to strongarm India on Russia ties

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said Tuesday that Moscow would give Washington new dates for the talks on the New START Treaty.

"I emphasize that this is not a cancellation, but a postponement. After some time, we will offer the Americans new dates. But it will not happen instantly," Ryabkov told reporters, adding that it is unlikely that the discussions will take place before the end of the year.

The United States wanted to discuss only the issue of resuming inspections at the New START meeting in Cairo, while Russia had other issues as a priority, Ryabkov noted.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Monday that his country had not received any clear explanation as to why Russia postponed the talks on the New START Treaty that were scheduled to take place in Cairo from November 29 to December 6, adding that the US wants to see talks with Russia take place as soon as possible.

US should keep tightening sanctions on Russia

Also according to the ambassador nominee, Washington should continue tightening the sanctions grip on Moscow, including the reduction of the federation's energy revenues.

"I absolutely agree that the right course is to stay the course on sanctions to continue tightening the sanctions [on Russia]," Tracy said. "One area… is reducing Russia’s energy revenues."

Western nations have been trying to find ways to reduce Russia's income from oil and gas exports since the start of the war in Ukraine. In September, the G7 finance ministers confirmed their intention to impose a price cap on Russian oil, urging all countries to support the initiative.

In October, the EU Commission confirmed an eighth sanctions package against Russia on Thursday, which involves both economic and personal restrictions.

The new package set a foundation for the G7's implementation of the potential oil price cap, with the EU Commission's statement relaying that the package "marks the beginning of the implementation within the EU of the G7 agreement on Russian oil exports. While the EU's ban on importing Russian seaborne crude oil fully remains, the price cap, once implemented, would allow European operators to undertake and support the transport of Russian oil to third countries, provided its price remains under a pre-set 'cap'."

An EU source told Sputnik earlier in the that the EU was likely to set the price cap for Russian oil at $62 per barrel.

The price cap will come into full force by December 5, when all the bloc's nations will have reached a formal agreement on the level of the price cap.

Baltic nations have recently expressed opposition at the idea that a price cap should be set above $50 per barrel.

They believe that the price remains too high and that could potentially fuel profits for Russia, thus harming Ukraine. 

  • United States
  • Soviet Union
  • Russia
  • Armenia
  • Ukraine
  • Joe Biden
  • European Union
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS