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Chairman of the Russian Business Group B20: G20 Summit Will Resolve Pressing Global Issues

President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Alexander Shokhin | Asharq Al-Awsat
President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Alexander Shokhin | Asharq Al-Awsat
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Chairman of the Russian Business Group B20: G20 Summit Will Resolve Pressing Global Issues

President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Alexander Shokhin | Asharq Al-Awsat
President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Alexander Shokhin | Asharq Al-Awsat

The President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and Chairman of the Russian Business Group B20, Alexander Shokhin, stressed that the effective approach on cooperation undertaken by the G20 under Saudi Presidency will contribute decisively to pressing global issues.

G20 cooperation looms over issues like addressing the coronavirus pandemic, saving the international economy, and helping poor countries.

Shokhin added that it also works on strengthening Saudi-Russian economic relations and simplifying international cooperation in various sectors of the global economy.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, the Russian diplomat noted that the G20 had unlocked better opportunities for cooperation between Russia and Saudi Arabia.

Despite all challenges that surfaced in 2020, the space for practical cooperation between Russia and the Kingdom is expanding, said Shokhin.

He mentioned a host of areas that are open for increased cooperation, and they included building on a circular carbon economy, investing in infrastructure, developing nature-based solutions, advancing digitization, and implementing comprehensive industrial modernization.

“I am sure that the new level of understanding that we have reached in our countries, despite all the challenges this year, will provide new opportunities for our practical cooperation in fields of common interest,” Shokhin asserted to Asharq Al-Awsat.

Regarding the expected plan for channeling G20 Summit results to benefit joint Saudi-Russian projects, Shokhin said it lies at the core of making use of multilateral institutions for international cooperation.

This, according to Shokhin, will reduce the risks of inappropriate and separate policies aimed at gaining unilateral benefits.

“Lessons learned and experiences gained this year will help find the best way to succeed at a time of fundamental change and challenges,” Shokhin said on the framework produced by the G20 2020 Riyadh Summit.

Shokhin also said he believes that the concept of the circular carbon economy developed by the Saudi Presidency at the B20 will lead to the sustainable development of the global energy sector, enabling a balanced and sustainable development of various sectors of the global economy.

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Russian Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Mining Concessions Dependent on Ukraine Talks Progress

Alexander Ionov, a member of Russia’s Human Rights Council under President Vladimir Putin (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Alexander Ionov, a member of Russia’s Human Rights Council under President Vladimir Putin (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Russian Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Mining Concessions Dependent on Ukraine Talks Progress

Alexander Ionov, a member of Russia’s Human Rights Council under President Vladimir Putin (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Alexander Ionov, a member of Russia’s Human Rights Council under President Vladimir Putin (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Amid statements made by US President Donald Trump regarding the future of agreements brokered by Riyadh over the Russia-Ukraine crisis, a Russian official has expressed Moscow's readiness to make concessions on certain raw materials and mining activities under US negotiation.

However, the official linked these concessions to the outcomes of talks in Riyadh.

Alexander Ionov, a member of Russia’s Human Rights Council under President Vladimir Putin, revealed that the Russian side supports establishing relations with the US.

According to Ionov, Russia is willing to make concessions on certain raw materials and mining activities, but everything depends on the negotiations concerning Ukraine.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Ionov pointed out that if progress is made in US-Russia understandings on Ukraine, and results are seen regarding the lifting of sanctions, that could potentially be the key to establishing normal, positive relations.

However, so far, Trump’s rhetoric remains purely political, with no concrete steps taken.

Regarding the potential inclusion of European Union countries in Ukraine-related negotiations at some stage, Ionov said that the negotiations are progressing, but the Ukrainian side is seeking to garner European support and set its own terms, which conflict with the views of both Russia and the US.

The White House is frustrated with Kyiv’s rhetoric, and Trump’s team is exerting significant pressure.

Ionov continued to say that everyone is waiting for the Black Sea agreement, reached by the Russian and US delegations, to come into effect.

However, it’s clear that this deal will only be effective after a ceasefire. In the meantime, Kyiv is losing territory, while Russia has liberated the Kursk region.

According to Ionov, European countries are eager to join the negotiation process, but for obvious reasons, they cannot be full participants. They support the Ukrainian scenario of autonomy, which means maintaining Ukraine’s territory as it stood in 1991.

He pointed out that leaders from many countries, especially France and the UK, have called for NATO peacekeeping forces to be deployed in Ukraine.

This is unacceptable to Russia, affirmed Ionov.

In general, we see an aggressive stance from European leaders who are willing to continue investing in this direction.

Ionov believes that US President Donald Trump wants to expedite the signing of a peace agreement on the Ukraine conflict, as he sees it as part of his election campaign.

However, the EU and Ukraine are slowing down the process, coupled with significant tensions in negotiations between the US and Russian delegations, with little progress made.

On the effectiveness of sanctions imposed on Russia, Ionov argued that Trump should find the real culprit in this whole matter, rather than threaten to impose restrictions on Russian oil.

In general, this will not have much impact on Russia’s economy, as the main consumers of Russian raw materials are not in the West, but in the East, confirmed Ionov.

Additionally, Russia has much greater influence over OPEC than the US. Saudi Arabia is actively cooperating with Russia and Venezuela on the oil market, and the US can do little about it at this point.

In reality, the Russian side supports building relations with the US, and it is willing to make concessions on certain raw materials and mining activities. But everything depends on the negotiations concerning Ukraine.

As for Saudi- Russian relations, Ionov reaffirmed that Russia engages with the Saudi people with warmth and kindness. Much work is being done at the official level, as Saudi Arabia is a key partner for Russia in the Middle East, he added.

Russian-Saudi cooperation shows a shared effort in developing the regional security framework, as well as advancing projects in humanitarian cooperation.

Ionov hoped the Kingdom will continue its efforts in developing joint energy projects with Russia and will participate in the BRICS alliance.