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Putin, Raisi Summit Maintains Social Distance, Marks a 'Turning Point' in Relations

Russian President Vladimir Putin with Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi at the Kremlin (AFP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin with Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi at the Kremlin (AFP)
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Putin, Raisi Summit Maintains Social Distance, Marks a 'Turning Point' in Relations

Russian President Vladimir Putin with Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi at the Kremlin (AFP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin with Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi at the Kremlin (AFP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin received at the Kremlin Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi to discuss bilateral relations, regional developments, and their strategic cooperation.

Ahead of the visit, Russian and Iranian media outlets described the visit as a turning point to boost strategic cooperation.

However, despite the media hype, the reception at the Kremlin was not up to expectations, where the protocol office arranged the meeting at a long table, unlike previous ceremonies during which Putin usually receives heads of state.

Some observers attributed the decision to maintain COVID-19 precautions, and Putin's spokesman later told the media that the seating arrangement was due to "measures of sanitary necessity."

Still, the meeting was not followed by a joint press conference, as is customary when receiving presidents, which Kremlin sources said was to respect Putin's desire to maintain distance and not participate in open events.

Nevertheless, the two presidents were keen to highlight their coordination in various fields, especially Syria.

In his opening speech, the Russian President said that Tehran and Moscow cooperate in the international arena.

"We can say that our efforts largely helped the Syrian government overcome the threats linked with international terrorism. Now both you and we are concerned about the situation that is taking shape in Afghanistan."

Putin expressed a desire to discuss these issues with Raisi and hear his position on these problems.

He thanked his Iranian counterpart for finding the time to come to Russia in these difficult pandemic times, noting that both leaders have been in constant contact since your inauguration, "but of course, videoconferences and telephone conversations cannot replace personal meetings."

Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) are developing relations temporarily, under a temporary agreement, said Putin, adding: "We are doing much to create a long-term foundation for cooperation and a free trade area between Iran and our union."

Putin asked Raisi to convey his best regards to the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Raisi will address the State Duma on Thursday, which is rarely included on the agenda of visiting presidents, reflecting the importance of this trip.

He also stressed the importance of the cooperation between Iran and Russia in Syria, describing it as a "very good experience."

"We were fighting terrorism in the region, in the Syrian Arab Republic through a concerted effort. We can use this positive experience in many other areas."

The Iranian delegation delivered a document on bilateral strategic cooperation, which may determine "our future relations for the next 20 years," according to Raisi.

"We believe this document will certainly determine the long-term prospects for strategic cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Russian Federation."

Contrary to the previous analysis, Russian sources said that Moscow and Tehran would not sign the document during the current visit.

Observers believe that Moscow may be waiting for the outcome of the nuclear negotiations before taking a similar step.

Raisi asserted that Iran "will never stop progress and national development because of sanctions or threats."

The President asserted that his country is trying to lift these sanctions, noting that officials are working on different mechanisms, and the ultimate goal is to remove restrictions with their help.

Raisi expressed Iran's aspiration to develop its relations with Russia in the economy, politics, culture, science, technology, the defense and military areas, security, and aviation and space.

"We can develop a new level of cooperation in all these areas."

He also noted that both sides are working to increase the level of their cooperation in trade and the economy and to raise investment manifold.

Raisi thanked Putin for supporting Iran in becoming a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

"I would like to say that in the current, exceptional conditions when unilateral actions by the West, including the US, are being confronted, we can create synergy in our cooperation."

Raisi focused on the "long-term strategic path" in relations with Moscow, reflecting the priority of this issue to his team.

Tehran also wants to reassure Moscow that reaching a possible agreement on the nuclear deal does not mean Iran will turn its back on its Russian allies.

Meanwhile, Moscow announced its readiness to develop cooperation in various fields, namely the military.

Ahead of the visit, Western media discussed the prospects of Russian-Iranian military-technical cooperation. They reported that the two parties might conclude a $10 billion contract to purchase Russian military equipment.

Military observers believe that it is important for Tehran to purchase modern Russian fighters, but the issue lies in Iran's desire to pay for them through a barter system or obtain a soft Russian loan, according to experts, which they believe is possible.

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World

NATO and Ukraine to Hold Emergency Talks after Russia’s Attack with New Hypersonic Missile

A missile shrapnel lies on the grass in front of damaged rehabilitation center for people with disabilities, following a Russian attack in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, on November 22, 2024. (AFP)
A missile shrapnel lies on the grass in front of damaged rehabilitation center for people with disabilities, following a Russian attack in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, on November 22, 2024. (AFP)
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NATO and Ukraine to Hold Emergency Talks after Russia’s Attack with New Hypersonic Missile

A missile shrapnel lies on the grass in front of damaged rehabilitation center for people with disabilities, following a Russian attack in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, on November 22, 2024. (AFP)
A missile shrapnel lies on the grass in front of damaged rehabilitation center for people with disabilities, following a Russian attack in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, on November 22, 2024. (AFP)

NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks Tuesday after Russia attacked a central city with an experimental, hypersonic ballistic missile that escalated the nearly 33-month-old war.

The conflict is “entering a decisive phase,” Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Friday, and “taking on very dramatic dimensions.”

Ukraine’s parliament canceled a session as security was tightened following Thursday's Russian strike on a military facility in the city of Dnipro.

In a stark warning to the West, President Vladimir Putin said in a nationally televised speech to his nation that the attack with the intermediate-range Oreshnik missile was retaliation for Kyiv’s use of US and British longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian territory.

Putin said Western air defense systems would be powerless to stop the new missile.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov kept up Russia's bellicose tone on Friday, blaming “the reckless decisions and actions of Western countries” in supplying weapons to Ukraine to strike Russia.

"The Russian side has clearly demonstrated its capabilities, and the contours of further retaliatory actions in the event that our concerns were not taken into account have also been quite clearly outlined," he said.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, widely seen as having the warmest relations with the Kremlin in the European Union, echoed Moscow's talking points, suggesting the use of US-supplied weapons in Ukraine likely requires direct American involvement.

“These are rockets that are fired and then guided to a target via an electronic system, which requires the world’s most advanced technology and satellite communications capability,” Orban said on state radio. “There is a strong assumption ... that these missiles cannot be guided without the assistance of American personnel.”

Orban cautioned against underestimating Russia’s responses, emphasizing that the country’s recent modifications to its nuclear deployment doctrine should not be dismissed as a “bluff.” “It’s not a trick... there will be consequences,” he said.

Separately in Kyiv, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský called Thursday's missile strike an “escalatory step and an attempt of the Russian dictator to scare the population of Ukraine and to scare the population of Europe.”

At a news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Lipavský also expressed his full support for delivering the necessary additional air defense systems to protect Ukrainian civilians from the “heinous attacks.”

He underlined that the Czech Republic will impose no limits on the use of its weapons and equipment given to Ukraine.

Three lawmakers from Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, confirmed that Friday's previously scheduled session was called off due to the ongoing threat of Russian missiles targeting government buildings in central Kyiv.

In addition, there also was a recommendation to limit the work of all commercial offices and nongovernmental organizations "in that perimeter, and local residents were warned of the increased threat,” said lawmaker Mykyta Poturaiev, who added this is not the first time such a threat has been received.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office continued to work in compliance with standard security measures, a spokesperson said.

Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate said the Oreshnik missile, whose name in Russian means “hazelnut tree,” was fired from the Kapustin Yar 4th Missile Test Range in Russia’s Astrakhan region, and flew 15 minutes before striking Dnipro. The missile had six nonnuclear warheads each carrying six submunitions and reached a spoeed of Mach 11, it said.

Test launches of a similar missile were conducted in October 2023 and June 2024, the directorate said. The Pentagon confirmed the missile was a new, experimental type of intermediate-range missile based on its RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile.

Thursday's attack struck the Pivdenmash plant that built ICBMs when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. The military facility is located about 4 miles (6 1/2 kilometers) southwest of the center of Dnipro, a city of about 1 million that is Ukraine’s fourth-largest and a key hub for military supplies and humanitarian aid, and is home to one of the country’s largest hospitals for treating wounded soldiers from the front before their transfer to Kyiv or abroad.

The stricken area was cordoned off and out of public view. With no fatalities reported from the attack, Dnipro residents resorted to dark humor on social media, mostly focused on the missile’s name, Oreshnik.

Elsewhere in Ukraine, Russia struck a residential district of Sumy overnight with Iranian-designed Shahed drones, killing two people and injuring 13, the regional administration said..

Ukraine’s Suspilne media, quoting Sumy regional head Volodymyr Artiukh, said the drones were stuffed with shrapnel elements. “These weapons are used to destroy people, not to destroy objects,” said Artiukh, according to Suspilne.