(EDM) Foreign affairs have yielded few successes and much chagrin for Russia since the start of 2019 (see EDM, January 14, 2019). Relations with the United States are going from bad to worse, as the inevitable collapse of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty signifies a failure in arms control talks, traditionally the main channel of bilateral communications (Russiancouncil.ru, January 21, 2019; see EDM, January 17, 2019). The much-anticipated breakthrough in relations with Japan never materialized because President Vladimir Putin opted against striking a deal on the disputed Southern Kurile Islands (Carnegie.ru, January 24, 2019). Public opinion is indeed firmly set against any territorial compromise, so the media noise around the bargaining with Prime Minister Shinzō Abe punched another dent in Putin’s declining popularity (Rosbalt, January 22, 2019; see EDM, January 24, 2019). Meanwhile, the turmoil in Venezuela has exposed an ambiguous rationale of Moscow’s support for the failing regime and a high risk of losing some $17 billion in dubious investments (RBC, January 24, 2019). But perhaps the most prominent entry in this list of setbacks camouflaged as achievements comes under the heading “Syria.” […]
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