Page 6 - aruba-today-20220112

A6 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 12 January 2022
Kremlin: Not much optimism after Russia-US talks on Ukraine

By DASHA LITVINOVA and Putin has warned that Mos-
VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV cow would take unspeci-
Associated Press fied "military-technical
MOSCOW (AP) — The measures" if the U.S. and its
Kremlin said Tuesday the allies fail to meet the de-
security talks with the U.S. mands. Putin on Tuesday
amid tensions over Ukraine held a video call with mem-
have given little reason for bers of his Security Council,
optimism, adding that Rus- saying in brief introductory
sia would wait for the out- remarks that he wanted to
come of other meetings discuss unspecified issues
this week before deciding related to security and in-
whether it's worth to con- frastructure in border areas.
tinue negotiations. The U.S. and its allies have
The leader of the U.S. roundly rejected the de-
delegation at Monday's mand for NATO not to ad-
talks briefed allies in Brus- mit Ukraine or any other
sels about the session and new members, emphasiz-
stressed the security cri- ing that a key alliance prin-
sis was "caused by Russia" ciple is that membership
and its troop buildup near Associated Press is open to any qualifying
Ukraine. At the Geneva significant reason for opti- with the Americans," Pes- The negotiations were held country and no outsiders
talks, Moscow insisted on mism," he said in a confer- kov said, adding that those amid soaring tensions over have veto power. At the
guarantees to halt NATO's ence call with reporters. discussions would deter- a Russian troop buildup same time, Washington
eastward expansion and The Geneva talks are be- mine whether it would near Ukraine's border that and NATO say they are
even roll back the military ing followed by a round of make sense to continue has stoked fears of a possi- ready to discuss arms con-
alliance's deployments Russia-NATO talks in Brus- the negotiations. ble invasion. Russia has de- trol, confidence-building
in Eastern Europe, while sels on Wednesday and a He noted that Russia isn't nied it has plans to attack measures, greater trans-
Washington firmly rejected meeting of the Organiza- setting any deadlines for its neighbor but pressed parency and risk reduction
the demands as a nonstart- tion for Security and Coop- the talks but wouldn't ac- for legal guarantees that if Russia takes a construc-
er. Kremlin spokesman Dmi- eration in Europe in Vienna cept dragging them out. NATO deny membership to tive stance.
try Peskov noted that while on Thursday. "There are still Russian Foreign Minis- Ukraine and other former U.S. Deputy Secretary of
the talks were "open, com- several rounds (of talks) try spokeswoman Maria Soviet countries, as well as State Wendy Sherman,
prehensive and direct," he ahead of us, which will al- Zakharova also empha- roll back the alliance's mili- who led the U.S. delegation
emphasized that it's the re- low us to work out a clearer sized that Moscow expects tary deployments in Cen- in Geneva, said she briefed
sult that matters. understanding, a clearer a quick Washington's an- tral and Eastern Europe. the North Atlantic Council
"So far, let's say we see no picture of where we stand swer to its demands. Russian President Vladimir on the discussions. q

Russia: Infections could surge 6 times higher due to omicron

By DASHA LITVINOVA Mikhail Murashko said there no new restrictions were an-
Associated Press have been cases of com- nounced and it remained
MOSCOW (AP) — Rus- munity spread. Popova on unclear if there are plans to
sian officials on Tuesday Tuesday said the variant introduce any. Russia had
sounded the alarm about was registered in 13 Rus- only one nationwide lock-
a looming surge of corona- sian regions, including the down in 2020, and in Oc-
virus infections due to the country's biggest cities of tober many Russians were
highly contagious omicron Moscow and St. Peters- ordered to stay off work
variant, but stopped short burg. for a week amid a surge
of announcing new restric- Moscow Mayor Sergei of infections and deaths,
tions in a hard-hit country Sobyanin said Tuesday that but generally the authori-
where very few limits are in omicron is spreading fast in ties have resisted shutting
place. the Russian capital. down businesses or impos-
Russia already has by far "Within 7-10 days, I believe, ing any tough restrictions.
Europe's highest pandemic we will be seeing a signifi- Russian lawmakers late last
toll at over 317,000 dead. Associated Press cant surge in infections," year introduced legislation
The warning on Tuesday tions that the situation with million confirmed infections Sobyanin said, adding that restricting access to public
comes just weeks after the virus is worsening, Popo- and 317,618 deaths overall. the virus situation in Mos- places to those who have
new infections and deaths va added infection rates in Russia's state statistics cow might become even been vaccinated, recov-
in Russia began to decline 35 out of more than 80 Rus- agency, which user broad- more "critical" that it was ered or medically exempt
following another record- sian regions are higher than er counting criteria, puts during previous surges. from getting a jab, but the
breaking surge. the country's average. the death toll much higher, Moscow health officials re- law hasn't yet passed all
Pessimistic estimates sug- Russia this year has been saying the overall number ported 4,635 new cases of three readings in parlia-
gest that Russia might face reporting between 15,000 of virus-linked deaths be- COVID-19 Tuesday, a toll ment.
six-figure numbers of daily and 18,000 new infections a tween April 2020 and Octo- almost twice as high as the Similar restrictions already
new infections, according day, compared to Decem- ber 2021 was over 625,000. previous day. Russia saw exist in some Russian re-
to Anna Popova, head of ber's rate of about 30,000 Health officials have re- 17,525 new infections on gions, but are often loosely
Russia's public health agen- daily cases. The country's ported only 305 confirmed Tuesday up from 15,830 on implemented. In others,
cy Rospotrebnadzor. state coronavirus task force cases of omicron so far, Monday. they were relaxed ahead
Experts already see indica- has registered over 10.6 but Russian Health Minister Despite the warning signs, of the New Year holidays.q