Russia “counterattacks” Britain over former spy Skripal case; Trump invites Putin to meet at the White House

1. Mr. Poroshenko declared to "force" Mr. Putin to sign a ceasefire order in Donbass

Russian President Putin, Ukrainian President Poroshenko.

Ukrainian President Poroshenko announced that he, together with French President Macron and German Chancellor Merkel, had succeeded in "forcing" Russian President Vladimir Putin to sign a new ceasefire in Donbass - Eastern Ukraine.

Commentary by Russian Senator Alexei Pushkov said: “Mr. Poroshenko should not discuss the issue of sending peacekeepers to Donbass with German Chancellor Merkel or Mr. Volker – US Special Envoy to Ukraine, but with representatives of the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. Without their consent, there will be no peacekeepers in Donbass. Neither Mrs. Merkel nor Mr. Volker can help in this matter.”

2.Mr. Trump invited Mr. Putin to meet at the White House

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and his US counterpart Donald Trump. Photo: Reuters

US President Donald Trump has extended an invitation to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to visit Washington and hold talks, RT quoted Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov as saying on April 2.

According to RT, Kremlin assistant Yuri Ushakov said that President Trump made this invitation during a phone call between the two leaders on March 20.

However, not long after that, Washington announced the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats and requested the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle in response to Russia's alleged involvement in the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in the UK on March 4.

"In this context, it is difficult to discuss the possibility of holding a meeting (between Trump and Putin)," spokesman Yuri Ushakov said at a press conference on April 2.

3. The US is about to punish China for "theft"

US Trade Representative Robert Lighthize. Photo: Reuters

An investigation by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) concluded that China has sought to steal American intellectual property through joint venture requirements, state-funded purchases of American technology companies, and outright theft.

Based on the investigation's conclusions, the Trump administration announced that it would impose tariffs on $50 to $60 billion worth of imported goods from China.

Reuters news agency on April 2 quoted informed sources as saying that most of the sanctioned items will be in the group of "high-tech" products. The number of items may be expanded two months before the new tariff schedule officially takes effect.

The purpose of the sanctions is to force Beijing to change its rules on technology transfer when US companies do business in China. USTR accuses Chinese-style regulations of being "uneconomic" and sophisticated theft of US assets.

4. Rebels withdraw from Eastern Ghouta, Syrian Government wins big?

Syrian soldiers celebrate victory in Douma. Photo: AFP

Rebel fighters have begun leaving the town of Douma, the last stronghold in the "hotspot" of Eastern Ghouta, near the Syrian capital Damascus.

This is considered a major and meaningful victory for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, because the Syrian government army has won the last major stronghold of the opposition near the capital Damascus.

The deal to evacuate rebel fighters from Douma was reached after days of negotiations to end the bloodshed there. Under the deal, Jaish al-Islam fighters, their families and civilians will be evacuated to rebel-held areas in Aleppo province, northern Syria.

“We have reached agreements with the leaders of illegal armed groups on the evacuation of militants and their families from the town of Douma. The Russian Reconciliation Center has taken measures to stabilize the situation and return local residents to their homes,” said Captain Sergei Rudskoi of the Russian Center for Reconciliation in Syria.

5. Russia counter-accuses British intelligence of poisoning former spy Skripal

A plane carrying Russian diplomats expelled from the US landed at Vnukovo airport. Photo: AFP

Russian Ambassador to the UK Alexander Yakovenko said there was reason to believe that the Skripal case was a provocation by British special services.

Mr. Yakovenko made the above accusation in an interview with NTV (Russia). “We have very serious suspicions that this provocation (the Skripal assassination) was carried out by British special services. They refused to cooperate with us and did not present any evidence of the incident.”

Ambassador Yakovenko also noted that the assassination of former spy Skripal occurred in the context of the UK experiencing “a very difficult situation at the moment” for two reasons. The first reason is related to the UK leaving the European Union (Brexit).

The second reason, according to Ambassador Yakovenko, is related to Britain’s role in the West. “When the national security concept was adopted and subsequently endorsed by (British Prime Minister) Theresa May, Britain took the lead in the so-called ‘containment of Russia’,” he said.

6. Russia successfully tested a new missile defense system

Russia successfully tested a new missile defense system.

Russia's newly upgraded ballistic missile defense system was successfully tested at the Sary Shagan training ground in Kazakhstan, the official newspaper of the Russian Defense Ministry “Krasnaya Zvezda” reported on April 2.

"The newly upgraded ballistic missile defense system performed its task well and destroyed the conventional target at the designated time," the newspaper quoted Deputy Commander of the Air Defense and Missile Defense Unit of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS), Major General Andrey Prikhodko, as saying.

According to the newspaper, the above-mentioned missile defense system is being deployed in the Russian Air Force and Space Force, designed to protect the capital Moscow from air and space attacks; as well as perform tasks to support missile warning systems and space control.

7. Japanese Prime Minister to visit US to discuss North Korea

Prime Minister Abe and President Trump in their first meeting after Trump took office in early 2017. Photo: Reuters.

Reuters reported on April 2 that Prime Minister Abe said he would ask President Trump to raise North Korea's abduction of Japanese citizens during his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, scheduled to take place in May.

Previously, after Mr. Trump's sudden announcement of agreeing to meet Mr. Kim, Prime Minister Abe had suggested that he would visit the US in April. Diplomat commented that for Mr. Abe's administration, Trump's intention to meet Mr. Kim, which was decided suddenly, without an agenda or even a location, posed a difficult problem for Japan.

Tokyo has always been consistent with the US strategy of "maximum pressure" on North Korea, under which Washington persuades its partners and allies to tighten sanctions, forcing Pyongyang to make concessions on its nuclear and missile programs. As of February, Abe and Trump still expressed their determination to maintain this pressure.

8. Russia sells "huge" S-400 missiles to India, sparking US-India tensions?

Russia is likely to sell the "monstrous" S-400 air defense missile system to India this year.

India's purchase of Russia's advanced S-400 air defense missile system could land the country on the US sanctions list, a move that could also spark US-India diplomatic tensions.

According to National Interest magazine, Russia and India are in the process of discussing the terms of purchase of the modern S-400 air defense missile system.

It is worth mentioning that according to the content of the "Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act" (CAATSA), which was passed by the US government last August, India could be put on the US sanctions list for purchasing the S-400 from Russia.