Chronologies
US - Russia
Chronology from Jan 2006 to Mar 2006
: Putin expresses frustration about the pace of Russia’s accession to WTO membership, citing new demands by the U.S.
: Ukrainian parliamentary elections fail to designate a clear-cut winner, though they are seen as a blow to President Viktor Yushchenko and his forces.
: Pentagon issues report stating that Russian diplomats based in Baghdad may have passed information about U.S. war plans to the Iraqi government in 2003.
: Presidential elections in Belarus give President Alexander Lukashenko 83 percent of the votes.
: U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman visits Kazakhstan and meets Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev. The two discuss the trans-Caspian shipment of Kazakh oil to the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline.
: The White House issues its National Security Strategy, which expresses concern about Russia’s democratic development.
: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Boris Tarasyuk visits Washington and discusses NATO membership for his country.
: The State Department releases its Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. The report chides Russia on its “backslide” from democracy.
: Council on Foreign Relations issues a critical report on Russian internal and external affairs.
: Russian FM Lavrov arrives in Washington for a meeting with U.S. leaders, including Condoleezza Rice. Lavrov also meets briefly with President Bush.
: Hamas leaders meet with the Russian leadership in Moscow.
: In an editorial in the Wall Street Journal, President Putin states that the “establishment of a reliable and comprehensive system of energy security is one of the strategic goals for the G8.”
: U.S. National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley visits Moscow to reassure Russian leaders of the benign intentions behind the proposed deployment of a missile defense system in Eastern Europe.
: Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov arrives in Vietnam for a two-day visit to warm relations and to increase Russia’s profile in Southeast Asia.
: G8 finance ministers meet in Moscow to discuss details of the June G8 summit in St. Petersburg. U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow attends.
: Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi fails to attend the annual rally on Northern Territories Day in Tokyo. At this rally Japanese gather to demand the return of the four disputed islands with Russia.
: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov meets with senior officials in Tehran to discuss the Iranian nuclear program. He seeks a softening of the Iranian stance.
: Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly states that there is little dividing Russia from the EU and the U.S. on Iran’s uranium enrichment activities.
: Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov publish an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, entitled “Russia Must Be Strong.”
: Russia and Ukraine reach 11th hour deal that assures Ukraine continued supplies of natural gas at a rate below market value. Russia’s heavy-handed tactics cause an uproar in the U.S. press, as well as in the U.S. government.