Russia diplomacy redraws map

Moscow chooses new ambassador to Japan 

A key figure at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is poised to succeed Mikhail Galuzin as Russian ambassador in Tokyo. He will have to continue playing the delicate diplomatic dance between the two countries.

• UNITED STATES - CIA experimenting to solve HR crisis

• TURKEY/PALESTINE/AFGHANISTAN - Istanbul hosts Hamas-Taliban rapprochement

• GEORGIA - Tbilisi looks into its oligarchs

• FRANCE - DPR still not entitled to know about operations in progress

• RUSSIA - Moscow's foreign affairs ministry reassesses view of China

• AFGHANISTAN/EUROPE - Europe's greater numbers of repatriated Afghans

Is Belarus about to go to war with Ukraine? 

Since the announcement of a partial mobilisation in Russia and the possible transformation of the "special military operation" in Ukraine into an official war, all parties are evaluating the risk of direct involvement of Belarusian troops in the hostilities.

Rosoboronexport suffers setbacks in Kubinka and Hanoi 

The Russian military equipment exporter, which has been hit by components shortages, has seen its global sales fall sharply. The latest blow has come from Vietnam, which has decided to freeze its dealings with the Russian group.

Minnikhanov leads business rapprochement between Russia and Indonesia 

Russia, which is looking to strengthen its trading links with South Asia, is counting on Tatarstan president Rustam Minnikhanov to promote the exportation of its oil products to Indonesia.

Russia chooses deputy foreign minister as new ambassador in Beijing 

The appointment has still to be approved by the Chinese foreign ministry, but should reinforce the strategic partnership Moscow is seeking to establish with its powerful neighbour. It is also an indication of Russia's multilateralist ambitions in Asia.

Ukraine war plunges Russian embassies in Europe into uncertainty 

Moscow's diplomatic missions in Western Europe, which parrot the Kremlin line on the Ukraine conflict, remain suspended on the fate of Western embassies in the Russian capital. This is despite the fact that, the expulsions of the last few years notwithstanding, the embassies last year were boosted by the arrival of new intelligence officers.