Russia (21st Century Crisis)

The United Russian Federation (Russian: Единая Российская Федерация Yedinaya Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) also known as Russia, is a country in Eastern Europe, Central and North Asia and North America.

Russia borders a large plethora of nations, including Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Scandinavia. Russia traces its origins to the Kievan Rus', which, during the rule of monarchs such as Peter the Great, Ivan III, Ivan IV and Catherine the Great, emerged to become a world empire with global aspirations, a golden age of arts, music and innovation. Between 1922 to 1989, Russia was under a communist Marxist-Leninist regime, after Vladimir Lenin emerged as the ultimate victory in the Russian Civil War. In 1998, under Soviet president Alexander Rutskoy, the Soviet Union was re-transformed into the modern-day United Russian Federation.

The major religions are Christianity - which the majority follows (mostly Eastern Orthodox) - followed by Islam, Buddhism and Shamanism. While Russian is designated as the national language, Russia has many regional official languages, as the country is multi-ethnic.

Communist Era 1917-1991
After the Red Army defeated the White forces, the Whites fled to Alaska. The Whites took with them books, artwork and other Russian cultural artifacts that would have otherwise perished under the new communist regime in Russia. Alaska became the abode of White Russian culture, and was backed by the British and American forces in case the communists ever tried to attack them. After the German-Soviet non-aggression pact, Stalin initiated the Winter War and the Scandinavian-Soviet War, both of which inflicted serious damages to the Soviets and exposed flaws within Soviet military leadership. This led to the bloody coup against Joseph Stalin, which Hitler used as a basis for his later invasion of the Soviet Union, calling the Soviet system corrupt and a failure. However, the following leader, Sergey Sedov, re-established order and hope in the Soviet Union. His reforms included reparations to the Ukrainian SSR. Military leadership improved, creating a huge dilemma for Hitler as Sedov knew exactly that Hitler had plans to invade the Soviet Union. However, Sedov kept the Soviet stability a secret, and made the Soviet Union out to be an ailing nation to deceive the future German invaders. Operation Barbarossa ends up twice as disastrous, the Battle of Stalingrad never happens, although Turkey joins the Axis and cooperates with Germany on its invasion of the Soviet Union, the Red Army still sustains a large casualty rate, it is less worse than in our OT, and the German invasion of the Soviet Union ends earlier, in 1943, by the time D-Day commences, the Soviets have already reached Hungary. Soviets have so much manpower, they send large numbers of Soviet troops to partake in D-Day. They emerge as the world's paramount military rival to the United States. Soviet Union never invades Afghanistan, although continued to support the Democratic Afghan Republic. Both the Soviets and Americans agreed to led Afghanistan take its route. Like Scandinavia and Yugoslavia, Afghanistan first becomes non-aligned, but joins the Chinese bloc (up to today, is still a Chinese ally). Afghanistan overthrows the DPR, and becomes a rather prosperous nation with its rich natural minerals and oil. It aids Pakistan in its war against India.

During the Cold War, Ronald Reagan is murdered. Therefore, the collapse of the Soviet Union, was a minimal fluke at best. Without Reagan's policies, the collapse of the Soviet Union was harder to achieve, and the Soviets continued to exist well throughout the late 20th century.

However, Democratic revolutions still rage Eastern Europe, the Berlin Wall still falls. Yet, the efforts achieve little, and while the Warsaw Pact is effectively dissolved and Soviet military and political control of the former Warsaw Pact disappears, Eastern European nations are still forced to trade with the Soviet Union. Soviet GDP decreases from approx. $5 trillion to $3.2 trillion.

In 1987, Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev announced that the Soviet Union would allow some privatization. He initiated the Red Square Incident, similar to the Tiananmen Square Incident in China. Gorbachev kept the Communist Party in power the Soviet Union.

However, Gorbachev gradually introduced capitalism, though it was kept an open secret, much like China, and transitioned into a communist-in-name-only state.

He defeated a coup attempt led by pro-western Boris Yeltsin, and had Yeltsin imprisoned, and later decided to have him shot, fearing that Yeltsin would become a "Yankee puppet".

Modern Era 1991-present
Soviet forces removed as much of their militaries from the new republics, especially the Baltics and Central Asia. All of the ethnic Russian soldiers left, and members of the former Soviet air force flew all aircraft back into Russia. Gorbachev ruled that ".....no aircraft is to remain anywhere outside the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Tajikistan or Manchuria" and stated, "They can fend for themselves".

For some time, the USSR was renamed the "United Slavic Soviet Republics", thus, keeping the acronym the "USSR" and the Cyrillic acronym "CCCP", an influence taken from Yugoslavia (lit. "Land of the South Slavs"), where Russia, Belarus and Ukraine were the "Land of the East Slavs". In this new Soviet Union, Orthodoxy and the pre-1922 Russian culture was revived.

It is in 1991 that the Soviet Union for the first time in its history, close all public facilities on Orthodox Christmas, it would, once more become one of the Soviet Union's many national holidays.

However, the Soviet military's expenditure fell from $368 billion to $102.7 billion in order to make way for the spending towards healthcare, education and veterans welfare. Gorbachev shrunk the size of the Soviet military from 7.2 million personnel to 3.5 million, and wanted to modernize the Soviet military from a conscript force into a professional force. Gorbachev also kept communism as the economy, but adopted Deng Xiaoping's strategy, slowly moving toward a market economy, favoring market socialism. Gorbachev appointed Ruslan Khasbulatov as the Head of Economic Affairs of the Soviet Union to guide the country's gradual shift to a market economy.

Still, the press received some points of suppression, anything seen as detrimental to Russia and the Soviet Union was suppressed.

In order to enhance Soviet liberalization, the Gorbachev Administration funded many recreational movements, increasing the number of arcades as evidenced by increased trade with Japan. It also led to the creation of the Vremya video game console, co-created by Soviet computer scientist Alexey Pajitnov (creator of Tetris) and Andrey Dovshenko, the first major console released by the Soviet Union. The Vremya was very successful in western nations, in which the United Kingdom, France, two of the Soviet Union's traditional enemies. The Vremya competed with other major world consoles, including that of the NES, SNES and the Sega Genesis.

Gorbachev also mended broken relations with Israel, opening the Soviet economy to the Israeli market.

Gorbachev rejected Chechen independence, but he allowed Chechnya to exist as a Soviet republic rather than become part of the Russian SFSR.

From 1992 to 1994, the President Gorbachev aided Yugoslavia in battling the NATO invasion, in one of the Soviet Union's largest offensives in Europe since World War II. Soviets also sided with Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and ended Azerbaijan's independence by forcefully re-annexing it.

However, the Soviets had another huge issue: Ukrainian separatists. The Soviets faced the Ukrainian National Army, a far-right isolationist paramilitary, and the Ukrainian Democratic Front, a center-right group wanting Ukraine to become a NATO and European Union-aligned state. Both paramilitaries fought not only the Soviets, but also against each other.

In 1994, after an all-out offensive in the Ukrainian SSR, the Soviet forces emerged victorious over the Ukrainian nationalists, thus ending the Ukrainian War of Independence. The United States condemned the Soviet Union for such a thing.

Seeing that the Soviet Union simply would not collapse, and seeing it in its weakened state, some NATO leaders called for a hot war against the Soviet Union, bringing into mind Operation Unthinkable. Others objected due to the continued Soviet possession of nukes.

In 1994, seeing that life was even more miserable in the post-Soviet era, Kazakhstan and Moldova made bids to re-joined the Soviet Union amid favorable views of it. However, the majority of the Slavic population did not support it, and the re-acquisition of Kazakhstan meant that naming conventions became an issue once more. The name "Slavic" was dropped, and the USSR reverted to its original pre-1992 name.

In 1995, in his final speech as president, Mikhail Gorbachev reflected on the Soviet Union's "underdog successes", stating that the spirit of the Soviet can resist any odds. Alexander Rutskoy succeeded Gorbachev as the President of the Soviet Union.

In 1996, the independent government of Tajikistan collapsed, and made a bid for a re-entry into the Soviet Union, seeing how well the Soviet government held itself together after the Great Secession. However, most Soviets, who at this point, embraced Slavic European nationalism, were against it. Eurasianists, however, supported it.

In the time period between 1997 up to now, the Soviet government worked mostly on restoring the country's culture and internal infrastructure.

Still, discrimination against non-Slavs became rampant, while the historical Russian rulers became national heroes, proposals to have those from Kazakhstan were continually rejected. In addition, Moscow transported ethnic Russians en masse to Kazakhstan for land development purposes, this trend continues today in the Republic of Turkestan, and there are fears that the native Kazakh and Uzbek population will be the minority. However, Orthodox and Muslim holidays once more received official recognition, Orthodox literature and studies were promoted, and Moscow allowed Kazakhstan, Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia to promote Islam.

Viktor Chernomyrdin presidency, 1998-2000, Soviet Union renamed to Russia
At the end of 1996, the Russian Cultural Revolution was taking place, in which Russian nationalists vyed for the return of the tsarist culture without the idea of actually re-installing a monarch, and re-uniting with Alaska. Many argued that the Soviet Union was truly no longer Soviet, and that trying to mix Soviet ideology with Russian nationalism was all but impossible.

President Alexander Rutskoy declared the end of the Soviet Union, and stepped down as the president of the Soviet Union.

In 1997, the first elections of the United Russian Federation was held, with liberal-centrist Viktor Chernomyrdin becoming its first president.

President Chernomyrdin promised that the leaders of non-ethnic Russian republics, such as those of Kazakhstan would still retain the same cultural and political status as they had during the Soviet days, and Islam was able to retain its status as a public religion in Russia's predominantly Muslim republics.

Zhirinovsky Era 2000-2004
In 2000, ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky became president, via rigging, cheating and jerrymandering - leading to more opposition groups in Russia. A member of the Christian right, Zhirinovsky introduced many Christian right laws, his stated goal was "re-transform Russia back into an abode of Christianity". In addition, Zhirinovsky changed the flag of the United Russian Federation back to the tricolor, causing issues with Alaska, or the Russian Republic. In order to differentiate, the Russian Republic added an Orthodox cross to its top-left crimson.

From 2000 to 2003, Zhirinosky led a Christian Fascist-like rule in Russia. Moscow re-named Kazakhstan the Central Asian Republic, and removed Kazakh from its status as a co-official to Russian.

In 2002, Chinese troops were amassing near the Chinese-Manchurian border. The Manchurian government, a long-time ally of Russia and the preceding Soviet Union, fearing a Chinese military takeover, looked to Moscow for military aid. By this time, Russian military had begun to slightly recover, increasing its expenditure to $72.4 billion. Worried about the fate of the Russian Manchurian community, Zhirinovsky sent Russian military personnel to northern Manchuria, home to the Russian Manchurian community. Beijing released a statement stating that China was partaking in "no invasion drill of any sort", and invited Russian leaders to have a peaceful dialogue in Jakarta.

In spite of his hatred against Islam, Zhirinovsky was also anti-Jewish, and embraced the idea of nuking Israel, and helping Palestinians take "....all of Palestine by force", establish Greek Orthodox supremacy in Palestine, and considered himself a "crusader".

However, it is his prime minister Vladimir Putin that worked to improve the financial situation of Russia. While Zhirinovsky concerned more about restoring the Russian Empire, and restoring Russian military influence abroad, Putin worked to ensure that Russians had jobs, and that the impoverished were housed and fed. As a result, Putin is considered the true hero of modern-day Russia.

Despite being friendly to George W. Bush, Zhirinovsky opposed the invasion of Iraq, and referred to Bush as a "Jew-loving phony conservative". Zhirinovsky donated some units of S-300 air defense to Saddam Hussein, helping complicate Coalition aerial operations in Iraq. In addition, outrage ensued when leaks of Zhirinovsky's plans to re-conquer the former Russian Empire, which would include Finland, Poland, Georgia and Central Asia were released, ultimately leading to his downfall. Sergei Skripal, an ex-Soviet spy and Russian intelligence officer who worked for the Zhirinovsky Administration was behind the leaks, and along with his daughter, Yulia, fled to the United Kingdom as political refugees, where he now lives as a political activist to have Russia become a European Union and NATO-friendly state.

While many Russian nationalists were fond of Zhirinovsky's views, the majority of Russians, even nationalists, viewed his goal as reckless and unrealistic.

Post Zhirinovsky Era 2003-present
In 2003, fearing that Zhirinovsky's policies would cause the Muslim-dominated republics to secede, as well as seeing the recklessness of his war plans, the Russian Supreme Court voted to impeach Zhirinovsky, who was replaced by the more moderate but still conservative nationalist Vladimir Putin. Zhirinvosky was formally stripped off of the presidency in 2004. Putin re-instated Kazakh as a secondary official to Russian in the Central Asian Republic, and re-permitted the government of the Central Asian Republic, as well as the other predominantly Muslim republics to promote Islam.

Putin signed the Ukrainian Partition, allowing Ukraine to be divided into an independent Republic of Ukraine to the east, and Russian republics of Crimea, Donbass and East Ukraine. The Republic of Ukraine with Dnipro as its capital and the Russian East Ukraine with Kiev as its capital.

Most major cities, such as Kiev, Kharkiv, Odessa, Nikolayev and Sevastopol remained under Russian control. Ukrainian nationalists were outraged, seeing this as an unfair deal, and arguing that Ukraine was severely disadvantaged. Nonetheless, it still went through.

In 2007, Dmitry Medvedev succeeded Putin. Under Medvedev, Russia began to develop oil-drilling technology that would be able withstand the hostile Siberian climate, known as Project Breadbasket Siberia.

In 2010, Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin began a serious attempt to eliminate poverty in Russia, requiring oligarchs to lend money to help pay for the education and housing for those in serious need, whether it was education in Russia or abroad. Global observers claimed it could have been a resurgence of socialism in Russia, something Putin denied. Over $14.7 billion was spent transforming old Soviet apartment complices into well-furnished shelters for homeless citizens.

However, Putin also passed stiff laws to prevent scammers and what he referred to as "leeches" from taking advantage.

In 2012, Russia was dealt a major blow when the Hague awarded Kiev status as Ukrainian territory. Putin stated that while he disagrees with th decision, he will respect and honor it. East Ukraine's capital was moved to Kharkiv. Russia made a new deal with Ukraine, to extend Ukrainian control 500 km west of the Dneiper, in which Russia ceded the cities of Poltava, Kremenchuk and Dnipropetrovsk in exchange for Nikolayev and Odessa. Ukraine agreed to the deal, and thus, the modern-day borders of Russia and Ukraine were finalized. This would finish a period in modern Russian history known as the Russia-Ukraine Border Crisis.

In addition, Ukrainian Orthodox within the Republic of Ukraine, under the leadership of Patriarch Filaret, proclaimed independence from the Moscow Patriarchate. The GOF stated that they would respect the decision of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. In 2014, the decision went through, and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church emerged as a separate  autocephalous church from Moscow Patriarchate. Fiilaret became the Patriarch of Kiev. Patriarch Kiril of Moscow was enraged and showed his strong opposition.

Succeeding president Vladimir Putin (later in 2014) was asked about his opinion, stating, "You asked the wrong person. Personally, I disagree with it, I believe it is, extremely schismatic to say the least, but I'm not gonna try to stop it, that would be up to the clergy of the church. If anyone wanted to effectively object, leave it up to Patriarch Kiril, I can't do anything about that. The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople made his decision, and I respect that. I have more important matters to address as the leader of Russia, and don't have time to go around telling people what church they should follow."

Those in the Russian republic of East Ukraine were more or less mixed, with 47% opposed and 41% accepting of the decision. Those who opposed stated they wished to remain under the Moscow Patriarchate.

Medvedev also worked to restore relations with the West, whilst still maintaining Russian territorial integrity. Medvedev signed the Railway Act into law, a system of railways that would connect Russia to several European and Asian nations, of these, included Scandinavia, Poland, Turkey, Romania, China and Manchuria.

So far, only the railway with Scandinavia is complete and the Manchuria Railway, in existence ever since the Soviet era, continues to operate, and the Poland and Romania railways are underway.

Russia also embarked on a serious global attempt to dethrone the Persian Gulf states as the leading producer and exporter of oil, thanks to Russia's ginormous oil fields, beginning an oil trade war between Russia and the Persian Gulf states.

Medvedev also signed the Russia-Mongolia Gas Deal, and the Russia-Mongolia Economic Deal, in which, in an effort to settle its sparsely populated areas, the Mongolian government practically opened Mongolia to massive Russian investments. The Russia-Mongolia Economic Deal was part of the national Mongolian Urbanization Programme. This decision was ridiculed, as the United Nations claimed that it was an infringement on the rights of the Mongol nomads to roam their traditional lands.

Despite this, Zhirinovsky remained largely popular in all of Russia's Slavic and predominantly Christian republics. He is considered one of Russia's most well-liked politicians, along with Mikhail Gorbachev and Vladimir Putin.

As life further deteriorated in many of the other ex-Soviet republics, they all made their bids to re-join Russia, something that was met with extreme hostility by NATO.

At this point, Russia's GDP saw a steady increase to $5.1 trillion. However, its military spending does not increase, since living under a market economy means the government could not afford to mass-spend on its military to Soviet-era levels.

In 2004, the Moldovan band O-Zone solidified the Russia's cultural ties with the west, with the boy band singing songs in both their native Romanian tongue, as well as Russian, becoming popular in both Russia and the west.

On April 2, 2006, Dmitry Medvedev paid a visit to Poland to issue an apologetic statement for the Katyn Massacre, stating that he wished to completely start a new era in the history of relations between Poland and Russia.

Second Cold War 2008-present
Russia strengthened its economic trade with China, opening Siberia to the Chinese economy. Russia also signed an electricity deal with Mongolia and China, which will allow Russia to deliver electricity into Mongolia, Manchuria and northern China. As a result, Russia increased tobacco imports from Mongolia, and advised Mongolia to capitalize on its tobacco industry. In 2008, Dmitry Medvedev was able to increase military expenditure by at least $20 billion. In addition, the Russians emerged decisively victorious in the 2008 Russo-Georgian War, annexing Abkhazia and South Ossetia as Russian republics. In addition, Putin also increased funding for the navy and air force. Beginning with this war, Russia would once more, begin to enter global politics and rise to prominence as a challenge for the western powers, once more - beginning what some historians and analysts refer as the Second Cold War. In 2010, Vladimir Putin became president. In May of 2010, Russia was put in hot water for the Sana'a Embassy Incident. In order to counter the European Union's economic monopoly, Russia, China and a coalition of other countries in Asia (namely Manchuria, Japan, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and East Turkestan) created the Eurasian Union, with the Russian ruble as the main currency for oil.

Rise Back to Military Superpower Status 2011-present
In 2011, Russia intervened in the Arab Spring, backing the established governments of Egypt, Libya and Syria against the Muslim Brotherhood. The Russians received permission to carry out attacks, something heavily condemned by the West for what was deemed an attack on civilians. The Libyan theater involved Chinese military as well, and via a $1.3 billion deal, Russia allowed Libya to essentially become a Chinese satellite state, in which China was to construct five military bases in Libya, while Russia established two bases. Putin also stated that Wallachi separatists living Russian political asylum will continue to be protected by Moscow. Russia also increased backing for the breakaway Republic of Wallachia.

Feeling threatened by Russia, Poland suspended all talks about the Russia-Poland Railway, and called for increased NATO presence. Romania followed, boycotting Russian goods.

During the Syrian Civil War, and its successor, the Levantine War, the Russia supported the Bashar al-Assad regime. The Russian Air Force conducted massive airstrikes in Damascus to help route anti-Assad and North Syrian forces. After both Operation Salma and the Ten-Day War, the Russian government warned North Syria that it would begin attacking them if they didn't withdraw their forces from South Syria. The Assyrian government soon joined the conflict, sending contingent forces into South Syria. As North Syrian forces entered South Syria, they were decimated by joint Russian and South Syrian forces, and retreated.

Russia's anti-Muslim Brotherhood views began to endanger relations between Muslims and non-Muslims in Russia. The Progressive Party of Russia, based in Baku, heavily criticized Moscow's position. At this point in time, many Muslims around the globe called for a jihad against Russia.

This eventually culminated into the Yemen Confrontation between Russia and Saudi Arabia, won militarily by Russia. As Saudi Arabia announced troop withdrawal, Russian influence was solidified in Yemen.

In 2012, the Great Protests preceded what would be, the Iraq War for Independence, in an attempt to topple the pro-American regime in Iraq. Sayid Fulani, the leader of the resistance called for Russian aid. The Russians supplied the Iraqi nationalists with vehicles, weapons and even advanced missiles. Russia also supplied the nationalists with T-72b tanks and anti-aircraft artillery to fight off the American aerial might. When the nationalists seized Baghdad, the Russian Air Force airlifted troops into Iraq. Russian General Gennady Bulganov warned American troops in Iraq that the Russians and their Iraqi allies would continue the advance west. Yugoslavia soon entered the scene, having shared special relations with Iraq, as Iraq is one of Yugoslavia's military exporters. Russia and Yugoslavia sent aerial strikes in Iraq, and guided Iraqi forces. Yugoslavia established its first overseas base in Iraq.

Although Russia failed to help topple the Masum government, the entire debacle led to the division of Iraq into an Coalition-controlled and a Russian and Yugoslav-controlled zones. Unlike First Cold War-style divisions, Baghdad remained the undivided capital of Iraq, with both pro-Coalition and pro-Russia groups operating in Baghdad.

Russia's ability to gain control in Iraq cemented its return to military superpower status.

In addition, Moscow made a public decision that Russian forces were going to stay in Yemen and oversee the country's security. As a result, President Obama ordered massive sanctions against Russia.

President Obama began rigorous anti-Russian propaganda all over the United States.

Putin's economic reform had begun to resemble that of China, which fell halfway between a free-market economy and a command economy.

Scandinavia also enacted more sanctions against Russia. Obama approved for stationing increased, but small numbers of contingents into Scandinavia and the Baltics. Russian paramilitary activity near the borders with Scandinavia heightened again.

In 2015, Putin signed the Spiritual Purity Bill into law, which would nationalize the Russian Orthodox Church, and make it a requirement for the president, vice president and prime minister to become Russian Orthodox.

Rise back to Global Superpower Status
Russia's national Agricultural Programme revitalized the Russian economy, and unemployment saw a huge decrease in Russia's warmer republics, including East Ukraine, Caucasus, Central Asia and Tajikistan, considered the "Agriculture Belt" of Russia.

In 2014, Russian Spetsnaz captured Abu-Bakr al-Baghdadi in Syria.

On April 2, 2015, Putin signed a law to make it a Russian tradition to visit Poland in memoriam of the Katyn Massacre. This started even more warming of relations between Poland and Russia.

President Andrzej Duda became Polish president, and approved for the Russia-Poland Railway. Duda stated that while Poland will remain part of NATO, that he seeks further economic cooperation and ties with Russia. Duda sparked some heat in Poland, with many worrying that Duda would enter Poland back into Russia's sphere of influence.

Over the years, as many NATO countries began discontent with Western influence, such as Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, they too re-joined Russia's sphere of influence. Russia often backed nationalist and Euroskeptic regimes and political parties across Europe.

After Donald Trump was inaugurated as president, he withdrew troops from Ukraine, and stated that he would allow Putin and Russia to carry forth with their wishes, and let them handle Eastern Europe's conflicts. He called Obama's decision to send troops into Ukraine "one step away from World War III". Trump slowly lifted all Obama-era sanctions against Russia.

Over time, as Trump began to show dismay and disgust against NATO, NATO lost its grip on many nations, to which, began to follow Russian and/or Chinese orbit. One of these, Turkey, a historical foe, began to take a path towards Russian orbit, following Russian foreign policy, due to terrorist bombings in Turkey committed by citizens of nations that Turkey once supported.

John Mannerheim, who has won the Scandinavian Elections a year earlier, also pulled back all forces from the Middle East.

By the end of 2016, Russia's GDP had risen to $7.2 trillion, overtaking Japan as the third-largest economy. In addition, due to the economic influence that Russia was able to achieve not just in Eurasia, but also the Middle East and Africa, Russia was finally re-classified from a great power to a superpower once more.

Despite the friendly modern relations, Russia and China have been involved in the race for Central Asia. Soviet (today Russian) leaders have questioned Chinese presence in Central Asia. Prior to re-joining the Soviet Union, China had urged Kazakhstan to become part of China.

By 2017, most European Union had ceased buying oil from Saudi Arabia, buying oil from Russia instead, with some countries switching to the Russian ruble as their petro-currency. The largest blow to Saudi Arabia's economy came when President Donald Trump decided to increase oil purchases from Russia, due the convenience afforded by Russian proximity to Alaska (then a disputed state, today a Russian republic). This only helped Russian economy grow, by nearly $3.15 trillion.

In 2018, Vladimir Putin approved the Anti-Traitor Law, requiring all oligarchs with a net worth of $5 billion or more to contribute 10% of their earnings toward the Russian military. An angered Putin explained that this was meant to combat the political pick-pocketing. In addition, Putin also claimed it an act of responsibility to pay back the troops that protect the Motherland. Many had begun to suspect that this was beginning of a resurgence of communism in Russia, something that Putin vehemently rejected. However, Putin's constant refusal to hand over members of the Communist Party of Turkey, banned in Turkey and operating in Russian exile, only heightened these fears.

In the Caucusus, the Russian military and paramilitary quashed an attempted rebellion.

Russia is an active player in the Indochinese Peace Process, a military peace between China and India. Once completed, this would play a major and crucial step in the complete formation of the Eurasian Alliance, which in many respects - is expected to succeed the Warsaw Pact as being the chief rival to NATO.

On June 1, 2018, Alaska was officially signed into becoming a Russian republic.

In June 26, 2018, Russia finally returned all of the Romanian Treasure back to Romania. On July 25, the Romanian government finally agreed to the Odessa-Bucharest Railway, which would likely see completion around 2021.

Economy
The Russian economy is a global economy. Russia currently runs on an economic system in between a command economy and a free-market economy. While it leans toward a capital economy where citizens enjoy a wage and private property, the government retains control over certain sectors of the economy. In addition, oligarchs are heavily taxed to where their taxed money goes to funding healthcare, education and the military. The only ones exempt are those who prove a necessity to hoard more than $5 billion, are those who have a proven need for it, such as business investments or independent charity.

The Russian economy is currently the world's third largest, at $7.42 trillion, below China's $11.4 trillion and the United States' $16.8 trillion.

Oil, precious metals, nuclear energy, natural energy, gas, leather products, education and electricity are some of Russia's exports, leading it to become one of the powerhouses of the world. As for education, Russia contains some of the world's largest global university partnerships and foreign exchange programs. Russia the most popular study abroad country in Yugoslavia, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Scandinavia, Manchuria, Turkey and Egypt, and the second-most popular in China, India, Ukraine, France, Brazil and Japan, second from the United States. As of the United States itself, Russia is also a popular destination, with President Donald Trump pushing for higher ties with Russia. The same can be said of Canada, where Russian culture is highly esteemed, sharing a border with Alaska, once a disputed Russian-speaking state and now a Russian republic.

The Russian oil economy currently competes with that of the Persian Gulf states, Russia is currently the world's largest producer of oil, having overtaken Saudi Arabia as the world's largest oil producer. Due to Russia's strong fashion industry, St. Petersburg, Moscow, Astana, Grozny, Sochi and Baku are considered fashion capitals of the world. Russia in 2011, exported more makeup and fashion products. Russia also provides most of Europe, well as Mongolia and northern China with electricity.

Religion
Russia is a multi-religious nation. Eastern Orthodoxy, specifically the Russian Orthodox Church, which is Russia's state religion, and forms the majority of religion in Russia, particularly the Russian Orthodox Church (including the autonomous Ukrainian and Belarusian Orthodox Churches). There are also large numbers of Roman Catholics in Belarus (whom many tend to be ethnic Poles), some Finnish Orthodox and Lutherans in Karelia. Orthodoxy predominates Russian culture, and Orthodox holidays are considered national holidays in Russia, a stark contrast to its communist days. Even non-Christian republics, such as those predominated by Muslims, although in exchange, they are allowed to enact their own holidays within their republics. Over the decades after the Great Secession and the fall of the Communist Party, the Soviet/Russian government has consistently worked to promote, protect and revive the pre-1922 Orthodox culture of the country's Slavic republics. Moscow has promoted the historical culture of its Imperial Russia days. There was one point, when being Orthodox was required to be a Russian general, as per a law introduced by avid pan-Orthodox Vladimir Zhirinovsky. However, Dmitry Medvedev overturned the law.

Islam forms the second largest denomination, and is the majority practiced in Chechnya, Dagestan, Central Asia, Caucusus and Ingushetia. Like the Orthodox holidays, the Russian government currently gives the Muslim-majority republics to declare Islamic holidays as state holidays. The Russian government also recognizes the important heroes of its non-Slavic republics to be National Heroes and Figures of National and Historical Significance.

Judaism is Russia's third-most practiced, and also bears historical significance to the Russian nation. Like elsewhere, many of Russia's elite and major historical figures are Jews, such as billionaire Roman Abramovich. After the Soviet Union opened and warmed relations with Israel, this caused a large number of people getting dual citizenship for both Israel and the Soviet Union/Russia. The loose majority of Russian Jews live in either Belarus, Ukraine or the Jewish Autonomous Oblast. However, the rest are dispersed throughout Russia.

In the Russian Far East there are practitioners of Buddhism, Shamanism and Animism.

Military
Main article Russian Armed Forces

Despite the fall of communism, which put the Soviet Armed Forces through a period of dormancy and mediocracy, Russia still remains the "power in the East", although the rise of China contests this.

Russia contains its own fully-functioning indigenous arms industry, with the Soviet Union having produced the most respected and memorable military technology. Modern-day Russia continues this legacy. The T-72, T-90 and T-14 Armata main battle tanks, the Sukhoi Su-35, Su-57 fighter jets, Kuznetsov and Ulyanovsk-class  aircraft carriers are all indigenous Russian military technology. Russia also possesses the largest nuclear stockpile and also largest number of nuclear weapons in standby.

Russia also has a multi-layer air defense system, making it nearly-impossible to penetrate Russian air space.

Being one of the competing military powers of the world, the RAF boasts having the second largest overall military (second from China). It currently contains the second-largest navy and second-largest aerial force. Russia currently has the world's second-largest military expenditure as of 2018. The Russian military is a global superpower, has been able to, once more, project itself globally, having allies in Europe, Africa, Asia.

The armed forces also contains the Civil Defence, the paramilitary component of the Russian Armed Forces.

Politics
The politics of Russia is a democratic one. The President is the Head of State, and the Prime Minister is the Head of Government. The President and Prime Minister currently have no term limit. Both the President and Vice President are elected separately.

The three largest parties in Russia are the United Russia Party, Progressive Party of Russia and the Communist Party.

Currently, the United Russia Party is the ruling party in the Russia. The Communist Party of Russia, the living descendant of the CPSU, while still existing and running, has lost its power and influence ever since the collapse of communism in 1989 and the Great Secession of 1992. However, it remains Russia's third largest political party.

The largest opposition party is the Progressive Party. This party holds considerable influence in Caucusus, Belarus, Central Asia, Dagestan and Ingushetia.

Issues and Corruption
Despite being a multi-ethnic nation, racism and elitism has been an issue in Russia.

A 2014 research revealed that ethnic Russians are four times more likely to enjoy high standards of living. A 2015 study from that in the non-Christian republics, such as Central Asia, Dagestan, Ingushetia, ethnic Russian and Orthodox still comprise the wealthy and high classes, while the indigenous people form the working and blue collar class. Ethnic Russians still influence society even in republics where they comprise the minority.

In Russia's agricultural republics, such as the Central Asian Republic and the Caucasus, Russians own over 71.5% of the farms, as well as most wealthy firms, while those working on those farms and firms, the "blue collar working class" tend to be the indigenous peoples.

As for the Christian republics, such as Karelia, ethnic Russians live in separate communities from the indigenous Finnic population. Researchers report the communities inhabited by native Karelians to be sub-par compared to the those inhabited by ethnic Russians. Citizens reported that ethnic Russian communities living in republics where non-ethnic Russians are the majority are often discouraged from interacting with the indigenous peoples, or speaking the indigenous languages.

In order to combat this, Tanya Pozharova of the Department of Domestic Affairs launched the Russia Inter-ethnic Dialogue, meant to foster positive relations between ethnic Russians and non-ethnic Russians. The formation, existence  and influence of Royal Clubs, similar to fraternities and sororities in the United States, makes the situation worse.

However, there are many skeptics against these allegations, both from Russian and non-Russian critics. Fyodor Kerensky, the Knyaz of the Order of Vladimir the Great's Moscow Chapter stated that the royal club has many ethnic Georgian members.

Vladimir Putin argued that Russian Jews and those with dual Russian-Israeli citizenship tend to top all of the ethnic Russian oligarchs.

Many have attempted to create their own royal clubs. However, the National Board of all Royal and Holy Orders, the national governing body has rejected the creation of royal clubs based on historical Central Asian rulers, since they fought the Russian invaders, as per their rules, the club's influencing ruler must have either been part of the historical Rus' or the Russian Empire and served for them, not against them. This has prompted the Order of Tsar Nicholas I, named after the tsar that conquered Central Asia to create Russian Turkestan, to invite and encourage Central Asian Turkic peoples to join, by publishing Kazakh and Uzbek-language material.

However, in 2010, the Order of Tsar Simeon Sain-Bulat (Russian: Орден царя Симеон Саин Булат, Arabic: وسام القيصر سيمون بولات) was established at Russia's first Muslim Royal Club.

The Order of Prince Pyotr Bagration (Russian: Орден Кня́зь Петр Багратион) is a new Caucasus-based club, notorious for supporting Russian annexation of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Sports
Football (soccer), basketball, wrestling, sport-shooting and hockey are currently the main sports in Russia.

News Bulletin
10/2/11 - Today Russian president Dmitry Medvedev announced that a deal has been secured with Indonesia to build a nuclear power plant in the city of Surabaya.

The Russian company Rosatom stated that it had secured a $1.5 billion deal with Indonesia to build a new nuclear power plant in Surabaya.

6/2/11 - Today, Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin spoke about the recent events regarding Russia's involvement in the Arab Spring, and its support of the established governments that Muslim Brotherhood members are trying to overthrow.

Today, Putin began making tsarist rally cries, in response to those regarding Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as the "Sultan of Turkey", and the Turkish leader's request to meet with Russian officials.

Prime Minister Putin told reporters, "So the Sultan of Turkey wants to meet with us? May we remind those neo-Ottoman fools who it was kept defeating their empire? I promise you, there will be no peace, or glory, between the Sultan and the Tsar."

Many people did not take too kindly to the Prime Minister's words. Exiled chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood from Russia, now stationed in Turkey, are protesting against Prime Minister Putin's statement. Mubarak Muradov, a Chechen who fled to Turkey after Russia banned the Muslim Brotherhood stated, "It is bad enough that I can no longer live in my home country and express my opinions, but now Tsar Vladimir Putin is threatening to destroy relations with Turkey? How dare him."

7/8/11 - Today, the Russian government has gone on military and police crackdowns on mosques in the Caucusus, Chechnya and Central Asia, suspecting of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood. Russian president Dmitry Medvedev stated, "We may have banned the Muslim Brotherhood, but there may still be behind-closed-door meetings going on in mosques of supporting them. We are a Christian and European country, and we will not be held responsible for acts of terrorism in the Middle East, in Africa, no matter how much they cry racism".

Russian federal and military police were seen in swarms at the Caacusus' largest and most important mosques, namely the Bibi-Heybat Mosque, Heydar Mosque, Taza Pir Mosque, the Mohammad Mosque and a several tons of other. President Medvedev currently ordered Ilham Aliyev, the current Head of the Republic of Caucusus, as well as Ramzan Kadyrov, the Head of the Republic of Chechnya, to allow Russian authorities to keep a close eye during Islamic prayer sessions at every mosque.

However, Aliyev has been very hesitent. Aliyev released a press statement saying, "This is, a huge infringement on the civil rights of faithful Muslim citizens of Russia, and cannot be expected without negative reprisals."

7/24/11 - Today, Muslims around the globe have been enraged at Russia, after Russian authorities detonated several mosques and Islamic centers in Russia. Over 63 Islamic centers in Russia have been shut down, and their buildings destroyed.

Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu stated, "The world can cry racism all it wants, we will continue to do what we are doing, we do not owe the Muslim World a thing. These Islamic centers were being used to preach future terrorist attacks and such, we cannot risk the security of the great Russian nation under the guise of religious diversity, as much as we do cherish it."

8/1/11 - Today, Ramzan Kadyrov, Ilham Aliyev and Imran Sultanov, leaders of Russia's three predominantly-Muslim republics, met with Russian president Dmitry Medvedev and prime minister Vladimir Putin on how to discuss safe and secure relations between Russian Orthodox and Muslims.

Ilham Aliyev stated, "On the behalf of the Muslim citizens of this great nation, Mr. Ramzan Kadyrov of Chechnya, Mr. Imran Sultanov of Central Asia, I would like to express some grievences over the abrupt and arbitrary destructions of madrasahs and mosques across the nation. We understand that the Kremlin wants to keep citizens of Russia safe from terrorists, but we simply believe, that destroying Islamic centers is not the way to do it."

Ramzan Kadyrov stated that even non-Muslims of Russia disagree with the way the Kremlin handled the Muslim Brotherhood.

Mr. Kadyrov stated, "I have many, many ties and friendships with Russian Orthodox, they agreed with me, it was not a good decision to destroy Islamic centers around this nation, we need to find peace between Muslim and Orthodox, and Jews, and Kafirs [Atheists and Agnostics], and Buddhists, and all citizens of Russia regardless of their religious faith."

5/12/12 - Russian forces in South Syria captured four Chechans serving under a pro-North Syrian paramilitary group.

5/7/13 - Today, Persia and Russia conducted their first military excercise, in the history of the Persian government.

Persia has was originally been a Western ally, however, the Persian government have been hostile to the United States, accusing NATO and the West for propagating hostilities in South Syria.

While Persia originally had plans to help fund the restoration of North Syria, Prime Minister Mahmoud Ahmadinejad cancelled on the plans. In 2012, the United States threatened.

6/3/14 - Today, Russian president Vladimir Putin approved for the $2.7 billion project, to build and/or convert abandoned apartment complexes in some of Russia's most impoverished cities into homeless shelters.

Putin stated, ".....we must remove the '-less' in 'homeless'. There are many millions of people living in poverty."

The Russian government news agency TASS stated that the project will cover Tolyatti, Astrakhan and Penza, where many abandoned Soviet-era project-like complexes sit idle.

Lev Belikov, who is the manager for the project stated, "......we will assess the old abandoned complexes, if they are proven to be useless or dangerous, we have designated a sizabe part of our budget to demolish them and build new and fully-functioning shelters in their place."

10/25/15 - Russia again, defended the Czech Republic after it became prone to harsh attacks by the European Union for encouraging and training citizens to own firearms for self-defense, in response to terrorist attacks that have occurred in several places across the globe.

Russia, like the United States, is one of the only countries that has a Right to Bear Arms, as per a 1991 Constitutional Amendment, known as the "People's Protection of the Motherland Law".

Vladimir Putin criticized the attacks, stating, "So, the European Union would rather see Prague, and the great Czech people defenseless? How absurd."

Recently, the Czech Republic has been at huge odds with the European Union. In 2015 of May, the United States pressured the Czech Republic not to send foreign contingents to the Victory Day Parade in Moscow. However, the Czech Republic went ahead with it, while its neighbor, Slovakia, has left NATO to go join the Russia-led CSTO. So we can definitely expect to see Slovakian troops in Moscow for years to come.

President Miloš Zeman even went so far as to challenge European Union leaders to come to Prague and explain what authority they have to tell him how to run his nation.

Putin paid Zeman a visit this past week, many fear that the Czech Republic may end up leaving NATO.

Zeman stated during a state visit to Moscow, "If the West wants a war with Russia, trust me, Prague isn't partaking in such a thing. We joined NATO for defense purposes, not to go around waging war against every single country we disagree with."

11/15/15 - Czech nationalists all over the Czech Republic have been carrying Russian flags, as both NATO and the European Union have expressed grievances with Miloš Zeman for his visits to Moscow and meetings with Vladimir Putin.

Relations have turned full swing between Russia and the Czech Republic, with both countries sharing many points of view.

Last month, Miloš Zeman basically told NATO that he would not help them if NATO wanted to go to war against Russia.

5/19/18 - Today, Russian president Vladimir Putin, vice president Dmitry Medvedev and prime minister Alexander Lukashenko visited Turkey, to commemorate the birthday of Turkish national hero Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Although not a normal tradition, but Ankara invited Russian officials to Turkey to join the celebration.

Atatürk is the national hero of modern Turkey, and is known for overthrowing the Ottoman Empire, and creating peace with the Russian Empire, as well as the Russian Empire's allies in Greece, Armenia and Serbia (today part of Yugoslavia). Despite Recep Tayyip Erdoğan belonging to a pro-Islamic party, the Turkish president still honored the birth of Atatürk.

The Soviets played an integral role in helping Atatürk overthrow the Ottoman Empire, when Lenin and the communists took over Russia, they send aid for the Turkish Nationalists in overthrowing the Sultan.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated, "People of Turkey, we come hear to honor the anniversary of the birth of the father of our great modern nation. Long live Mustafa Kemal Atatürk!"

Erdoğan invited Mr. Putin as a guest speaker for the event.

Putin commended Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's military leadership, "Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was not just your average revolutionary, he was a military leader that paved the way for a strong and powerful Republic of Turkey."

10/29/18 - Today, major Russian leaders again, visited Turkey to celebrate Republic Day with their Turkish counterparts. Russian president Vladimir Putin, his wife Lyudmila Putina, Russian vice president Dmitry Medvedev and his wife Svetlana Medvedeva visited Turkey to celebrate Republic Day.

This time, Putin brought along with him personal chefs, to cook Russian cuisine for the dinner with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, his wife Emine Erdoğan, as well as Turkish foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.

Again, its was President Erdoğan that invited Russian leaders to celebrate and observe Republic Day.

In addition, for the first time in Turkish history, people were having Russian SFSR and Russian tricolor flags, alongside that of Turkey, to commemorate the Soviet Russian aid of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Recently, Turkey and Russia have gotten really, really close. After a string of terrorist attacks in Turkey, committed by Turkish-North Syrians and Kosovars in 2016, as well as attempted assassination attempts against Russian diplomats in Turkey by Turkish-North Syrians, President Erdoğan began to state his distrust of NATO and company, and began asking President Vladimir Putin and Russia for advise on how to deal with terrorists and criminals.

Soon, the Turkish government began to blockade immigration from North Syria, something heavily condemned by the West.

President Putin responded by sending officers of the Russian Federal Police into Turkey, to help train Turkish federal police. Soon afterwards, Turkey and Russia signed the Anti-Terrorism Agreement, in which Turkish and Russian anti-terrorism forces, ranging from both military and law enforcement, would collaborate with one another.

Both TRT, Turkey's government news agency and TASS, Russia's government news agency claims that terrorist attacks have subsided in Turkey, and terrorists have been routed out. More than 170 people in Turkey have been arrested in accounts of plotting terrorist attacks.

11/6/18 - Russian military attachés have been dispatched to both India and Belgium, the latter being home to NATO's headquarters. President Vladimir Putin was not bluffing when he stated that he would temporarily cooperate and work with both India and NATO if China did not stop its aggressive actions.

India is a former ally of Russia, but Russia cut ties with India in 2010 due to India's support of North Syria.

Via political speaker Alina Kabaeva, the Kremlin has warned Beijing that the SCO would surely lose a war, against the combined strength of NATO and the CSTO, the top two most powerful military alliances in the world, with the CSTO being nearly twice as powerful as the old Warsaw Pact.

Russia has much more tanks, artillery, aircraft and nukes than China, while the United States has more warships, aircraft, and nukes than China. When it comes to aerial, naval and nuclear weapons strength, the United States and Russia are the top two dogs.

Lavrov warned that China would, in the long-run, get decimated by a combined strength of CSTO, NATO and partners of either such as India, Japan, East Turkestan and Persia.

While the former three are NATO partners, East Turkestan and Japan have agreed to perform joint drills with both Russia and the United States to counter Chinese aggression.

11/7/18 - Today, German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated that she would aid the Russians if China ever attacked Russia, in one of the biggest surprise moves and twist of events.

Germany fought Russia in two World Wars, and Germany aiding Russia would sure greatly improve Russo-German relations.

A spokesperson for the Bundesrat stated, "Germany will have Russia's back, in this century, Germany and Russia have grown very close to one another."

Germany is a member of NATO, and if NATO and the CSTO do forge a temporary World War II-esque alliance against a common enemy like China's, Germany would be obliged to help Russia.

11/10/18 - In other news, more hostilities in the Eastern Hemisphere, Indian troops open fire on Chinese military outpost in Tibet.

Alina Kabaeva, on behalf of Sergey Lavrov, announced Russia was going to aid neither nation. This has practically sealed Russia's intention to cut ties with China, a former ally. Now, both China and India are former Russian allies.

Kabaeva stated, "We are not getting ourselves in this mess between India and China, we do not care about India, we do not care about China. They can go clean up their mess."

Russia is due to perform joint military exercises with Japan and the United States, two traditional adversaries. It is to perform more exercises with East Turkestan, another enemy of China.

Russia is also due to perform exercises with Mongolia, as the Mongolian government has requested both Russian, Manchurian and American presence to curtail the growing Chinese threat. Ultranationalists in Mongolia, who have Sinophobic views, hailed the move by the Mongolian government.

China on the other hand, is to perform extended exercises with Pakistan.

The Mongolian Parliament released a statement, stating that a Chinese incursion into Mongolian lands is dangerous and undoubted.

President Donald Trump hailed Russia and Vladimir Putin as "key instigators of peace, balance and security" in the Eastern Hemisphere.

Meanwhile, Turkish officials have gone to China, to establish an alliance, with President Erdoğan, feeling betrayed by NATO and the United States, and rejected by Russia and the CSTO, stated he had no other option.

Xi Jinping capitalized on the situation, stating he is more-than willing to accept Turkey as an ally.

11/11/18 - Today, Russian president Vladimir Putin announced more details on what is to become of Alaska after it voted to re-unite with the rest of Russia.

For starters, Patriarch Kiril of Moscow stated that the Patriarchate of New Archangel will retain its status as an independant patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, so far. Patriarch Kiril of Moscow issued a writ of good will to Patriarch Peter of New Archangel.

Secondly, Alaska is become named the Autonomous Republic of Alaska, although its inhabitants are still Russian, however unlike the rest of Russia, the Kremlin has given Alaska the right to ban communist symbols in Alaska, whereas elsewhere in Russia, they remain as a historical relics. No hammers and sickles or pictures of Vladimir Lenin allowed in Alaska.

In addition, while the Russian Orthodox Church has been declared the national church in all of Russia, nowhere is it even more embedded into public legislature than in Alaska, anybody moving or relocating into Alaska must be a Russian Orthodox, with the exception of those already indigenous to Alaska.

Meanwhile, Russian companies are purchasing Greek assets, to help Greece dig itself out of the hole it is in right now.

Yuri Bagrov, the owner of Bagrov Companies, recently signed a hefty $4.7 billion deal to purchase bankrupt Greek companies, not yet disclosed.

Bagrov told reporters, "We want to help our brothers in Athens."

Bagrov is a devout Russian Orthodox, and says that helping his Orthodox brethren in other countries is a top priority.

But Bagrov isn't the only Russian trying to purchase Greek assets, Garry Vorobyov-Chorovich, the owner of one of Russia's largest technology companies also bought the assets of bankrupt Greek companies. Garry also owns property in the neighboring Yugoslavia and Bulgaria, Garry's mother is from the former, and Garry can speak fluent Serbo-Croatian, holding dual citizenship in both Russia and Yugoslavia.

11/12/18 - Moscow has announced to ethnic Chinese residing in Russia that they have two options: either become exclusively a Russian citizen, or leave Russia.

Russia is home to some 570,000 Chinese, many of whom, are dual citizens of both Russia and China, most live in Central Asia and the Far East, particularly in Astana and Tashkent.

This is concurrent with news that Russia is ending dual citizenship with the People's Republic of China.

Japan and East Turkestan have hailed Moscow's position.

Moments after Russia banned dual citizenship with China, Chinese troops entered Kyrgyzstan, with the goal of seizing Russian military equipment. Kyrgyz and Russian missile forces decimated the attempt, as Russia had already fortified its defenses in Kyrgyzstan. Contingents of Bulgarian, Romanian and Yugoslav forces were also present in Kyrgyzstan.

The Kremlin sent another message to Beijing: one more strike and it is war.

Vladimir Putin assessed Russian citizens and he world, in which he stated, "It is proven that the People's Republic of China simply can't be trusted. They could not be trusted during the First Cold War, and they can't be trusted today. Apparently Beijing has not gotten the message. We have made defense agreements with Japan, South Korea, East Turkestan, the Republic of China, and pending agreements with India, and we have also made agreements with another country, the United States. You have two superpowers, a couple of regional powers and an emerging superpower to answer to. It's very simple, if China makes one more idiotic move, one more missile strike, one more incursion into our territory, it's war."

President Donald Trump will be meeting with his advisors on the way to handle the issue.

11/13/18 - President Donald Trump stated in a public speech that the United States will be ready to aid Russia if China commits a major act of aggression.

In addition, Moscow has announced that it has spiked its military spending, the details are to be released the end of this month.

Russia has grown and become a superpower once more. Its last reported military spending was $275 billion, one can simply imagine what it will be then.

In the meanwhile, Turkey has become the newest member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Today, Turkey and China signed the Turkish-Chinese Defense Agreement, as well as the SCO's referendum on the acceptance of Turkey as an SCO member state.

President Erdoğan appeared before Xi Jinping, in Beijing. also present were members of the Turkish embassies and general consulates in China, as well as Turkish military attachés in Beijing.

Jinping stated, "We at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation would like to welcome with open arms, our newest member-state in the Republic of Turkey."

Turkey now joins obviously China, but also Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Libya, Cambodia, Mindanao and Sulu, and Somalia as part of the SCO, which currently stands as one of three global superpower alliances, the others being NATO and the CSTO, who are now finding a common ground against China.

China will now sell weapons to Turkey.

11/16/18 - Chinese forces send massive military incursion into Kyrgyzstan.

Vladimir Putin to Xi Jinping: "Let the games begin. It's on."

11/19/19 - Russian and and CSTO forces decimate a Chinese formation in Kyrgyzstan, and in addition, Russian aerial forces have carried out a massive bombing campaign against a joint Chinese-Turkmen base in Turkmenistan.

In addition, Russian and CSTO aerial forces carried out a massive bombing campaign on Chinese bases in Gansu.

11/29/18 - Today, Georgian officers and troops have gone to China, to receive training. Recently, Georgia, like Ukraine has lost their trust in NATO in combating Russian aggression, and is looking to China as the new alternative.

President Giorgi Margvelashvili began an overhaul to improve the Georgian military, signing an agreement with China, in which China would provide aid to the Georgian military in terms of supplies, logistics, training and ethics.

In return, Georgia would allow China to use facilities, free of land lease charges. Although China later changed the terms, to paying a discounted land lease to the Georgian government.

As a response, Russia reinforced its forces in the disputed Abkhazia and South Ossetia, supplying Russian military and pro-Russian paramilitary with artillery, tanks, heavy guns and the infamous S-300 and S-400 air defense systems. Russian missile forces began to aim at military installations in Georgia from the Caucasus, South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

These two regions are still disputed between Russia and Georgia.

Chang Wanquan, China's defense minister, stated "We are pleased to welcome the honorable soldiers of the Republic of Georgia."

Approximately 50 Georgian officers and 200 Georgian troops and 15 Georgian Air Force fighter pilots will be training in China's Dōng-4 Base.

12/6/18 - Today, Ukrainian and Russian forces have engaged in heavy fighting in the Donbass Republic. Russian media news outlets have claimed that Ukrainians fired the first shot.

Approximately 80,000 people are being displaced, with more coming.

At approximately 3:47 AM, Further Eastern European Time, citizens in the Donbass Republic woke up to the sounds of gunfire, artillery, bombs, tanks and even warplanes were heard whirling.

Immediately, citizens also overheard instructions from authorities that "Emergency Plan Donbass is in effect".

12/7/18 - Ukrainian forces launched an attack on Crimea. Three Ukrainian warships fired against Russian ships in the Sea of Azov. Heavy fighting has taken place between Ukrainian and Russian forces in the Crimea Bridge.

Ten Ukrainian bombers partook in aerial campaigns against Russian military installations in Crimea.

There has been no word from President Putin and Russia on the matter. Fighting has indeed intensified between Ukraine and Russia.

Ukrainian forces were reported to have made their landings in east Crimea, to meet head-on against Russian forces stationed in Sevastopol.

People living in southern Russia woke up to the sounds and sights of Russian tanks, military tracks, fighter jets and transportation aircraft.

Those living near the Donbass could hear the sounds of artillery and gunfire in the distance.

12/11/18 - Vladimir Putin appeared at the Kremlin, and delivered a speech, a short and sweet speech about Ukraine's war against Russia.

At this point in time, Ukraine has continued to prolong the war against Russia.

All Putin said was, "They're really asking for it, aren't they? They got it."

This week, paramilitary activity has increased in southern Russia. The Russian Orthodox Army, Don Cossacks, Civil Defence, Holy Guard groups have stated "We are ready, we are ready to spill our blood for the great Russian Motherland once more."

President Trump issued an announcement, stating that he was not going to back Ukraine.

He stated, "I kept my promise, Ukraine asked for it. Don't come crying to me when Russian troops are marching in Kiev."

Meanwhile, Russian troops movements have been spotted amassing near northern Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin has been silent about Russia's next move, stating, "Of course you idiots, I'm not going to reveal shit. Do I look like Stalin?"

Although China is Ukraine's new backer, it has limited its involvement to logistical and munitions support. China does not have nearly one-half the aerial strength as Russia.

Russia sent a message to Beijing, "We understand that the Ukrainians are becoming your new allies, you can support them if you wish. We warn you though, we will shoot down your transport aircraft if it flies above our airspace, or any CSTO air space."

12/14/18 - Fighting in the Donbass and Crimea has died down, and Russian forces, both combat and medical, have rushed into the south.

It has been revealed by Russian Secretary of War Alexander Lukashenko that Chinese weapons were found, including pieces of a Chengdu J-20, one of China's flagship aircraft.

During a public hearing, Sergei Lavrov stated, "We are not surprised, we knew the Ukrainians would whore with China, not that we care, we are still superior to China".

Putin stated, "More sanctions will be on the way for China'".

Meanwhile, Russian police have seized the assets of Chinese-owned firms in the Central Asian Republic and Moscow, that is, those owned by people holding Chinese citizenship.

Seems like Petro Poroshenko kept on this promise, and has entered into a military alliance with China.

Putin also stated, "The Ukrainians are on the verge of collapse, but trust me, we will not stop until the threat has been eliminated, even if this means occupying Kiev. After all, Kiev is truly Russian."

12/15/18 - Today Russia launched their own retaliatory offensive into Ukraine.

Residents in western Ukraine woke up to the sounds of heavy military machinery, aircraft and then gunfire. But it wasn't from Ukrainian ones.

It was those of Russia and its European allies. Russian troops launched an offensive from southern Belorussia into northern Ukraine. As much as 150,700 Russian soldiers are estimated to have partaken in the offensive, with an un-named Kremlin official proclaiming, "More will come, Ukraine has angered the Bear."

Hastily-formed Ukrainian forces clashed with Russian forces in the cities of Kovel and Lutsk, under Russian aerial bombardment.

12/17/18 - Russian forces have severed supply of NATO armaments from Poland. However, Polish officials have confirmrd that military personnel delivering supplies to Ukraine have been returned to Poland un-harmed by Russian troops.

Meanwhile, Russian forces from the east are reported to have completely broken and ended the Ukrainian siege of the Donbass, and are set to make their offensives from the east.

Romanian and Moldovan troops have also been active, as both are CSTO members and allies of Russia.

12/18/18 - The Romanian and Yugoslav air forces have conducted harassing attacks against Ukrainian formations in southern Ukraine.

Meanwhile, farther north, Russian ground troops have been active in ground operations, as President Vladimir Putin has ordered both Russian and CSTO forces not to destroy historical sights in Ukraine.

12/19/2018 - Today, five ISIS members have been captured in a joint mission consisting of Russian and Turkish special forces, and members of the South Syrian armed forces in South Syria.

Although Turkey and North Syria still remain allies, the Turkish government a couple months ago stated that it would halt all support for any North Syrian offensives into South Syria.

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in a phone call to South Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, stated that, "The military and government of the Republic of Turkey is ready to assist the Syrian Arab Republic and the United Russian Republics in fighting terrorist and opposition groups."

Despite joining the SCO, and complaining about Russian rejection of Turkey as an ally, Turkey has been busy, cooperating with Russia, not China. Turkish and Russian soldiers have been busy in South Syria conducting anti-terrorist sweeps, and a number of prisoners have been caught and sent to Russian jails.

Russian and Turkish forces were called by South Syrian law enforcement, concerned about suspicious activity at a factory in Damascus. A two-hour long firefight ensued between South Syrian forces and the alleged terrorist groups, until the arrival of Russian and Turkish forces, a combination of airborne paratroopers and special forces, to raid the Damascus compound.

General Fyodor Orlov led the Russian forces, along with Turkish general Cevdet Baybaşin, and South Syrian general Sadir al-Hamid.

12/20/18 - Today, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was interviewed by members of BBC News on why he moved Turkey into Russia and China's orbit.

Interviewer: "So when did you decide you wanted to move Turkey into Russia's zone of influence? Given that your country has opposed Russia so much?"

President: "''Well, there's a great, multitude of reasons as to why, and how we found out that Russia is a friend, not an enemy. Firstly, between 2015 and 2017, my country was being rocked by terrorist bombings, and terrorist attacks. We reached out to Russia for help, and Moscow lent us their hand, they could have pushed back, but they chose to. Russia is also one of our most important economic partners, along with Germany, Persia, India and Yugoslavia. Why oppose them? Those countries are some of the reasons why citizens of Turkey have jobs and wages, but I can tell you right now, the United States is just not one of those reasons. You know, the West and thier cohorts has done nothing but backstab us. Even though we were part of NATO, Obama refused to sell us the THAAD air defense system, and he still had the guts and the nerves to complain about us turning to the Russian S-400? But Russia was there to help us, Putin agreed to sell the S-400 to us, and have our back, that is when I decided enough is enough. The truth was right there, Russia is a friend, not an enemy. Although in light of this, I will say, I am particularly fond of President Donald Trump, for he seems to be making peace with Russia, so I do see a chance for renewal, but our alliance and friendship with Russia is sealed, it's a done deal.''"

Interviewer: "Do you feel weird about being a Russian ally, given that the Ottoman and Russian Empires have fought for so long?"

President: "Firstly, I would like to point out, we are not the Ottoman Empire, we are the Republic of Turkey. Secondly, no, we have always loved Russia, and wanted to ally with Russia. We also respect the history of the Orthodox church in Turkey and the importance of Constantinople to the Orthodox people."

Interviewer: "Your country has for so long, supported North Syria, Saudi Arabia, Kosovan independence, and supported the Arab Spring, why have you changed your trajectory? Don't you feel concerned about all the people are you are back-stabbing?"

President: "''Firstly, we never said we were going to cut ties with North Syria. What I told Prime Minister Muhsin el-Hussein was that we would keep our ties, but we simply would not help North Syria with anymore wars against South Syria, Russia or any of their allies, plain and simple. Now on Saudi Arabia and Kosovo. You see, when the people that you were forced to support are terrorists and war criminals, of course you need to cut ties with them, the deserve to be back-stabbed! From 2015 and 2017, my country was rocked by terrorist bombings, from North Syria, from Saudi Arabia, from Kosovo, the very nations we supported! We sent warnings to Aleppo, to Riyadh, to Pristina to start getting their people under control, but they wouldn't listen. Like I mentioned earlier, Russia lent us their hand. They sent police leaders into Turkey to help our very own police and military route out terrorists, look hor far we've gotten, not a single terrorist bombing. Anyone planning a terrorist attack is caught in the act before they even get a chance. Russia was there when we asked for their help, look at Turkey now, no more terrorists. I was under constant Western pressure, but that is no more, Russia and China is here to protect us from Western hypocrisy. So no, I couldn't care less what any of them think about me. Turkey comes first, I serve Turkish interests. Supporting wars against Bashar al-Assad has just created illegal immigrants in my country! We can't have that anymore. Now the Saudis, are just pure evil. I don't care how Muslim they claim to be, they are pure evil. Jamal Khashoggi can tell you from Heaven. Now as for Kosovo, they just backstabbed us. We supported them, and they backstabbed us, committed acts of terrorism in Turkey, and supported assassination attempts against me. They're not true Muslims, they're a puppet of Saudi Arabia and the Wahabis. I will never support Kosovan independance again. This is why I removed my troops from Kosovo, and moved them into Albania, where we cooperate with the other Balkan nations to keep Yugoslavia safe from Albanian terrorists. With the new leadership of President Jetlir Rexha, we believe it has gotten even easier.''"

12/20/18 - Vladimir Putin applauded Turkey as being an "excellent partner" in combating terrorists in South Syria, but also commended Manchuria, a vet underrated ally that has stood by Russia and South Syria.

Putin stated, "I would like to thank the brave men of the Motherland [Russia] and the Republic of Turkey for what they did in South Syria, Turkey is a very excellent partner and ally in combating terrorists in South Syria, and I would also like to thank all of our other allies, Manchuria, Assyria and Persia for their help as well."

Putin also pointed out to geographic location as to why Turkey was and is such an important ally.

"Turkey is located pretty close to South Syria, Assyria has granted Turkey permission to pass through its territory to send aid to South Syria."

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has expressed extreme grievances in India's re-kindling of ties with Russia, threatening to sanction India.

Recently, Putin has told Indian prime minister Narendra Modi that he is working with Persian prime minister Murtaza Rafati to allow India refugees access, should Saudi actions harm Indian overseas workers in Saudi Arabia, who are often subject to maltreatment.

Prime Minister Rafati stated, "We are getting ready, just in case things go awry for the millions of Indians in Saudi Arabia, the nation of criminals and pedophiles."

12/20/18 - Today, Russian forces have captured Kiev. The Russian flag has been raised atop Verkhovna Rada.

Meanwhile, parts of the Southern Belorussia Theater, were able to make safe landings in Zhytomyr, to attack Ukrainian forces east of the city. This have ground reinforcements enough time to reach past Chernobyl, and re-inforce the Russians in central Ukraine.

Finally, they made their push east towards Kiev, while those from the Donbass and Crimea made their push westward.

President Petro Poroshenko has been apprehended near the Polish border.

Western Ukraine is still quite a hot mess, with the CSTO busy fighting remnants and paramilitary resistance groups.

12/21/18 - Today, Aramco has gotten the boot from Russia. Aramco, a Persian Gulf-owned oil business, had many branches in Russia, as per a series of deals made between Saudi Arabia and Russia in 2006.

However, Nikolai Ankerberg, the Head of Economic Affairs in Russia has announced that Vladimir Putin has given the order to kick Aramco out of Russia.

Ankerberg stated, "The President has given us the order to shut down all of Aramco's branches and offices in Russia."

This part of an effort by Putin to cut ties with the Persian Gulf states, and to eliminate their influence in Russia.

Ankerberg, a member of the nationalist United Russia Party, stated, "It is simple, we do not do business with Wahabi nations."

12/22/18 - Today, the Egyptian, Yemeni, Persian, South Syrian and Algerian governments praised Turkey, for what they referred to as "..fostering healthy relations between Russia and the Muslim World".

Although Russia has stereotypically been anti-Muslim, as shown by Moscow's various anti-Islamic pogroms in the Caucasus and Central Asia, Russia has many Muslim allies.

One of the newest additions to that list is Turkey.

A descendant of the Ottoman Empire, Russia and the Ottomans have been bitter enemies. However, as United States strained relations with its former NATO ally, Turkey turned to Russia, and after making many concessions to Russia, Turkey seems to have achieved its goal of an alliance with Russia.

Persian Prime Minister, Murtaza Rafati stated, "Vladimir Putin, has helped eliminate terrorists from countries, Muslim and Christian. He has helped Sunnis, Shiites, work together, Muslims and Christians work together. He's a done a lot, hats off to him and Moscow."

12/24/18 - Russian president Vladimir Putin has been reported to be in the Czech Republic, visiting political ally Miloš Zeman, the current President of the Czech Republic for the Gregorian Christmas holiday.

Christmas in Russia is not until January 7, which in the Julian calendar, is December 25.

Putin took time to wish the people of the Czech Republic and the neighboring Poland a Merry Christmas.

12/26/18 - Today, Viktor Yanukovych has returned to his Ukrainian homeland, as Russia prepares for the transition of power and control of Kiev to Ukraine.

General Aleksandr Dvornikov, the colonel general of the Southern Front of the Russian Armed Forces, who led the offensive from the Donbass, has been the Interim President of Ukraine.

Dvornikov has been busy re-transforming Ukrainian military to be Russia-friendly, he has also been helping with the recovery of Ukraine from the ruins of war.

In other news, the Russian government announced that it has blacklisted and issues more sanctions against Persian Gulf-owned businesses in Russia.

Nikolai Ankerberg, the Head of Economic Affairs in Russia, stated, "Russia will no longer be doing any high-tie business with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait. Although, we will continue to have good relations with the United Arab Emirates."

Ankerberg stated, "As our leader, comrade, and dear brother Vladimir Putin has stated, we do not want to do any business with Wahabi nations."

12/31/18 - Today, Russian forces have completed the last of their mass withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, as Viktor Yanukovych is set to become Ukraine's new Interim President, on January 1, New Year's Day.

Russian general Aleksandr Dvornikov plans on handing over the Interim President position to Viktor Yanukovych at exactly midnight on New Year's Day 2019.

1/3/19 - Today, Russian president reminded the world that Turkey is not an "ally" of Russia, but more-so a cooperation state.

Putin stated, "Let the world and President Erdoğan hear this, Turkey is not ally, but a friend and cooperation partner state of the United Russian Republics. Though, I see potential for alliance in the future, it is, going to take time."

Putin stated why he does not see Turkey as an ally, and stated the Armenian Genocide, as well as the priority of Yugoslavia, Romania and Bulgaria as allies.

"I cannot, in my conscience, call any Armenian and Greek Genocide denier an ally of the United Russian Republics. Now, if Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Romania make peace with Turkey, enough for an alliance, and without Europeanist control, and given that Turkey can prove itself worthy of being called a 'brother', well, so be it. I do not befriend Neo-Ottomans, to which Ankara is still infested. I am a Neo-Slavist, and that just does not mix well with any sort of alliance with Turkey. The way I see it, Turkey has become a friend, but the brotherhood with Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Greece and Romania, is a long-lasting and timeless spiritual bond that simply cannot be broken, if Turkey ever missed with either, we will have our Orthodox and Slavic brothers' backs."

1/5/19 - Russian MMA star Yevgeny Borisov and "Turkish princess" Emine Çiçek shared a romantic dance at the Mediterranean Ball.

Çiçek for a while, has been heavily crushing on the Russian star.

The owner of Borisov Sports, over 35% of Yevgeny's clients are from Turkey, to which Borisov has fond personal views of.

He stated, "I don't know, Turks aren't really as media portrays them, we disagree on a lot of issues, but it was cordial."

Borisov and Çiçek met at a Teremok location in Volgograd.

However, Borisov seems to have been avoiding the "Turkish princess", which seems racially motivated. This led to the month-long drama.

Last month though, Borisov agreed to attend the Mediterranean Ball with the Turkish woman. Çiçek's relatives have given the approval for her to be courted by a non-Muslim, a Russian Orthodox in this case, to which Borisov claims is very important to him.

The gig was nothing short of intimate or romantic, as the two hung around Turkey, touring the country. Borisov was greeted warmly in Turkey.

"See, we love Russia, and we love Russians here in Turkey, I certainly love the one I'm holding hands with."

Despite being considered political adversaries, Russia and Turkey are commercial partners, in which it is reported that Russia is Turkey's largest commercial partner. Although with President Erdoğan eyeing a future alliance with Russia, and making concessions to Russia, relations have drastically improved between the two.

There has been a high percentage of Turkish some dating and/or marrying Russian men.

1/6/19 - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan did not take Russian President Vladimir Putin's comments about the Armenian Genocide lightly, although he says that Turkey is satisfied with its statist as a cooperation and friendly state with Russia.

President Erdoğan stated, "I understand, it's a long process, Russia is very cautious who they want to ally with, we have accepted that and are fully satisfied with just being a cooperation state with Russia at this point. However, I do not condone the comments made by Mr. President Vladimir Putin, the slanderous comments regarding the Armenians and Greeks could seriously damage and undermine the friendship we have built with our Russian neighbor."

Turkey is one of the few countries that deny the Armenian Genocide, along with Pakistan. It was one of the causes for the various martial laws enacted in the Caucasus Republic, formerly known as Azerbaijan.

Armenian Genocide denial is illegal in Russia, and was part of Putin's many anti-Islamic pogroms in Russia. After the coup against Erdoğan failed, Putin went on a crackdown of his own, threatening to cut economic and military ties with Armenian Genocide-denying nations.

Pakistan was one of the first hit, with Putin recalling Russian diplomats from Pakistan, and expelling Pakistani diplomats from Russia. Putin also threatened to sanction Pakistan.

Putin eyed Turkey next, nearly choking the Turkish economy, especially after the Turkish downing of a Russian jet. Putin also cancelled the S-400 deal with Turkey, which was, in the works via Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, who inked the deal in 2011 just right before Putin became president.

Relations normalized in 2016, after NATO expelled Turkey from the alliance. However, in 2018, Russia rejected Turkey's request to become part of the CSTO, although stated that a Non-Aligned alliance is possible. Putin was also clear that he simply could not trust Turkey.

As of now, 71.5% of Russians are opposed to bring an ally of Turkey and vice versa, with only 15% of Russians seeing a Russo-Turkish alliance as being positive for Russia. As for being friendly with Turkey, via commercial means, Russians are roughly split, with 43.7% of Russians supporting commercial ties with Turkey, and 41.6% opposing any involvement with Turkey, be it commercial or political.

1/10/19 - Among the wreckage found in the ruins of war in Ukraine, the Russian government reported more Chinese weapons found, thereby sealing Russian concerns that China backed Ukraine's war.

Back in October, it was China that was seemingly leading to an all-out confrontation between the two eastern superpowers, with China launching multiple attacks into Central Asia.

Those attacks subsided.

As of right now, Russian government officials have not yet offered a comment.

1/12/19 - Seems like Recep Tayyip Erdoğan may be abandoning his party's earlier goals to establishing an Islamic state in Turkey.

In response to neo-Ottoman comments, regarding the fate of Ottoman mosques in Bulgaria, Erdoğan reminded people, "This isn't the Ottoman Empire, the Bulgarian government can do what they want with those former Ottoman mosques. Those who still think that Bulgaria is an Ottoman vassal clearly need to get out of whatever cave they've been hiding in. We are not the Ottoman Empire, we are the Republic of Turkey, Osman Bey is not our founder and father, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is."

It may seem that Recep Tayyip Erdoğan belonging to an Islamist party is what may keep, and has kept Russia from accepting Turkey as a CSTO member state, as well as Turkey's other allies such as Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Romania.

Vladimir Putin has made it clear that he (or Russia for this matter) is a fan of Islamic theocracies or Islamic democracies. After Russia's fallout with India, Pakistan honed in, but Russia forced Pakistan to grant non-Muslims the same rates, as Pakistan is an Islamic republic.

Recently, Russia just banned Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar from doing business in Russia.

1/28/19  - Despite the hostilities that plagued Russia and China these past couple months, many people in China still regard and remember Russia as an ally, not an adversary.

21st Century News travelled to China to ask people whether they saw Russia as a friend or an enemy.

Due to China's suppression of media, names were withheld.

One person stated, "I don't know why the Chinese attacked Kyrgyzstan, but I remember our government having great times with Russia. We fought together side-by-side, in Yemen, in Kosovo, in South Syria, in Libya, we need to rekindle our ties. I still see Russia as an ally."

Another person stated, "When the news struck that China had attacked Russia, I was flabbergasted. That is an important ally, China and Russia need to stay united, along with India, our three nations would form one great eastern alliance."

Russian and Chinese forces still collaborate, although begrudgingly, especially in Albania, where Russian, Albanian and Chinese forces are scheduled to conduct joint-drills. Then there's South Syria, where China still maintains a peace-keeping and security force to fight any possible anti-government resistance.

Ever year, on the annivesary of the Russian-Yemeni-Chinese victory during the Yemen conflict, people in China stil wave Russian and Yemeni flags alongside Chinese flags.

A retired Chinese military veteran stated, "I was there when we stood side by side with Russia and Yemen to fight off the Western-backed terrorists. It really hurts me on the inside to see how bad things have gotten, and hopefully, we will restore things back to the way they were."

2/6/19 - Ties between Russia and Turkey, historical foes, are getting higher and higher, as noted by the high membership of Turks in Russian royal clubs, considered Russia's very own version of a Greek club in the United States.

Russia is one of the most popular places of tourism, overseas work and education for Turkish overseas. A large number of Turkish citizens study engineering at Moscow State University.

The Order of Tsar Peter the Great, based in St. Petersburg, reported that this year, over 140 members of its various chapters across the country, whether serfing or at full boyar status, were Turkish citizens. The Order of Tsar Simeon Sain-Bulat, Russia's largest Muslim royal club, also reported a high number of Turkish overseas, due to the prevalance of Islam.

The Order of Tsarina Catherine the Great, reported 409 citizens of Turkey.

Many have even suggested that the Order of Tsar Peter the Great open overseas chapters in Turkey, although, while many Turks do support an opening of a Turkish branch, no such official requests have been made. Opening a chapter in a country is a long process.

The Order of Tsar Peter the Great does have chapters in the United States, especially in New York City and Chicago, cities with high Russian-American populations.

However, Alexander Drozdetsky, the Supreme Knyaz of the entire order, stated that he will definitely "look into it".

Drozdetsky stated, "I am more than open to the idea of allowing a chapter to open in Turkey, and will look into it, really, what we're looking for are official requests, either from a current member or an alumni, then we can certainly move forward."

2/12/19 - Today, Russian leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who is the leader of the Russian republic of Chechnya, called out Yousef Al-Othaimeen, calling him an "extremist" and a Wahabi.

Kadyrov told TASS, "I do not blame the leaders of Turkey, East Turkestan and Albania for wanting a new Muslim geopolitical bloc be formed, we peace-loving Muslims are sick and tired of extremists and Wahabis like Yousef Al-Othaimeen."

Russian Muslims showed their solidarity with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, East Turkestani president Ismail Tiliwaldi and Albanian president Jetlir Rexha.

Kadyrov also linked Wahabis and extremists for supporting separatists in Chechnya.

"It is people like [Yousef Al-Othaimeen] that funded terrorists groups to try to separate Chechnya from Russia, and divide Russia."

However, not all Russians were on board with Ramzan Kadyrov. Ksenia Sobchak of the Progressive Party of Russia stated that she "understood" Yousef Al-Othaimeen. The Russian Progressives often side with opponents of Vladimir Putin.

2/14/19 - The romance between Russia and Turkey are literally that, a romance, not just a bromance between Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, but literally everything from commercial and educational ties - such as the one between Moscow State University and Istanbul Technical University as well as Pajitnov Inc. and Selim Technologies, even between Russian and Turkish celebrities and combat sports stars, which is exactly what today is about.

Today, Russian MMA fighter Yevgeny Borisov traveled to Turkey for a romantic date with Turkish model and dancer Emine Çiçek.

The two posted on their social media accounts, a picture of a large heart-shaped cookie, half being a Turkish flag, the other a Russian.

The two are currently spending their time at an undisclosed luxury hotel in Turkey, to which, neither have gave details about.

2/15/19 - Today, both Moscow and Ankara confirmed that it was Russian president Vladimir Putin that had suggested to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to create an Muslim geopolitical organization independent of the GOIC while he was meeting with East Turkestani president Ismail Tiliwaldi and Albanian president Jetlir Rexha in Ürümqi.

When the announcement was made, Russian diplomats contacted the Turkish embassy in East Turkestan.

Ankara confirmed that after the bilateral meeting, President Erdoğan had received a phone call from Russian president Vladimir Putin, warning Erdoğan that there were talks in the GOIC to suspend Turkey, Albania and East Turkestan from the GOIC.

President Vladimir Putin stated, "I had heard that the [GOIC]'s Secretary-General had made a statement to expel Turkey, East Turkestan and Albania from the organization, I had to notify them fast. They Catholic Commonwealth backstabbed the million-some Catholics who live here in Russia, I wasn't about to let the same happen for the millions of Muslims here, and the Muslims who live in Turkey, East Turkestan and Albania."

2/17/19 - Today, Russian, Egyptian, Turkish and South Syrian aircraft conducted a joint aerial operations exercise as the Khmeimim Air Base.

As everyone knows, South Syria is a military ally of Russia and Egypt, and Turkey declared that it would switch sides, and aid Bashar al-Assad in 2018.

It would be the first such time that the Turkish air force sent warplanes into South Syria, on Damascus' side.

A total of 40 aircraft partook in the operations, mostly Russian warplanes, totaling a number of 27 Russian planes.

South Syrian president Bashar al-Assad stated, "It is great to have powerful allies, such as Russia, Egypt and Turkey, to protect us from the hostilities that thrive to the north of our borders."

2/21/19 - Today, Russian Foreign Minster Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia cannot force Yugoslavia to become a friend of Turkey, even if Russia wanted Yugoslavia to.

Lavrov stated, "On behalf of President Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin, we obviously see that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Turkey is trying to get Yugoslavia to open up to friendship. But understand, that we cannot force Yugoslavia to become a friend to Turkey, even if Turkey is our friend or ally, as President Vladimir Birčević of Yugoslavia has stated, it is ultimately up to the people of Yugoslavia to decide the fate of their foreign policy with the Republic of Turkey, we cannot, and will not use our influence to force Yugoslavia to change their foreign policy with Turkey, we would hope this is now what Turkey had in mind. Ankara must understand that our alliance with Yugoslavia is something we treat with some of the most utmost priority, and we do not want to upset Belgrade over this issue."

Recently, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been trying to convince president Vladimir Birčević of Yugoslavia to not necessarily become an ally of Turkey, but at the least, be open to cooperative, friendly and cordial relations with Turkey.

Ever since 2015, Russia and Turkey have been getting very close, two historical foes, with Putin seemingly breaking Russia's Zhirinovsky's Law, which prohibits Russia from doing any high tie business or cordial relations with Islamist countries.

Both Putin and Birčević have made it clear that Erdoğan belonging to an Islamist party, the Justice and Development Party or known by the Turkish acronym "AKP", has prevented Turkey from joining the CSTO, Russia's Eurasian alliance.

However, Turkey is a Russian ally, via the West Asian-North African Alliance, a Middle Eastern military alliance, led mainly by Russia, Egypt and China, and Russia is in the process of forming another Asian super alliance with Indonesia, East Turkestan and its long-time co-CSTO ally Manchuria.

2/1/19 - So recently, under new president Xu Qiliang, China has been taking steps to rekindle ties with Russia, and make concessions to Russia. However. Qiliang made it clear that he will continue to bolster China's global position, regardless of whether other leaders are on par with it or not.

Recently, President Qiliang met with Russian president Vladimir Putin in Astana, to discuss the issues that could jeopardize relations again, if not addressed. The two leaders discussed Georgia, Libya, East Turkestan and Ukraine.

Recently, Georgia, is a condidate member of the SCO, and Georgia built relations with China on the fact that while Georgia wanted to pull away from American foreign policy, it was by no means pro-Russia, as Georgians have not forgotten Russia's invasion.

Russian president Vladimir Putin agreed not to stand in China and Georgia's way, and that if China wanted to become Georgia's superpower backer, then by all means, so be it. However, the two agreed on creating demilitarized zones in the disputed northern Georgia.

Putin stated, "We have agreed with President Qiliang to withdraw heavy weapons from northern Georgia, and not to conduct military operations close to the Georgian borders."

2/15/19 - During a visit to Ankara, where Russia held joint-bilateral visit with both Turkey and China, Russian president Vladimir Putin warned Chinese president Xu Qiliang that Russia "does not play friends", and will still not forget the actions of Xi Jinping, China's preceding president.

President Putin stated, "I appreciate that Beijing is coming to their senses, but I want the People's Republic of China to know that we do not play friends. We cannot just forget what has happened between our two nations towards the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019. We went through so much together, in 2010, 2011, we fought in Yemen together, in Libya, in South Syria, we were allies and brothers combatting Islamist aggression. But in 2018, when Xi Jinping decided to make a foolish decision such as the one that he did, he threw it all away, and he destroyed years worth of brotherly cooperation, and disrupted the relations of the East. We will engage in positive and cordial cooperation with the People's Republic of China, but understand, that we will keep our suspicions, and we are not looking forward to any allyship, at least for now. I need the People's Republic of China to know how much damage the preceding president, Xi Jinping has done for the relations between our two nations, it's going to take a while before we can call ourselves allies again."

Putin's words mimicked the very words that Yugoslav president Vladimir Birčević told Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during this year's G9 meeting in Athens, Greece.

3/2/19 - Today, Russian president Vladimir Putin offered his insights and thoughts on Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan leaving the Justice and Development Party, or the AKP.

President Putin stated, "I support him, it will be extremely productive for the both of our nations."

It is unknown of whether the president of Turkey will join another party, or run as an independent.

Putin also stated that it will play a key role in cooperative and cordial relations between Muslims and Christians, as Russia considers itself rather anti-Islamic, in a political sense, and has actively opposed Islamist regimes.

He stated, "''I think we got off on the wrong foot here. Obviously most of the people of Turkey are Muslim, and it is definitely all in President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's power to be proud of his Islamic faith, and to protect the Islamic faith within himself and in Turkey, but understand that Islamism is a whole different story, Islam and Islamism are two different things. Islamism is an extreme form of Islamic politics, that endanger the lives of non-Muslims living in Muslim nations, and many Christians and Orthodox have fallen victim to Islamism, not only in Turkey, but in South Syria, Egypt, North Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, this is why I we, as a Russian Orthodox and Christian nation cannot support Islamist regimes. I mean, it would be such a huge shame, just looking at pictures of all the Christians slaughtered in these Islamist countries, and then just knowing that hey, we support these regimes, these regimes have Russian fingerprints on then. It cannot happened.''"

In addition, Putin also revealed that it was Erdoğan himself, who after the terrorist attacks in Istanbul, had told the Kremlin that he wanted to do away with Islamism in Turkey, and find a way to where Muslims can enjoy practicing their faith, without turning Turkey into a country like Saudi Arabia.

The Russian president told observers, "Back in late 2015, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had phoned me, and had told me that there was a problem with Islamism, especially in a country like Turkey. He told me that while he wasn't going to give up his Muslim faith, or the history and culture that the historical Ottoman Empire brought to Turkey, he wanted to re-create the modern politics of Turkey, and needed my help. He actually revealed to me, he had strong thoughts about leaving the Justice and Development Party, because he felt that neither justice or development were being brought about by the party. I could tell by his voice that he was being deeply troubled, and wanted to take control of his country, not the Islamists, not the Wahabis, not NATO, not ISIS, but the President of Turkey, and I gave it the greenlight. Now we have much closer with Turkey."