According to reports, Moscow and Havana have initiated an agreement on the settlement of Cuba's debt to Russia for Soviet loans. The document was signed in the presence of Cuban leader Raul Castro and visiting Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. Other documents signed included an inter-governmental agreement on cooperation in the field of space exploration; a memorandum of understanding between Rosatom and Cuba's national nuclear security centre with regard to cooperation in the field of nuclear medicine and production of radioactive medical preparations; an agreement between the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and the Cuban Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment on cooperation in the field of hydrometeorology and environmental monitoring. 1

In another development, according to reports, Russia’s Rosneft plans to increase oil supplies to China. Rosneft may supply an additional two million tons of oil a year to China from Verkhnechon and Vankor oil fields due to higher-than-anticipated output at the oil fields. 2

According to reports, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich has said that Ukraine has refused to pay the 7 billion US$ in fines to Gazprom for gas under-consumption in 2012. In 2012 Naftogaz Ukrainy purchased 24.4 billion cubic meters of gas from Gazprom, which is 39 percent less than in 2011. According to a 2009 agreement, Ukraine is obliged to import no less than 33.3 billion cubic meters. 3

Russia’s Duma has urged the US to adopt measures to protect adopted Russian children. 4

Reports noted that Russia and Brazil have signed a number of documents including a declaration of intent by the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation and the Brazilian Defence Ministry. The two sides also signed an agreement between the ministries of agriculture with regard to phytosanitary requirements and quality of wheat supplied from Russia to Brazil and an action plan for the implementation of the memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of Olympic and Paralympic Games and FIFA World Cup management and heritage. 5

In other developments, Deputy Russian foreign minister Gennady Gatilov has said that Moscow will object to sanctions which might affect normal trade relations with North Korea. 6

According to Russia's new foreign policy concept, Russia will press for legal guarantees that the US missile defence system in Europe is not aimed against it. Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has said that the US missile defence plans in Europe are "discussable".7

• 1. “Moscow and Havana initial agt on settlement of Cuba's debt to Russia”, ITAR-TASS, February 22, 2013, http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c32/657603.html
• 2. “Rosneft plans to increase oil supplies to China”, ITAR-TASS, February 22, 2013, http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c32/658334.html
• 3. “Ukraine refuses to pay 7 bln dlr fine to Gazprom – Yanukovich”, ITAR-TASS, February 23, 2012, http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c32/658515.html
• 4. “Duma urges US to adopt measures to protect adopted Russian children”, ITAR-TASS, February 20, 2012, http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c32/656157.html
• 5. “Russia and Brazil sign documents on cooperation”, ITAR-TASS, February 20, 2012, http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c32/656216.html
• 6. “Moscow against measures which might hinder normal trade with NKorea”, ITAR-TASS, February 19, 2012, http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c32/654423.html
• 7. “Russia will press consistently for legal guarantees that the US missile defence system in Europe is not aimed against it”, ITAR-TASS, February 19, 2012, http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c32/653637.html