LIVE UPDATES: Putin and Erdogan discussed the withdrawal of the al-Nusra Front (Jabhat Fateh al-Sham) from Aleppo; any refugee exodus could lead to a million people coming to Turkey.
Welcome to our column, Russia Update, where we will be closely following day-to-day developments in Russia, including the Russian government’s foreign and domestic policies.
The previous issue is here.
Recent Analysis and Translations:
Anna Politkovskayaâs Last Interview to the Regional Russian Press On Day of Her Murder
âThe Dirty Deeds of the Pentagon in Syriaâ: An Example of Russian Propaganda
– What Has Ramzan Kadyrov Been Up To? Quietly Cultivating Regional and Kremlin Officials, Now He Meets with Putin
– RBC Publishes Report Sourced in FSB and Military on Wagner Private Military Contractor with 2,500 Fighters in Syria
UPDATES BELOW

The interview seems designed to portray Bastrykin at the helm of a modern agency with cutting-edge technology to fight crime, and provide positive press coverage after weeks of negative portrayals in the independent media.
— Catherine A. Fitzpatrick
The ruble is trading at 62.46 to the dollar and 68.52 to the euro. Brent crude is selling for $52.37 per barrel.
The following headlines are from 7:40 na perrone, Daily Sabah, RBC, Navalny, Currentime TV, Russian Foreign Ministry, RNS, and Meduza.
– Russia Re-Emerges as a Great Power in the Middle East by Walter Russell Mead [English]
— Catherine A. Fitzpatrick