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Showing posts with label Russian President Putin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Russian President Putin. Show all posts

Russia/Ukraine War: West will walk away from Ukraine after destroying it

Russia/Ukraine War: West will walk away from Ukraine after destroying it

Kolawole Odetola




The west will not relent in their proxy war with Russia until the whole of Ukraine is destroyed. The latest mendacious cry faithfully echoed across the media and commentariat is that Russia is advancing because the west is not supplying Kiev with enough ammunition. So as long as enough ammo can be magicked up the tide of battle could turn against Moscow. It is another lie.


 Remember this time last year the very same people were predicting the Ukranian army would sweep Russia into the sea of Azov as they were brimming with the most advanced western arms and tons of ammunition. The much hyped counter offensive was comprehensively defeated by the Russian army killing tens of thousands of Ukranian soldiers, which is the real problem. Ukraine is not just running out of ammunition, the west is running out of Ukranians to die for their crusade to break Russia.


 Almost a million ukranian soldiers have been killed or injured since 2022.


This was always going to be the case. While they have fought bravely Ukraine was never going to match the Russian army. Russia is far bigger, richer, more populous and more industrialised than Ukraine and in multiples.


The Russian army is also better trained, better equipped and better led than the Ukranian military. The Russians learn from their mistakes, the Ukrainians repeat theirs. When the Russians face challenging realities they retreat and regroup as they did in Kharkov and Kherson in the fall of 2022. When the Ukrainians face difficult military situations they dig in and get wiped out as they were in Marioupal in 2022, Bakhmut in 2023 and Adieevka in 2024. The Russians are fighting to win on the battlefield, the Ukranians are fighting to win on CNN.


A ceasefire now is the only realistic way out of this mess. The pipe dream of Ukraine besting Russia has been exposed as the ludicrous fantasy it always was. But the west still wants to escalate until the entire project collapses. Then they will walk away as they walked away from Iraq, walked away from Syria, walked away from Libya and walked away fron Afghanistan four nations they have totally wrecked in the last 20 years of a futile and failing crusade to reassert America's disintegrating global supremacy. 


They will walk away from Ukraine after destroying it and their mendacious media will simply stop talking about it as they stopped talking about Iraq, Libya, Syria and Afghanistan. It never happened. Then they will walk on to the next project.

Kolawole Odetola




The west will not relent in their proxy war with Russia until the whole of Ukraine is destroyed. The latest mendacious cry faithfully echoed across the media and commentariat is that Russia is advancing because the west is not supplying Kiev with enough ammunition. So as long as enough ammo can be magicked up the tide of battle could turn against Moscow. It is another lie.


 Remember this time last year the very same people were predicting the Ukranian army would sweep Russia into the sea of Azov as they were brimming with the most advanced western arms and tons of ammunition. The much hyped counter offensive was comprehensively defeated by the Russian army killing tens of thousands of Ukranian soldiers, which is the real problem. Ukraine is not just running out of ammunition, the west is running out of Ukranians to die for their crusade to break Russia.


 Almost a million ukranian soldiers have been killed or injured since 2022.


This was always going to be the case. While they have fought bravely Ukraine was never going to match the Russian army. Russia is far bigger, richer, more populous and more industrialised than Ukraine and in multiples.


The Russian army is also better trained, better equipped and better led than the Ukranian military. The Russians learn from their mistakes, the Ukrainians repeat theirs. When the Russians face challenging realities they retreat and regroup as they did in Kharkov and Kherson in the fall of 2022. When the Ukrainians face difficult military situations they dig in and get wiped out as they were in Marioupal in 2022, Bakhmut in 2023 and Adieevka in 2024. The Russians are fighting to win on the battlefield, the Ukranians are fighting to win on CNN.


A ceasefire now is the only realistic way out of this mess. The pipe dream of Ukraine besting Russia has been exposed as the ludicrous fantasy it always was. But the west still wants to escalate until the entire project collapses. Then they will walk away as they walked away from Iraq, walked away from Syria, walked away from Libya and walked away fron Afghanistan four nations they have totally wrecked in the last 20 years of a futile and failing crusade to reassert America's disintegrating global supremacy. 


They will walk away from Ukraine after destroying it and their mendacious media will simply stop talking about it as they stopped talking about Iraq, Libya, Syria and Afghanistan. It never happened. Then they will walk on to the next project.

#SPECIALMILITARYOPERATION: Russia targets US and European arms shipments in Ukraine

#SPECIALMILITARYOPERATION: Russia targets US and European arms shipments in Ukraine


The Russian Ministry of Defense destroyed US and European military equipment depots using naval "Kaliber" missiles, and reported the surrender of 265 Ukrainian militants at the "Azovstal" plant.


Russia announced today, Tuesday, the targeting of US and European arms shipments, near the city of Lvov, in western Ukraine.


The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement: "have been targeted and the destruction of American and European arms shipments near the city of Lvov missiles, naval aircraft CALIBER."


According to the statement, high-precision air missiles of the Russian Air Force hit two command posts and a communications center, including the 30th mechanized brigade in the Bakhmut region, 28 military assembly areas, and two depots of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.


The United States provides a number of European countries led by Germany and Britain Kyiv sophisticated weaponry.


The statement stated that 265 Ukrainian militants, including 51 seriously wounded, surrendered and laid down their weapons, after they were trapped in the Azovstal factory in Mariupol.


Russia announced yesterday, to reach an agreement with the Ukrainian military in the factory area "Azovstal" to evacuate the wounded to medical institutions in the People's Republic of Donetsk.


Also, the Russian Defense Ministry indicated that its forces had killed, during the past 24 hours, "more than 470 extremist militants, and disabled 68 units of military equipment."


The Russian Ministry of Defense destroyed US and European military equipment depots using naval "Kaliber" missiles, and reported the surrender of 265 Ukrainian militants at the "Azovstal" plant.


Russia announced today, Tuesday, the targeting of US and European arms shipments, near the city of Lvov, in western Ukraine.


The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement: "have been targeted and the destruction of American and European arms shipments near the city of Lvov missiles, naval aircraft CALIBER."


According to the statement, high-precision air missiles of the Russian Air Force hit two command posts and a communications center, including the 30th mechanized brigade in the Bakhmut region, 28 military assembly areas, and two depots of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.


The United States provides a number of European countries led by Germany and Britain Kyiv sophisticated weaponry.


The statement stated that 265 Ukrainian militants, including 51 seriously wounded, surrendered and laid down their weapons, after they were trapped in the Azovstal factory in Mariupol.


Russia announced yesterday, to reach an agreement with the Ukrainian military in the factory area "Azovstal" to evacuate the wounded to medical institutions in the People's Republic of Donetsk.


Also, the Russian Defense Ministry indicated that its forces had killed, during the past 24 hours, "more than 470 extremist militants, and disabled 68 units of military equipment."

Our forces have taken full control of the city of Kherson in southern Ukraine - Russian Defense

Our forces have taken full control of the city of Kherson in southern Ukraine - Russian Defense


This morning, Wednesday, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that its forces had taken full control of the city of Kherson in southern Ukraine, as part of the Russian special operation to protect Donbass.


The Russian defense said in a statement that civilian infrastructure, vital facilities and transportation are operating routinely and the city, which is the capital of Kherson Province, does not suffer from a shortage of food and basic goods.


She added that negotiations are still underway between the Russian leadership and the city and county administration to address issues of maintaining the operation of social infrastructure facilities, ensuring law and public order and the safety of residents.


On February 24, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the aim of "protecting the people who have been humiliated and exterminated by the Kyiv regime for eight years," as Russian President Vladimir Putin has put it.


Putin said that this situation required the implementation of the "disarmament of Ukraine" operation, the protection of civilians in Donbass.


Western countries responded to Moscow's move by imposing unprecedented economic sanctions on Russia and escalating military support to the Kyiv authorities.


Source: Russian Ministry of Defense


This morning, Wednesday, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that its forces had taken full control of the city of Kherson in southern Ukraine, as part of the Russian special operation to protect Donbass.


The Russian defense said in a statement that civilian infrastructure, vital facilities and transportation are operating routinely and the city, which is the capital of Kherson Province, does not suffer from a shortage of food and basic goods.


She added that negotiations are still underway between the Russian leadership and the city and county administration to address issues of maintaining the operation of social infrastructure facilities, ensuring law and public order and the safety of residents.


On February 24, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the aim of "protecting the people who have been humiliated and exterminated by the Kyiv regime for eight years," as Russian President Vladimir Putin has put it.


Putin said that this situation required the implementation of the "disarmament of Ukraine" operation, the protection of civilians in Donbass.


Western countries responded to Moscow's move by imposing unprecedented economic sanctions on Russia and escalating military support to the Kyiv authorities.


Source: Russian Ministry of Defense

The United States dragged Ukraine to this point says Iranian Supreme Leader

The United States dragged Ukraine to this point says Iranian Supreme Leader


Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has on Tuesday said the United States is a "complete model of modern ignorance".


In a speech addressed to the Iranian people on the occasion of the anniversary of the resurrection of the Prophet Muhammad, Ali Khamenei said: "The West is using science and technology to kill and exploit people and spread moral vice to achieve its interests," noting that "the ruling regime in the United States is creating crises and feeding them."


Khamenei added: "The United States is a mafia regime.. the economic mafia, weapons, and the types of gangs that control the country and stand behind the American governments and install presidents..They created ISIS in the region and they admitted that and we witnessed the atrocities committed by ISIS..They need to create crises to secure the interests of the arms factories."


He continued, "The United States dragged Ukraine to this point by interfering in its internal affairs, coups of color and changing governments."


And the Iranian guide continued: "We oppose wars, killing peoples, and sabotaging infrastructure wherever that happens, and this is our firm position."


He continued: "What is the United States doing in eastern Syria and Afghanistan? Why are they stealing the wealth of this country? Why do they defend the crimes of the Zionist entity that continue day and night? They do all these crimes in the name of human rights."


Khamenei added: "The Yemeni people have been bombarded for the past eight years, but the world has turned a blind eye to that."


The Iranian guide explained, "We support stopping the war in Ukraine, and this is achieved by identifying the roots of the crisis, which lie in Western intervention there.. We do not adopt double standards as the West does ... Western support for its affiliated countries is just a mirage, and this is what we witnessed in Ukraine and Afghanistan, admittedly by the Ukrainian president, Vladimir Zelensky, and the former Afghan president, the West cannot be relied upon.


Khamenei said: "The second lesson from Ukraine's issues is that popular support is the biggest supporter of any government, and the main element for the independence of countries. If the Ukrainian people entered the arena, we would not witness what is happening now.. This is what we witnessed in Iraq during the US invasion, where it did not enter The people are in the arena, but on the other hand, when the people attended in the face of ISIS, they made great achievements."


Source: RT


Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has on Tuesday said the United States is a "complete model of modern ignorance".


In a speech addressed to the Iranian people on the occasion of the anniversary of the resurrection of the Prophet Muhammad, Ali Khamenei said: "The West is using science and technology to kill and exploit people and spread moral vice to achieve its interests," noting that "the ruling regime in the United States is creating crises and feeding them."


Khamenei added: "The United States is a mafia regime.. the economic mafia, weapons, and the types of gangs that control the country and stand behind the American governments and install presidents..They created ISIS in the region and they admitted that and we witnessed the atrocities committed by ISIS..They need to create crises to secure the interests of the arms factories."


He continued, "The United States dragged Ukraine to this point by interfering in its internal affairs, coups of color and changing governments."


And the Iranian guide continued: "We oppose wars, killing peoples, and sabotaging infrastructure wherever that happens, and this is our firm position."


He continued: "What is the United States doing in eastern Syria and Afghanistan? Why are they stealing the wealth of this country? Why do they defend the crimes of the Zionist entity that continue day and night? They do all these crimes in the name of human rights."


Khamenei added: "The Yemeni people have been bombarded for the past eight years, but the world has turned a blind eye to that."


The Iranian guide explained, "We support stopping the war in Ukraine, and this is achieved by identifying the roots of the crisis, which lie in Western intervention there.. We do not adopt double standards as the West does ... Western support for its affiliated countries is just a mirage, and this is what we witnessed in Ukraine and Afghanistan, admittedly by the Ukrainian president, Vladimir Zelensky, and the former Afghan president, the West cannot be relied upon.


Khamenei said: "The second lesson from Ukraine's issues is that popular support is the biggest supporter of any government, and the main element for the independence of countries. If the Ukrainian people entered the arena, we would not witness what is happening now.. This is what we witnessed in Iraq during the US invasion, where it did not enter The people are in the arena, but on the other hand, when the people attended in the face of ISIS, they made great achievements."


Source: RT

Situations in Ukraine: WHY PUTIN'S MADNESS BECOMES HISTORICALLY RELEVANT TO THE GLOBAL POLITICS?

Situations in Ukraine: WHY PUTIN'S MADNESS BECOMES HISTORICALLY RELEVANT TO THE GLOBAL POLITICS?

*AN AFRICAN EXPRESSION SAYS: BECAUSE OF THE TERRORISING MADNESS OUTSIDE, THERE MAY BE NEED FOR AN ALTERNATIVE MADNESS TO COUNTER IT! THIS IS WHY THE PUTIN MADNESS BECOMES HISTORICALLY RELEVANT TO THE GLOBAL POLITICS!*


*A WHILE AGO, WE POSTED THAT THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT SAID!

*LET'S NOW READ WHAT PRESIDENT PUTIN SAID:*

*President Vladimir Putin's speech*!



Dear citizens of Russia! Dear friends!


Today, I again consider it necessary to return to the tragic events taking place in the Donbass and the key issues of ensuring the security of Russia itself.


Let me start with what I said in my address of February 21 this year. We are talking about what causes us particular concern and anxiety, about those fundamental threats that year after year, step by step, are rudely and unceremoniously created by irresponsible politicians in the West in relation to our country. I mean the expansion of the NATO bloc to the east, bringing its military infrastructure closer to Russian borders.


It is well known that for 30 years we have persistently and patiently tried to reach an agreement with the leading NATO countries on the principles of equal and indivisible security in Europe. In response to our proposals, we constantly faced either cynical deception and lies, or attempts to pressure and blackmail, while the North Atlantic Alliance, in the meantime, despite all our protests and concerns, is steadily expanding. The military machine is moving and, I repeat, is coming close to our borders.


Why is all this happening? Where does this impudent manner of speaking from the position of one's own exclusivity, infallibility and permissiveness come from? Where does the disdainful, disdainful attitude towards our interests and absolutely legitimate demands come from?


The answer is clear, everything is clear and obvious. The Soviet Union in the late 80s of the last century weakened, and then completely collapsed. The whole course of events that took place then is a good lesson for us today as well; it convincingly showed that the paralysis of power and will is the first step towards complete degradation and oblivion. As soon as we lost confidence in ourselves for some time, and that’s it, the balance of power in the world turned out to be disturbed.


This has led to the fact that the previous treaties and agreements are no longer in effect. Persuasion and requests do not help. Everything that does not suit the hegemon, those in power, is declared archaic, obsolete, unnecessary. And vice versa: everything that seems beneficial to them is presented as the ultimate truth, pushed through at any cost, boorishly, by all means. Dissenters are broken through the knee. 


What I am talking about now concerns not only Russia and not only us. This applies to the entire system of international relations, and sometimes even to the US allies themselves. After the collapse of the USSR, the redivision of the world actually began, and the norms of international law that had developed by that time - and the key, basic ones were adopted at the end of the Second World War and largely consolidated its results - began to interfere with those who declared themselves the winner in the Cold War .


Of course, in practical life, in international relations, in the rules for their regulation, it was necessary to take into account changes in the situation in the world and the balance of power itself. However, this should have been done professionally, smoothly, patiently, taking into account and respecting the interests of all countries and understanding our responsibility. But no - a state of euphoria from absolute superiority, a kind of modern form of absolutism, and even against the background of a low level of general culture and arrogance of those who prepared, adopted and pushed through decisions that were beneficial only for themselves. The situation began to develop according to a different scenario. 


You don't have to look far for examples. First, without any sanction from the UN Security Council, they carried out a bloody military operation against Belgrade, using aircraft and missiles right in the very center of Europe. Several weeks of continuous bombing of civilian cities, on life-supporting infrastructure. We have to remind these facts, otherwise some Western colleagues do not like to remember those events, and when we talk about it, they prefer to point not to the norms of international law, but to the circumstances that they interpret as they see fit.


Then came the turn of Iraq, Libya, Syria. The illegitimate use of military force against Libya, the perversion of all decisions of the UN Security Council on the Libyan issue led to the complete destruction of the state, to the emergence of a huge hotbed of international terrorism, to the fact that the country plunged into a humanitarian catastrophe that has not stopped for many years. civil war. The tragedy, which doomed hundreds of thousands, millions of people not only in Libya, but throughout this region, gave rise to a massive migration exodus from North Africa and the Middle East to Europe.


A similar fate was prepared for Syria. The fighting of the Western coalition on the territory of this country without the consent of the Syrian government and the sanction of the UN Security Council is nothing but aggression, intervention.


However, a special place in this series is occupied, of course, by the invasion of Iraq, also without any legal grounds. As a pretext, they chose reliable information allegedly available to the United States about the presence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. As proof of this, publicly, in front of the eyes of the whole world, the US Secretary of State shook some kind of test tube with white powder, assuring everyone that this is the chemical weapon being developed in Iraq. And then it turned out that all this was a hoax, a bluff: there are no chemical weapons in Iraq. Unbelievable, surprising, but the fact remains. There were lies at the highest state level and from the high rostrum of the UN. And as a result - huge casualties, destruction, an incredible surge of terrorism.


In general, one gets the impression that practically everywhere, in many regions of the world, where the West comes to establish its own order, the result is bloody, unhealed wounds, ulcers of international terrorism and extremism. All that I have said is the most egregious, but by no means the only examples of disregard for international law.


In this series, and promises to our country not to expand NATO by one inch to the east. I repeat - they deceived me, but in popular terms, they simply threw it away. Yes, you can often hear that politics is a dirty business. Perhaps, but not to the same extent, not to the same extent. After all, such cheating behavior contradicts not only the principles of international relations, but above all the generally recognized norms of morality and morality. Where is justice and truth here? Just a bunch of lies and hypocrisy. 


By the way, American politicians, political scientists and journalists themselves write and talk about the fact that a real “empire of lies” has been created inside the United States in recent years. It's hard to disagree with that - it's true. But do not be modest: the United States is still a great country, a system-forming power. All her satellites not only resignedly and dutifully assent, sing along to her for any reason, but also copy her behavior, enthusiastically accept the rules he proposes. Therefore, with good reason, we can confidently say that the entire so-called Western bloc, formed by the United States in its own image and likeness, all of it is the very “empire of lies”.


As for our country, after the collapse of the USSR, with all the unprecedented openness of the new modern Russia, the readiness to work honestly with the United States and other Western partners, and in the conditions of virtually unilateral disarmament, they immediately tried to squeeze us, finish off and destroy us completely. This is exactly what happened in the 90s, in the early 2000s, when the so-called collective West most actively supported separatism and mercenary gangs in southern Russia. What sacrifices, what losses did all this cost us then, what trials did we have to go through before we finally broke the back of international terrorism in the Caucasus. We remember this and will never forget.


Yes, in fact, until recently, attempts have not stopped to use us in their own interests, destroy our traditional values ​​and impose on us their pseudo-values ​​that would corrode us, our people from the inside, those attitudes that they are already aggressively planting in their countries and which directly lead to degradation and degeneration, because they contradict the very nature of man. It won't happen, no one has ever done it. It won't work now either.


Despite everything, in December 2021, we nevertheless once again made an attempt to agree with the United States and its allies on the principles of ensuring security in Europe and on the non-expansion of NATO. Everything is in vain. The US position does not change. They do not consider it necessary to negotiate with Russia on this key issue for us, pursuing their own goals, they neglect our interests. 


And of course, in this situation, we have a question: what to do next, what to expect? We know well from history how in the 1940s and early 1941s the Soviet Union tried in every possible way to prevent or at least delay the outbreak of war. To this end, among other things, he tried literally to the last not to provoke a potential aggressor, did not carry out or postponed the most necessary, obvious actions to prepare for repelling an inevitable attack. And those steps that were nevertheless taken in the end were catastrophically belated.


As a result, the country was not ready to fully meet the invasion of Nazi Germany, which attacked our Motherland on June 22, 1941 without declaring war. The enemy was stopped and then crushed, but at a colossal cost. An attempt to appease the aggressor on the eve of the Great Patriotic War turned out to be a mistake that cost our people dearly. In the very first months of hostilities, we lost huge, strategically important territories and millions of people. The second time we will not allow such a mistake, we have no right.


Those who claim world domination, publicly, with impunity and, I emphasize, without any reason, declare us, Russia, their enemy. Indeed, today they have great financial, scientific, technological and military capabilities. We are aware of this and objectively assess the threats constantly being addressed to us in the economic sphere, as well as our ability to resist this impudent and permanent blackmail. I repeat, we evaluate them without illusions, extremely realistically.


As for the military sphere, modern Russia, even after the collapse of the USSR and the loss of a significant part of its potential, is today one of the most powerful nuclear powers in the world and, moreover, has certain advantages in a number of the latest types of weapons. In this regard, no one should have any doubts that a direct attack on our country will lead to defeat and dire consequences for any potential aggressor.


At the same time, technologies, including defense technologies, are changing rapidly. Leadership in this area is passing and will continue to change hands, but the military development of the territories adjacent to our borders, if we allow it, will remain for decades to come, and maybe forever, and will create an ever-growing, absolutely unacceptable threat for Russia. .


Even now, as NATO expands to the east, the situation for our country is getting worse and more dangerous every year. Moreover, in recent days, the leadership of NATO has been openly talking about the need to accelerate, speed up the advancement of the Alliance's infrastructure to the borders of Russia. In other words, they are hardening their position. We can no longer just continue to observe what is happening. It would be absolutely irresponsible on our part.


Further expansion of the infrastructure of the North Atlantic Alliance, the military development of the territories of Ukraine that has begun is unacceptable for us. The point, of course, is not the NATO organization itself - it is only an instrument of US foreign policy. The problem is that in the territories adjacent to us, I will note, in our own historical territories, an “anti-Russia” hostile to us is being created, which has been placed under complete external control, is intensively settled by the armed forces of NATO countries and is pumped up with the most modern weapons. 


For the United States and its allies, this is the so-called policy of containment of Russia, obvious geopolitical dividends. And for our country, this is ultimately a matter of life and death, a matter of our historical future as a people. And this is not an exaggeration - it is true. This is a real threat not just to our interests, but to the very existence of our state, its sovereignty. This is the very red line that has been talked about many times. They passed her.


In this regard, and about the situation in the Donbass. We see that the forces that carried out a coup d'etat in Ukraine in 2014, seized power and are holding it with the help of, in fact, decorative electoral procedures, have finally abandoned the peaceful settlement of the conflict. For eight years, endlessly long eight years, we have done everything possible to resolve the situation by peaceful, political means. All in vain.


As I said in my previous address, one cannot look at what is happening there without compassion. It was simply impossible to endure all this. It was necessary to immediately stop this nightmare - the genocide against the millions of people living there, who rely only on Russia, hope only on us. It was these aspirations, feelings, pain of people that were for us the main motive for making a decision to recognize the people's republics of Donbass.


What I think is important to emphasize further. The leading NATO countries, in order to achieve their own goals, support extreme nationalists and neo-Nazis in Ukraine in everything, who, in turn, will never forgive the Crimeans and Sevastopol residents for their free choice - reunification with Russia.


They, of course, will climb into the Crimea, and just like in the Donbass, with a war in order to kill, as punishers from the gangs of Ukrainian nationalists, Hitler's accomplices, killed defenseless people during the Great Patriotic War. They openly declare that they lay claim to a number of other Russian territories.


The entire course of events and analysis of incoming information shows that Russia's clash with these forces is inevitable. It is only a matter of time: they are getting ready, they are waiting for the right time. Now they also claim to possess nuclear weapons. We will not allow this to be done.


As I said earlier, after the collapse of the USSR, Russia accepted new geopolitical realities. We respect and will continue to treat all the newly formed countries in the post-Soviet space with respect. We respect and will continue to respect their sovereignty, and an example of this is the assistance we provided to Kazakhstan, which faced tragic events, with a challenge to its statehood and integrity. But Russia cannot feel safe, develop, exist with a constant threat emanating from the territory of modern Ukraine.


Let me remind you that in 2000-2005 we gave a military rebuff to terrorists in the Caucasus, defended the integrity of our state, saved Russia. In 2014, they supported the Crimeans and Sevastopol residents. In 2015, the Armed Forces used to put a reliable barrier to the penetration of terrorists from Syria into Russia. We had no other way to protect ourselves.


The same thing is happening now. You and I simply have not been left with any other opportunity to protect Russia, our people, except for the one that we will be forced to use today. Circumstances require us to take decisive and immediate action. The people's republics of Donbass turned to Russia with a request for help.


In this regard, in accordance with Article 51 of Part 7 of the UN Charter, with the sanction of the Federation Council of Russia and in pursuance of the treaties of friendship and mutual assistance ratified by the Federal Assembly on February 22 this year with the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic, I decided to conduct a special military operation .


Its goal is to protect people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years. And for this, we will strive for the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, as well as bringing to justice those who committed numerous bloody crimes against civilians, including citizens of the Russian Federation.


At the same time, our plans do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories. We are not going to impose anything on anyone by force. At the same time, we hear that recently in the West there are more and more words that the documents signed by the Soviet totalitarian regime, which consolidate the results of the Second World War, should no longer be carried out. Well, what is the answer to this?


The results of the Second World War, as well as the sacrifices made by our people on the altar of victory over Nazism, are sacred. But this does not contradict the high values ​​of human rights and freedoms, based on the realities that have developed today over all the post-war decades. It also does not cancel the right of nations to self-determination, enshrined in Article 1 of the UN Charter.


Let me remind you that neither during the creation of the USSR, nor after the Second World War, people living in certain territories that are part of modern Ukraine, no one ever asked how they themselves want to arrange their lives. Our policy is based on freedom, the freedom of choice for everyone to independently determine their own future and the future of their children. And we consider it important that this right - the right to choose - could be used by all the peoples living on the territory of today's Ukraine, by everyone who wants it. 


In this regard, I appeal to the citizens of Ukraine. In 2014, Russia was obliged to protect the inhabitants of Crimea and Sevastopol from those whom you yourself call “Nazis”. Crimeans and Sevastopol residents made their choice to be with their historical homeland, with Russia, and we supported this. I repeat, they simply could not do otherwise.


Today's events are not connected with the desire to infringe on the interests of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. They are connected with the protection of Russia itself from those who took Ukraine hostage and are trying to use it against our country and its people.


I repeat, our actions are self-defense against the threats posed to us and from an even greater disaster than what is happening today. No matter how difficult it may be, I ask you to understand this and call for cooperation in order to turn this tragic page as soon as possible and move forward together, not to allow anyone to interfere in our affairs, in our relations, but to build them on our own, so that it creates the necessary conditions for overcoming all problems and, despite the presence of state borders, would strengthen us from the inside as a whole. I believe in this - in this is our future.


I should also appeal to the military personnel of the armed forces of Ukraine.


Dear comrades! Your fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers did not fight the Nazis, defending our common Motherland, so that today's neo-Nazis seized power in Ukraine. You took an oath of allegiance to the Ukrainian people, and not to the anti-people junta that plunders Ukraine and mocks these same people.


Don't follow her criminal orders. I urge you to lay down your weapons immediately and go home. Let me explain: all servicemen of the Ukrainian army who fulfill this requirement will be able to freely leave the combat zone and return to their families.


Once again, I insistently emphasize: all responsibility for possible bloodshed will be entirely on the conscience of the regime ruling on the territory of Ukraine. 


Now a few important, very important words for those who may be tempted to intervene in ongoing events. Whoever tries to hinder us, and even more so to create threats for our country, for our people, should know that Russia's response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences that you have never experienced in your history. We are ready for any development of events. All necessary decisions in this regard have been made. I hope that I will be heard.


Dear citizens of Russia!


Well-being, the very existence of entire states and peoples, their success and viability always originate in the powerful root system of their culture and values, experience and traditions of their ancestors and, of course, directly depend on the ability to quickly adapt to a constantly changing life, on the cohesion of society, its readiness to consolidate, to gather together all the forces in order to move forward.


Forces are needed always - always, but strength can be of different quality. The policy of the “empire of lies”, which I spoke about at the beginning of my speech, is based primarily on brute, straightforward force. In such cases, we say: "There is power, mind is not needed."


And you and I know that real strength lies in justice and truth, which is on our side. And if this is so, then it is difficult to disagree with the fact that it is the strength and readiness to fight that underlie independence and sovereignty, are the necessary foundation on which you can only reliably build your future, build your home, your family, your homeland. .


Dear compatriots!


I am confident that the soldiers and officers of the Russian Armed Forces devoted to their country will professionally and courageously fulfill their duty. I have no doubt that all levels of government, specialists responsible for the stability of our economy, financial system, social sphere, heads of our companies and all Russian business will act in a coordinated and efficient manner. I count on a consolidated, patriotic position of all parliamentary parties and public forces.


Ultimately, as it has always been in history, the fate of Russia is in the reliable hands of our multinational people. And this means that the decisions made will be implemented, the goals set will be achieved, the security of our Motherland will be reliably guaranteed.


I believe in your support, in that invincible strength that our love for the Fatherland gives us.










 THE UKRANIAN PRESIDENT EMOTIONAL SPEECH, YET HE DRAGS HIS COUNTRY INTO AVOIDABLE WARS THINKING THE US IMPERIALIST WILL FIGHT FOR UKRANIANS FOR FREE!


*LIBYA IS STILL PAYING WITH ITS OIL FOR THE BOMBS THE US-IMPERIALIST EXPENDED IN THE DESTRUCTION OF LIBYA & KILLING OF QADDAFI! AND THERE IS NOW DEMOCRACY IN LIBYA!*


*ENOUGH OF HYPOCRITICAL ANALYSES THAT WERE MISSING WHEN THE US IMPERIALIST INVADED LIBYA, UNILATERALLY SANCTIONED THE ISREALI GENOCIDE IN THE PALESTINE, etc!*


Russia-Ukraine crisis: Zelenskyy’s address in full Hours before Russia invaded his country!


This is what he said:

Full speech of the Ukrainean President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy


"Today I initiated a phone call with the president of the Russian Federation. The result was silence. Though the silence should be in Donbas. That’s why I want to address today the people of Russia. I am addressing you not as a president, I am addressing you as a citizen of Ukraine.


More than 2,000km of the common border is dividing us. Along this border your troops are stationed, almost 200,000 soldiers, thousands of military vehicles. Your leaders approved them to make a step forward, to the territory of another country. And this step can be the beginning of a big war on the European continent.


We know for sure that we don’t need the war. Not a Cold War, not a hot war. Not a hybrid one. But if we’ll be attacked by the [enemy] troops, if they try to take our country away from us, our freedom, our lives, the lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. Not attack, but defend ourselves. And when you will be attacking us, you will see our faces, not our backs, but our faces.


The war is a big disaster, and this disaster has a high price. With every meaning of this word. People lose money, reputation, quality of life, they lose freedom. But the main thing is that people lose their loved ones, they lose themselves.


They told you that Ukraine is posing a threat to Russia. It was not the case in the past, not in the present, it’s not going to be in the future. You are demanding security guarantees from NATO, but we also demand security guarantees. Security for Ukraine from you, from Russia and other guarantees of the Budapest memorandum.


But our main goal is peace in Ukraine and the safety of our people, Ukrainians. For that, we are ready to have talks with anybody, including you, in any format, on any platform. The war will deprive [security] guarantees from everybody – nobody will have guarantees of security any more. Who will suffer the most from it? The people. Who doesn’t want it the most? The people! Who can stop it? The people. But are there those people among you? I am sure.


I know that they [the Russian state] won’t show my address on Russian TV, but Russian people have to see it. They need to know the truth, and the truth is that it is time to stop now, before it is too late. And if the Russian leaders don’t want to sit with us behind the table for the sake of peace, maybe they will sit behind the table with you. Do Russians want the war? I would like to know the answer. But the answer depends only on you, citizens of the Russian Federation."

*AN AFRICAN EXPRESSION SAYS: BECAUSE OF THE TERRORISING MADNESS OUTSIDE, THERE MAY BE NEED FOR AN ALTERNATIVE MADNESS TO COUNTER IT! THIS IS WHY THE PUTIN MADNESS BECOMES HISTORICALLY RELEVANT TO THE GLOBAL POLITICS!*


*A WHILE AGO, WE POSTED THAT THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT SAID!

*LET'S NOW READ WHAT PRESIDENT PUTIN SAID:*

*President Vladimir Putin's speech*!



Dear citizens of Russia! Dear friends!


Today, I again consider it necessary to return to the tragic events taking place in the Donbass and the key issues of ensuring the security of Russia itself.


Let me start with what I said in my address of February 21 this year. We are talking about what causes us particular concern and anxiety, about those fundamental threats that year after year, step by step, are rudely and unceremoniously created by irresponsible politicians in the West in relation to our country. I mean the expansion of the NATO bloc to the east, bringing its military infrastructure closer to Russian borders.


It is well known that for 30 years we have persistently and patiently tried to reach an agreement with the leading NATO countries on the principles of equal and indivisible security in Europe. In response to our proposals, we constantly faced either cynical deception and lies, or attempts to pressure and blackmail, while the North Atlantic Alliance, in the meantime, despite all our protests and concerns, is steadily expanding. The military machine is moving and, I repeat, is coming close to our borders.


Why is all this happening? Where does this impudent manner of speaking from the position of one's own exclusivity, infallibility and permissiveness come from? Where does the disdainful, disdainful attitude towards our interests and absolutely legitimate demands come from?


The answer is clear, everything is clear and obvious. The Soviet Union in the late 80s of the last century weakened, and then completely collapsed. The whole course of events that took place then is a good lesson for us today as well; it convincingly showed that the paralysis of power and will is the first step towards complete degradation and oblivion. As soon as we lost confidence in ourselves for some time, and that’s it, the balance of power in the world turned out to be disturbed.


This has led to the fact that the previous treaties and agreements are no longer in effect. Persuasion and requests do not help. Everything that does not suit the hegemon, those in power, is declared archaic, obsolete, unnecessary. And vice versa: everything that seems beneficial to them is presented as the ultimate truth, pushed through at any cost, boorishly, by all means. Dissenters are broken through the knee. 


What I am talking about now concerns not only Russia and not only us. This applies to the entire system of international relations, and sometimes even to the US allies themselves. After the collapse of the USSR, the redivision of the world actually began, and the norms of international law that had developed by that time - and the key, basic ones were adopted at the end of the Second World War and largely consolidated its results - began to interfere with those who declared themselves the winner in the Cold War .


Of course, in practical life, in international relations, in the rules for their regulation, it was necessary to take into account changes in the situation in the world and the balance of power itself. However, this should have been done professionally, smoothly, patiently, taking into account and respecting the interests of all countries and understanding our responsibility. But no - a state of euphoria from absolute superiority, a kind of modern form of absolutism, and even against the background of a low level of general culture and arrogance of those who prepared, adopted and pushed through decisions that were beneficial only for themselves. The situation began to develop according to a different scenario. 


You don't have to look far for examples. First, without any sanction from the UN Security Council, they carried out a bloody military operation against Belgrade, using aircraft and missiles right in the very center of Europe. Several weeks of continuous bombing of civilian cities, on life-supporting infrastructure. We have to remind these facts, otherwise some Western colleagues do not like to remember those events, and when we talk about it, they prefer to point not to the norms of international law, but to the circumstances that they interpret as they see fit.


Then came the turn of Iraq, Libya, Syria. The illegitimate use of military force against Libya, the perversion of all decisions of the UN Security Council on the Libyan issue led to the complete destruction of the state, to the emergence of a huge hotbed of international terrorism, to the fact that the country plunged into a humanitarian catastrophe that has not stopped for many years. civil war. The tragedy, which doomed hundreds of thousands, millions of people not only in Libya, but throughout this region, gave rise to a massive migration exodus from North Africa and the Middle East to Europe.


A similar fate was prepared for Syria. The fighting of the Western coalition on the territory of this country without the consent of the Syrian government and the sanction of the UN Security Council is nothing but aggression, intervention.


However, a special place in this series is occupied, of course, by the invasion of Iraq, also without any legal grounds. As a pretext, they chose reliable information allegedly available to the United States about the presence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. As proof of this, publicly, in front of the eyes of the whole world, the US Secretary of State shook some kind of test tube with white powder, assuring everyone that this is the chemical weapon being developed in Iraq. And then it turned out that all this was a hoax, a bluff: there are no chemical weapons in Iraq. Unbelievable, surprising, but the fact remains. There were lies at the highest state level and from the high rostrum of the UN. And as a result - huge casualties, destruction, an incredible surge of terrorism.


In general, one gets the impression that practically everywhere, in many regions of the world, where the West comes to establish its own order, the result is bloody, unhealed wounds, ulcers of international terrorism and extremism. All that I have said is the most egregious, but by no means the only examples of disregard for international law.


In this series, and promises to our country not to expand NATO by one inch to the east. I repeat - they deceived me, but in popular terms, they simply threw it away. Yes, you can often hear that politics is a dirty business. Perhaps, but not to the same extent, not to the same extent. After all, such cheating behavior contradicts not only the principles of international relations, but above all the generally recognized norms of morality and morality. Where is justice and truth here? Just a bunch of lies and hypocrisy. 


By the way, American politicians, political scientists and journalists themselves write and talk about the fact that a real “empire of lies” has been created inside the United States in recent years. It's hard to disagree with that - it's true. But do not be modest: the United States is still a great country, a system-forming power. All her satellites not only resignedly and dutifully assent, sing along to her for any reason, but also copy her behavior, enthusiastically accept the rules he proposes. Therefore, with good reason, we can confidently say that the entire so-called Western bloc, formed by the United States in its own image and likeness, all of it is the very “empire of lies”.


As for our country, after the collapse of the USSR, with all the unprecedented openness of the new modern Russia, the readiness to work honestly with the United States and other Western partners, and in the conditions of virtually unilateral disarmament, they immediately tried to squeeze us, finish off and destroy us completely. This is exactly what happened in the 90s, in the early 2000s, when the so-called collective West most actively supported separatism and mercenary gangs in southern Russia. What sacrifices, what losses did all this cost us then, what trials did we have to go through before we finally broke the back of international terrorism in the Caucasus. We remember this and will never forget.


Yes, in fact, until recently, attempts have not stopped to use us in their own interests, destroy our traditional values ​​and impose on us their pseudo-values ​​that would corrode us, our people from the inside, those attitudes that they are already aggressively planting in their countries and which directly lead to degradation and degeneration, because they contradict the very nature of man. It won't happen, no one has ever done it. It won't work now either.


Despite everything, in December 2021, we nevertheless once again made an attempt to agree with the United States and its allies on the principles of ensuring security in Europe and on the non-expansion of NATO. Everything is in vain. The US position does not change. They do not consider it necessary to negotiate with Russia on this key issue for us, pursuing their own goals, they neglect our interests. 


And of course, in this situation, we have a question: what to do next, what to expect? We know well from history how in the 1940s and early 1941s the Soviet Union tried in every possible way to prevent or at least delay the outbreak of war. To this end, among other things, he tried literally to the last not to provoke a potential aggressor, did not carry out or postponed the most necessary, obvious actions to prepare for repelling an inevitable attack. And those steps that were nevertheless taken in the end were catastrophically belated.


As a result, the country was not ready to fully meet the invasion of Nazi Germany, which attacked our Motherland on June 22, 1941 without declaring war. The enemy was stopped and then crushed, but at a colossal cost. An attempt to appease the aggressor on the eve of the Great Patriotic War turned out to be a mistake that cost our people dearly. In the very first months of hostilities, we lost huge, strategically important territories and millions of people. The second time we will not allow such a mistake, we have no right.


Those who claim world domination, publicly, with impunity and, I emphasize, without any reason, declare us, Russia, their enemy. Indeed, today they have great financial, scientific, technological and military capabilities. We are aware of this and objectively assess the threats constantly being addressed to us in the economic sphere, as well as our ability to resist this impudent and permanent blackmail. I repeat, we evaluate them without illusions, extremely realistically.


As for the military sphere, modern Russia, even after the collapse of the USSR and the loss of a significant part of its potential, is today one of the most powerful nuclear powers in the world and, moreover, has certain advantages in a number of the latest types of weapons. In this regard, no one should have any doubts that a direct attack on our country will lead to defeat and dire consequences for any potential aggressor.


At the same time, technologies, including defense technologies, are changing rapidly. Leadership in this area is passing and will continue to change hands, but the military development of the territories adjacent to our borders, if we allow it, will remain for decades to come, and maybe forever, and will create an ever-growing, absolutely unacceptable threat for Russia. .


Even now, as NATO expands to the east, the situation for our country is getting worse and more dangerous every year. Moreover, in recent days, the leadership of NATO has been openly talking about the need to accelerate, speed up the advancement of the Alliance's infrastructure to the borders of Russia. In other words, they are hardening their position. We can no longer just continue to observe what is happening. It would be absolutely irresponsible on our part.


Further expansion of the infrastructure of the North Atlantic Alliance, the military development of the territories of Ukraine that has begun is unacceptable for us. The point, of course, is not the NATO organization itself - it is only an instrument of US foreign policy. The problem is that in the territories adjacent to us, I will note, in our own historical territories, an “anti-Russia” hostile to us is being created, which has been placed under complete external control, is intensively settled by the armed forces of NATO countries and is pumped up with the most modern weapons. 


For the United States and its allies, this is the so-called policy of containment of Russia, obvious geopolitical dividends. And for our country, this is ultimately a matter of life and death, a matter of our historical future as a people. And this is not an exaggeration - it is true. This is a real threat not just to our interests, but to the very existence of our state, its sovereignty. This is the very red line that has been talked about many times. They passed her.


In this regard, and about the situation in the Donbass. We see that the forces that carried out a coup d'etat in Ukraine in 2014, seized power and are holding it with the help of, in fact, decorative electoral procedures, have finally abandoned the peaceful settlement of the conflict. For eight years, endlessly long eight years, we have done everything possible to resolve the situation by peaceful, political means. All in vain.


As I said in my previous address, one cannot look at what is happening there without compassion. It was simply impossible to endure all this. It was necessary to immediately stop this nightmare - the genocide against the millions of people living there, who rely only on Russia, hope only on us. It was these aspirations, feelings, pain of people that were for us the main motive for making a decision to recognize the people's republics of Donbass.


What I think is important to emphasize further. The leading NATO countries, in order to achieve their own goals, support extreme nationalists and neo-Nazis in Ukraine in everything, who, in turn, will never forgive the Crimeans and Sevastopol residents for their free choice - reunification with Russia.


They, of course, will climb into the Crimea, and just like in the Donbass, with a war in order to kill, as punishers from the gangs of Ukrainian nationalists, Hitler's accomplices, killed defenseless people during the Great Patriotic War. They openly declare that they lay claim to a number of other Russian territories.


The entire course of events and analysis of incoming information shows that Russia's clash with these forces is inevitable. It is only a matter of time: they are getting ready, they are waiting for the right time. Now they also claim to possess nuclear weapons. We will not allow this to be done.


As I said earlier, after the collapse of the USSR, Russia accepted new geopolitical realities. We respect and will continue to treat all the newly formed countries in the post-Soviet space with respect. We respect and will continue to respect their sovereignty, and an example of this is the assistance we provided to Kazakhstan, which faced tragic events, with a challenge to its statehood and integrity. But Russia cannot feel safe, develop, exist with a constant threat emanating from the territory of modern Ukraine.


Let me remind you that in 2000-2005 we gave a military rebuff to terrorists in the Caucasus, defended the integrity of our state, saved Russia. In 2014, they supported the Crimeans and Sevastopol residents. In 2015, the Armed Forces used to put a reliable barrier to the penetration of terrorists from Syria into Russia. We had no other way to protect ourselves.


The same thing is happening now. You and I simply have not been left with any other opportunity to protect Russia, our people, except for the one that we will be forced to use today. Circumstances require us to take decisive and immediate action. The people's republics of Donbass turned to Russia with a request for help.


In this regard, in accordance with Article 51 of Part 7 of the UN Charter, with the sanction of the Federation Council of Russia and in pursuance of the treaties of friendship and mutual assistance ratified by the Federal Assembly on February 22 this year with the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic, I decided to conduct a special military operation .


Its goal is to protect people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years. And for this, we will strive for the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, as well as bringing to justice those who committed numerous bloody crimes against civilians, including citizens of the Russian Federation.


At the same time, our plans do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories. We are not going to impose anything on anyone by force. At the same time, we hear that recently in the West there are more and more words that the documents signed by the Soviet totalitarian regime, which consolidate the results of the Second World War, should no longer be carried out. Well, what is the answer to this?


The results of the Second World War, as well as the sacrifices made by our people on the altar of victory over Nazism, are sacred. But this does not contradict the high values ​​of human rights and freedoms, based on the realities that have developed today over all the post-war decades. It also does not cancel the right of nations to self-determination, enshrined in Article 1 of the UN Charter.


Let me remind you that neither during the creation of the USSR, nor after the Second World War, people living in certain territories that are part of modern Ukraine, no one ever asked how they themselves want to arrange their lives. Our policy is based on freedom, the freedom of choice for everyone to independently determine their own future and the future of their children. And we consider it important that this right - the right to choose - could be used by all the peoples living on the territory of today's Ukraine, by everyone who wants it. 


In this regard, I appeal to the citizens of Ukraine. In 2014, Russia was obliged to protect the inhabitants of Crimea and Sevastopol from those whom you yourself call “Nazis”. Crimeans and Sevastopol residents made their choice to be with their historical homeland, with Russia, and we supported this. I repeat, they simply could not do otherwise.


Today's events are not connected with the desire to infringe on the interests of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. They are connected with the protection of Russia itself from those who took Ukraine hostage and are trying to use it against our country and its people.


I repeat, our actions are self-defense against the threats posed to us and from an even greater disaster than what is happening today. No matter how difficult it may be, I ask you to understand this and call for cooperation in order to turn this tragic page as soon as possible and move forward together, not to allow anyone to interfere in our affairs, in our relations, but to build them on our own, so that it creates the necessary conditions for overcoming all problems and, despite the presence of state borders, would strengthen us from the inside as a whole. I believe in this - in this is our future.


I should also appeal to the military personnel of the armed forces of Ukraine.


Dear comrades! Your fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers did not fight the Nazis, defending our common Motherland, so that today's neo-Nazis seized power in Ukraine. You took an oath of allegiance to the Ukrainian people, and not to the anti-people junta that plunders Ukraine and mocks these same people.


Don't follow her criminal orders. I urge you to lay down your weapons immediately and go home. Let me explain: all servicemen of the Ukrainian army who fulfill this requirement will be able to freely leave the combat zone and return to their families.


Once again, I insistently emphasize: all responsibility for possible bloodshed will be entirely on the conscience of the regime ruling on the territory of Ukraine. 


Now a few important, very important words for those who may be tempted to intervene in ongoing events. Whoever tries to hinder us, and even more so to create threats for our country, for our people, should know that Russia's response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences that you have never experienced in your history. We are ready for any development of events. All necessary decisions in this regard have been made. I hope that I will be heard.


Dear citizens of Russia!


Well-being, the very existence of entire states and peoples, their success and viability always originate in the powerful root system of their culture and values, experience and traditions of their ancestors and, of course, directly depend on the ability to quickly adapt to a constantly changing life, on the cohesion of society, its readiness to consolidate, to gather together all the forces in order to move forward.


Forces are needed always - always, but strength can be of different quality. The policy of the “empire of lies”, which I spoke about at the beginning of my speech, is based primarily on brute, straightforward force. In such cases, we say: "There is power, mind is not needed."


And you and I know that real strength lies in justice and truth, which is on our side. And if this is so, then it is difficult to disagree with the fact that it is the strength and readiness to fight that underlie independence and sovereignty, are the necessary foundation on which you can only reliably build your future, build your home, your family, your homeland. .


Dear compatriots!


I am confident that the soldiers and officers of the Russian Armed Forces devoted to their country will professionally and courageously fulfill their duty. I have no doubt that all levels of government, specialists responsible for the stability of our economy, financial system, social sphere, heads of our companies and all Russian business will act in a coordinated and efficient manner. I count on a consolidated, patriotic position of all parliamentary parties and public forces.


Ultimately, as it has always been in history, the fate of Russia is in the reliable hands of our multinational people. And this means that the decisions made will be implemented, the goals set will be achieved, the security of our Motherland will be reliably guaranteed.


I believe in your support, in that invincible strength that our love for the Fatherland gives us.










 THE UKRANIAN PRESIDENT EMOTIONAL SPEECH, YET HE DRAGS HIS COUNTRY INTO AVOIDABLE WARS THINKING THE US IMPERIALIST WILL FIGHT FOR UKRANIANS FOR FREE!


*LIBYA IS STILL PAYING WITH ITS OIL FOR THE BOMBS THE US-IMPERIALIST EXPENDED IN THE DESTRUCTION OF LIBYA & KILLING OF QADDAFI! AND THERE IS NOW DEMOCRACY IN LIBYA!*


*ENOUGH OF HYPOCRITICAL ANALYSES THAT WERE MISSING WHEN THE US IMPERIALIST INVADED LIBYA, UNILATERALLY SANCTIONED THE ISREALI GENOCIDE IN THE PALESTINE, etc!*


Russia-Ukraine crisis: Zelenskyy’s address in full Hours before Russia invaded his country!


This is what he said:

Full speech of the Ukrainean President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy


"Today I initiated a phone call with the president of the Russian Federation. The result was silence. Though the silence should be in Donbas. That’s why I want to address today the people of Russia. I am addressing you not as a president, I am addressing you as a citizen of Ukraine.


More than 2,000km of the common border is dividing us. Along this border your troops are stationed, almost 200,000 soldiers, thousands of military vehicles. Your leaders approved them to make a step forward, to the territory of another country. And this step can be the beginning of a big war on the European continent.


We know for sure that we don’t need the war. Not a Cold War, not a hot war. Not a hybrid one. But if we’ll be attacked by the [enemy] troops, if they try to take our country away from us, our freedom, our lives, the lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. Not attack, but defend ourselves. And when you will be attacking us, you will see our faces, not our backs, but our faces.


The war is a big disaster, and this disaster has a high price. With every meaning of this word. People lose money, reputation, quality of life, they lose freedom. But the main thing is that people lose their loved ones, they lose themselves.


They told you that Ukraine is posing a threat to Russia. It was not the case in the past, not in the present, it’s not going to be in the future. You are demanding security guarantees from NATO, but we also demand security guarantees. Security for Ukraine from you, from Russia and other guarantees of the Budapest memorandum.


But our main goal is peace in Ukraine and the safety of our people, Ukrainians. For that, we are ready to have talks with anybody, including you, in any format, on any platform. The war will deprive [security] guarantees from everybody – nobody will have guarantees of security any more. Who will suffer the most from it? The people. Who doesn’t want it the most? The people! Who can stop it? The people. But are there those people among you? I am sure.


I know that they [the Russian state] won’t show my address on Russian TV, but Russian people have to see it. They need to know the truth, and the truth is that it is time to stop now, before it is too late. And if the Russian leaders don’t want to sit with us behind the table for the sake of peace, maybe they will sit behind the table with you. Do Russians want the war? I would like to know the answer. But the answer depends only on you, citizens of the Russian Federation."

Situation in Ukraine: Confronting NATO expansion is Russia's right, Says Syrian Assad on Phone call with Putin

Situation in Ukraine: Confronting NATO expansion is Russia's right, Says Syrian Assad on Phone call with Putin


Confronting NATO expansion is Russia's right Says Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a telephone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Both leaders, during the call, talked about the situation in Ukraine and the special military operation of the Russian Federation to protect the civilian population in the Donbass region.

al-Assad stressed that what is happening today is a correction of history and a restoration of balance to the world that it lost after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and that Western hysteria comes in order to keep history in the wrong place in favor of the chaos that only outlaws seek, considering that Russia today It does not only defend itself, but also the world and the principles of justice and humanity.

The President said: Western countries bear responsibility for chaos and bloodshed as a result of their policies aimed at controlling peoples, as these countries use their dirty methods to support terrorists in Syria and the Nazis in Ukraine and in various parts of the world.

Assad stressed that Syria stands with the Russian Federation, based on its conviction of the correctness of its position, and because confronting NATO expansion is Russia's right, because it has become a global threat to the world and has turned into a tool to achieve the irresponsible policies of Western countries to strike stability in the world.

The President considered that the enemy that the Syrian and Russian armies are facing is one, in Syria it is extremism and in Ukraine it is Nazism, pointing out that the Russian Federation will give a lesson to the world that great powers are not great with their military strength only, but also with respect for the law, high morals and humanitarian principles.

Meanwhile, President Putin stressed that the special military operation in Donbass aims to restore stability and stop the suffering of the population there, which they have been exposed to during the past eight years, noting that his country has remained dependent on negotiations and diplomacy during the past years, and did not take the decision to use force until after the Ukrainian authorities announced the support among its Western masters and of its non-compliance with the agreements ratified by the parliaments of the two countries, and after the republics of Donetsk and Lugansk submitted a request to provide military support, stressing that the Russian soldiers are fighting with manliness and valor and will achieve all the goals set before them.

Confronting NATO expansion is Russia's right Says Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a telephone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Both leaders, during the call, talked about the situation in Ukraine and the special military operation of the Russian Federation to protect the civilian population in the Donbass region.

al-Assad stressed that what is happening today is a correction of history and a restoration of balance to the world that it lost after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and that Western hysteria comes in order to keep history in the wrong place in favor of the chaos that only outlaws seek, considering that Russia today It does not only defend itself, but also the world and the principles of justice and humanity.

The President said: Western countries bear responsibility for chaos and bloodshed as a result of their policies aimed at controlling peoples, as these countries use their dirty methods to support terrorists in Syria and the Nazis in Ukraine and in various parts of the world.

Assad stressed that Syria stands with the Russian Federation, based on its conviction of the correctness of its position, and because confronting NATO expansion is Russia's right, because it has become a global threat to the world and has turned into a tool to achieve the irresponsible policies of Western countries to strike stability in the world.

The President considered that the enemy that the Syrian and Russian armies are facing is one, in Syria it is extremism and in Ukraine it is Nazism, pointing out that the Russian Federation will give a lesson to the world that great powers are not great with their military strength only, but also with respect for the law, high morals and humanitarian principles.

Meanwhile, President Putin stressed that the special military operation in Donbass aims to restore stability and stop the suffering of the population there, which they have been exposed to during the past eight years, noting that his country has remained dependent on negotiations and diplomacy during the past years, and did not take the decision to use force until after the Ukrainian authorities announced the support among its Western masters and of its non-compliance with the agreements ratified by the parliaments of the two countries, and after the republics of Donetsk and Lugansk submitted a request to provide military support, stressing that the Russian soldiers are fighting with manliness and valor and will achieve all the goals set before them.

Russian Ministry of Defense has said no civilian populations are in danger.

The ministry said no Ukrainian city is attacked by the Russian forces.





The Russian Ministry of Defense: The statements of the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Army are complete lies


The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed that the allegations of the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Valery Zaluzhny, about the losses of Russian aircraft and armored vehicles, are completely false.


The Russian Defense pointed out that the intelligence data show that units and soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are leaving their positions on a large scale, and giving up their weapons, stressing that the positions of the units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces that have laid down their weapons are not being hit.


The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that the Russian army forces do not launch strikes on Ukrainian cities, stressing that there is no threat to the civilian population.


The ministry stated that only the military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airports and aviation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are being disrupted by high-precision weapons.


Source: Russian Ministry of Defense

Russian Ministry of Defense has said no civilian populations are in danger.

The ministry said no Ukrainian city is attacked by the Russian forces.





The Russian Ministry of Defense: The statements of the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Army are complete lies


The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed that the allegations of the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Valery Zaluzhny, about the losses of Russian aircraft and armored vehicles, are completely false.


The Russian Defense pointed out that the intelligence data show that units and soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are leaving their positions on a large scale, and giving up their weapons, stressing that the positions of the units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces that have laid down their weapons are not being hit.


The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that the Russian army forces do not launch strikes on Ukrainian cities, stressing that there is no threat to the civilian population.


The ministry stated that only the military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airports and aviation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are being disrupted by high-precision weapons.


Source: Russian Ministry of Defense

Russian forces Arrive at the outskirts of the most important Ukrainian cities

Russian forces Arrive at the outskirts of the most important Ukrainian cities

 News of the arrival of Russian forces to the outskirts of the most important Ukrainian cities








Media and activists confirmed that Russian army forces have reached the outskirts of the city of Kharkov in eastern Ukraine, hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of a military operation against targets in this country.


Activists on social media circulated today, Thursday, footage that was said to show Russian soldiers on the outskirts of Ukraine's second most populous city.


Meanwhile, the Ukrainian border guards confirmed in a statement that Russian military vehicles, including armored vehicles, crossed the Ukrainian borders and entered the provinces of Lugansk, Sumy, Kharkov and Chernigov, RT ource confirmed it.


There were other sources reporting that the NATO backed Ukrainian forces have down up to five Russia war jets.

 News of the arrival of Russian forces to the outskirts of the most important Ukrainian cities








Media and activists confirmed that Russian army forces have reached the outskirts of the city of Kharkov in eastern Ukraine, hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of a military operation against targets in this country.


Activists on social media circulated today, Thursday, footage that was said to show Russian soldiers on the outskirts of Ukraine's second most populous city.


Meanwhile, the Ukrainian border guards confirmed in a statement that Russian military vehicles, including armored vehicles, crossed the Ukrainian borders and entered the provinces of Lugansk, Sumy, Kharkov and Chernigov, RT ource confirmed it.


There were other sources reporting that the NATO backed Ukrainian forces have down up to five Russia war jets.

American Biden, Russian Putin praise Geneva summit talks, Ambassadors to resume their post

American Biden, Russian Putin praise Geneva summit talks, Ambassadors to resume their post

Putin called the Geneva meeting as "constructive," and that both countries will begin consultations on cybersecurity and US and Russian ambassadors will return to their diplomatic posts.




After the less than four hours meeting, the presidents of the US and Russia have praised their talks in Geneva but have made little concrete progress at the first such meeting since 2018.


The two leaders covered an “extensive” amount of ground in their initial one-on-one meeting, which led to a shorter expanded bilateral meeting, according to a senior US administration official.


According to the US President Joe Biden while answering questions from reporters, disagreements were stated but not in a hyperbolic way, and he said Russia did not want a new Cold War.


President V. Putin of Russia said Mr Biden was an experienced statesman and the two "spoke the same language".


The talks lasted four hours, less time than was scheduled. Mr Biden said they did not need to spend more time talking and there was now a genuine prospect to improve relations with Russia.


The two sides agreed to begin a dialogue on nuclear arms control. They also said they would return ambassadors to each other's capitals - the envoys were mutually withdrawn for consultations in March, after the US accused Russia of meddling in the 2020 presidential election.


However, there was little sign of agreement on other issues, including cyber-security, Ukraine and the fate of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who is currently serving a two-and-a-half-year sentence in a penal colony.


Mr Biden said there would be "devastating consequences" for Russia if Navalny died in prison.


What did the leaders discuss?

Before the summit, both sides said relations were at rock bottom.


Mr Putin hinted at a possible deal on exchanging prisoners, saying he believed compromises could be found.


On cyber-attacks, Mr Putin brushed away accusations of Russian responsibility, saying that most cyber-attacks in Russia originated from the US.


Mr Biden said he told Mr Putin that critical infrastructure, such as water or energy, must be "off-limits" to hacking or other attacks.


The two sides differed sharply on human rights, including the right to protest.


Mr Putin dismissed US concerns about Alexei Navalny, who recently undertook a 24-day hunger strike.


He said Navalny ignored the law and knew that he would face imprisonment when he returned to Russia after having sought medical treatment in Germany. Navalny says he was poisoned with a nerve agent on Mr Putin's orders - an accusation Mr Putin denies.


He said Russia did not want disturbances on its territory comparable to the Capitol riots or the Black Lives Matter movement.


Mr Biden dismissed Mr Putin's comments about Black Lives Matter as "ridiculous", and said human rights would "always be on the table".


Asked why Russia would want to co-operate with the US, Mr Biden said it was "in a very, very difficult spot right now".


"They are being squeezed by China. They want desperately to remain a major power," he told reporters, shortly before leaving Geneva.


Putin described the Geneva meeting as "constructive," saying both countries will begin consultations on cybersecurity and US and Russian ambassadors will return to their diplomatic posts.


The US and Russia in a joint statement on Wednesday shortly after the summit between the countries’ two leaders, noting that “even in periods of tension,” the two nations share goals of “ensuring predictability in the strategic sphere, reducing the risk of armed conflicts and the threat of nuclear war."

"The recent extension of the New START Treaty exemplifies our commitment to nuclear arms control. Today, we reaffirm the principle that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought," the statement said.

 "Consistent with these goals, the United States and Russia will embark together on an integrated bilateral Strategic Stability Dialogue in the near future that will be deliberate and robust. Through this Dialogue, we seek to lay the groundwork for future arms control and risk reduction measures."

Putin called the Geneva meeting as "constructive," and that both countries will begin consultations on cybersecurity and US and Russian ambassadors will return to their diplomatic posts.




After the less than four hours meeting, the presidents of the US and Russia have praised their talks in Geneva but have made little concrete progress at the first such meeting since 2018.


The two leaders covered an “extensive” amount of ground in their initial one-on-one meeting, which led to a shorter expanded bilateral meeting, according to a senior US administration official.


According to the US President Joe Biden while answering questions from reporters, disagreements were stated but not in a hyperbolic way, and he said Russia did not want a new Cold War.


President V. Putin of Russia said Mr Biden was an experienced statesman and the two "spoke the same language".


The talks lasted four hours, less time than was scheduled. Mr Biden said they did not need to spend more time talking and there was now a genuine prospect to improve relations with Russia.


The two sides agreed to begin a dialogue on nuclear arms control. They also said they would return ambassadors to each other's capitals - the envoys were mutually withdrawn for consultations in March, after the US accused Russia of meddling in the 2020 presidential election.


However, there was little sign of agreement on other issues, including cyber-security, Ukraine and the fate of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who is currently serving a two-and-a-half-year sentence in a penal colony.


Mr Biden said there would be "devastating consequences" for Russia if Navalny died in prison.


What did the leaders discuss?

Before the summit, both sides said relations were at rock bottom.


Mr Putin hinted at a possible deal on exchanging prisoners, saying he believed compromises could be found.


On cyber-attacks, Mr Putin brushed away accusations of Russian responsibility, saying that most cyber-attacks in Russia originated from the US.


Mr Biden said he told Mr Putin that critical infrastructure, such as water or energy, must be "off-limits" to hacking or other attacks.


The two sides differed sharply on human rights, including the right to protest.


Mr Putin dismissed US concerns about Alexei Navalny, who recently undertook a 24-day hunger strike.


He said Navalny ignored the law and knew that he would face imprisonment when he returned to Russia after having sought medical treatment in Germany. Navalny says he was poisoned with a nerve agent on Mr Putin's orders - an accusation Mr Putin denies.


He said Russia did not want disturbances on its territory comparable to the Capitol riots or the Black Lives Matter movement.


Mr Biden dismissed Mr Putin's comments about Black Lives Matter as "ridiculous", and said human rights would "always be on the table".


Asked why Russia would want to co-operate with the US, Mr Biden said it was "in a very, very difficult spot right now".


"They are being squeezed by China. They want desperately to remain a major power," he told reporters, shortly before leaving Geneva.


Putin described the Geneva meeting as "constructive," saying both countries will begin consultations on cybersecurity and US and Russian ambassadors will return to their diplomatic posts.


The US and Russia in a joint statement on Wednesday shortly after the summit between the countries’ two leaders, noting that “even in periods of tension,” the two nations share goals of “ensuring predictability in the strategic sphere, reducing the risk of armed conflicts and the threat of nuclear war."

"The recent extension of the New START Treaty exemplifies our commitment to nuclear arms control. Today, we reaffirm the principle that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought," the statement said.

 "Consistent with these goals, the United States and Russia will embark together on an integrated bilateral Strategic Stability Dialogue in the near future that will be deliberate and robust. Through this Dialogue, we seek to lay the groundwork for future arms control and risk reduction measures."

Russian Putin Messages Netanyahu, Congratulates new Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett

Russian Putin Messages Netanyahu, Congratulates new Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett

By world Israel News Staff



Russian President Vladimir Putin sent Benjamin Netanyahu a personal telegram expressing “appreciation” for the former prime minister’s years of work and calling him an “asset” to Israel.


Putin also sent a congratulatory message to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, saying that future cooperation would help strengthen “peace, security and stability in the Middle East.”


Naftali

Israeli leaders have been frequently forced to walk a tightrope between Russian and U.S. interests. Navigating between the two has become more complicated by Russian and Iranian moves in neighboring Syria as well as Russian support for Iran’s nuclear program. How Bennett will manage relations with Moscow remains to be seen.


Here’s a look back at how Netanyahu maneuvered with Russia — sometimes successfully, sometimes less so.


2014: In a move that angered the U.S. State Department, Israel took a neutral stance on Russia’s annexation of Crimea.


2015: When the Russian military intervened in the Syrian civil war, Netanyahu and Putin boosted their communications to avoid Israeli and Russian forces coming into conflict.


2016: On Netanyahu’s instructions, Israel’s delegation to the UN skipped a General Assembly vote on Syrian and Russian war crimes in Syria. The very next day, Russia’s ambassador to the UN proposed the Security Council postpone a vote on Israeli settlements until after the inauguration of Donald Trump.


2017: Russia recognized”West Jerusalem” as Israel’s capital, though its embassy remains in Tel Aviv.


Netanyahu

2018: During an Israeli air strike in Syria, Syrian air defenses shot down a Russian plane. Moscow blamed Israel for not giving notice of the strike and for using the Russian plane as shield. Israel denied the accusations, and Moscow went on to sell Syria an advanced S-300 missile system.


2019: In a goodwill gesture, Russia facilitated the return of the remains of Israeli MIA Zachary Baumel from Syria. The soldier disappeared and was presumed dead during the 1982 Battle of Sultan Yacoub in Lebanon.


2019: Images of Netanyahu and Putin appeared on Likud campaign posters around Israel.


2019: Israeli national Naama Issachar was arrested and held in Russia on charges of drug possession. Israeli officials said Russia detained her as a bargaining chip to secure the release of Russian national Aleksei Burkov from Israeli custody. Burkov was due to be extradited to the U.S., where he was wanted for cyber crimes. Burkov was extradited anyway and Putin pardoned Issachar in 2020.


2020: As a goodwill gesture to Russia, Israel released two Syrian prisoners, one of whom was convicted of espionage. Media reports suggested that the Kremlin was seeking a quid pro quo with Jerusalem in which Israel would assist in ending Western sanctions against the Syrian regime of Bashar Assad. In return, Moscow would permit Israel to continue its airstrikes on Iranian interests in Syria.


Around one million Russian Jews live in Israel today.

By world Israel News Staff



Russian President Vladimir Putin sent Benjamin Netanyahu a personal telegram expressing “appreciation” for the former prime minister’s years of work and calling him an “asset” to Israel.


Putin also sent a congratulatory message to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, saying that future cooperation would help strengthen “peace, security and stability in the Middle East.”


Naftali

Israeli leaders have been frequently forced to walk a tightrope between Russian and U.S. interests. Navigating between the two has become more complicated by Russian and Iranian moves in neighboring Syria as well as Russian support for Iran’s nuclear program. How Bennett will manage relations with Moscow remains to be seen.


Here’s a look back at how Netanyahu maneuvered with Russia — sometimes successfully, sometimes less so.


2014: In a move that angered the U.S. State Department, Israel took a neutral stance on Russia’s annexation of Crimea.


2015: When the Russian military intervened in the Syrian civil war, Netanyahu and Putin boosted their communications to avoid Israeli and Russian forces coming into conflict.


2016: On Netanyahu’s instructions, Israel’s delegation to the UN skipped a General Assembly vote on Syrian and Russian war crimes in Syria. The very next day, Russia’s ambassador to the UN proposed the Security Council postpone a vote on Israeli settlements until after the inauguration of Donald Trump.


2017: Russia recognized”West Jerusalem” as Israel’s capital, though its embassy remains in Tel Aviv.


Netanyahu

2018: During an Israeli air strike in Syria, Syrian air defenses shot down a Russian plane. Moscow blamed Israel for not giving notice of the strike and for using the Russian plane as shield. Israel denied the accusations, and Moscow went on to sell Syria an advanced S-300 missile system.


2019: In a goodwill gesture, Russia facilitated the return of the remains of Israeli MIA Zachary Baumel from Syria. The soldier disappeared and was presumed dead during the 1982 Battle of Sultan Yacoub in Lebanon.


2019: Images of Netanyahu and Putin appeared on Likud campaign posters around Israel.


2019: Israeli national Naama Issachar was arrested and held in Russia on charges of drug possession. Israeli officials said Russia detained her as a bargaining chip to secure the release of Russian national Aleksei Burkov from Israeli custody. Burkov was due to be extradited to the U.S., where he was wanted for cyber crimes. Burkov was extradited anyway and Putin pardoned Issachar in 2020.


2020: As a goodwill gesture to Russia, Israel released two Syrian prisoners, one of whom was convicted of espionage. Media reports suggested that the Kremlin was seeking a quid pro quo with Jerusalem in which Israel would assist in ending Western sanctions against the Syrian regime of Bashar Assad. In return, Moscow would permit Israel to continue its airstrikes on Iranian interests in Syria.


Around one million Russian Jews live in Israel today.

Russian agricultural exports soar by 30% as China and Turkey ramp up purchases

Russian agricultural exports soar by 30% as China and Turkey ramp up purchases


RT: Exports of Russian agricultural products have increased by 28.1 percent in the first two months of 2021 against the same period a year ago, amounting to $4.51 billion, the Russian Agricultural Ministry reports.


Foreign sales of grains rose 86.4 percent to $1.916 billion, while exports of fat-and-oil products saw a modest growth of 9.2 percent to $787 million, according to the ministry. Exports of meat and dairy products grew by 32.8 percent to $154 million.

Meanwhile, sales of fish and seafood dropped 27.2 percent to $521 million. Exports of the food and processing industry also saw a decrease of 5.1 percent to $394 million.

The list of top consumers of Russia’s agricultural products is still topped by China, which has raised its imports of Russian food supplies to $822 million since the beginning of the year. That’s 24.4 percent more than the nation purchased within the same period in 2020.

China’s share in the total volume of shipments of agricultural products from Russia is currently at 18.2 percent.

Turkey, the second biggest importer of Russian agricultural goods, increased its purchases by 35.5 percent to $687 million. The nation accounts for 15.2 percent of Russia’s overall agricultural sales.

The European Union ranks third, accounting for 10.4 percent of Russian food imports. The bloc purchased $470 million worth of agricultural produce from Russia, marking a year-on-year drop of 3.5 percent.

Egypt, South Korea, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Mongolia remain the other major buyers of food products from Russia.


RT Source

RT: Exports of Russian agricultural products have increased by 28.1 percent in the first two months of 2021 against the same period a year ago, amounting to $4.51 billion, the Russian Agricultural Ministry reports.


Foreign sales of grains rose 86.4 percent to $1.916 billion, while exports of fat-and-oil products saw a modest growth of 9.2 percent to $787 million, according to the ministry. Exports of meat and dairy products grew by 32.8 percent to $154 million.

Meanwhile, sales of fish and seafood dropped 27.2 percent to $521 million. Exports of the food and processing industry also saw a decrease of 5.1 percent to $394 million.

The list of top consumers of Russia’s agricultural products is still topped by China, which has raised its imports of Russian food supplies to $822 million since the beginning of the year. That’s 24.4 percent more than the nation purchased within the same period in 2020.

China’s share in the total volume of shipments of agricultural products from Russia is currently at 18.2 percent.

Turkey, the second biggest importer of Russian agricultural goods, increased its purchases by 35.5 percent to $687 million. The nation accounts for 15.2 percent of Russia’s overall agricultural sales.

The European Union ranks third, accounting for 10.4 percent of Russian food imports. The bloc purchased $470 million worth of agricultural produce from Russia, marking a year-on-year drop of 3.5 percent.

Egypt, South Korea, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Mongolia remain the other major buyers of food products from Russia.


RT Source

Passage of a legendary Russian: Vladimir Putin expressed condolences to George Blake’s family and friends

Passage of a legendary Russian: Vladimir Putin expressed condolences to George Blake’s family and friends

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent condolences to families and friends of a legendary Colonel Geoge Blake who passed away at aged 98.
President Putin extolled the outstanding professional of special courage and life of endurance of Colonel Blake throughout the years of his invaluable contribution to ensuring the preservation of peace on the planet.

The message reads, in part:

Blake
“Colonel Blake was an outstanding professional of special courage and life endurance. Throughout the years of his hard and strenuous efforts he made a truly invaluable contribution to ensuring the strategic parity and the preservation of peace on the planet.

Our hearts will always cherish the warm memory of this legendary man.”

George Blake, a legendary Soviet agent and former MI6 officer, died aged 98.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent condolences to families and friends of a legendary Colonel Geoge Blake who passed away at aged 98.
President Putin extolled the outstanding professional of special courage and life of endurance of Colonel Blake throughout the years of his invaluable contribution to ensuring the preservation of peace on the planet.

The message reads, in part:

Blake
“Colonel Blake was an outstanding professional of special courage and life endurance. Throughout the years of his hard and strenuous efforts he made a truly invaluable contribution to ensuring the strategic parity and the preservation of peace on the planet.

Our hearts will always cherish the warm memory of this legendary man.”

George Blake, a legendary Soviet agent and former MI6 officer, died aged 98.

Biden's Russophobia, New START, Iran deal: Why Russia expects ‘nothing good’ from incoming US administration?

Biden's Russophobia, New START, Iran deal: Why Russia expects ‘nothing good’ from incoming US administration?


With less than a month before Joe Biden moves into the White House, Moscow on Wednesday accused the incoming US administration of “Russophobia” after the president-elect promised to punish Russia for a major cyberattack.

Biden is expected to take a tougher stance against Russia than Donald Trump, whose ascent to the US presidency in 2016 was plagued by accusations of Russian interference to boost his campaign.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was one of the last leaders to congratulate Biden on his election victory, sending his congratulatory message six weeks after the November 3 vote and saying he was ready for “collaboration.”

Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov, speaking to reporters on Wednesday, said the Kremlin was expecting “nothing positive” in ties with Washington.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov struck a similar note, speaking about Moscow’s expectations from the future US administration.


“We are definitely not expecting anything good,” Ryabkov said in an interview with Interfax news agency. “And it would be strange to expect good things from people, many of whom made their careers on Russophobia and throwing mud at my country.”


Washington has recently accused Russia of a major cyberattack on government agencies — a claim Moscow has denied. Biden on Tuesday said the attack cannot go “unanswered,” promising to retaliate once he steps into office on January 20.


The US president-elect also accused Trump of downplaying the gravity of the attack.


New START, Iran deal

Russia and the United States have a litany of issues to settle following the transition of power in Washington.

Tensions have raged for months over the fate of New START, which caps the number of nuclear warheads held by Washington and Moscow and expires in February 2021. No agreement has been reached on the extension of the last major nuclear arms reduction accord between Russia and the United States.

The Iran nuclear deal has also been on the brink of collapse ever since Trump withdrew from it in 2018 and imposed crippling economic sanctions on Tehran.

Ryabkov said Moscow should move to a “total containment” approach in relations with the United States and retain “selective dialogue” on subjects that are of interest to Russia.

Both Peskov and Ryabkov said that Russia would not initiate any contacts with Biden’s transition staff.

‘From bad to worse’

Referring to fresh US sanctions imposed this week on 45 Russian organizations over their military connections, Ryabkov said the outgoing administration was trying to “loudly slam the door.”

“We are going from bad to worse,” Ryabkov said.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday promised a response to the new sanctions, saying that the United States has “long been pursuing a hostile policy” towards Russia.


Despite initial hopes that Moscow-Washington ties could improve under Trump, Russia’s relations with the US have continued to sour over the course of his presidency, reaching their lowest point since the end of the Cold War.


Trump’s administration imposed sanctions on Russia and withdrew from a Cold War-era arms control pact — the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty — leaving the two countries at risk of a new arms race.


Most recently, the US administration announced that it would close its two remaining consulates in Russia, leaving the Moscow embassy as the United States’ last diplomatic mission in the country.

Despite the tensions, Putin expressed hope that Biden’s stepping into office would be an opportunity to improve bilateral ties. Speaking during his end-of-year news conference last week, Putin said he hoped that some existing problems “will be resolved under the new administration.”

But the Russian leader also slammed the “aggressive” West, saying that in comparison Russia was “warm and cuddly.”

(AFP)

With less than a month before Joe Biden moves into the White House, Moscow on Wednesday accused the incoming US administration of “Russophobia” after the president-elect promised to punish Russia for a major cyberattack.

Biden is expected to take a tougher stance against Russia than Donald Trump, whose ascent to the US presidency in 2016 was plagued by accusations of Russian interference to boost his campaign.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was one of the last leaders to congratulate Biden on his election victory, sending his congratulatory message six weeks after the November 3 vote and saying he was ready for “collaboration.”

Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov, speaking to reporters on Wednesday, said the Kremlin was expecting “nothing positive” in ties with Washington.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov struck a similar note, speaking about Moscow’s expectations from the future US administration.


“We are definitely not expecting anything good,” Ryabkov said in an interview with Interfax news agency. “And it would be strange to expect good things from people, many of whom made their careers on Russophobia and throwing mud at my country.”


Washington has recently accused Russia of a major cyberattack on government agencies — a claim Moscow has denied. Biden on Tuesday said the attack cannot go “unanswered,” promising to retaliate once he steps into office on January 20.


The US president-elect also accused Trump of downplaying the gravity of the attack.


New START, Iran deal

Russia and the United States have a litany of issues to settle following the transition of power in Washington.

Tensions have raged for months over the fate of New START, which caps the number of nuclear warheads held by Washington and Moscow and expires in February 2021. No agreement has been reached on the extension of the last major nuclear arms reduction accord between Russia and the United States.

The Iran nuclear deal has also been on the brink of collapse ever since Trump withdrew from it in 2018 and imposed crippling economic sanctions on Tehran.

Ryabkov said Moscow should move to a “total containment” approach in relations with the United States and retain “selective dialogue” on subjects that are of interest to Russia.

Both Peskov and Ryabkov said that Russia would not initiate any contacts with Biden’s transition staff.

‘From bad to worse’

Referring to fresh US sanctions imposed this week on 45 Russian organizations over their military connections, Ryabkov said the outgoing administration was trying to “loudly slam the door.”

“We are going from bad to worse,” Ryabkov said.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday promised a response to the new sanctions, saying that the United States has “long been pursuing a hostile policy” towards Russia.


Despite initial hopes that Moscow-Washington ties could improve under Trump, Russia’s relations with the US have continued to sour over the course of his presidency, reaching their lowest point since the end of the Cold War.


Trump’s administration imposed sanctions on Russia and withdrew from a Cold War-era arms control pact — the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty — leaving the two countries at risk of a new arms race.


Most recently, the US administration announced that it would close its two remaining consulates in Russia, leaving the Moscow embassy as the United States’ last diplomatic mission in the country.

Despite the tensions, Putin expressed hope that Biden’s stepping into office would be an opportunity to improve bilateral ties. Speaking during his end-of-year news conference last week, Putin said he hoped that some existing problems “will be resolved under the new administration.”

But the Russian leader also slammed the “aggressive” West, saying that in comparison Russia was “warm and cuddly.”

(AFP)

President Putin signs bill giving ex-presidents lifetime immunity,become senators for life in the upper Kremlin Parliament

President Putin signs bill giving ex-presidents lifetime immunity,become senators for life in the upper Kremlin Parliament


Russian President, Vladimir Putin has on Tuesday signed a law granting former presidents of the federation an expanded immunity from prosecution and allowing them to become senators for life in the upper house of Parliament once they leave the Kremlin.


According to a report, the ne now law follows sweeping reforms of Russia’s political system initiated by Putin this year. 


The new law among other things, will allows president Putin to run for two more six-year terms in the Kremlin if he chooses to do so as the president said he yet to decide.

News

|

Vladimir Putin

Russia’s Putin signs bill giving ex-presidents lifetime immunity

Bill gives former presidents and their families immunity from prosecution for crimes committed during their lifetime.


Putin, first elected Russia’s president in 2000, has served longer than any Russian or Soviet politician since the early 1950s [File: AFP]

Putin, first elected Russia’s president in 2000, has served longer than any Russian or Soviet politician since the early 1950s [File: AFP]

22 Dec 2020

President Vladimir Putin has signed a law granting former Russian presidents expanded immunity from prosecution and allowing them to become senators for life in the upper house of Parliament once they leave the Kremlin.


The new law follows sweeping reforms of Russia’s political system initiated by Putin this year. Among other things, it allows him to run for two more six-year terms in the Kremlin if he chooses.



KEEP READING

‘I haven’t decided’: Putin tight-lipped over 2024 re-election bid

How will Biden, who called Putin ‘soulless’, stand up to Russia?

Putin orders start of Russia’s mass COVID vaccination programme

The legislation was part of constitutional amendments that were approved this summer in a nationwide vote that allowed Putin to remain president until 2036. He would otherwise have had to step down in 2024.


The reforms are being parsed for clues as to what Putin, 68, may do at the end of his current term, which is his second consecutive term and his fourth overall.


Former presidents were already entitled to immunity from prosecution for crimes committed while in office, but the new law grants them lifelong immunity and says they cannot be arrested, searched, questioned or prosecuted.


The new legislation also makes it harder to revoke a former president’s immunity.


News

|

Vladimir Putin

Russia’s Putin signs bill giving ex-presidents lifetime immunity

Bill gives former presidents and their families immunity from prosecution for crimes committed during their lifetime.


Putin, first elected Russia’s president in 2000, has served longer than any Russian or Soviet politician since the early 1950s [File: AFP]

Putin, first elected Russia’s president in 2000, has served longer than any Russian or Soviet politician since the early 1950s [File: AFP]

22 Dec 2020

President Vladimir Putin has signed a law granting former Russian presidents expanded immunity from prosecution and allowing them to become senators for life in the upper house of Parliament once they leave the Kremlin.


The new law follows sweeping reforms of Russia’s political system initiated by Putin this year. Among other things, it allows him to run for two more six-year terms in the Kremlin if he choose.


‘I haven’t decided’: Putin tight-lipped over 2024 re-election bid

How will Biden, who called Putin ‘soulless’, stand up to Russia?

Putin orders start of Russia’s mass COVID vaccination programme

The legislation was part of constitutional amendments that were approved this summer in a nationwide vote that allowed Putin to remain president until 2036. He would otherwise have had to step down in 2024.


The reforms are being parsed for clues as to what Putin, 68, may do at the end of his current term, which is his second consecutive term and his fourth overall.


Former presidents were already entitled to immunity from prosecution for crimes committed while in office, but the new law grants them lifelong immunity and says they cannot be arrested, searched, questioned or prosecuted.


The new legislation also makes it harder to revoke a former president’s immunity.


Among other things, the process involves the upper house of Parliament voting overwhelmingly to revoke it on the strength of accusations by the lower house that the president has committed treason or another serious crime.


The other laws signed by Putin allow presidents to name up to 30 senators to the Federation Council, Russia’s upper house, and to join the Council themselves once they have left office.


On Tuesday, the lower house State Duma also passed legislation making information about employees of Russia’s judicial system, law enforcement and regulatory and military bodies confidential.


The bill now requires Putin’s signature to become law, a step that is considered a formality.


It comes a day after opposition figure Alexey Navalny said he telephoned an alleged security agent and tricked him into admitting the Federal Security Service (FSB) tried to kill him in August by poisoning.


Navalny said he had gained access to the security agent’s phone number from leaked logs and travel record


The Kremlin critic later published the agent’s alleged address and phone number, actions that would become illegal under the newly proposed legislation.


n.s.ion.


Russian President, Vladimir Putin has on Tuesday signed a law granting former presidents of the federation an expanded immunity from prosecution and allowing them to become senators for life in the upper house of Parliament once they leave the Kremlin.


According to a report, the ne now law follows sweeping reforms of Russia’s political system initiated by Putin this year. 


The new law among other things, will allows president Putin to run for two more six-year terms in the Kremlin if he chooses to do so as the president said he yet to decide.

News

|

Vladimir Putin

Russia’s Putin signs bill giving ex-presidents lifetime immunity

Bill gives former presidents and their families immunity from prosecution for crimes committed during their lifetime.


Putin, first elected Russia’s president in 2000, has served longer than any Russian or Soviet politician since the early 1950s [File: AFP]

Putin, first elected Russia’s president in 2000, has served longer than any Russian or Soviet politician since the early 1950s [File: AFP]

22 Dec 2020

President Vladimir Putin has signed a law granting former Russian presidents expanded immunity from prosecution and allowing them to become senators for life in the upper house of Parliament once they leave the Kremlin.


The new law follows sweeping reforms of Russia’s political system initiated by Putin this year. Among other things, it allows him to run for two more six-year terms in the Kremlin if he chooses.



KEEP READING

‘I haven’t decided’: Putin tight-lipped over 2024 re-election bid

How will Biden, who called Putin ‘soulless’, stand up to Russia?

Putin orders start of Russia’s mass COVID vaccination programme

The legislation was part of constitutional amendments that were approved this summer in a nationwide vote that allowed Putin to remain president until 2036. He would otherwise have had to step down in 2024.


The reforms are being parsed for clues as to what Putin, 68, may do at the end of his current term, which is his second consecutive term and his fourth overall.


Former presidents were already entitled to immunity from prosecution for crimes committed while in office, but the new law grants them lifelong immunity and says they cannot be arrested, searched, questioned or prosecuted.


The new legislation also makes it harder to revoke a former president’s immunity.


News

|

Vladimir Putin

Russia’s Putin signs bill giving ex-presidents lifetime immunity

Bill gives former presidents and their families immunity from prosecution for crimes committed during their lifetime.


Putin, first elected Russia’s president in 2000, has served longer than any Russian or Soviet politician since the early 1950s [File: AFP]

Putin, first elected Russia’s president in 2000, has served longer than any Russian or Soviet politician since the early 1950s [File: AFP]

22 Dec 2020

President Vladimir Putin has signed a law granting former Russian presidents expanded immunity from prosecution and allowing them to become senators for life in the upper house of Parliament once they leave the Kremlin.


The new law follows sweeping reforms of Russia’s political system initiated by Putin this year. Among other things, it allows him to run for two more six-year terms in the Kremlin if he choose.


‘I haven’t decided’: Putin tight-lipped over 2024 re-election bid

How will Biden, who called Putin ‘soulless’, stand up to Russia?

Putin orders start of Russia’s mass COVID vaccination programme

The legislation was part of constitutional amendments that were approved this summer in a nationwide vote that allowed Putin to remain president until 2036. He would otherwise have had to step down in 2024.


The reforms are being parsed for clues as to what Putin, 68, may do at the end of his current term, which is his second consecutive term and his fourth overall.


Former presidents were already entitled to immunity from prosecution for crimes committed while in office, but the new law grants them lifelong immunity and says they cannot be arrested, searched, questioned or prosecuted.


The new legislation also makes it harder to revoke a former president’s immunity.


Among other things, the process involves the upper house of Parliament voting overwhelmingly to revoke it on the strength of accusations by the lower house that the president has committed treason or another serious crime.


The other laws signed by Putin allow presidents to name up to 30 senators to the Federation Council, Russia’s upper house, and to join the Council themselves once they have left office.


On Tuesday, the lower house State Duma also passed legislation making information about employees of Russia’s judicial system, law enforcement and regulatory and military bodies confidential.


The bill now requires Putin’s signature to become law, a step that is considered a formality.


It comes a day after opposition figure Alexey Navalny said he telephoned an alleged security agent and tricked him into admitting the Federal Security Service (FSB) tried to kill him in August by poisoning.


Navalny said he had gained access to the security agent’s phone number from leaked logs and travel record


The Kremlin critic later published the agent’s alleged address and phone number, actions that would become illegal under the newly proposed legislation.


n.s.ion.

Chinese museum receives Jubilee medal from Russia on war memorial day

Chinese museum receives Jubilee medal from Russia on war memorial day


Russian Ambassador to China Andrey Denisov on Sunday presented the Jubilee Medal "75 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945" to the Museum of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in Beijing, the first time that such a medal was awarded to an institution rather than individuals.

The medal was issued by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

It is the first time that the Russian government has awarded the medal to representatives of outstanding units that told the history of World War II, spread the concept of peace and promoted friendship between Russia and China. Previously, the medal was awarded only to individual representatives of veterans who had made outstanding contributions to the Patriotic War and the World Anti-Fascist War.

The award ceremony took place at the opening of the exhibition "Patriotic War through the Lens of Women Photojournalists" on Sunday. A total of 107 photographs of the Patriotic War taken by well-known Soviet female photojournalists are on display.

First of all, Russia conferring a Jubilee Medal to a Chinese war-themed museum signals the close ties and active cultural interactions between the two countries, Li Xing, a professor at the School of Government of Beijing Normal University, told the Global Times on Sunday.

Li noted that China and Russia share the same stance concerning the World Anti-Fascist War - respecting historical truths and recognizing both countries' commitment and contribution to the final victory.

Moreover, remembering history also has a realistic significance, Li said.

Observers warned that some historical revisionist forces have dangerously distorted the historical narrative, which shakes the basis for the post-War order, multilateralism and peaceful development principles.

Sunday also marks China's seventh National Memorial Day for the more than 300,000 victims of the Nanjing Massacre, which took place as Japanese troops captured Nanjing 83 years ago. The painful history is testimony of how Chinese people fought against the Japanese invaders during the World Anti-Fascist War.

At the memorial service, participants sang the Chinese national anthem, observed a moment of silence and laid flowers to express their deep condolences and remembrance of compatriots and martyrs who were killed in the Nanjing Massacre and World War II.

Russian Ambassador to China Andrey Denisov on Sunday presented the Jubilee Medal "75 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945" to the Museum of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in Beijing, the first time that such a medal was awarded to an institution rather than individuals.

The medal was issued by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

It is the first time that the Russian government has awarded the medal to representatives of outstanding units that told the history of World War II, spread the concept of peace and promoted friendship between Russia and China. Previously, the medal was awarded only to individual representatives of veterans who had made outstanding contributions to the Patriotic War and the World Anti-Fascist War.

The award ceremony took place at the opening of the exhibition "Patriotic War through the Lens of Women Photojournalists" on Sunday. A total of 107 photographs of the Patriotic War taken by well-known Soviet female photojournalists are on display.

First of all, Russia conferring a Jubilee Medal to a Chinese war-themed museum signals the close ties and active cultural interactions between the two countries, Li Xing, a professor at the School of Government of Beijing Normal University, told the Global Times on Sunday.

Li noted that China and Russia share the same stance concerning the World Anti-Fascist War - respecting historical truths and recognizing both countries' commitment and contribution to the final victory.

Moreover, remembering history also has a realistic significance, Li said.

Observers warned that some historical revisionist forces have dangerously distorted the historical narrative, which shakes the basis for the post-War order, multilateralism and peaceful development principles.

Sunday also marks China's seventh National Memorial Day for the more than 300,000 victims of the Nanjing Massacre, which took place as Japanese troops captured Nanjing 83 years ago. The painful history is testimony of how Chinese people fought against the Japanese invaders during the World Anti-Fascist War.

At the memorial service, participants sang the Chinese national anthem, observed a moment of silence and laid flowers to express their deep condolences and remembrance of compatriots and martyrs who were killed in the Nanjing Massacre and World War II.

Moscow slams ‘disgraceful’ ban on founding OPCW chief, sacked under US pressure, from speaking at UN Security Council on Syria

Moscow slams ‘disgraceful’ ban on founding OPCW chief, sacked under US pressure, from speaking at UN Security Council on Syria

An ex-OPCW chief, sacked under US pressure, has been barred from briefing the UN Security Council about a controversial probe into an alleged 2018 chemical attack in Syria. Russia called it a “shame” and published his speech.


Jose Bustani, a Brazilian diplomat who led the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) from 1997 until 2002, was invited by Moscow to speak at a UN Security Council meeting about the so-called “Syrian chemical dossier,” but his appearance was blocked at the last minute by Belgium, Germany, Estonia, France, the US and the UK.

“What has happened now is yet more sad proof that Western delegations fear the uncomfortable truth,” Russia’s ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, stressed while addressing the UN global body on Monday.

He said the six countries had “made history” because the Security Council has never voted “on the presence or absence of a briefer proposed by the [UNSC] president.” Prohibiting the former OPCW director general from speaking was a “shame and disgrace,” Nebenzia concluded, promising to publish Bustani’s statement after the meeting.

UK envoy Jonathan Allen said that Bustani is not in a position to “provide relevant knowledge or information.”


The Council today faced incredible disgrace when US, UK and other Western countries shamelessly tried to shut the mouth of former #OPCW Director General Jose #Bustani. This is a clear proof of how they in reality “care” for the truth and transparency #Syria#DoubleStandardshttps://t.co/0PMB3Iyg04— Dmitry Polyanskiy (@Dpol_un) October 5, 2020


Shortly afterwards, the undelivered speech appeared on the website of the Russian mission to the UN. In it, the sacked OPCW chief raised “serious questions” over “whether the independence, impartiality, and professionalism of some of the organization’s work is being severely compromised, possibly under pressure from some member states.”

As a major example, Bustani cited an OPCW investigation into the alleged use of chemical weapons in the Syrian city of Douma on April 7, 2018. Western governments, and media outlets, maintain that forces loyal to Damascus dropped two gas cylinders as part of an offensive against jihadist forces, killing scores of civilians.

The allegations were used as a pretext for a major US-led airstrike against Syrian government forces later that year. The OPCW launched a probe into the “chemical attack,” and in early March of 2019, the final report by the Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) of the OPCW stated that there were “reasonable grounds” to believe that canisters filled with “molecular chlorine” were dropped from Syrian aircraft in Douma.

The final report gave credence to the Western show of force by implicating the Syrian government of Bashar Assad in conducting the attack, which the Syrian authorities vehemently deny.

Shortly after the release of the OPCW report, an internal memo by OPCW engineers was leaked, suggesting the canisters were likely just placed at the site of the “attack,” and did not come from the skies. Still, the final report did not include such information, and a senior OPCW official reportedly ordered the removal of “all traces” of the dissenting opinion, according to WikiLeaks.

Months later, Bustani noted that he was invited to an expert panel which heard the testimony of an unnamed OPCW investigator, who came forward with damning evidence that his own organization had engineered a report based on a flawed conclusion and likely deliberately steered toward the outcome favored by the West.

That expert provided “compelling and documentary evidence of highly questionable, and potentially fraudulent conduct in the investigative process,” Bustani’s statement recalled. The Brazilian diplomat had been so stunned by the testimony that he personally called on the OPCW to be “resurrected to become the independent and non-discriminatory body it used to be.”

However, he continued, the chemical weapons watchdog did not respond to any calls for greater transparency about the controversial Douma investigation. The probe was “hidden behind an impenetrable wall of silence and opacity, making any meaningful dialogue impossible.”

In conclusion, Bustani called on Fernando Arias, the current OPCW chief, to hear the grievances of OPCW inspectors who voiced dissenting opinions on the Douma incident. They “have dared to speak out against possible irregular behavior in your organization,” Bustani argued, adding that it is “in the world’s interest that you hear them out.”

Bustani noted that he had been removed from his OPCW position “following a US-orchestrated campaign in 2002.” Back then, he was trying to send chemical weapons inspectors to Iraq prior to the 2003 US invasion there. A UN tribunal ruled that his sacking was unlawful.

Source: RT
An ex-OPCW chief, sacked under US pressure, has been barred from briefing the UN Security Council about a controversial probe into an alleged 2018 chemical attack in Syria. Russia called it a “shame” and published his speech.


Jose Bustani, a Brazilian diplomat who led the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) from 1997 until 2002, was invited by Moscow to speak at a UN Security Council meeting about the so-called “Syrian chemical dossier,” but his appearance was blocked at the last minute by Belgium, Germany, Estonia, France, the US and the UK.

“What has happened now is yet more sad proof that Western delegations fear the uncomfortable truth,” Russia’s ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, stressed while addressing the UN global body on Monday.

He said the six countries had “made history” because the Security Council has never voted “on the presence or absence of a briefer proposed by the [UNSC] president.” Prohibiting the former OPCW director general from speaking was a “shame and disgrace,” Nebenzia concluded, promising to publish Bustani’s statement after the meeting.

UK envoy Jonathan Allen said that Bustani is not in a position to “provide relevant knowledge or information.”


The Council today faced incredible disgrace when US, UK and other Western countries shamelessly tried to shut the mouth of former #OPCW Director General Jose #Bustani. This is a clear proof of how they in reality “care” for the truth and transparency #Syria#DoubleStandardshttps://t.co/0PMB3Iyg04— Dmitry Polyanskiy (@Dpol_un) October 5, 2020


Shortly afterwards, the undelivered speech appeared on the website of the Russian mission to the UN. In it, the sacked OPCW chief raised “serious questions” over “whether the independence, impartiality, and professionalism of some of the organization’s work is being severely compromised, possibly under pressure from some member states.”

As a major example, Bustani cited an OPCW investigation into the alleged use of chemical weapons in the Syrian city of Douma on April 7, 2018. Western governments, and media outlets, maintain that forces loyal to Damascus dropped two gas cylinders as part of an offensive against jihadist forces, killing scores of civilians.

The allegations were used as a pretext for a major US-led airstrike against Syrian government forces later that year. The OPCW launched a probe into the “chemical attack,” and in early March of 2019, the final report by the Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) of the OPCW stated that there were “reasonable grounds” to believe that canisters filled with “molecular chlorine” were dropped from Syrian aircraft in Douma.

The final report gave credence to the Western show of force by implicating the Syrian government of Bashar Assad in conducting the attack, which the Syrian authorities vehemently deny.

Shortly after the release of the OPCW report, an internal memo by OPCW engineers was leaked, suggesting the canisters were likely just placed at the site of the “attack,” and did not come from the skies. Still, the final report did not include such information, and a senior OPCW official reportedly ordered the removal of “all traces” of the dissenting opinion, according to WikiLeaks.

Months later, Bustani noted that he was invited to an expert panel which heard the testimony of an unnamed OPCW investigator, who came forward with damning evidence that his own organization had engineered a report based on a flawed conclusion and likely deliberately steered toward the outcome favored by the West.

That expert provided “compelling and documentary evidence of highly questionable, and potentially fraudulent conduct in the investigative process,” Bustani’s statement recalled. The Brazilian diplomat had been so stunned by the testimony that he personally called on the OPCW to be “resurrected to become the independent and non-discriminatory body it used to be.”

However, he continued, the chemical weapons watchdog did not respond to any calls for greater transparency about the controversial Douma investigation. The probe was “hidden behind an impenetrable wall of silence and opacity, making any meaningful dialogue impossible.”

In conclusion, Bustani called on Fernando Arias, the current OPCW chief, to hear the grievances of OPCW inspectors who voiced dissenting opinions on the Douma incident. They “have dared to speak out against possible irregular behavior in your organization,” Bustani argued, adding that it is “in the world’s interest that you hear them out.”

Bustani noted that he had been removed from his OPCW position “following a US-orchestrated campaign in 2002.” Back then, he was trying to send chemical weapons inspectors to Iraq prior to the 2003 US invasion there. A UN tribunal ruled that his sacking was unlawful.

Source: RT

Russian President Putin says Belarus facing 'unprecedented external pressure', in televised remarks

Russian President Putin says Belarus facing 'unprecedented external pressure', in televised remarks

Belarus opposition leader says will address French parliament following invitation by Macron

President Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that neighbouring Belarus was under unprecedented external pressure, as the Kremlin's ex-Soviet ally faces a historic political crisis over disputed elections, AFP reported. 

Putin in televised remarks said, Belarus is in a "difficult situation" and facing "unprecedented external pressure", following a presidential election that sparked ongoing protests and was not recognised by Western countries.

However, Belarus's main opposition leader on Tuesday said she would address France's parliament after talks with President Emmanuel Macron in which he promised to help mediate in the political crisis. "We have received an invitation to speak before the French parliament and we have accepted it," Svetlana Tikhanovskaya told AFP after meeting with Macron during his visit to Lithuania.

The meeting with Macron was her most high-profile one so far since a disputed election last month in which she has claimed victory against President Alexander Lukashenko. Tikhanovskaya has previously addressed the UN Human Rights Council and the European Parliament and has met with EU foreign ministers and the leaders of neighbouring Poland and Lithuania.

After the meeting in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, Macron said: "We will do our best as Europeans to help mediate and we will come back to OSCE mediation in order to progress".

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has offered to help broker a negotiated end to the crisis in Belarus.

"He supports the idea of mediation because he understands that powerful countries need to be involved to begin negotiations with Lukashenko. He is ready to help with this," she said.

Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya
"I think he will speak with the Russian side about Belarus and he will do everything possible to involve Russia in these negotiations."

She said the crisis should be resolved "as soon as possible" and new free and fair elections should be held before the end of the year.

Mass protests that have continued since the election have been met with a violent crackdown and Tikhanovskaya's husband Sergei is in prison accused of trying to overthrow the government.

Macron promised to "do everything he can to release all the political prisoners", she said.

"For Mr Macron this is not just a political interest, it is interest above all as a human being because our rights are being trampled, we have a dictatorship. He understands people who are fighting for their rights," she added.

© 2020 AFP

Belarus opposition leader says will address French parliament following invitation by Macron

President Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that neighbouring Belarus was under unprecedented external pressure, as the Kremlin's ex-Soviet ally faces a historic political crisis over disputed elections, AFP reported. 

Putin in televised remarks said, Belarus is in a "difficult situation" and facing "unprecedented external pressure", following a presidential election that sparked ongoing protests and was not recognised by Western countries.

However, Belarus's main opposition leader on Tuesday said she would address France's parliament after talks with President Emmanuel Macron in which he promised to help mediate in the political crisis. "We have received an invitation to speak before the French parliament and we have accepted it," Svetlana Tikhanovskaya told AFP after meeting with Macron during his visit to Lithuania.

The meeting with Macron was her most high-profile one so far since a disputed election last month in which she has claimed victory against President Alexander Lukashenko. Tikhanovskaya has previously addressed the UN Human Rights Council and the European Parliament and has met with EU foreign ministers and the leaders of neighbouring Poland and Lithuania.

After the meeting in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, Macron said: "We will do our best as Europeans to help mediate and we will come back to OSCE mediation in order to progress".

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has offered to help broker a negotiated end to the crisis in Belarus.

"He supports the idea of mediation because he understands that powerful countries need to be involved to begin negotiations with Lukashenko. He is ready to help with this," she said.

Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya
"I think he will speak with the Russian side about Belarus and he will do everything possible to involve Russia in these negotiations."

She said the crisis should be resolved "as soon as possible" and new free and fair elections should be held before the end of the year.

Mass protests that have continued since the election have been met with a violent crackdown and Tikhanovskaya's husband Sergei is in prison accused of trying to overthrow the government.

Macron promised to "do everything he can to release all the political prisoners", she said.

"For Mr Macron this is not just a political interest, it is interest above all as a human being because our rights are being trampled, we have a dictatorship. He understands people who are fighting for their rights," she added.

© 2020 AFP

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