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The Grand Turk

'He's a good leader.' Trump is ready to turn a blind eye to Erdogan's main problem

2025-03-29

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
by Kamran Gasanov

[REGNUM] Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan made his first visit to the United States since Donald Trump's election on March 25-26, aiming to restore relations and revive Ankara's participation in the program to produce and supply the latest F-35 fighter jets.

Trump is backing Erdogan at the expense of his main political opponent, the jailed mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu. But the looming thaw between the countries could be spoiled by Israel and Europe.

"A GOOD LEADER"
In the waning days of former US President Joseph Biden's term, the two countries were making efforts to normalize ties. Turkey voted to admit Finland and Sweden into NATO, and Biden approved the transfer of F-16 fighter jets to it.

But the relationship remained suspended. Erdogan had not forgotten that Biden had put off a phone call for months after the inauguration. Nor had he forgotten the recognition of the mass murder of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as genocide. And besides, in four years, the Democrat had never received his Turkish counterpart in the White House.

Biden's team was initially focused on overthrowing Erdogan's government peacefully, supporting the opposition and expressing dissatisfaction with Turkey's behavior - whether in Syria, the Mediterranean or the conflict in Ukraine.

The Turks supplied UAVs and armored vehicles there, and at the same time managed to organize parallel exports to Russia, including dual-use goods, and the export of sanctioned Russian oil.

This is why the current contacts with the Americans are considered a breakthrough by the Turkish administration.

Even before Fidan's trip to the US, Erdogan had a very warm phone conversation with Trump, which his special envoy for Russia negotiations, Stephen Witkoff, called "wonderful" and transformative.

And Trump himself, at a reception in honor of the new US ambassador to Ankara, Tom Barrack, described Turkey as follows: “It’s a good country, and its leader is good.” These words are especially valuable for the Turkish leader in the days when almost half a million people who do not consider Erdogan “good” are gathering for a protest in the center of Istanbul.

Now, not only America, but even Europeans, who are fixated on “human rights,” are somehow very sluggishly reacting to the Turkish protests.

The only exception was the German Foreign Ministry, which hinted at the impossibility of Turkey's European integration with the "sitting" Imamoglu. But Minister Annalena Baerbock can be given a discount - the cabinet with her participation was disbanded literally the next day.

SANCTIONS ARE STILL IN EFFECT
The main topic of Fidan's visit, as well as Trump's call with Erdogan, was the restoration of relations and raising them to a new level. And the key issue, which serves to some extent as a test of the seriousness of intentions, is the program for the production and supply of F-35 fighters.

It was Trump who threw the country out of it during his last term. The pretext was Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems, their incompatibility with NATO standards and the theoretical possibility of testing these systems against the F-35 on Turkish territory with the possibility of transferring this data to Moscow.

Towards the end of Trump's term, Erdogan traveled to Washington and seemed to have reached an agreement not to use the S-400, but the restrictions imposed under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) were never lifted.

Even before Fidan's departure, Erdogan discussed lifting sanctions on participation in the "F-35 program" in a telephone conversation with Trump. The Turkish president said: "In order to develop cooperation between the two countries in the defense industry, it is necessary to lift CAATSA sanctions, complete the F-16 procurement process and complete Turkey's re-participation in the F-35 program."

According to Fox News, Ankara is ready to make a concession on the S-400 — to dismantle and transport the system to a US military base. The decision has not yet been made, but the foreign ministers have already made it clear that the parties are aiming for progress in the negotiations.

According to a Turkish Foreign Ministry source cited by Daily Sabah, Fidan and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio "have clearly demonstrated their political will to remove obstacles to cooperation in the defense industry." The US and Turkey are already planning "technical talks" on the issue.

Turkey will only be satisfied with two options: either a full return to the F-35 fighter assembly program, or compensation: over $1 billion or the supply of less modern F-16 fighters.

If Trump and Erdogan reach an agreement on fifth-generation fighters, it would be a landmark event. But even without that, the two administrations are focused on strengthening their ties.

The rise of the anti-globalist agenda and Trump's personal sympathy for Erdogan create a favorable atmosphere for Turkey's rapprochement with the United States. By the way, Erdogan is one of the few leaders who has Trump's mobile phone number.

Ankara sets itself the goal of increasing trade turnover with America from the current $50 billion to $100 billion.

It is interesting that in this matter, connections with Russia and the implementation of new projects such as the construction of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant and the development of a gas hub will not become an obstacle.

If Trump is hinting at lifting sanctions on Russia, what incentive does he have to maintain sanctions against Turkey, imposed for trade and military-industrial cooperation with Moscow?

”SUPPORT FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE”
Beyond lifting sanctions, Trump and Erdogan must address many international issues that pose opportunities and risks to bilateral relations. Ukraine and the Middle East remain the focus.

The Hürriyet newspaper, citing diplomatic sources, reports that Fidan discussed efforts to end the war in Ukraine with Rubio. A TASS source reported that Fidan intended to raise the issue of Turkey's possible contribution to the Ukrainian settlement.

The word “contribution” sounds a bit ridiculous now – Erdogan would first like to deal with the protests in Istanbul and Ankara.

But, on the other hand, by keeping Ukraine in the focus of his attention, Erdogan is trying to create the impression that his power is inviolable. And at the same time, he is trying, as he always did, to earn domestic political points at the expense of foreign policy successes.

If the Biden administration has been putting spokes in his wheels and demanding more aid to Ukraine, then, as the State Department reports, Rubio “demands Turkish support for peace in Ukraine.” Against the backdrop of Trump’s peace talks, Erdogan should feel like a fish in water.

However, in a situation where Europe is showing growing interest in the contribution of NATO’s second army to the European security architecture and is pushing Turkey to send peacekeepers to Ukraine in exchange for ephemeral preferences, Ankara not only risks losing its status as a mediator, but also the trust of both Putin and Trump.

A CHANCE TO SOLVE THE "KURDISH QUESTION"
The common key topics in the Middle East are Syria and Palestine. There are no fewer pitfalls here. Turkey, as the closest ally of the new Turkish leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, is trying hard to get Washington to lift sanctions on Damascus.

Trump is in no hurry for now. In addition to the claims about the dominance of foreign fighters and cooperation with Hamas, there is another important nuance.

The new Syrian authorities have failed to ensure the security of ethnic and religious minorities (Christians, Druze and Alawites), for whom Trump’s closest friend, Israel, decided to stand up.

The second problematic point in Syria is the Kurds. Before his trip to Washington, Fidan said that a continued military presence in the Euphrates region is not a priority for Trump, since the positions of Iran and Russia have weakened, and the Bashar al-Assad regime is gone. “If America withdraws its troops, it will be cheaper for them,” says the Turkish minister, balancing on the edge of a threat.

Ankara is still hoping that Damascus will reach an agreement with the Kurds and integrate them into a single state, but the retention of US forces in the territories controlled by Kurdish formations still leaves a chance for the emergence of a “Syrian Kurdistan.”

On the issue of Kurdish separatism, which, by the way, is supported by Israel, Ankara and Washington have a chance to find a common language. In 2019, the Pentagon tactfully withdrew its troops from the zones of the Turkish military operation "Peace Spring" against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), although Trump threatened to "destroy the Turkish economy."

RISK OF CLASH WITH ISRAEL
But with "Israeli expansionism" (Fidan's expression) everything is much more complicated. The Turkish minister recalled that "Israel has occupied southern Syria for almost 50 years" and under the pretext of protecting the Yazidis and Druze "is trying to expand the zone of occupation."

Türkiye is also unhappy that Israel recently abandoned the ceasefire in Gaza and launched a limited military operation.

Before Trump's inauguration, his aide made a significant contribution to achieving a ceasefire in Gaza, but now the US president is almost himself encouraging the Israeli offensive, striking the Houthis in Yemen and threatening war with Iran.

In the current situation, when Erdogan is in disarray at home, he is unlikely to do anything against Israel. However, in the long term, given that the Turkish army feels at home in Syria, and Syria has a direct border with Israel, there are risks of a head-on clash between Ankara and Tel Aviv. And they will certainly leave a heavy mark on the interaction between the United States and Turkey in all areas.

Erdogan is also very concerned about the influence of foreign lobbies on Trump. On March 24, the Turkish leader expressed hope for a “significant boost” despite “lobbyists seeking to poison cooperation between the two countries.”

Fidan had barely stepped off the plane when Greek lobbyists sent Trump a letter through the American Hellenic Institute (AHI) in which called on him to speak out “categorically against Turkey’s return to the F-35 program” and to maintain pressure on it to get rid of the S-400.

Unlike the Greeks, Israel is acting through the government. According to the newspaper Kathimerini, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu obtained assurances from Trump that deliveries of F-35s to Turkey were ruled out. After that, the Israelis calmed down, but with the intensification of contacts between the US and Turkey, they became tense again. And Netanyahu decided to remind about his request a second time, this time through Rubio.

THE ICE HAS BROKEN
If we sum up all the news from Washington, then perhaps the most important and indisputable achievement of Turkey in relations with the United States, the pinnacle of which was Fidan's visit, is that the United States, for the first time in decades, is not interfering in Erdogan's internal affairs and de facto has come out in his support in the confrontation with the opposition.

The ice has also been broken on the F-35 deal, with technical consultations underway. Fidan and Rubio discussed possible visits by their presidents. And, unlike in the Biden era, human rights concerns and cooperation with Russia should not be an obstacle.

Of course, Israel's position and actions could make adjustments: this factor greatly influences the Trump administration. Türkiye is interested in the conflict in Gaza coming to an end, but there is no progress here yet.

Success in the issue of a peaceful settlement in Ukraine depends more on Turkey itself. And if it is seriously determined to contribute to the Ukrainian settlement, then Erdogan should stay away from the provocative initiatives of French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and others like them.

Link

China-Japan-Koreas

Fentanyl Wars: Why Trump Blames China for Million American Deaths

2025-03-07

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
by Kirill Novikov

[REGNUM] On March 4, 2025, US President Donald Trump issued an executive order in which he noted that the 10% tariffs imposed on China would be increased to 20%; he justified his actions with completely non-economic arguments.

Trump accuses China of not taking any measures to combat the spread of synthetic opioids (primarily fentanyl).

Tariffs were also imposed on imports from Mexico and Canada. Both of these countries had previously demonstrated their willingness to give in to American pressure. However, China is not going to make concessions, for its part it has imposed duties of 10% and 15% on agricultural products from America, and 15 companies from this country have been added to the Chinese government's "export control" list.

Donald Trump has made drug abuse a major issue during his first term, declaring opioid overdoses a public health emergency in 2017.

“In 2016 alone, nearly 64,000 Americans died from drug overdoses. During that time, the number of overdoses specifically from opioids exceeded 42,000, more than in any previous year.”

According to the latest statistics from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 87,000 people died from overdoses in 2023–2024, which is 24% less than in 2022–2023. However, Donald Trump is sure that these figures are wrong. At a cabinet meeting, the US President said that in recent years, 300,000 people a year have died in the country because of fentanyl. Thus, the total number of victims, according to Trump, has already exceeded a million.

Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid that is widely used as a painkiller; it was developed to help patients after major surgeries. The drug gained popularity due to its low cost (since the 2010s, control over opioid turnover has been tightened in America) and high effectiveness in relieving pain (it is 50 times stronger than heroin).

Restrictions during the coronavirus epidemic played a role, when the transportation of large quantities of drugs was difficult. Fentanyl, on the other hand, could be delivered covertly in small quantities.

In 2019, the Chinese government tightened controls on its production, but could not ban the production of precursors - the chemical elements needed to synthesize the substance, since they have already become drugs of daily demand.

Therefore, the ban had almost no effect: Mexican cartels purchased precursors from China, synthesized fentanyl from them, and shipped them to the United States.

Western media paid special attention to the Chinese company Yuancheng Group — from their point of view, it is engaged in the supply of precursors. It is worth noting that another source of fentanyl is India, but Donald Trump talks about this much less often.

China initially expressed its willingness to cooperate with the United States in the fight against the spread of the terrible drug, but after the visit of former Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan in 2022, China refused to coordinate its actions with America in this matter.

The United States is convinced that China is deliberately ignoring the problem, directly or indirectly encouraging the export of fentanyl. For example, it was noted that the Chinese government provided tax breaks for companies that exported fentanyl precursors abroad, and some chemical companies even received state grants.

To confirm their suspicions, the Americans like to refer to the book “Unrestricted Warfare” (published in 1999), written by retired Major General Qiao Liang and Professor of Beihang University (Beijing), former Colonel of the Chinese Army Wang Xiansuya. The authors pointed to the transformation of forms of warfare that can already be observed today, for example, the emergence of such phenomena as “information warfare” or “trade war”.

The book, in particular, briefly mentions drug warfare, defining it as “ the receipt of superprofits through the illegal distribution of prohibited substances abroad.”

The purpose of publishing Unrestricted Warfare was to formulate a strategy to counter the unipolar hegemony of the United States. The new US administration is convinced that today the Chinese government has moved from words to action.

CHINA DENIES ITS OWN GUILT.
On the day Trump issued his decree, China's State Council published a white paper on fentanyl, outlining its own contribution to combating the drug's spread. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian noted at a briefing that the US was denigrating his country for propaganda purposes.

It should be understood that the problem of the spread of fentanyl is only an episode in the escalating confrontation between China and America.

Despite the fact that the US is currently experiencing an ideological and value split, both parties – Republicans and Democrats – are convinced of the need to combat Chinese influence. The sanctions imposed by Donald Trump during his first term were not lifted by Joseph Biden. Moreover, in some areas they were even tightened – for example, 100% tariffs were imposed on Chinese electric cars.

And this has brought results: according to statistics for 2023, trade turnover between the countries decreased by 11.6%, and from 2018 to 2024, China’s share in the total volume of US trade decreased from 15.7% to 10.9%.

Both countries are trying to identify each other's weak points and strike at them without hurting themselves.

For example, China has effectively become a monopolist in the rare earth minerals market. Any restrictions in this area will hit not only the American economy, but also the leading supporter of its president, Elon Musk, whose companies actively use titanium and lithium.

This explains why the US is confidently trying to impose an unequal agreement on rare earth mining on Ukraine.

Donald Trump's core constituency, farmers whose prosperity was largely based on exporting their own produce to China, is suffering from higher tariffs in agriculture. China is ready to switch to the agricultural market in South America - for example, it already buys soybeans from Brazil.

The US, in turn, is trying to find other markets. For example, Canada has become one. However, this has not helped to cover the losses from the trade war. Will farmers then continue to support the Republicans?

But China is also suffering from US sanctions: the tariff standoff has slowed economic growth. China already faced difficulties - for example, the housing crisis led to a decrease in purchasing power. And the government has to inject new money into the economy to solve this problem.

But on the other hand, the trade war allows the Chinese government to attribute the slowdown to negative influence from the United States and to unite the people around opposing this threat.

The trade war is hitting both sides equally, but each side is determined to achieve its own goals. America is seeking to maintain its leading position, while China is seeking to increase its influence through its status as the new “workshop of the world.”

In general, tariff wars clearly indicate a weakening of economic globalization and a return to the concept of “national interest.”

Link

Home Front: Politix

Biden faces death penalty for discussing assassination attempt on Putin, State Duma says

2025-01-30

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.

With an impeachment and a US Senate trial along the way, this outcome is very unlikely.
[Regnum] According to American laws, an assassination attempt on the Russian president could result in the accused being executed in the electric chair, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said on Wednesday, January 29.

At a plenary session of the lower house of parliament, he commented on statements by journalist Tucker Carlson about the possible participation of former US President Joseph Biden and former Secretary of State Antony Blinken in discussing the assassination attempt on Vladimir Putin.

"This is a crime. Let them prove that this is a country of democracy. Let Biden go to the electric chair with Blinken, then the whole world will see - this is democracy. And if they keep silent, drag it out, well then don't open your mouth and don't teach anyone," Volodin said.

He also responded that such information should be taken seriously and given an immediate and firm response.
OK

As reported by the Regnum news agency, Carlson had previously spoken about the US administration's attempts to kill the Russian president and called these attempts "madness." He placed special responsibility on Blinken, who, according to Carlson, effectively ran the US state in the last months of Biden's rule and did everything to speed up the start of a war between Russia and the US.

Carlson did not provide evidence of the US administration's intentions to kill the Russian president, and it is better not to trust unsubstantiated information, Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov told journalists. At the same time, he noted that the special services are constantly taking all necessary measures to ensure public safety and the safety of persons under state protection, and first and foremost the president.

Link

China-Japan-Koreas

Xi Jinping and Trump held a telephone conversation

2025-01-18

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President-elect Donald Trump held a telephone conversation, Xinhua reported on Friday, January 17.

"Chinese President Xi Jinping held a telephone conversation with US President-elect Donald Trump on Friday," the statement said.

No further details are provided.

As reported by the Regnum news agency, on November 16, 2024, Xi Jinping announced Beijing's readiness to work with the Trump administration. He emphasized that China is interested in maintaining stable relations with the United States.

The following day, at a meeting with outgoing US President Joseph Biden, the Chinese leader noted that the discrepancy between statements and actions on the part of the American authorities could lead to Beijing losing confidence in Washington.

On December 13, it became known that Xi Jinping will not attend the inauguration of the US president-elect in January 2025. China will be represented at the event by a “high-level delegation.”

On January 15, at a hearing in the US Senate, CIA director nominee and former director of national intelligence John Ratcliffe said that US intelligence should focus on China as the main threat to Washington.

Link

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

U.S. Naval Institute: Report to Congress on Syrian Regime Change

2024-12-11

[USNI] The following is the Dec. 9, 2024, Congressional Research Service Insight report, Syria: Regime Change, Transition, and U.S. Policy.

FROM THE REPORT
Rapid offensives by Syrian armed groups opposed to the government of Bashar Al Asad (alt. Assad) forced Asad’s resignation and exile to Russia on December 8, 2024. This inflection point in Syria’s post-2011 civil war marked the end of decades of Asad-family rule.

Advances since late November by anti-Asad groups left much of western Syria (including Damascus and most other major cities,) in the hands of different forces: a coalition led by the U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) Hay’at Tahrir al Sham (HTS), the Turkey-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) coalition, and southern Syria-based armed groups. Groups (including Alawite minorities) with historical ties to the Asad regime maintain a presence in some western coastal areas where Russian air and naval bases are located. Eastern Syria remains largely under the control of the U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the U.S.-backed Syrian Free Army, both U.S. counterterrorism partners against remnants of the Islamic State (IS/ISIS) that once dominated parts of Syria and Iraq.

Many Syrians are welcoming the end of Asad’s rule and opportunities to reunite families and release long-held prisoners. At the same time, Syrians and outside observers note that considerable political, economic, and security challenges lie ahead.

President Joseph Biden called Asad’s ouster “a fundamental act of justice” and “a moment of historic opportunity.” On December 9, a senior Biden Administration official asserted that U.S. policy helped bring about the weakness of the Asad regime and the “entire Iranian-backed artifice in the region,” and has “completely changed the equation in the Middle East.” President Biden also said the U.S. government would protect U.S. citizens and personnel in Syria along with U.S. regional partners, and would remain vigilant against a possible IS resurgence.

Approximately 900 U.S. military personnel are present in eastern and southern Syria, conducting counterterrorism missions against IS remnants and supporting the SDF’s detention of more than 9,000 IS prisoners and administration of camps for more than 40,000 individuals from formerly IS-held areas. U.S. Central Command conducted dozens of airstrikes against IS targets in central Syria as Asad’s forces withdrew. The United States suspended operations at the U.S. Embassy in Damascus in 2012; the Czech Republic serves as the U.S. protecting power in Syria. President-elect Donald Trump made statements as Asad’s government collapsed, calling for the United States to refrain from involvement in Syria’s conflict.

SITUATION IN SYRIA
As of December 8, some Asad government officials appeared to remain in place and anti-Asad forces appeared to be coordinating with them to attempt to preserve order. Debate among Syrians over Congressional Research Service 3

governance may reflect the diverse interests of Syrian political, ideological, ethnic, and religious groups. While armed Sunni Islamist groups led the final military campaign that ousted Asad, non-Islamist locally-organized armed groups, particularly in southern Syria, participated and may control some strategic areas and resources. Syrians’ demands for accountability and personal grievances may affect security as the transition unfolds.

Outside actors, including Syria’s neighbors, may act to influence Syria’s transitional arrangements and the post-Asad security environment in ways that serve their discrete interests. Turkey supports armed groups in northern Syria that have seized areas near Aleppo from the U.S.-backed SDF since early December. The Turkish government seeks to counter the SDF because of links Kurdish SDF elements have with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK, another FTO).

On December 8, Israel took control of some formerly Syrian military-held areas of the Golan Heights and said it would continue to strike “heavy strategic weapons throughout Syria.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterized Israel’s military as taking a “temporary defensive position,” and expressed his hope that Israel and Syria could have peaceful relations in the future. To date, some Russian military forces have repositioned but reportedly remain in Syria. Iran reportedly evacuated some personnel from Syria.

Asad’s departure may enable additional international humanitarian assistance to Syria. In June 2024, a UN official warned that Syria was “facing its highest levels of humanitarian need since the start of this 13-year crisis,” with 7.2 million people internally displaced and 13 million people (of a population of nearly 24 million) facing “high levels of acute food insecurity.” Nearly five million Syrians are registered as refugees in regional countries. Any return home of displaced Syrians may ease pressures on host communities, but could increase humanitarian and service demands on transitional authorities and create new operational and diplomatic questions for donors.

Report text can be found at the link

Link

Government Corruption

Kremlin has denied Trump's data on Russia's losses during the Special Military Operation

2024-12-09

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.

Any number for either side: the numbers still are prodigious, calamitous even, especially when compared to the American standard.
[Regnum] US President-elect Donald Trump presented data on the losses of the Russian and Ukrainian Armed Forces "in the Ukrainian interpretation." This was stated to journalists on Sunday, December 8, by the press secretary of the Russian president Dmitry Peskov.

Trump previously released a statement on the losses during the conflict in Ukraine, stating, in particular, that the Ukrainian side lost 400,000 people.

"As for the figures given about losses on both sides, it is obvious that they are presented in the Ukrainian interpretation and reflect the official position of Ukraine. The real figures of losses are completely different," Peskov said.

Ukraine's losses are many times greater than Russia's losses, the president's press secretary emphasized.

The real scale of the losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces became the reason for discussing the reduction of the mobilization age in Ukraine, Peskov said. However, these measures will not change the catastrophic situation in Ukraine, he added.

As reported by the Regnum news agency, on November 19, TASS, citing its own calculations, reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost about 906,500 fighters killed and wounded during the SVO. It was noted that the number of losses of the Ukrainian army in 2024 exceeded its total losses over the previous two years of the conflict.

On February 27, the Russian Defense Ministry disclosed the losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces over two years. They amounted to 444,000 soldiers. The agency calculated that since then, the military department’s reports reported more than 462,500 thousand fighters lost by the Ukrainian army.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on December 4 that it was time for Ukraine to make important decisions on mobilization. The Associated Press reported on November 27, citing a senior White House official, that the administration of current US President Joseph Biden is demanding that Kiev increase the size of the army by recruiting more recruits. It was noted that Kiev was asked to revise mobilization laws to conscript young people aged 18 and over.

Russian President Vladimir Putin previously noted that the total mobilization carried out by the Kiev regime will completely bleed Ukraine dry, and at the next stage, students will be drafted into the Ukrainian Armed Forces and an analogue of the Nazi Hitler Youth will be created. This is precisely why Kiev is talking about a new reduction in the draft age, Putin emphasized.

Link

Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

On Western missile strikes on Russia

2024-11-19

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.

Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin:
[ColonelCassad] 1. As I wrote at the beginning of the SVO, we cannot avoid a remake of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

2. I have also written and continue to write since the beginning of the war - anything that lies below the threshold of using nuclear weapons can and will be used in Ukraine.

3. Warmongers do not accept their defeat so easily. Both in the war in Ukraine and in the recent elections in the USA.

So nothing unexpected is happening.

It would be surprising if this did not happen before the end of the war.

We are simply waiting to see what the response will be. And we are studying civil defense measures. Cruise and ballistic missiles have already flown in to our Sevastopol more than once.

More from regnum.ru
Borrell: US Allows Kyiv to Launch Strikes 300km Deep into Russia

The United States has given the Kiev regime permission to strike 300 km deep into Russian territory, EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell said on November 18.

"The US administration has authorized the use of its missiles up to 300 km deep into Russian territory. This is not very far, but this is the decision of the US administration. Why they made this decision now and not earlier, I do not know," Borrell said at a press conference following a meeting of EU foreign ministers.

He also stated that the heads of the foreign ministries of the EU countries have not made a decision to lift restrictions on the use of Western weapons to strike deep into Russian territory and that each EU member country can make such a decision independently.

As reported by the Regnum news agency, on November 17, the American newspaper The New York Times, citing informed sources, reported that outgoing US President Joseph Biden had for the first time authorized Ukraine to use long-range ATACMS missiles to strike Russian territory. Following this, the French newspaper Le Figaro wrote that the French and British authorities had made a similar decision.

On September 13, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the discussions on allowing the Ukrainian Armed Forces to use precision weapons for strikes deep into Russia a substitution of concepts. In reality, NATO countries are discussing whether they will directly participate in a conflict with Russia, the president emphasized. He noted that Russia will make decisions based on the threats that will arise for it.

On November 18, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, stated that Russia's response to the Kiev regime's use of long-range missiles for strikes deep into Russian territory would be adequate and tangible. The use of long-range missiles by Kiev would mean direct participation in the conflict by the United States and its satellites and would change the very essence of the conflict, Zakharova emphasized.

The situation remains in limbo for now, there is no official confirmation of Biden's decision, officials are holding a pause, apparently in order to see Moscow's reaction and make a decision, Regnum News Agency columnist Mikhail Zakharov noted earlier in his article.

Link

Home Front: Politix

Sachs Accuses US Democratic Party of Attempting Coup

2024-07-14

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] American billionaire and supporter of former US President Donald Trump David Sachs accused the Democratic Party elite, who are planning to exclude Joe Biden from the election race, of attempting to organize a coup d'état.

"A group of party officials are planning to remove him [Biden] on the grounds that he cannot win. This is a coup against the president," Sachs wrote on his X social media page on July 12.

According to Fox News, the businessman made this statement a few hours after the Axios portal published a report stating that American Democratic officials who served in the Barack Obama and Bill Clinton administrations were looking for an opportunity to convince Biden to drop out of the election race. It was noted that the number of opponents of the current president is only growing every day, and the Democrats are afraid of becoming obvious outsiders.

As reported by the Regnum news agency, earlier the American publication The New York Times reported that a number of major donors to the Democratic Party had frozen donations totaling about $90 million and demanded that Joe Biden announce his withdrawal from the election race. The article also noted that after the debates with Donald Trump, the public began to follow the speeches of the American president more closely. The disappointment of supporters of the Democratic Party has increased against the backdrop of Biden's recent incoherent speeches, including those made at the NATO summit in Washington. In addition, it was reported that some advisers from his inner circle also intend to try to convince Biden to leave the election campaign .

However, according to Donald Trump, the current president will compete with him in the upcoming elections, unlike US Vice President Kamala Harris, who could replace Biden if he refuses to participate in the elections.

More from regnum.ru
Former Pentagon Adviser McGregor Calls on Biden to Resign Immediately

US President Joseph Biden's slips of the tongue at the NATO summit in Washington are a sure sign that it is time for the politician to immediately leave his post. This statement was made on July 12 by former Pentagon adviser Colonel Douglas MacGregor on the YouTube channel of the organization Our Country Our Choice.

"Mr. President, for the sake of our country, I ask you to resign immediately. I know this is a difficult decision, but it is also the right one," McGregor addressed the head of the White House.

As the officer explained, the people who allow Biden to work are in fact using an elderly man with obvious health problems for their own selfish political purposes. McGregor pointed out that a sick person leading the United States is a direct threat to the country's security. Colonel McGregor believes that the president's constant mistakes are a sign of his steadily deteriorating cognitive skills.

"Every day President Biden takes office brings with it a greater threat to the security and stability of our nation. The country is in danger," McGregor warned.

In addition, the former Pentagon adviser recalled that abuse of the elderly is prosecuted by law in several states.

Earlier, Regnum News Agency reported that EU countries began seeking contacts with former White House chief Donald Trump after current US leader Biden confused the head of the Kiev regime, Volodymyr Zelensky, with Russian President Vladimir Putin in his speech .

In turn, Telegraph editor Tony Diver pointed out that US President Biden's misspellings of names during his speech at the NATO summit had caused indignation among Democrats. Diver suggested that Biden's mistakes would cause even more Democrats to refuse to support him in the election race.

A number of major donors to the Democratic Party have frozen donations totaling about $90 million and demanded that incumbent US President Biden withdraw from the election race.

Link

Government Corruption

Kirby: Allies Don't Doubt Biden's Ability to Lead

2024-07-09

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] None of the allies of the United States doubted the ability of American leader Joseph Biden to lead the country.

Absolutely, they do not doubt. But that he can’t lead, not that he can.

This statement was made on July 8 by the coordinator for strategic communications at the White House National Security Council John Kirby during a regular briefing for journalists.

When asked about media reports that, allegedly after the US President's failed debate with his political opponent Donald Trump, a number of European leaders expressed doubts about Biden's ability to lead the country, Kirby assured that this topic was not discussed in the White House and he was not aware of any such precedents.

Spokespeople only officially know what they’re officially told. But there’s always an awful lot to be known that they don’t. Officially, anyway.

Earlier, Regnum News Agency reported that current US President Biden considers himself the best candidate for the post of head of state from the Democratic Party in the presidential elections in November 2024.

The politician declared his “firm intention” to remain in the presidential race. At the same time, he noted that he would not “turn a blind eye” to the concerns that arose among his fellow Democrats after the televised debates with Trump.

Biden said on July 6 that he would drop out of the race only if “God Almighty” came down from heaven and told him to do so. He also noted that the Democratic leadership in both houses of Congress was urging him not to give up and not to quit.

More from regnum.ru
Biden says he is 'firmly committed' to remaining in the presidential race
In a letter to the representatives of the Democratic Party in Congress, US President Joe Biden stated his “firm intention” not to leave the election race. On July 8, he published the text of the letter on the social network X.

“Despite the speculation in the press, <…> [I] am determined to stay in the [election race], see it through to the end, and defeat [former US President] Donald Trump,” the White House chief wrote.

At the same time, the American leader noted that he “does not turn a blind eye” to the concerns that arose in the ranks of Democrats after his televised debate with his political opponent.

Biden says he is clear and forthcoming about such concerns, saying he would not seek re-election unless he was absolutely certain he was best suited to defeat Trump.

As reported by the Regnum news agency, on July 7, a number of Democrats from the House of Representatives of Congress, in a conversation with the leader of the Democratic minority Hakeem Jeffries, called on the incumbent president to withdraw from the election race. In their opinion, otherwise, this could prevent the representatives of the Democratic Party from gaining a majority in the House of Representatives in the next elections.

On June 27, a televised debate between Biden and former US President Donald Trump took place in the United States. Biden later admitted that he had performed poorly in the debate with his political opponent.

On July 7, the Axios portal wrote that representatives of the Democratic Party called on Biden to withdraw from the elections before July 12. It was specified that calls for the head of the White House to withdraw from the presidential elections would be heard "from Barack Obama to the leaders of Congress."

Biden said on July 6 that he would drop out of the presidential race only if God came down from heaven and told him to do so. He claims that the Democratic leadership in both houses of Congress is urging him not to give in and not to drop out.

Even more from regnum.ru
Radio host fired in US for interviewing Biden on White House issues
In the US, radio host Loful-Sanders was fired. It turned out that she independently negotiated and organized an interview with President Joe Biden and conducted it using questions written by the White House. The management of the WURD radio station did not know about this.

The station said in a statement that the interview questions were pre-determined, which "contradicts WURD Radio's principle of remaining independent and accountable only to listeners." It noted that the company's management had reached a mutual agreement with Loughall-Sanders "to part ways."

WURD Radio was the first to air an interview with Joe Biden after his debate with Donald Trump.

As reported by the Regnum news agency, the televised debates between Trump and Biden took place on June 27. Before they began, the opponents did not shake hands.

Biden admitted in an interview with Milwaukee radio host Earl Ingram that he "screwed up" in the televised debates.

Many Democratic Party supporters considered the incumbent president's speech a failure. They pointed out that the American leader constantly stuttered and confused while answering questions.

Representatives of the Democratic Party insist that US President Joe Biden withdraw his candidacy from the presidential election.

Link

Home Front: Politix

U.S. Rep. Roy seeks to oust Biden via 25th amendment

2024-06-30

[JustTheNews] U.S. Rep. Chip Roy R-Texas, filed a resolution Friday calling for the 25th Amendment of the Constitution to be invoked to remove President Joe Biden from office after his performance at the presidential debate on Thursday night. Biden appeared to have mental and physical difficulties, prompting widespread speculation and criticism in the media and among Democrats.

The resolution calls on Vice President Kamala Harris “to convene and mobilize the principal officers of the executive departments of the Cabinet to activate Section 4 of the 25th Amendment to declare President Joseph Biden incapable of executing the duties of his office and to immediately exercise powers as Acting President.” It also states Biden “has repeatedly and publicly demonstrated his inability to discharge the powers and duties of the presidency, including, among others, the powers and duties of the Commander-In-Chief.”

In a radio interview, Roy made similar arguments to those of Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, saying he doesn’t know who would replace Biden as the Democratic nominee ahead on Novembers election. Cruz says it would be former First Lady Michelle Obama.

Roy said, “Democrats have now known this for a long time,” referring to Biden’s mental and physical health. “They've been guilty of trying to hide it from the American people. They've been using him [Biden] as a puppet as a Manchurian candidate to drive their radical agenda. They've done that on purpose … now they saw the gig is up, that Trump could win, they were hoping they could keep the Manchurian candidate in place, they panicked. It was a controlled panic, let's have an early debate, we'll see how he performed. He didn't perform. Now they have what they need to try to push him aside and end-run [Vice President] Kamala [Harris].”

Regardless of the Democrats’ problems, Roy said, “we have a constitutional duty to protect the Constitution. He's incapable. We should force Democrats to own it and make a choice. Do you agree, do you believe he's competent? Let's make them choose.”

Congress proposed the 25th Amendment in 1965 after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. All 50 states ratified it in 1967. It establishes procedures for replacing the president or vice president under certain circumstances. The first time it was invoked was in 1973 after Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned, according to the Congressional Research Service. It was again used in 1974 after President Richard Nixon resigned and when Vice President Gerald Ford, who became president, nominated Nelson Rockefeller as Vice President. It has not been used since.

Calls to invoke the 25th Amendment were made in February by multiple members of Congress after Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report cited examples of Biden’s mental lapses, describing him as an “elderly man with poor memory,” The Center Square reported.

Before that, and for three years, former White House physician for presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump, U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, repeatedly questioned Biden’s mental and physical health and called for him to be removed under the 25th Amendment, The Center Square reported.

Courtesy of Lord Garth:

Time to Get Familiar with Section 4 of Amendment 25

[PrepScholar] SECTION 4
"Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.

Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office."

Link

Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Ukrainian Perspective: Invasion of Ukraine: June 13, 2024

2024-06-14

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.

Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title.
[Korrespondent] 22:53 Zelensky commented on the PRC’s “peace plan”: “If China has an alternative view of this, then it can prepare an alternative formula for peace. If they share this path to peace, then we will find an opportunity for dialogue.”

22:50 Zelensky said that the agreement with the United States contains provisions for the supply of Patriot and F-16. In addition, according to him, the document provides for United States support for Ukraine “to win the war,” and it will continue in peacetime. Among other provisions, Zelensky highlighted cooperation between the defense industries of Ukraine and the United States, steps to hold Russia accountable, in particular sanctions and export controls, as well as support for Ukraine’s future membership in NATO.

22:47 The agreement, signed on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Italy, confirms the United States' support for Kiev in protecting sovereignty and territorial integrity. More details about him can be found in the article 10 years of Ukraine and the USA.

22:44 Zelensky said that Xi Jinping gave him his word that he would not transfer weapons to Russia: “I had a telephone conversation with the leader of China, then he said that he would not give weapons to Russia. If he is a respected person, then this will not happen to do as he gave me his word."

22:40 Five countries will help Ukraine with Patriot systems, Biden said: “We have the support of five countries to provide Patriot systems. We also let the countries expecting us to supply air defense systems know that they need to wait. All we have, will be transferred to Ukraine." Zelensky, in turn, again stated that Ukraine urgently needs seven such air defense systems: “We discussed the possibility of getting five of them, this is true, and our partners are working on it. This does not mean that we will have them tomorrow, but we see good results for Ukraine in the near future."

22:33 Zelensky and Biden signed a bilateral security agreement between Ukraine and the United States. Under the agreement, the United States will work with partners to strengthen Ukraine's ability to defend itself now and deter future aggression. With the signing of this ten-year agreement, the United States and Ukraine will work together to:

Develop and maintain Ukraine's credible defense and deterrence capabilities: the agreement sets out a vision for the future of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The United States will support the full range of Ukraine's ongoing defense needs now and over the long term.

Strengthen Ukraine's ability to sustain its fight over the long term, particularly by building on efforts to strengthen Ukraine's defense industrial base, as well as supporting its economic recovery and energy security.

Accelerate Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration, in particular through Ukraine's implementation of reforms of democratic, economic and security institutions.

Achieve a just peace that respects Ukraine's rights under international law, has broad global support, upholds key principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty and territorial integrity, and holds Russia accountable for its actions.

Conduct consultations at the highest level in the event of a future armed attack by Russia on Ukraine to determine appropriate and necessary measures to support Ukraine and impose sanctions on Russia.

21:55 The Netherlands will transfer 152-mm shells to Ukraine in the amount of 350 million euros, the country’s Ministry of Defense reported. The exact number of shells and delivery time are not reported for security reasons.

21:47 G7 leaders agreed to provide Ukraine with a loan of about $50 billion by the end of the year, said the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. “We are using excess income from Russia’s sovereign assets to pay them off,” she noted.

21:29 The Pentagon has extended the contract with Elon Musk’s SpaceX for another six months to provide Starlink Internet services in Ukraine, Space Systems Command spokesperson Bonnie Poindexter said. Thus, the US Space Force extended the contract with SpaceX until November 30 in the amount of $14.1 million. The contract provides access to Starlink, hardware and customer support on agreed terms.

20:50 Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni confirmed that G7 leaders have reached a political agreement on financing Ukraine with the help of Russian assets. However, she emphasized that the decision concerns only the use of interest, and not the confiscation of assets. Income from Russian assets will be used as loan guarantees for Ukraine.

20:46 In May, Russia in the Kharkov direction was losing up to 1,000 military personnel killed every day, a NATO official told reporters in Brussels on condition of anonymity: “Achievements in the Kharkov region seem to have come at quite a high price for Russia. Russia probably suffered losses of almost 1,000 people each.” per day in May, which is quite an astronomical figure." At the same time, the official clarified that we are talking specifically about the number of deaths.

The NATO representative also noted that Russia was unable to create a buffer zone in the Kharkov region, as stated by Putin. According to him, the front in this region has stabilized, and the territories controlled by the Russian Federation are fragmented. “Thus, ultimately, Russia’s victories in this area will be limited,” the NATO official concluded.

20:35 Stoltenberg confirmed that NATO will agree on the coordination of military assistance to Ukraine on Friday, June 14: “I expect that tomorrow ministers will agree on a NATO plan for coordinating security and training assistance. This means that NATO support will be stronger, and also more predictable."

19:54 Journalist of the propaganda channel NTV Valery Kozhin, wounded as a result of shelling in the occupied Gorlovka Donetsk region, has died, “mayor” Ivan Prikhodko said.

19:49 On June 11, the Ukrainian Armed Forces hit the Belgorod region with HIMARS - seven soldiers were killed, the opposition Russian publication Astra reports, citing sources. The strike was carried out by two missiles on the positions of the Russian Armed Forces in the area of the village of Borisovka, 18 km from the border with Ukraine.

19:47 The Canadian Foreign Ministry announced new sanctions against Russia. The restrictions included, in particular, individuals and legal entities involved in disinformation and propaganda operations, as well as enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex. In addition, the restrictions apply to individuals involved in sanctions evasion, which facilitate Russia's access to sanctioned goods and help it evade oil price ceilings.

Among others, the sanctions list included the Minister of Industrial Trade of the Russian Federation Anton Alikhanov, the head of the Safe Internet League Ekaterina Mizulina, the publisher Aram Gabrelyanov, the Russian parliamentary publication Rossiyskaya Gazeta, several Russian media outlets in the occupied territories of Ukraine and the Voice of Europe platform. In a separate decision, Canada introduces a ban on the export of numerically controlled machines, which Russia can use in the production of weapons.

19:39 The number of victims as a result of the Russian strike on Novomoskovsk, Dnepropetrovsk region, has increased to six, including two children, said the head of the OVA Sergei Lysak. 91 private houses, five educational institutions, and gas infrastructure were damaged.

19:28 NATO members, after lifting Orban’s veto, adopted an “operational plan to expand support for Ukraine,” providing for a greater role for the Alliance in the supply of weapons and training to the Ukrainian military, DPA writes, citing sources. The approved plan, in particular, assumes that in the future the Alliance will take over the international coordination of arms supplies and training for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Thus, NATO will create an analogue of the American Security Assistance Group in Ukraine (SAG-U), operating at the European headquarters of the US Armed Forces in Wiesbaden, Germany, and numbering about 300 military personnel. The document was adopted by a written procedure on the sidelines of a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, and will be made public on Friday, June 14, after official approval by the ministers, DPA writes.

18:35 The war in Ukraine is exacerbating climate problems in the world, The Guardian cites research results. Thus, the climate costs of the first two years of the war in Ukraine exceeded the annual greenhouse gas emissions produced by 175 countries separately.

The war produced at least 175 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, equivalent to 90 million gasoline cars driven in a year. This is the use of fuel by military equipment, its delivery to the front, the production of weapons and fortifications, the restoration of destroyed infrastructure, fires after shelling, changes in the routes of commercial aircraft, attacks on energy infrastructure and the displacement of almost 7 million Ukrainians and Russians.

18:29 The United States currently has no plans to supply Ukraine with additional Patriot systems, including the transfer of those based in Poland, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said. According to him, strengthening Ukraine's air defense has been a US priority for many months, but Washington devotes a lot of time to the supply of other capabilities, in particular interceptor missiles.

18:26 Ukraine and Japan signed a security agreement at the G7 summit, Zelensky said. According to the document, during 2024 Japan will allocate $4.5 billion to Ukraine and will support the country throughout the ten-year term of the agreement. The agreement provides for assistance in the field of security and defense, cooperation in the humanitarian, technical and financial spheres, joint work on the implementation of the points of the Peace Formula, sanctions against the Russian Federation and bringing the aggressor to justice, as well as cooperation in reconstruction. Zelensky stressed that for Japan “this type of agreement and this level of support is breakthrough.”

18:23 On Friday, June 14, hourly power outage schedules will be applied throughout Ukraine from 18:00 to 22:00, Ukrenergo reported.

18:20 Russian troops shelled Tokarevka, Daryevsk community, Kherson region, one person was killed, OVA reported.

18:17 On Friday, June 14, Zelensky will meet with Pope Francis on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy, Vatican News writes.

18:12 The United States does not plan to remove Patriot from Poland’s air defense to transfer it to Ukraine, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said.

17:56 Shelling from S-300 and S-400 in the Kharkov region has become less, said the head of the OVA Oleg Sinegubov: “The enemy attacked Kharkov with S-300 missiles almost every night and day. In addition, with guided bombs, etc. d. Therefore, we are now stating that there are fewer such attacks. However, one S-300 missile strike was still carried out at night on a populated area in the Kharkov region. Therefore, the threat still remains.”

17:21 The Russians have almost completed the construction of the railway from Rostov-on-Don to Mariupol, said advisor to the mayor of Mariupol Pyotr Andryushchenko: “As soon as they finish, it will radically change the entire logistics picture along the front line. At least when we are talking about the south Donetsk region, part of the Zaporozhye region... This is really a reduction in logistics in terms of mileage by about 300 km, and in terms of time this is a reduction in days.”

16:55 Britain has expanded sanctions against Russia. Another 50 new items have been added to the list of sanctions restrictions, which affected, in particular, six ships of the so-called “shadow fleet”. The sanctions also included the Moscow Exchange, St. Petersburg Exchange, National Clearing Center, National Settlement Depository of Russia and others.

16:34 The Russians attacked Novomoskovsk in the Dnepropetrovsk region - two children, aged three and 12 years old, are currently known to be injured, said the head of the OVA Sergei Lysak. A fire broke out and nine residential buildings were damaged.

15:58 Participants in the peace summit are already discussing where the next conference on Ukraine will take place, said Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis: “The Swiss peace conference will be the first in a series of summits on Ukraine. Discussions are currently underway which country will host the next event to develop a settlement plan ".

15:23 The government has allocated 2.5 billion hryvnia for Kharkov and the region, Shmygal said. The funds will be used to restore the energy system, install cogeneration units, block-modular boiler houses and gas generators.

15:17 Russian troops inflicted more than ten strikes on Veletensky, Belozersk community, Kherson region, one wounded is known, the OVA reported.

15:00 G7 leaders will approve the provision of a $50 billion loan to Ukraine using frozen Russian assets, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said: “Another $50 billion for Ukraine. To do this, we use interest on frozen assets - a smart tool that demonstrates to Putin our unity, helps Ukraine a lot and relieves the burden on budgets. Now we are working on the details."

14:48 Energoatom warned that in the coming days it will put out another thousand-ton power unit for repairs, so the generation deficit in the energy system may increase.

14:42 China, on the eve of the Peace Summit in Switzerland, is lobbying its “peace plan” among world governments, Reuters writes after talking with ten unnamed diplomats. As the Peace Summit approaches, Beijing has stepped up its outreach efforts through meetings with visiting foreign officials, phone calls and messages to foreign missions on China's WeChat platform, diplomats said.

14:10 Member countries of the Ramstein Contact Group have pledged to provide almost $100 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said.

14:04 Poland does not agree to the transfer to Ukraine of the American Patriot system located on its territory, said the country’s Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk. According to him, the American battery will be replaced by a battery “from another part of the world.” “Poland did not agree to the transfer of the Polish battery. Polish patriots are defending Polish skies, and this will not change,” Tomczyk emphasized.

13:29 In the occupied Gorlovka, Donetsk region, “while performing professional duties,” a correspondent for the NTV propaganda channel Alexey Ivliev and two other channel employees were seriously wounded, reported “mayor” Ivan Prikhodko.

13:23 The Russians in the southern direction lost five boats during the day, said the speaker of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Dmitry Pletenchuk. According to him, usually the enemy loses 1-2 boats.

13:08 German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that taking into account the third system, Germany is transferring a quarter of its Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, and can no longer do so.

12:47 Argentina has joined the Ramstein format, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said at the opening of the contact group meeting: “Support for Ukraine is increasing. And therefore I welcome the efforts of Argentina as a new member of the contact group. I welcome you here with us today.”

12:22 Canada will send Ukraine 2.3 thousand CRV7 aircraft missiles, which were previously used by the Royal Air Force, said the head of the country's Ministry of Defense Bill Blair. According to him, these missiles have already been tested. Blair added that Canada will continue to test these missiles and, based on the test results, will send more of them to Ukraine.

12:06 The Group of Seven “has made good progress” on the issue of using frozen Russian assets in favor of Ukraine, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said. According to him, an agreement could be concluded when G7 leaders begin negotiations with Zelensky today.

12:00 Norway will transfer ammunition for mortars to Ukraine at an estimated cost of almost 42 million euros, Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram said. He added that Norway recently also transferred a batch of hand grenades worth 4.7 million euros and ammunition for sniper weapons worth 260 thousand euros.

11:53 At today's G7 summit in Italy, topics such as the development of a coalition of fighters, accelerating the training of Ukrainian pilots, accelerated delivery of aircraft, the development of the Ukrainian air defense system, increasing long-range capabilities, the use of Russian assets in favor of Ukraine, joint production of weapons will be discussed, Zelensky said.

The President of Ukraine will personally take part in the G7 meeting and hold a series of bilateral meetings. Bilateral security agreements will be signed during meetings with US President Joseph Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. “The document with the United States will be unprecedented, as befits leaders of support for Ukraine,” Zelensky added.

11:31 Biden and Zelensky will sign a ten-year security agreement at a summit in Italy, but any future US president can withdraw from it, writes The Washington Post. The publication explains that the document obliges Washington to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine on a long-term basis, including the transfer of advanced technologies. But since the agreement is not a treaty and will not be ratified by Congress, any other US president except Biden could withdraw from it.

11:15 Following the results of the international conference on the restoration of Ukraine in Berlin, the G7+ partners adopted a statement in which, in particular, they announced additional assistance to the Ukrainian energy sector in the amount of more than $1 billion. Of these, $500 million is new funding from the United States to support the energy sector, €300 million is additional funding from the EBRD, more than €70 million is new grant contributions to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, at least $47 million is an additional grant from the World Bank. bank, as well as donations in the form of humanitarian aid from EU member states.

11:07 The Special Operations Forces said that for the first time in history they hit the Russian digital radio relay station R-416GM, which was supposed to increase the efficiency of radio relay communication units in the field. Russian troops adopted the R-416GM for service in 2018.

11:01 The President's Office presented the film World Formula. It tells how the Ukrainian Peace Formula was created, why it is a comprehensive solution for sustainable and lasting peace not only in Ukraine, but throughout the world, the importance of each point and why Russia is actively opposing the Peace Summit in Switzerland.

10:56 According to a new analysis presented at the International Criminal Court, Russia employed a “deliberate pattern” of starvation tactics during its 85-day siege of Mariupol that amounted to a war crime, The Guardian writes. Lawyers note that the Russian Federation and its leaders intended to kill and harm large numbers of civilians. According to estimates, 22 thousand people died during the cordon and capture of Mariupol at the beginning of the war in Ukraine.

10:38 NATO does not consider Ukraine’s use of Western weapons, including F-16s, on Russian territory to be an escalation, Stoltenberg said.

10:27 Russia purchased 90% of chips from China last year, which allows it to continue the war in Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: “We see how China is now playing a key role in ensuring or supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine. 90% of microelectronics, which Russia imported last year, came from China. These items, electronic equipment, are key to the production of missiles, bombs and battle tanks used in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine."

09:34 On June 12, one person was killed in the Donetsk region as a result of Russian shelling - in Ostrom, said the head of the OBA Vadim Filashkin.

08:59 The Russians fired at the village. Stary Saltov, Chuguevsky district, Kharkov region, three people were injured, said the head of the OVA Oleg Sinegubov. Two more people were wounded as a result of enemy shelling. Kurilovka, Kupyansky district.

08:28 The General Staff announced the estimated losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of June 13:

personnel - about 522,810 (+980) people,

tanks - 7928 (+17),

armored combat vehicles - 15,208 (+21),

artillery systems - 13,770 (+34),

MLRS - 1099 (+0),

air defense systems - 846 (+2),

aircraft - 359 (+0),

helicopters - 326 (+0),

Operational-tactical level UAV - 11,075 (+33),

cruise missiles - 2285 (+5),

ships/boats - 28 (+0),

submarines - 1 (+0),

automotive equipment and tank trucks - 18,794 (+58),

special equipment - 2294 (+4).

08:16 As a result of yesterday's missile attack on Krivoy Rog, nine people were killed, 32 were injured, including five children. The rescue operation has been completed, said the head of the city military administration, Alexander Vilkul. According to preliminary information, the enemy hit a residential area of the city with an Iskander-M ballistic missile from Crimea. 41 apartment buildings, one gymnasium, and two colleges were damaged. On Friday, June 14, a day of mourning will be declared in Krivoy Rog.

07:20 In the Kiev region, they have been extinguishing a fire at an industrial enterprise for 24 hours, which arose as a result of yesterday’s Russian attack, the State Emergency Service reported. There are 249 rescuers, 98 pieces of equipment, and four firefighting trains on site.

03:34 Advisor to the US President Jake Sullivan said that the White House has new reliable reports that Russian authorities are placing abducted Ukrainian children on Russian adoption sites.

01:42 Canada is sending Ukraine the first four armored medical evacuation vehicles out of the promised 50, the country’s Ministry of Defense reported. These armored personnel carriers are equipped with equipment that will allow “to provide medical care for various injuries,” the department added.

01:03 The focus of the 23rd Ramstein meeting, which will take place on June 13 in Brussels, will be to discuss opportunities to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense, including with Patriot installations and other systems, said Pentagon Deputy Speaker Sabrina Singh. She also noted that Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin, along with the head of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Charles Brown, flew to Brussels to participate in the contact group meeting. There he will also take part in a meeting of NATO defense ministers on Friday, June 14.

Link

Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Eight people from Tajikistan were detained in the United States for connections with terrorists

2024-06-13

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] Eight immigrants from Tajikistan were detained in the United States on suspicion of connections with the terrorist group “Islamic State” (a terrorist organization whose activities are banned in the Russian Federation).television reported this on June 11.

It is clarified that the suspects were detained during an FBI operation in Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia. According to the television company's sources, all those detained entered the United States illegally through the southern border. The FBI conducted the investigation and monitored and wiretapped the suspects for several months. The detainees were not charged with preparing for the terrorist attack; the reason for their detention was related to a violation of immigration laws.

According to the New York Post, six of the detainees are from Tajikistan and have Russian citizenship.

And the other two?

It is noted that during the operation, the FBI allegedly recorded conversations between detainees about explosive devices. It is assumed that the talk could be about preparations for a terrorist attack.

Earlier, IA Regnum reported that, as the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Christopher Ray said at a hearing in the Appropriations Committee of the US Senate, there is a risk of a terrorist attack in the United States, similar to the terrorist attack in the Crocus City Hall near Moscow.

According to Wray, Washington is concerned that some groups or individuals may have drawn "inspiration" from the Middle East to attack the United States.

The press bureau of the Foreign Intelligence Service clarified that the United States is shielding those responsible for the terrorist attack in the Crocus City Hall near Moscow, and the administration of US President Joseph Biden is intensifying work to form a distorted picture of the attack. However, Washington’s propaganda rhetoric regarding Crocus is not selling well: the Americans cannot achieve unified assessments of the tragedy near Moscow even among NATO and EU members, the SVR clarified.

The official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, noted that Russia considers the US position on the investigation of the terrorist attack in Crocus to be obviously biased. The diplomat accused Washington of wanting to get the Kiev regime out of harm’s way, while the American authorities exposed themselves.

Terrorists attacked the Crocus City Hall concert hall in Krasnogorsk near Moscow on March 22. The attack killed 145 people, including six children. Over 500 more people were injured. The court recognized more than 1.7 thousand people as victims in the case of the terrorist attack in Crocus. The Basmanny Court of Moscow decided to arrest a total of 18 people out of 20 accused in the case of a terrorist attack in a concentration hall near Moscow.

Link

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