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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Ukrainian Perspective: Invasion of Ukraine: April 28, 2025
2025-04-29
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] 21:18 Most of the Akhmat special forces fighters from the Aida group, who crawled through a gas pipe into the city of Sudzha in the Kursk region to force the Ukrainian Armed Forces out of there, are now in hospitals due to lung problems. This was reported by the deputy head of the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces and the commander of the Akhmat special forces, Lieutenant General Apti Alaudinov, as reported by RosSMI.

20.31 Since the beginning of the day, 92 combat clashes have occurred at the front. The Russian occupiers are most actively advancing in the Pokrovsky direction. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the evening of April 28.

19.49 In Kiev, rescuers found the remains of a rocket in the Camel Bay in the Obolonsky district. This was reported by the press service of the State Emergency Service.

"In Kyiv, in the Obolonsky district, near the Camel Bay, local residents noticed debris and, suspecting that these could be fragments of a rocket, reported the discovery to the relevant services," the statement said.

Specialists arrived at the scene and identified the remains of a Tochka-U missile.

"They do not pose an immediate mortal threat to the population, but remain potentially dangerous," the State Emergency Service explained.

19.17 Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov stated that the ceasefire declared by Russia from May 8 to 11 is a "manifestation of goodwill" of the Russian head of state and allegedly demonstrates Moscow's readiness for a peaceful settlement of the war. This is reported by Russian media.

Commenting on media reports about possible initiatives from Washington and Kyiv to resolve the war, Peskov stressed that public discussion of such proposals is impossible.

18:58 The head of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and future Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz will not accept the peace imposed on Ukraine, based on Russia's military force. He said this at a party congress in Berlin, Bild reports .

18:40 The Darknode unit of the 412th Nemesis Regiment has recently intercepted 52 Shahed-136 attack UAVs using the latest means, the Unmanned Systems Force reports.

15:56 Head of the Kherson OVA Oleksandr Prokudin reported on the rescue of four children and teenagers from the temporarily occupied Kherson region.

In total, three boys and a girl were returned. The youngest child is 10 years old, the oldest is 17.

Among those rescued was a young man whom the occupiers forcibly took to the military registration and enlistment office, where they entered his data into the database as a Russian conscript and even determined his military specialty.

15.48 In Cherkassy, ​​an infrastructure facility was damaged as a result of drone strikes. This was reported on April 28 by the city's mayor, Anatoly Bondarenko.

15.23 The chairman of the military medical commission of the regional mobilization center of Bukovina and his accomplice were exposed in a scheme to produce fictitious medical documents to evade military service. This was reported by the press service of the State Bureau of Investigation.

14:59 Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said that Ukraine is actively working to achieve peace together with international partners, but this path must be based on accurate information and assessments of the situation. The head of the MFA reported this on Platform X.

Sybiga emphasized that Ukraine wants peace more than anyone else in the world, and noted that this path must be based on facts.

"Ukraine wants peace more than anyone else in the world. We never wanted this war, and we want it to end as soon as possible. We are working hard together with the United States, European and other partners to achieve peace. And this path must be based on accurate information, assumptions and assessments," Sybiga wrote on social media.

He also noted that the widespread assumption that Russia could win the war is wrong, as it is based on underestimating Ukraine and overestimating Russia.

"This pattern has proven itself wrong many times, but people continue to fall into the same trap," the minister stressed.

According to Sibiga, the situation on the front remains tense, but Russia has not been able to break through the front line.

14. 57 The recognition by North Korea and Russia of the participation of the DPRK troops in the aggressive war against Ukraine is evidence that the Russian Federation does not seek peace. Moreover, the involvement of Pyongyang shows the desperate situation of Russia itself, which forces it to seek allies among the most depressive regimes in the world. This was stated by the press secretary of the European Commission Anita Hipper in Brussels during a briefing.

14:34 Russian invaders continue to kidnap Ukrainian children from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine under the guise of cultural trips. This was reported by the Center for National Resistance on Telegram.

14.30 Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has announced a three-day "truce" in May, the Kremlin press service reported . Putin is keen for the military parade and May 9 celebrations in Moscow to proceed calmly.

14.16 In Zakarpattia, law enforcement officers have exposed a criminal group that organized the illegal transfer of military-liable men across the state border of Ukraine. This was reported by the press service of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

14.00 In Kiev, a 45-year man died injured due to a masquerading Russian missile strike on the 24th quarter. With this, the number of victims of the Russian attack has increased to 13 people.

13.59 The SBU detained a Russian intelligence agent in Kramatorsk who was transmitting the coordinates of minefields to the enemy and was planning to form a punitive detachment in the event of the occupation of the region. This was reported by the SBU press service.

13.58 Russian war criminals launched several groups of "shahids" into Ukrainian territory on Monday morning, April 28. The city of Cherkassy and the Cherkassy region were under attack. This was reported by the Air Force.

13:38 The final settlement of the "Ukrainian crisis" should be based on two principles - Ukraine's non-entry into NATO and the consolidation of its non-aligned status, as well as the recognition of "territorial realities." This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Interfax reports .

13.17 Prosecutors of the Berestinsky District Prosecutor's Office of the Kharkiv Region have sent to court an indictment against four minors accused of sabotage, arson and obstruction of the activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This was reported by the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.

13.01 A Su-27 fighter jet was lost on Monday morning. The pilot ejected and survived, the Ukrainian Air Force reported . The plane was lost while performing a combat mission to provide air support to troops and repel an attack by "shahideen".

12.57 Kremlin propagandists will soon step up their efforts to discredit the ceasefire negotiations. Their traditional ideologies will be to impose the world community's opinion on Ukraine's "lack of independence" in peace issues. This was reported by the Center for Counteracting Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.

12.37 Three civilians were killed in the village of Novoekonomicheskoe in the Grodovsk community of the Pokrovsky district as a result of Russian shelling. This was reported by the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor's Office. The victims of the aggressors were a married couple aged 76 and 78. A 47-year-old local resident also received injuries incompatible with life.

12.09 Russian troops attacked Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast at night, industrial facilities and the private sector were under enemy fire. This was reported by the head of the Kramatorsk GVA, Alexander Goncharenko.

12.02 Russia is allegedly waiting for a "signal" from Ukraine to resume direct negotiations. This was stated by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in a commentary to Russian propagandists. According to him, there is still a legal ban on the path to negotiations.

11.56 Border guards operating reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have removed three Ukrainian soldiers from a Russian log. This was reported by the State Border Service of Ukraine (GBSU) on its Telegram channel.

11.16 Russia is ready to provide assistance to North Korea if necessary. This was stated by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in a commentary to Russian propagandists.

10.48 The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has released information about key enterprises supplying missiles and ammunition to Russia. These companies play a significant role in the aggressor's military production.

10.18 The Security Service counterintelligence has thwarted new attempts by Russian special services to destabilize the internal situation in Dnepr. A married couple who were preparing terrorist attacks in the city on orders from the Russian Federation have been detained.

The defendants arranged six caches with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and F-1 grenades in the territory of Dnepr and its environs. The Russians planned to recruit a new group of agents later, who were to obtain explosives from the caches and use them for detonations in crowded places.

The traitors turned out to be a 42-year-old contract soldier of one of the military units, who was engaged in subversive activities during home leave, as well as his 24-year-old wife, whom the enemy recruited on one of the Telegram channels.

10.02 North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called the soldiers who took part in the Russian-Ukrainian war "heroes" and promised to build a monument to "military exploits" in the capital of the DPRK.

Pyongyang also repeated Moscow's statement about the alleged "complete liberation" of the Kursk region of Russia from the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

9:20 On the night of April 28, Russian troops attacked Kharkiv region with drones. As a result of ten "Shahed" drones hitting the village of Mokraya Rakitna, a calf barn, an administrative building, three cowsheds, two warehouses and a car were damaged. 22 heads of cattle were killed and 30 cows were injured.

8.56 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the key topic of which was the Russian war against Ukraine.

"Following up on the April 25 conversation between Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin and US Presidential Special Envoy Witkoff, the Minister and Secretary of State noted the importance of consolidating the emerging preconditions for starting negotiations with the aim of agreeing on a reliable path to long-term sustainable peace," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

8.37 Over the past 24 hours, 168 combat contacts were recorded at the front. In particular, the Russians attacked the Pokrovsk direction 64 times, and 23 enemy assaults took place in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation.

8.15 On the night of April 28, explosions were heard near the Russian city of Bryansk. The Silicon El plant, which produces electronics for military needs, was hit by drones.

Bryansk Region Governor Alexander Bogomaz said that a person was allegedly killed as a result of the drone attack. According to him, damage was caused to civilian infrastructure. Eyewitnesses in local public groups write that the drones' target was the Silicon El military microelectronics plant, in the area of ​​which several hits were recorded.

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported the destruction of 115 drones, 102 of which were over the Bryansk region.

07.32 As of April 28, 2025, the total combat losses of Russian troops on the territory of Ukraine amounted to approximately 949,800 people (1,160 per day).

05.13 Ukraine should not agree to the proposal of US President Donald Trump to cede its territories. This was stated by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius in an interview with the German TV channel ARD. The Minister emphasized that Ukraine could have received such conditions on its own a year ago.

"It's akin to capitulation. I don't see any added value," Pistorius said.

04.02 North Korean leader Kim Jong-un confirmed the sending of troops to Russia for the war against Ukraine, stating that this is in line with the provisions of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty between the DPRK and the Russian Federation.

"After it was determined that the situation met the conditions for applying the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty with Russia, Comrade Kim Jong-un made a decision on the fate of our armed forces in the war and informed the Russian side about it," the North Korean KCNA said in a statement.

03.26 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is ready to cede Crimea in exchange for an end to hostilities and the onset of long-awaited peace, according to US President Donald Trump.

02.04 US President Donald Trump said Russian dictator Vladimir Putin needs to demonstrate a commitment to ending the war in Ukraine.

"I want him to stop shooting and sit down and sign a deal. I think we have the terms of a deal and I want him to sign it and get it over with and just get his life back," Trump told reporters as he left New Jersey.

He also said he was disappointed by Russia's recent missile strikes on Kyiv and could not say for sure whether Putin was serious about ending the war.

01.12 Ukraine has received another 400,000 large-caliber shells this year as part of the Czech initiative to supply ammunition. This was reported by Czech Defense Minister Jana Černochová. In 2024, Ukraine received about 1.5 million rounds of ammunition of various calibers through the mediation of the Czech Republic. According to the Czech Defense Minister, in 2025, funds for the initiative will be provided by autumn.

Link


Arabia
'Mecca of the Oppressed.' What the Emir of Qatar Came to Moscow With?
2025-04-19
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
by Kirill Semenov

[REGNUM] Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks on Thursday with the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, at which the parties discussed the situation in the Middle East, the Ukrainian crisis and bilateral cooperation.

At the beginning of the narrow-format meeting, Vladimir Putin emphasized that relations between Russia and Qatar are strengthening. Qatar, according to the president, is one of Rosneft's key partners. About $1 billion has been invested in Russia through the RDIF (Qatar has invested more than $13 billion in total), but "there are much greater prospects," the Russian leader noted. He recalled how Qatar assisted in obtaining the right to host the Winter Olympics in Sochi, while Russia helped Qatar organize the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The president expressed gratitude for Qatar's assistance in prisoner exchanges, although the Ukrainian crisis was not discussed in detail, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said. "Gratitude was expressed to the Qatari side for assistance in prisoner exchanges, but the topic of Ukraine was not discussed in detail," Peskov told reporters.

THE FATE OF BASES IN SYRIA
The Syrian problem received more attention.

In particular, the Emir of Qatar informed the Russian President about recent contacts with the Syrian leadership:

"As for Syria, a few days ago President al-Sharaa was in Qatar, and we spoke with him about the historical and strategic relations between Syria and Russia. He is interested in building relations between the two countries based on mutual respect."

President Putin, in turn, said that the situation in Syria, which has been rocked by sectarian violence in recent weeks, is of serious importance to Russia. According to Vladimir Putin, there are many problems in the SAR: political, security-related, and purely economic.

“We would like to do everything to ensure that Syria, firstly, remains a sovereign, independent and territorially integral state, and we would like to discuss with you the possibility of providing assistance to the Syrian people, including humanitarian assistance,” he addressed the emir.

In this context, it is important to pay attention to the possibility of using Russian military bases in Syria as humanitarian hubs. In this way, Moscow will be able to change the attitude towards these facilities of that part of the Syrians who opposed Assad and perceived Russian bases exclusively as an element of his support.

Now it is possible to redirect them to humanitarian supplies for Syrians who still need external assistance, including supplies of essential goods and products and food, given the difficult economic situation in the country.

Khmeimim, along with Russian ones, can also receive heavy Qatari C-17 aircraft with humanitarian aid, which will be completely safe at the base itself, and can then be distributed throughout the country.

Thus, the use of Russian facilities to organize humanitarian programs will also change the perception of Russia’s presence in Syria.

In fact, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke about using Russian bases as humanitarian hubs back in January.

GAZA AND IRAN
The two leaders also discussed the situation in the Gaza Strip, where Qatar played a key role in brokering a three-phase ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in January.

Israel resumed its offensive in the enclave in March, and talks to restore the ceasefire have so far failed to produce a breakthrough.

"Qatar, in its role as a mediator, will seek to bring together different points of view in an attempt to reach an agreement that will end the suffering of the Palestinian people," Sheikh Tamim said.

The Russian President, in turn, told the Emir: "We know that Qatar is making very serious efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Unfortunately, the initiatives put forward, including by you, have not been implemented - peaceful people continue to die in Palestine, which is an absolute tragedy of today."

Against the backdrop of events in Gaza and the ongoing violence there, humanitarian cooperation between Russia and Qatar in Syria may be supplemented by other initiatives in the area of ​​resolving Middle East conflicts, and official representatives of Russia have also drawn attention to this.

In particular, on the eve of the emir's arrival, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov told journalists: " The region is full of conflict potential. And Qatar plays a very large and important role in attempts to resolve many situations."

It is significant that during the visit of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad to the Russian capital, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also arrived.

It is possible that the Emir of Qatar may also convey to the Americans some message from the Iranian side regarding the second round of Iran-US talks to be held in Oman. It may be supported by the views of Moscow and Doha.

MEDIATION AS A PILLAR OF FOREIGN POLICY
The Russian-Qatari dialogue in Moscow can also open a new page of closer cooperation in the field of mediation and conflict resolution. Russia and Qatar could exchange the experience that both countries have. At the same time, the Russian side also has something to learn from the Qataris, who have already accumulated much more experience in such matters and developed an effective methodology.

Qatar's approach to mediation as one of the main pillars of international activity is enshrined in the state's constitution. Doha positions itself as the "Mecca of the oppressed", on the one hand, providing a refuge for various political forces, and on the other, actively participating in the peaceful resolution of disputes between states and organizations.

At the same time, in its mediation activities, the State of Qatar relies on two main foundations: strategic interaction and tactical neutrality.

Strategic engagement means that the relationship with the parties mediated by Doha does not end with the signing of a reconciliation or normalization document. Qatar uses its mediation to cement the strategic nature of its ties with them and continues to develop cooperation in all areas, having gained trust during the mediation.

The second aspect is tactical neutrality, which helps the state to gain this trust. While taking an active position on international platforms, supporting some and condemning others, Qatar must be neutral in the negotiating room and offer options that will suit all parties.

According to the Qataris, mediation is not about providing a platform; it is about proposing and promoting ideas to the parties and backing up words with actions.

In particular, the credibility of Qatar as a mediator in the dialogue with the Taliban was reinforced by the fact that Doha was able to evacuate 120,000 foreigners and supporters of the ousted regime of Ashraf Ghani from Afghanistan. That is, Qatar demonstrated its capabilities and influence, and its mediation efforts became even more credible.

It is also worth recalling that Qatar's mediation efforts extend far beyond the Middle East and include Africa (Congo-Rwanda, Chad, etc.) and even America, where in 2023 Doha acted as a mediator between the US and Venezuela on the exchange of prisoners.

UNDERSTANDING QATAR
The visit of the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad to Moscow, among other things, should bring the parties closer to an even greater understanding and consideration of each other’s interests.

Let us recall that 10-15 years ago, the attitude in Russia towards Qatar was rather negative, many media outlets accused Doha of supporting radical forces in the Middle East, and, conversely, Doha believed that Russia was almost the main enemy of the Islamic world. Now, Russia and Qatar have gotten to know each other much better, and such accusations, if they can be heard, are only heard from the margins.

In this case, it is significant that the exclusion of the Taliban movement from the list of terrorist organizations occurred during Tamim bin Hamad's visit to Moscow. In fact, Moscow and Doha have a common vision of what the "Afghanistan of the future" should look like, and intend to push the Afghan authorities toward reforms and the formation of an inclusive government.

At the same time, Qatar can offer its own successful model of “Islamic democracy” as a “non-Western type” civil society that is based on traditional values ​​and can be an example for Afghanistan.

Since 1995, democracy has permeated all spheres of Qatari society: government ministers and other public officials have taken the initiative and replaced appointed bodies with elected ones where possible, for example in ministerial councils. This has led to talk of a “festival of democracy” (Ayd aldimukratiyyah) sweeping Qatar.

The reforms also affected women's rights, giving them the right to participate in elections and be appointed to government positions. Qatar granted them voting rights at the same time as men in connection with the 1999 elections to the Central Municipal Council. These elections, the first in Qatar, were deliberately held on March 8, 1999, International Women's Day. Finally, on April 29, 2003, the emirate held a referendum on the country's new Constitution.

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, the current Emir of Qatar, to whom Hamad bin Khalifa handed over power in 2013, has continued his father's line in foreign and domestic policy.

MODERATE ISLAM AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO AUTHORITARIANISM
Since the 1970s, Qatar has been turning into a “Mecca of the oppressed.” Doha has been inviting Islamic scholars and preachers to its country, including those from Egypt, who were persecuted there but were able to reconcile the tenets of Islam with modernity without destroying the Islamic system.

Sheikh Hamad and then Sheikh Tamim tried to invest in Islamic values ​​such as freedom of religion, freedom of speech and pluralistic socio-political discourse between the emir and the public.

As a result, Doha has not only been able to free itself from the ultra-conservative influence that until recently emanated from Saudi Arabia by overcoming entrenched social norms, liberalizing education and the labor market, and introducing civil liberties, but has also been able to formulate its own ideological justifications for how transformation should be carried out in the Arab and Islamic world as a whole.

Therefore, the state system of Qatar itself, based on religious values, fully meets the demands of modern society. Although Qatar provides for the death penalty for adultery or apostasy, there have been no cases of such death sentences recorded in the country.

And in general, death sentences in Qatar, unlike in the KSA, are extremely rare and are imposed only for particularly serious criminal offenses, despite the large list of acts that provide for the death penalty. The only death sentence in the 21st century was carried out in 2020 for murder.

The emirate also has a punishment of 100 and 40 strokes of the stick for "illegal sexual relations" or for drinking alcohol. But although such regulations exist, they are almost never implemented, since their application is extremely difficult due to numerous medical contraindications, and usually after a medical examination they are replaced by fines.

In fact, Qatar’s role in the events of the “Arab Spring” most clearly shows what principles Doha relied on after Hamid bin Khalifa Al Thani became its ruler, whose line was continued by Emir Tamim bin Hamad.

Qatar's policies during the Arab Spring were neither ideological nor religious, but pragmatic. Qatar's ties to Islamists evolved from the emirate's tradition of providing political asylum to persecuted people and the country's attempt to diversify its foreign policy.

Moreover, there was a widespread belief among senior policymakers in Qatar that moderate political Islam provided the only functional opposition to authoritarianism.

So, when the existing socio-political order of the Arab world collapsed, Qatar perceived Islamist groups as the only available force capable of filling the socio-political void left by failed regimes – at least temporarily.

Qatar is now operating under the same premise as it tries to help Syrians build a post-authoritarian future by calling on the forces in power in Syria to embrace pluralism, civil liberties and socio-political integration.

***

Qatar's role in the region remains extremely important. Despite its small size, it can indeed be considered a regional power based on its political weight, resources, and ability to advance its own interests.

And what is especially important for Moscow is that Doha is pursuing an independent foreign policy, developing and strengthening ties with the United States and Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan, Venezuela and Congo, while the Russian Federation is one of the important points of support for Qatar in the region and the world and will remain so in the foreseeable future.

Link


Africa North
Russia to help Sahel states build up defense potential
2025-04-04
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] Russia will help the Alliance of Sahel States (ASS) to increase its defense potential in the face of existing terrorist threats. This was announced on April 3 by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

“I emphasized Moscow’s readiness to contribute in every way to building up the potential of the joint forces of the Sahel states, increasing their combat capability, the combat capability and national armed forces of each of the three countries, and training military personnel and law enforcement officers,” Lavrov noted following the talks with the heads of the foreign ministries of the ACS countries.

The diplomat also stressed that Russia is ready to assist states in the areas of security, economics, and international processes.

The Alliance will be supported in strengthening the position of the African continent and its inclusion in the emerging, more just multipolar world order, Lavrov added.

More from regnum.ru
Mali's Foreign Ministry Calls Ukraine a Sponsor of Terrorism and Calls for Stopping It
Ukraine is sponsoring terrorists in Sakhalin
…island off the eastern coast of Russia, just north of Japan’s Hokkaido, with a population of about 500,000…
and must be stopped. This was stated by the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mali Abdoulaye Diop on April 3.

“These terrorists are supported by external actors, regional actors who are in our region, who help these terrorists, who organize the rear for them, for example, Ukraine,” he said following negotiations between representatives of the Alliance of Sahel States (ASS) and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The diplomat noted that Ukraine is literally sponsoring terrorism, which requires immediate attention.

In turn, Lavrov noted that the country provides support to terrorist groups with the connivance of Western countries. He emphasized that in addition to Ukraine, some former colonizers also contribute to the destabilization of the region.

Even more from regnum.ru
Zakharova announced Lavrov's meetings with the ministers of the "Sahel Troika"
The meeting of the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov with the ministers of the "Sahel Troika", as well as separately with the foreign ministers of Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso will take place in the "next few minutes". This was stated on April 3 by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova.

“In these, one might say, remaining minutes, in the remaining time, the first meeting of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov with the heads of the foreign ministries of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger in a new format – Russia and the Alliance of Sahel States – is being prepared and will begin in Moscow,” she said during a briefing.

It is noted that issues of developing Russia's relations with these states, including political and sectoral interaction, will be discussed. The Russian Foreign Ministry also confirmed Moscow's desire to effectively support the alliance in the area of ​​building an independent policy, regional security based on its own forces and taking into account the national interests of the alliance.
Related:
Sakhalin: 2025-04-03 An earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale occurred in Khabarovsk Krai
Sakhalin: 2025-03-11 'The Failure of the Insignificant': How Lenin and the British Credited Japan with Victory in 1905
Sakhalin: 2025-02-21 Current information on the situation on the front line on February 20 (update)
Related:
Sahel: 2025-03-06 Islamic State the deadliest terror group in 2024 as big four expands
Sahel: 2025-02-25 Morocco says it foiled major Islamic State plot
Sahel: 2025-02-02 Trump announces US airstrikes on terrorist locations in Somalia
Link


Europe
Polish General Talks About Preparations for Multi-Option Operation in Ukraine
2025-03-21
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] Europe is working on many options for an international operation in Ukraine. This was stated on March 20 by the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Army, General Wieslaw Kukula.

“A multi-variant operation is being prepared, which largely depends on how the peace talks proceed,” the RAR agency quoted him as saying.

He added that the operation is still in the early stages of planning, and the participants prefer not to disclose the details of the agreements.

Regarding Warsaw's participation in the peacekeeping mission, Kukula stressed that the country does not intend to involve its military. However, according to him, it is impossible to completely avoid participation in the operation due to the common border.

There is a convenient network of roads from Poland to Ukraine, the general recalled. The country's participation may affect the sphere related to the basing of troops to ensure Ukraine's security guarantees, and logistical support, he added.

As reported by the Regnum news agency, in February, the head of the Kiev regime, Volodymyr Zelensky, stated that Ukraine would need at least 200 thousand peacekeepers to ensure the country’s security after the end of the military conflict with Russia.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Britain and France want to send 30,000 "peacekeepers" to Ukraine if the parties to the conflict reach a peace agreement. At the same time, EU officials acknowledged that without US assistance, such a plan would face a "thorny path."

On March 15, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Western countries were moving on to discussing the “ operational details” of sending troops to Ukraine. He added that he considered it important for these “peacekeepers” to receive security guarantees from the United States and noted that he was negotiating with Washington on the issue on a daily basis.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had previously stated that Russia would under no circumstances accept the presence of NATO troops in Ukraine as "peacekeepers." The diplomat stressed that if NATO troops under any flag were allowed to be stationed in the remaining territories of Ukraine, they would be defending the Nazi regime there.

Link


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Russia Rejects Ukraine Ceasefire, Launches Massive Bombing Campaign
2025-03-08
[Breitbart] Russia said on Thursday that a partial or temporary ceasefire in its war on Ukraine would be “unacceptable,” and only a comprehensive “final settlement” will do.

The Russians punctuated this argument by launching a massive attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure with missiles and drones. Russia also appears to be on the verge of ejecting Ukrainian forces from Kursk, the territory counter-invaded by the Ukrainians in August 2024.

The Russians curtly rejected a French-British proposal for a one-month ceasefire “in the air, at sea, and on energy infrastructure,” to be backed up by a “coalition of the willing” that would include at least 20 member nations, according to British officials.

“Firm agreements on a final settlement are necessary. Without all this, any respite or regrouping is absolutely unacceptable, as it will lead to exactly the opposite result,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters on Thursday.

“In reality, we are dealing with an open desire to achieve a respite at any cost for the Kyiv regime in its death throes, for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and to prevent the collapse of the front,” she said of the UK-France temporary ceasefire plan.

Zakharova’s boss, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, said the temporary plan “can’t be allowed” because it would lead to “the direct, official, and unveiled involvement of NATO members in the war against Russia.”

Both Lavrov and Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday they will never compromise on rejecting the presence of NATO forces in Ukraine. Putin additionally insisted Russia will “not give up” the territory it has illegally annexed in Ukraine.

Lavrov credited U.S. President Donald Trump with “understanding” the “root causes” of the war in Ukraine, while European leaders stubbornly ignore them. Lavrov and other Russian officials frequently mention two “root causes” of the war: possible NATO expansion into Ukraine, and alleged Ukrainian mistreatment of ethnic Russians.

Ukrainian officials said on Friday that Russia launched a large-scale attack against civilian energy resources.

“The energy and gas infrastructure in various regions of Ukraine is under mass missile and drone shelling again,” Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galuschenko said.

“Russia is trying to hurt ordinary Ukrainians by shelling energy and gas production facilities, without abandoning its goal of leaving us without power and heating, and causing the greatest harm to ordinary citizens,” he said.

Ukraine reported Russian strikes against civilian infrastructure targets in Odesa, Poltava, Chernihiv, and Ternopil, resulting in serious injuries, plus damage to private businesses and apartment buildings.

“In total, the Russians used nearly 70 missiles, both cruise and ballistic, as well as almost 200 attack drones. All of this was directed against infrastructure that ensures normal life,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday.

“Unfortunately, ordinary residential buildings have also been damaged. In Kharkiv, a Russian missile hit close to an apartment building. People were injured. They are receiving the necessary assistance,” he added.

Zelensky said U.S. F-16 and French Mirage fighter jets “were used to protect Ukrainian skies.” He singled out the Mirages for intercepting Russian cruise missiles.
Link


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Ukrainian Perspective: Invasion of Ukraine: March 6, 2025
2025-03-07
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] 20.29 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked European leaders for their support for Ukraine and maintaining unity despite the challenges of global politics during the European Council meeting in Brussels. He presented the first steps towards achieving a fair and lasting peace.

19.55 The Norwegian Parliament has decided to increase aid to Ukraine from NOK 50 billion ($4.6 billion) to NOK 85 billion ($7.8 billion) in 2025, NRK reports.

19:25 Britain has held initial talks with about 20 countries on a "coalition of the willing" to ensure peace in Ukraine, the British television channel Sky News reported, citing British officials.

18:56 The US administration is now "actively" putting pressure not only on Ukraine, but also on Russia, using the carrot and stick method. This was stated by the US President's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg at a discussion at the Council on Foreign Relations.

18:24 China's special envoy to the European Union Lu Shay said he was "discouraged" by the way US President Donald Trump is treating allies in Europe, the South China Morning Post reports .

18:00 Ukrainian aviation carried out two strikes on important targets of the Russian invaders - in the Kherson and Kursk regions. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported the details .

17:55 US Special Representative for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg said that the spat between Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump last week at the White House was due to the two leaders' "different goals" in the Russian-Ukrainian war. He said this in his report on ways to end the war in Ukraine at a discussion at the Council on Foreign Relations.

17:39 Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said that Kiev has not yet received details regarding the possible restriction of access to US intelligence. He said this at a joint press conference with the German Defense Minister in Berlin on Thursday, March 6.

At the same time, Ukraine is already developing alternative sources of information, in particular through cooperation with European partners.

17:28 A European air force of 120 fighter jets could be deployed over Kiev and western Ukraine to protect against Russian attacks, the British newspaper The Guardian reported .

17:13 German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that the next meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine's Defense in the Ramstein format is tentatively scheduled for late March - early April. He reported this at a press conference in Berlin after talks with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

16:44 SBU counterintelligence officers detained two agents of the Russian military intelligence (better known as the GRU), who were operating in the Kiev, Chernihiv and Sumy regions. The attackers were preparing a series of enemy air attacks on high-voltage power lines to cut off power to part of the northern regions.

16:35 Since the beginning of the current day, 80 combat clashes have occurred on the front. The Russian invaders are most active in the Toretsk area and in the Kursk region, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported in an operational report as of 16:00.

16:16 Belgium will provide Ukraine with combat-ready F-16 fighters only in 2026. This was stated by Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever before the EU summit in Brussels. At the same time, he did not rule out that the F-16s will arrive in Ukraine this year, but most likely as spare parts.

15:59 On March 6, Russian troops dropped explosives from a drone on civilians in the Kherson region. Two people were killed in the attack. This was reported by the press service of the Kherson Regional Prosecutor's Office on Thursday, March 6.

15:58 Humanitarian volunteers who survived the Russian missile strike on a hotel in Krivoy Rog say the ballistic missile strike was "deliberate and aimed at killing civilians." This was reported by the British television channel Sky News.

15:49 Russia considers yesterday's speech by French President Emmanuel Macron to be "excessively confrontational" and posing a "threat" to the Russian Federation. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made the corresponding statements.

15:15 Russian troops dropped three guided bombs on Kramatorsk. Two people were injured as a result of the strikes. A residential building and an industrial zone were damaged in the city.

14:22 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of a special EU leaders' security summit in Brussels, the Ukrainian leader's press secretary Serhiy Nikiforov reported.

14:04 The EU's safe summit in Brussels comes at a "watershed moment" for Europe. Decisions must be made to boost the bloc's defense capabilities and strengthen Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the press ahead of the meeting.

13:41 Moscow happily agreed with the statement by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who called the conflict in Ukraine a "proxy war" between Russia and the US. This was stated by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov at a briefing.

13:20 The Security Service has collected evidence on two more traitors involved in the kidnapping of Ukrainian children during the occupation of Kherson - the so-called "Minister of Health of Crimea" Konstantin Skorupsky and his deputy Anton Lyaskovsky. During the temporary occupation of Kherson, the defendants took 46 young children from a local orphanage to Simferopol.

13:10 President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived for the emergency EU summit in Brussels. This is evidenced by the online broadcast of the event.

12:58 The Dutch government is discussing a possible new aid package for Ukraine. This is reported by NOS. During a debate in parliament, Prime Minister Dick Schoof said that they plan to allocate approximately 3.5 billion euros in aid to Ukraine in 2026, continuing the policy of previous years. Currently, the total amount of aid from the Netherlands already reaches approximately 5.8 billion euros.

12:49 In Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk region, search and rescue operations at the site of the Russian missile strike have been completed. This was reported by the Prosecutor General's Office. As a result of the attack, four people were killed. 32 civilians were injured, including two children.

12:36 Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said that Ukraine and Poland have prepared a joint action plan for the implementation of urgent and long-term projects in the defense sector. He said this during a joint briefing with Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense of Poland Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz on Thursday, March 6.

12:23 The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has appointed Arsen Zhumadilov to the post of Director of the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA). This was reported by the press service of the agency.

12:11 Russian troops launched a massive attack with guided aerial bombs on the village of Saltino in the Dergachiv community in the Kharkiv region.

As a result of the UAB hit, a private residential building was completely destroyed. According to preliminary data, a man was killed and two women were injured as a result of the shelling.

The blast wave damaged nearby private homes, outbuildings and cars.

10:42 France is ready to replace the United States in providing intelligence information to Ukraine. This was stated by French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu, the France 24 TV channel reported.

10:39 The Defense Ministry's procurement agency, the State Logistics Operator, has contracted more than one million sets of summer suits for the Ukrainian Armed Forces for 2025. This was reported by the Defense Ministry. It is noted that the ministry has developed and approved the inspection volumes for two types of summer field suits (type 1 and type 2) for defenders.

10:26 The Security Service has detained a collaborator who headed the occupation "Russian police" in Nova Kakhovka, Kherson region, in the first months of the full-scale invasion.

After being "dismissed from office" in April 2022, the defendant hid for a long time in the European Union, and then returned to Ukraine under the guise of an ordinary citizen. Law enforcement officers documented this fact and detained the perpetrator in a temporary home in Volyn, where he tried to "lay low".

9:55 As a result of a missile strike on a hotel in Kryvyi Rih, four people were killed and more than 30 people were injured. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"The rescue operation in Krivoy Rog at the site of the Russian missile strike continued all night. Ballistics on an ordinary hotel. Literally before the strike, volunteers from one of the humanitarian organizations - citizens of Ukraine, the United States, Britain - checked into the hotel. They survived because they managed to get down from their rooms. But, unfortunately, four people were killed by this strike. My condolences to their families and friends," the head of state said.

9:20 Russian troops attacked the Odessa region with attack drones on the night of March 6. An energy facility was hit, a residential building and an administrative building were damaged. Two people were injured. This was reported by the head of the Odessa OVA Oleg Kiper.

9:19 At night, Russian military attacked Ukraine with two Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles and 112 Shahed-type attack UAVs and drone imitators. 68 drones were shot down. Another 43 enemy drone imitators were lost without negative consequences.

The Russian attack affected Kharkiv, Sumy, Odessa and Dnipropetrovsk regions.

9:16 The death toll in Kryvyi Rih has increased due to a missile strike carried out by Russian troops on a hotel building the night before. A 43-year-old man died in intensive care. Thus, the number of victims of the Russian attack has risen to four.

8:42 Over the past 24 hours, aviation, missile forces and artillery of the Defense Forces hit 16 areas of concentration of personnel and equipment, a command post, and a radio-electronic station of the Russian invaders. This was reported on March 6 by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Over the past 24 hours, 109 combat clashes occurred at the front, the hottest areas being Kursk and Toretskoye.

8:22 During the liquidation of the consequences of the night air attack of the Russian Federation, emergency workers saved a woman with a disability, another person suffered due to severe stress. This was reported by the State Emergency Service, publishing photos and videos from the site of the strike.

7:45 Russian troops lost 1,140 soldiers, 5 tanks, and 80 unmanned aerial vehicles in the war with Ukraine in one day. This was reported on March 6 by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The total combat losses of the Russians since 02/24/22 are approximately 881,800 people.

7:20 In Kharkiv, after a Russian UAV strike, residents of a multi-story building hit by a Russian drone are being evacuated; two people have an acute stress reaction. This was reported by the mayor Igor Terekhov. According to him, as a result of the shelling, the roof and the technical floor of the multi-story residential building were damaged. There was a small fire. The elevator shaft, partially the technical floor, and the facade part of the slabs between the 9th and technical floors were destroyed. Glazing in nearby houses and eight cars were also damaged.

01:30 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron for his clear vision and our joint efforts to achieve peace. On the evening of March 5, French President Emmanuel Macron announced in an address to the nation on the eve of the EU leaders' summit, which plans to gather in Paris the chiefs of general staff of countries considering the creation of a peacekeeping mission for Ukraine.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Report: Iran deploying air defenses to brace for possible US-Israeli strike
2025-02-26
[IsraelTimes] Britain’s Telegraph quotes an Iranian source who says ‘everything has been on high alert’; Iran says it will not compromise with US on nuclear issues under pressure, sanctions

Iran
...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for spontaneously taking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet militias to extend the regime's influence. The word Iran is a cognate form of Aryan. The abbreviation IRGC is the same idea as Stürmabteilung (or SA). The term Supreme Guide is a the modern version form of either Duce or Führer or maybe both. They hate Jews Zionists Jews. Their economy is based on the production of oil and vitriol...
has placed its nuclear facilities on high alert bracing for a potential attack by Israel and the United States, The Telegraph reported Tuesday.

According to a report in the British Telegraph, Tehran has deployed additional air defense system launches around key nuclear and missile sites.

"They [Iranian authorities] are just waiting for the attack and are anticipating it every night and everything has been on high alert — even in sites that no one knows about," a source was quoted telling the news outlet, saying that concerns have heightened with rhetoric from new US President Donald Trump
...Never got invited to a P.Diddy party...
An official told the newspaper that there was an understanding in Tehran that Iran’s already-weakened air defenses "may not be effective in the event of a large-scale strike."

Last year, Israel carried out a wave of retaliatory Arclight airstrike
...KABOOM!...
s on Iran after Tehran carried out a second missile attack on Israel.

Israeli jets targeted Iranian air defenses as well as its ballistic missile program, striking factories, storage sites, launchers and research facilities, and targeting one facility believed to be used for the regime’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon.

Iran’s nuclear sites are also widely seen as more vulnerable with many of Tehran’s proxies weakened.

In November, after over a year of rocket and drone attacks by Hezbollah, Israel decimated the Leb
...an Iranian satrapy until recently ruled by Hassan Nasrallah situated on the eastern Mediterranean, conveniently adjacent to Israel...
-based terror group’s leadership, fighters and weapons stores.

Days later, Sunni rebels took advantage of Israel’s successes and swept southward from Idlib, ending the Assad family’s half-century of rule in Syria and breaking the land bridge between Iran and Hezbollah.

Earlier this month The Washington Post reported that US intelligence assessments showed Israel is considering strikes on Iran’s nuclear program, and that the attacks could come as soon as mid-year.

Iran, whose leaders are sworn to Israel’s destruction, has formally rejected nuclear weapons. However,
Caliphornia hasn't yet slid into the ocean, no matter how hard it's tried...
 it has continued to advance its nuclear program, accelerating the enrichment of uranium to up to 60 percent purity, close to the roughly 90% needed to assemble a nuclear warhead. Critics say there are no civilian purposes for such highly enriched uranium.

Responding to the report, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran’s enemies may be able to strike the country’s nuclear centers but cannot deprive it of its ability to build new ones.

"WE WILL NOT NEGOTIATE UNDER PRESSURE AND SANCTIONS’
Amid the threats, Iran on Tuesday also vowed to resist US sanctions and said they will not compromise on the nuclear issue.

During a one-day trip to Iran, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed regional and bilateral topics with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, state media reported.

The visit comes a day after the United States imposed a fresh round of sanctions targeting Iran’s oil industry, the Islamic Theocratic Republic’s main source of income.

Trump earlier this month restored his "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran that includes efforts to drive the country’s oil exports to zero, reimposing a tough policy on Iran that was practiced throughout his first term.

"Iran’s position regarding nuclear talks is clear and we will not negotiate under pressure and sanctions," Araqchi said during a televised joint presser with Lavrov.

"There is no possibility of direct negotiations with the US as long as maximum pressure is being applied in this way."

While Trump had said he would "love to make a deal" with Iran’s holy manal rulers, Iran’s utmost authority Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
...the very aged actual dictator of Iran, successor to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini...>
 said this month that talks with the United States were "not smart, wise, or honorable."

However,
Caliphornia hasn't yet slid into the ocean, no matter how hard it's tried...
 he stopped short of renewing a ban on direct talks with Washington decreed during the first Trump administration.

In 2018, during his previous term in office, Trump pulled the US out of Tehran’s 2015 nuclear pact with six world powers and reimposed sanctions that have crippled Iran’s economy.

Tehran has since breached the pact’s nuclear limitations and efforts to revive the pact under the Biden administration failed.

Lavrov said he was sure that diplomatic measures were still on the table when it came to resolving issues around Iran’s nuclear program.

Moscow and Tehran have angered the West by developing stronger defense ties since the start of the Ukraine war in 2022.

"Our cooperation will be in various fields, including energy, trade, tourism and many other areas," Araqchi said.
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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Peskov reports contacts with Syrian authorities on the issue of military bases
2025-02-26
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] The negotiation process regarding the preservation of Russian military bases in Syria is ongoing. This was reported by the press secretary of the Russian president Dmitry Peskov.

"We continue our contacts with the Syrian authorities, the Syrian issue is on the agenda of all our international contacts. Let's say the work process is ongoing," he noted.

The Kremlin spokesman added that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was recently in Ankara, where this issue was also raised during other contacts.

As reported by the Regnum news agency, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Bogdanov noted in December 2024 that Russia expects to maintain military bases in Syria, since they play an important role in the fight against international terrorism.

On February 7, Syrian Defense Minister Marhaf Abu Kasra said that the country could agree to retain Russian military bases if it would be beneficial to Damascus.

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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Zelensky rules out Ukraine's participation in upcoming Russia-US talks
2025-02-18
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] The head of the Kiev regime, Volodymyr Zelensky, said that the Ukrainian side will not participate in the upcoming negotiations between Russia and the United States in Riyadh, “even if asked to do so.”

"My visits have nothing to do with these negotiations. Although, when I come to Saudi Arabia, I will ask His Majesty what he knows about the topics of the negotiations," Zelensky said.

According to the head of the Kyiv regime, any negotiations on the Ukrainian conflict without the participation of Kyiv will allegedly have no result.

"We cannot recognize any agreements regarding us that were made without us. We do not recognize such agreements," Zelensky said.

As reported by the Regnum news agency, on February 17, upon arrival with the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry Sergey Lavrov in Riyadh, the Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov stated that the negotiations would only take place between Moscow and Washington, and no trilateral contacts with representatives of Kiev were planned. In addition, he noted that the main goal of the upcoming meeting with the American delegation was to normalize relations with Washington.

The day before, Lavrov expressed his readiness to listen to the position of the US representatives and convey it to the Russian leadership, which will determine further steps. The diplomat also emphasized that Russia will not make any concessions in the course of resolving the Ukrainian crisis.

The press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov said that in Riyadh they will primarily discuss the restoration of Russian-American relations, the preparation of possible negotiations on the Ukrainian settlement and the organization of a meeting between the presidents of Russia and the United States, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.

More from regnum.ru
Ushakov: Only bilateral negotiations will take place in Riyadh

The talks in Riyadh will only take place between Moscow and Washington; no trilateral contacts with Kiev representatives are planned. This was reported on February 17 by Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, commenting on the Rossiya 24 TV channel on information about the arrival of a certain group of Ukrainian representatives in Saudi Arabia.

"We came to negotiate with our American colleagues. These are bilateral negotiations, purely bilateral. There can be no trilateral negotiations in Riyadh," Ushakov emphasized, commenting on the information that in Saudi Arabia, in addition to representatives of Russia and the United States, there is already a Ukrainian delegation.

Earlier, Regnum news agency reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov arrived in Riyadh to participate in negotiations with the United States.

Upon arrival in the capital of Saudi Arabia, Ushakov noted that the main goal of the upcoming meeting with the American delegation is to normalize relations with Washington.

The day before, Lavrov expressed his readiness to listen to the position of the US representatives and convey it to the Russian leadership, which will determine further steps. The diplomat also emphasized that Russia will not make any concessions in the course of resolving the Ukrainian crisis.

In turn, the press secretary of the Russian president, Dmitry Peskov, said that in Riyadh they will primarily discuss the restoration of Russian-American relations, the preparation of possible negotiations on the Ukrainian settlement and the organization of a meeting between the presidents of Russia and the United States, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.

The representative of the UN chief Stephane Dujarric called the upcoming talks in Riyadh critically important. Dujarric added that the UN intends to observe the results of the Russian-American talks.

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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
US-Russia talks on Ukraine to be held in Riyadh on February 18
2025-02-17
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] Negotiations on Ukraine with the participation of the Russian official delegation are to take place on February 18 in the capital of Saudi Arabia — Riyadh. This information was received by Kommersant.

The United States will be represented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, President Donald Trump's National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff.

According to unconfirmed reports, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov may be present at the negotiations.

As reported by Regnum News Agency, on February 14, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, the head of the Kyiv regime, Volodymyr Zelensky, announced that he was planning to visit Saudi Arabia in the near future, where negotiations on the Ukrainian conflict would take place. He emphasized that he would not hold meetings with the Russian delegation, and did not plan to participate in negotiations with the American side.

On the evening of February 16, Zelensky flew to the United Arab Emirates, accompanied by his wife Elena. In his Telegram channel, Zelensky noted that the delegation plans to discuss the release of Ukrainian Armed Forces prisoners, investments, and economic partnership.

Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said that Presidents Vladimir Putin and Trump discussed the Ukrainian conflict in their telephone conversation, among other things, and agreed that it could be resolved through peaceful negotiations. The Russian President stressed the need to eliminate the root causes of the conflict.

After speaking with Putin, Trump called Zelensky and later noted that Ukraine is unlikely to return to the 1991 borders. The US President also stated that the issue of Ukraine joining NATO should be removed from consideration.

Putin previously noted that in order to begin negotiations, Ukraine must officially renounce its intentions to join NATO, carry out demilitarization and denazification, declare a neutral, non-aligned and non-nuclear status, and the Ukrainian Armed Forces must leave the territories of the regions that returned to Russia in 2022.

More from regnum.ru
Poland has laid claim to participation in the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine
The large funds allocated by Poland for military purposes give it the right to participate in decision-making on the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine. This was stated on February 16 by the head of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Radoslaw Sikorski.

“We have been allocating 2% [of GDP to defense spending] for 20 years, and recently significantly more, which gives us the right to speak out and seek participation in decision-making circles [on Ukraine],” he explained to journalists.

This is how Sikorsky answered journalists’ questions about the prospects for resolving the Ukrainian conflict.

As reported by Regnum News Agency, on February 3, US President Donald Trump demanded that Europe increase its spending on financing Ukraine. According to him, Europe should "equalize" the volume of support provided to Ukraine with investments from the US.

According to German political scientist Alexander Rahr, a serious conflict could begin between the US and Europe due to Brussels' demands to provide the EU representative with a seat at the negotiating table on Ukraine. The expert clarified that Trump does not plan to invite European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen or her deputy Kaja Kallas to talks with the Russian president.

Europe is losing in Ukraine, and this is not just a military defeat, it is a strategic fiasco. Those who pay but do not defend their interests should not be surprised when others decide the future. The fate of Europe and Ukraine will be decided by Russia and the United States, wrote the German newspaper Handelsblatt.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on February 16 that after the start of Russian-American negotiations on a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, Ukraine and the EU countries will be included in them.

Says Russian presidential press secretary Peskov:
The upcoming negotiations should be used to “re-arm Ukraine” and put pressure on Russia, according to Finnish President Stubb.

Actually, that's what we're talking about. Globalists see negotiations as a way to prepare for the next war, since there is no guarantee that this one cannot be extended indefinitely. Therefore, one of the main goals of our diplomacy should be precisely to prevent the use of Ukraine to prepare for a new war of the West against the Russian Federation.

Without solving this problem, stopping this war in order to start a new one at a time convenient for the West is pointless. We are talking precisely about solving one of the key tasks of the Central Military District by military and diplomatic means, which Putin voiced at the very beginning of the war.

Of course, this issue will be resolved with the United States.

In future negotiations on the Ukrainian issue, Russia will take into account Ukraine's lack of sovereignty and its unwillingness to answer for its words.
Says Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin (same article):
Well, in the conditions of the absence of legitimate power in Ukraine and the de facto establishment of a terrorist dictatorship there with the abolition of elections and human rights, such an approach is not surprising.

In its current form, Ukraine, of course, cannot be a subject of negotiations.

The policy of the West, at the moment, is "war to the last Ukrainian", as General Kellogg directly stated yesterday.

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Africa Horn
Sudan and Russia agree to establish naval base in Port Sudan
2025-02-13
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.

Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin.
[ColonelCassad] Against the background of positive news about the likely preservation of Russian military bases in Latakia and Tartus, positive news is coming from Sudan, where the topic of a Russian naval base in Port Sudan has again come to life.

The Sudanese Foreign Ministry reported that Russia and Sudan have agreed on all the parameters of the agreement on the creation of a Russian naval base in Port Sudan. The topic has been discussed for several years, even preliminary agreements were concluded, but then, under pressure from the West, everything fell through and the negotiations continued.

Now, according to statements, the courts have again been able to renegotiate and if there are no breakdowns, then the base in Port Sudan will be. In the long term, this will seriously expand the capabilities of the Russian Federation on the African continent, and also ensure a permanent presence in the area where key trade flows pass.

More from regnum.ru
Sudan and Russia Agree on "Everything" to Create Russian Navy Base

Sudan and Russia have reached a mutual understanding on an agreement to establish a Russian naval base in the country. This was announced on February 12 following talks in Moscow with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov by the country's Foreign Minister Ali Yousef Sharif.

"The question is quite simple. I have nothing to add. We agreed, we agreed on everything," the head of the foreign policy department noted.

As reported by the Regnum news agency, in November 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the government's proposal to sign an agreement with Sudan to create a logistics support point for the Russian Navy. It is assumed that Russian sailors will use this point to repair ships, replenish supplies and rest.

On April 28, 2021, Al Arabiya reported that Sudan's military leadership had allegedly suspended the agreement with Russia on a naval base in Port Sudan. The Russian embassy in Khartoum called this information unreliable.

In early June 2021, Sudan announced its intention to review the agreement with Russia to establish a military base in the Red Sea. As Sudan's Chief of General Staff Mohammed Usman al-Hussein explained, this agreement was signed under the previous regime of Omar al-Bashir, but it was not ratified by the legislature, as required by the procedure for approving international treaties.

In July 2021, the Sudanese authorities informed the Russian side about the start of the ratification process of the relevant agreement with Moscow.

In February 2023, the Sudanese authorities completed the process of revising this document. According to one of the Sudanese officials, the Russian government "dispelled all the fears" of the republic. However, due to the dissolution of parliament and the internal political crisis in the country, this process was delayed.

Related:
Port Sudan: 2025-01-30 18 killed in South Sudan plane crash
Port Sudan: 2024-11-10 Hezbollah’s tentacles in Africa
Port Sudan: 2024-10-22 The moment a cargo plane carrying Russians crashed in Sudan was caught on video
Link


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
On negotiations on Ukraine
2025-02-11
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.

Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin:
[ColonelCassad] Trump confirmed that he had already spoken with Putin by phone, but preferred not to disclose the details of the conversation. Obviously, there is nothing to announce yet, so the contacts are taking place without unnecessary fuss. As soon as (if) they agree on something, we can expect contacts along the CIA/SVR and the State Department/Russian Foreign Ministry related to the preparation of a possible meeting between Putin and Trump in a neutral country (not in Europe).

It is also worth noting that today the Russian Foreign Ministry once again announced that the Russian Federation will only contact the legitimate authorities of Ukraine, to which Zelensky no longer belongs. Zelensky himself refuses to hold elections, because for him this is the end. This issue will have to be decided (or not decided) by the Americans.

In any case, the war will continue one way or another even during the negotiations, because Russia has repeatedly made it clear that there will be no new Minsk, during which the war continued. The hostilities will stop only after the conclusion of diplomatic agreements. Not earlier.

The war itself is partially paid for by both sides until 2027, if we consider the long-term orders for the production of equipment and ammunition for the war in Ukraine in the United States, Europe and Russia. Nevertheless, in the last month, the discussion about the possibility of ending the war in the spring-summer-fall of 2025 has noticeably intensified, although in fact there are no agreements between the United States and the Russian Federation at the moment, as the White House and the Kremlin have repeatedly stated.

P.S. In the photo, a gas facility in Ukraine that was destroyed recently, which belonged to the Burisma company and was associated with Hunter Biden.

More from regnum.ru
Kellogg Prepares Several Ukraine Plan Options for Trump
US President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, intends to present several options for ending the conflict in Ukraine in the coming weeks. This was written by the Bloomberg agency, citing its own sources.

It is noted that Keith Kellogg will collect opinions from officials at the security conference in Munich, during visits to Kyiv and European capitals.

According to the publication, such work by the special envoy could pave the way for direct negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the head of the regime Vladimir Zelensky. At the same time, Kellogg does not plan to travel to Russia.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on February 10 that Trump plans to “begin to chart a broad path forward.” According to Rubio, the American president is ready to talk directly with Putin, although the media has repeatedly written that Trump has threatened new sanctions if the Russian leader does not negotiate.

Kellogg is expected to discuss with European officials their willingness to provide a deterrent force to ensure compliance with the peace settlement. The United States is unlikely to provide troops for the effort, but could provide other support.

General Kellogg will urge allies to spend more on defense, something Trump has demanded. Some European officials are advising the United States to step up measures against Russia's energy sector, including lowering the oil price cap and using frozen Russian assets.

Trump and his aides are calling on Europe to step up its support for Ukraine and expect Kyiv to provide access to natural resources and buy more American energy in exchange for support, the authors concluded.

As reported by Regnum News Agency, White House officials have suspended the development of a plan to resolve the conflict in Ukraine; the Trump administration explained this decision by saying that they want to take into account the opinion of the European Union.

Keith Kellogg has said he intends to hold individual talks with NATO allies before finalizing a "peace plan." Kellogg is interested in the views and input of other heads of state.

The special envoy assured the EU that the US wants to strengthen Ukraine's position in any negotiations with Russia.

On January 31, Kellogg said he believed it was possible to achieve peace in Ukraine within the next 100 days. Resolving the conflict was in the interests of the entire world, he added.

The conditions for ending the conflict in Ukraine proposed by Zelensky, whose presidential term expired on May 20, 2024, are a provocation, believes State Duma deputy from the Crimean region (United Russia), member of the security committee Mikhail Sheremet.

Only the complete and irreversible elimination of the root causes of the conflict in Ukraine can open the way to its end, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on February 10.

Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that Moscow is ready for talks on Ukraine, but the goal of the dialogue should be long-term peace, not a truce. He has emphasized that Russia's legitimate interests must be taken into account.

Even more from regum.ru
White House Suspends Development of Ukraine Peace Plan – Media
White House officials have suspended the development of a plan to resolve the conflict in Ukraine — the administration of US President Donald Trump explained this decision by saying that they want to take into account the opinion of the European Union. This was written by the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph.

"The Trump administration has suspended its Ukraine peace plan to give Europe a seat at the negotiating table," the newspaper reported.

It is noted that Trump's special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, said he intends to hold individual talks with NATO allies before finalizing the "peace plan." Kellogg is interested in the opinions and input of other heads of state.

According to the newspaper, the special envoy assured the EU that the US wants to strengthen Ukraine's position in any negotiations with Russia.

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