Former NATO commander urges long-range weapons for Ukraine
RT (December 23, 2022) - Ukraine should be able to strike deeper into Russian territory, retired US general Philip Breedlove has said. The former supreme NATO commander for Europe made the remarks in an interview with the Russian-language Voice of America outlet published Thursday.
“I think we should review our rules regarding the types of weapons that we supply to Ukraine, and we should give them more opportunities to inflict deep strikes on the aggressor. With our restrictions, we have actually created a safe haven for the Russian military in its territory,” Breedlove stated.
Kiev has repeatedly demanded long-range weaponry from its Western backers amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. So far, however, the US and others have abstained from providing such weapons, citing fears of an escalation and an all-out war between Russia and NATO.
Breedlove has openly admitted that Ukraine is waging a war on behalf of the West against Russia, urging the lifting of any restrictions on arms use by Kiev.
Ukraine is now fighting Russia on behalf of the entire Western world, and I would say to all our politicians: if you have already limited your actions in order to prevent our armies from fighting Russia, then you must do everything possible to provide help for Ukraine to defeat Russia.
US-Russia Relations In "Ice Age" & Risk Of Direct Clash "High": Kremlin
ZeroHedge (December 23, 2022) - Russia's ambassador to the United States issued a statement Friday assessing the state of Moscow-Washington relations as having entered an "ice age" - according to state-owned TASS.
Ambassador Anatoly Antonov said that currently the risk of a direct clash between the US and Russia remains "high" - after the foreign ministry on Thursday again charged that the Biden administration is fueling a "proxy war" in Ukraine.
Antonov acknowledged that strategic dialogue between the two sides is on pause, and that it's hard to know when they'll resume, but cited as a rare positive the recent prisoner swaps.
A key major development which could fuel escalation is the White House decision to send Patriot anti-air missile defense systems.
President Vladimir Putin was quick to condemn the development but still downplayed the Patriots as "quite old" - saying that his forces would counter it.
Putin also hinted at a future negotiated settlement, saying: "Our goal is not to spin the flywheel of military conflict, but, on the contrary, to end this war."
Russia launches serial deliveries of Tsirkon hypersonic missiles to Naval Forces — Shoigu
TASS (December 21, 2022) - Russia has launched serial deliveries of the state-of-the-art Tsirkon (Zircon) hypersonic missiles to the Russian Navy, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said at this year’s final Defense Ministry board meeting with the participation of the Russian president on Wednesday.
"We have launched serial deliveries of the Navy-based Tsirkon hypersonic missiles," Shoigu said. "The frigate Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov with top-notch Tsirkon seaborne hypersonic missile systems undergoes final preparations before embarking on a mission in the world ocean."
Shoigu also said that the Generalissimus Suvorov nuclear-powered submarine armed with Bulava ballistic missiles was commissioned with the Russian Navy.
"Nuclear submarines perform planned combat missions in their designated areas at sea. Another nuclear-powered submarine, the Borei-A class submarine Generalissimus Suvorov armed with Bulava ballistic missiles, has been accepted into the Navy," he said.
President Vladimir Putin said at the meeting on Wednesday that the frigate Admiral Gorshkov armed with breakthrough Tsirkon hypersonic missiles would embark on a combat patrol in early January 2023. The Tsirkon is capable of developing a speed of about Mach 9 (nine times the speed of sound) and its striking range capability could exceed 1,000 km.
Russian military releases propaganda pop song fantasizing about its nukes wiping out NATO and the US
INSIDER (December 20, 2022) - The Russian military released a pop song Saturday fantasizing about wiping out NATO and the US with its nuclear weapons.
The song and music video celebrate the RS-28 Sarmat ICBM, affectionately referred to as "Sarmatushka" in the title.
The music video features footage of the Sarmat and what appear to be uniformed Russian soldiers. The fearsome missile is been dubbed the "Son of Satan" for its destructive power. Its large payload allows for up to 10 MIRVs warheads each with a capacity of between 150 to 300 kilotons.
The missile weighs 200 ton with throw weight of 10 ton. It has a short boast phase making it difficult to be intercepted. Moreover, it can travel at hypersonic speed of up to Mach 15. In spite of it's size, the missile has the ability to constantly change its altitude & direction in flight, thus, can easily evade the US Anti-Ballistic Missile Defense systems. With unlimited striking range it will be able to hit target anywhere in the world flying over the North or South Poles.
The four-and-a-half-minute video of the song celebrates the efforts to construct the missile, which is the latest in Russia's arsenal and is being integrated into its military in 2022.
Part of lyrics of the song translated from Russian:
We are carefully placing our Sarmat
Into a steel container
The dashboard is sleeping
The missile is awaiting command
The Russian Sarmat is ready
To strike our enemy
It's ready to carry out an order
To turn the enemy into dust
It has one joy
To disturb NATO's sleep
The Sarmat is "looking into the distance ... at the United States."
Link to the YouTube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB8oGY2_gVM&ab_channel=ParkPatriot.Media
Ukraine: No electricity in 80% of the Kyiv region - More than 10 hours black out
warnews247.gr (December 20, 2022) - 80% of the Kyiv region remains without electricity, with the energy infrastructure remaining in an extremely critical state and unable to meet the demand that exists.
"The situation with the energy supply is still critical. Due to widespread damage to energy infrastructure, Ukrenergo is resorting to emergency blackouts. About 80% of the region does not have electricity," the governor of the Kyiv region, Alexey Kuleba, said in a Telegram post.
According to Ukrenergo, most of the demand for electricity is not met.
"Less than half of the demand of the city of Kyiv is met" reports Ukrenergo, at a time when power outages in Kyiv can even exceed 10 hours.
Statements of Russian Commander: "We cannot continue the war with conventional means - Our resources have limits" (Video)
warnews247.gr (December 14, 2022) - Russia is unable to "defeat the NATO bloc" without using nuclear weapons, a Russian commander has admitted.
Alexander Khodakovsky, commander of Russian forces in Donetsk, stressed that Russia is fighting against the entire Western world, so the next escalation of the war in Ukraine "can only be one: nuclear".
"We know our capabilities. We realize the limits of our resources.
If NATO countries exceed certain limits, eg dispatch of Leopard tanks. They are very close to crossing the red line.
Everyone realizes that the next escalation will be nuclear.
"We do not have the capabilities to defeat the NATO bloc by conventional means. But we have the nuclear weapons for that. That's why there is only one option," said Mr. Khodakovsky.
Watch video:
West facing ‘existential choice’ – Moscow
RT (December 13, 2022) - Western countries are standing at a crossroads and must decide whether they want to continue pursuing selfish policies that address only their own security, or recognize that this is a dead-end track, the vice speaker of upper chamber of the Russian parliament, Konstantin Kosachev, said on Tuesday.
Writing on Telegram, Kosachev, who also chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federation Council, said that “sooner or later, the West will have to make an existential choice” between catering for only its own interests, “or admitting that this suicidal strategy has exhausted itself.”
The senator noted that a return to the principle of “indivisibility of security architecture” was the only path forward. Kosachev explained that this means a “deliberate refusal to ensure one’s own security at the expense” of other countries, adding that it serves “as a cornerstone” for all complex diplomatic arrangements.
B. Putin after A. Merkel's confession about the "deception of Minsk": "Trust in the West fell to zero"
pronews.gr (December 13, 2022) - After former German Chancellor A. Merkel's admission that the Minsk agreements were made to give Ukraine time to equip itself and become stronger, Russian President B. Putin stated that " confidence in the West has now fallen to zero".
Specifically, he said, "To be honest, I didn't expect this. It was disappointing. Confidence dropped to almost zero. How to negotiate? And is it possible to negotiate with them? Where will the guarantees be?'
The position that the West with the Minsk agreements gave Ukraine time to become stronger was formulated twenty days ago by the former Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel , who argued that the conflict had simply "frozen" and the problem had not been resolved.
"The Minsk agreement of 2014 was an attempt to buy time for Ukraine.
She used this time to become more powerful, which can be seen today.
"The Ukraine of 2014-2015 has nothing to do with today's Ukraine," Merkel said speaking to the German newspaper Die Zeit.
In essence, the former chancellor admits that the West deceived the Russians and that there was no purpose in the first place for a peaceful resolution of the Ukrainian problem.
Putin Says Russia May Add Nuclear First Strike to Strategy
bnnbloomberg.ca (December 9, 2022) - Vladimir Putin said Russia may consider formally adding the possibility of a preventive nuclear first strike to disarm an opponent to its military doctrine, just days after warning that the risk of atomic war is rising.
“We’re thinking about this,” the Russian president told reporters after a summit in Kyrgyzstan.
"If we are talking about a disarming strike, perhaps we should think about using the approaches of our American partners,” he said, citing what he called US strategies to use high-accuracy missiles for a preventive strike.
The comments were Putin’s second on the nuclear issue this week. On Wednesday, he said the risk of atomic warfare is rising and called Russia’s arsenal “a deterrent factor” in conflicts. Russia’s doctrine currently envisions using nuclear weapons as a last resort in the event of a threat to the state’s existence.
The US and its allies have denounced Putin for what they call nuclear saber-rattling over his invasion of Ukraine. Russia blames the West for raising the issue first, although Kremlin officials began the threats.
Viktor Bout: "The West thinks they didn't finish us off in the 90s"
spbdnevnik.ru (December 9, 2022) - Russian citizen Viktor Bout, who returned to his homeland after 14 years in prison in the United States, in an interview with RT News noted that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, many in the West perceive Russia's desire to be an independent power and develop as shocking news.
“The West believes that they did not finish us off in 1990, when the Soviet Union began to disintegrate. And what we are trying now, to live and not to be ruled and not depend on anyone, to be a truly independent power and develop the way our people choose - this is such shocking news for them, ”Viktor Bout said in a conversation with Maria Butina.
Viktor Bout was exchanged for American basketball player Brittney Griner. The exchange took place at the Abu Dhabi airport on Thursday, December 8. The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that the American side categorically refused to have a dialogue on including Viktor Bout in this scheme, but the Russian Federation continued to work.
Note: Dumitru Duduman was shown in a vision in 1997 how God will blind the eyes of the West that they could not see the rise of Russia until it is too late when Russia will strike the West.
The Bear Awakes: https://www.handofhelp.com/vision_44.php
With the image of the frozen Jack Nicholson in the movie "The Shining", D. Medvedev responded to the West's ceiling on Russian oil
pronews.gr (December 3, 2022) - The vice-chairman of the Security Council, and former President and Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Medvedev scathingly commented on the decision of the West to impose a ceiling on Russian oil prices at $60 a barrel, posting on his Telegram channel.
"Finally, we made a decision on the price ceiling for Russian oil..." reads the caption on the picture and as the Chinese say "a picture paints a thousand words".
D. Medvedev's message was immediately perceived by the West and is very simple: "The ice is waiting for you."
The former Russian President D. Medvedev, as well as the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova (and the Russian Foreign Minister S. Lavrov), have for several months abandoned the "wooden" language and speak much more popularly and intelligently, because they know that the difficult and complex messages the western media will not transmit or distort. They have chosen to use sentences understandable to the masses of Western societies that immediately pass the message to their subconscious.
Russia's oil price cap policy will take effect on December 5 "or shortly thereafter."
At the same time, as mentioned in the joint statement, the marginal cost can be adjusted according to needs.
Moscow has already responded through its embassy in the US that "we will find buyers elsewhere." This means it will withdraw its oil from western markets and it will have to be replaced and this means higher oil prices.
WW3 preparations: For the first time in history, Russian Tu-95MS bombers landed in China and Chinese H-6s in Russia!
warnews247.gr (December 1, 2022) - For the first time in military history, Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers have landed at China's Hangzhou Air Base in the Zhejiang suburb. At the same time, Chinese Xian H-6 bombers were landing at a Russian airbase in Vladivostok.
This is a highly symbolic move: The Russian strategic bombers that landed at the PLA airfield also carry nuclear bombs. Russia has sent a message to the US and NATO that its nuclear umbrella will also cover China if necessary. Prior to that, the Russian Aerospace Forces and the PLA Air Force conducted a joint patrol in the Asia-Pacific region, passing along the route over the Seas of Japan and East China.
It is obvious that the Russians and Chinese carried out a virtual bombing operation of Korea and Japan showing that they will not allow unilateral actions against North Korea.
The joint air squadron included six Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers and two Chinese H-6 strategic bombers. In some areas, the group was accompanied by Su-30SM and Su-35S multi-role fighters of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
The Russian-Chinese operation lasted 8 hours making a stopover at the PLA military airfield while Chinese bombers landed at a Russian airfield. Russians and Chinese did not give any details other than some videos.
Medvedev to NATO: "Don't send Patriot to Ukraine - We will strike" - Risk of general ignition
pronews.gr (November 29, 2022) - Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev today warned NATO not to deliver Patriot anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine while calling the North Atlantic Treaty Organization a "criminal entity."
"If, as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has hinted, NATO supplies the Ukrainian fanatics in Kiev with Patriot systems along with NATO personnel, they would immediately become a legitimate target of our armed forces," Medvedev wrote on Telegram.
The Russian former president and current head of the Security Council of Russia thus made it clear that not only the Patriot systems will be targeted, but also the Ukrainian forces and the NATO personnel accompanying them.
Russia's Wagner Group Sent 'Blood-Stained' Sledgehammer To EU Parliament
ZeroHedge (November 28, 2022) - In response to last week's European Parliament vote to designate Russia as a "state sponsor of terrorism" - one Kremlin-linked official send a threatening message to the European body.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, who is the leader of Russia's most well-known and feared private security firm, Wagner mercenary group, says that he sent a bloodied sledgehammer to European parliament.
The chilling response to the largely symbolic EU Parliament terror designation was confirmed in various regional media outlets, and also detailed in Western outlets.
"On Wednesday, the EU officially called Russia a 'state sponsor' of terrorism over its actions in Ukraine but the move was denounced by Wagner owner Yevgeny Prigozhin who sent them a violin case, with a chilling item inside," wrote Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "Inside the case was a sledge hammer with fake traces of blood on it."
It's unclear (and perhaps unlikely) whether the sledgehammer was ever actually mailed or received by any official representing the Brussels-based European Parliament, beyond being shown in a Wagner Telegram video.
According to more of the publicity stunt response to the European Parliament's terror designation vote:
Prigozhin sent the sledgehammer in a violin case as an "information case" to those voting in EU Parliament. The Putin ally said that he had held a meeting with Wagner Group commanders, and they had decided to declare the European Parliament "dissolved."
"Before this procedure enters into legal force, I have been instructed to submit an information case to the European Parliament," Prigozhin said.
The EU parliament has also voted to identify the Wagner group as a terror organization, following an early November video that emerged showing the sledgehammer execution of a defected Russian soldier, reportedly at the hands of Wagner mercenaries.
Enormous damage has been caused to the energy sector of Ukraine, - the head of Ukrenergo
rusvesna.su (November 22, 2022) - “Colossal” damage was inflicted on Ukrainian energy facilities, there are practically no undamaged Thermal Power Plants and Hydroelectric Power Plants in the country.
This was announced at a briefing on November 22 by the head of the board of the national energy company (NEC) Ukrenergo Volodymyr Kudrytsky.
There are also almost no undamaged Ukrenergo nodal substations left.
“We have almost no thermal and hydroelectric power plants left that would not have suffered during the strikes ... Something flew into every important substation, and some of them several times, 3, 5 and even 8 times. The scale of destruction is colossal,” admitted the top manager.
Kudrytsky confirmed that today Ukrainian energy facilities cannot generate the amount of energy that consumers need. He, however, expressed hope that the situation could stabilize if the Russian Army did not strike again.
Aiming at Kyiv: Russia fired a missile with a virtual nuclear warhead against Ukraine! – First use of Kh-55 from the nuclear arsenal
warnews247.gr (November 17, 2022) - A few hours ago, NATO and Ukrainian officials found themselves in front of a terrifying discovery as they located the wreckage of a Russian missile carrying a virtual nuclear warhead (nuclear combat unit simulator). The missile fell in the vicinity of Kiev.
Russia, during the large-scale bombing yesterday morning on the 15th of the month, proceeded to simulate a nuclear strike against Ukraine. In fact, Russia fired the missile simply without the nuclear warhead. It is the first use of Russia's nuclear arsenal in the Ukrainian theater of operations even for the requirements of a simulation.
According to the first information, early on Tuesday morning the Ukrainian Armed Forces shot down two cruise missiles. One of them was the Kh-55 model (Russian designation X-55) developed to carry a nuclear payload. However, this particular missile did not contain any warhead. Instead, it contained a nuclear combat unit simulator. The shock is simply enormous both in Ukraine and in the neighboring NATO countries.
They did not use the Kh-555 missile. This discovery raises some interesting questions.
The first fact is that the Russian Federation did not use the conventional Kh-555 ballistic missiles but the Kh-55 which is also armed with a nuclear warhead. The Russians removed the nuclear warhead and did not replace it with a conventional warhead. After the nuclear warhead was removed, where is it now?
Russia has used Kh-555 missiles to hit targets in Ukraine in the past, these are ballistic missiles loaded with non-nuclear explosives ie conventional ones.
Meanwhile, the Kh-55 missile is the original model specifically designed to carry nuclear war heads. Simply put, the Kh-55 and Kh-555 use basically the same missile carrier, but with a different payload. Their heads are structurally different and can be recognized by experts relatively easily.
And the Ukrainians conclude that either this missile with a dummy nuclear warhead was simply used as a somewhat less expensive decoy aimed at misleading Ukrainian air defense systems, or the Russians simulated a nuclear strike.
It is an indisputable fact that the Russian Army used one Kh-55 missile (Russian designation X-55) from its nuclear arsenal.
Retired British M16 officer masterminds Crimean bridge attack
Iskra.gr (November 9, 2022) - Moscow has identified retired British MI6 intelligence officer Christopher Nigel Donnelly, who is now an adviser to Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, as the "mastermind" and mastermind of the Crimean bridge terror attack.
State Duma deputy Andrei Lugovoy sent a request to the Russian prosecutor's office asking it to investigate British intelligence officer Nigel Donnelly for involvement in the Crimean bridge bombing.
Lugovoy also recalled Donnelly's correspondence with another British officer, Hugh Ward, " regarding plans to destroy the bridge."
What else is Donnelly known for and what could be the results of the prosecution's investigation?
State Duma deputy Andrei Lugovoy (LDPR) writes about this on his Telegram channel, who sent a request to the Russian Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov asking to check Donnelly's activities for participation in the terrorist attack on the Crimean bridge.
" There is a clear British trace in the terrorist attack on the Crimean bridge. A carefully thought-out plan of a terrorist operation, multiple moves and coordination – all point to the involvement of Western intelligence services acting on the orders of the British government,” the MP points out.
Lugovoy recalled that retired MI6 colonel Donnelly had repeatedly come to the attention of law enforcement agencies as an active participant and executor of anti-Russian programs.
In particular, according to him, in 2014, a former officer of the British special services proposed " to mine the bay of Sevastopol" and to create a " cordon with troops and mines" near the border of the peninsula.
The MP recalled that recently Donnelly's correspondence with another British officer – Hugh Ward – “ regarding plans to destroy the bridge ” was released to the media.
NATO's website says that before being invited to NATO headquarters in 1989, Donnelly worked for 20 years at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as a professor of Russian and Soviet studies.
During his years of service, he published many articles on Russian and Soviet military and political issues. Donnelly is the author of The Red Banner, a book about the Soviet military system in peace and war. In his post at NATO, the MI6 colonel was responsible for Cold War defense and security reforms in Central and Eastern Europe and was responsible for developing cooperation between the military centers of the East and the West.
In a conversation with the VZGLYAD newspaper, Lugovoy noted that Donnelly specializes in defense, security and international relations, and also founded one of the leading anti-Russian programs in London, the Integrity Initiative. During his years of service he was the head of the "Russian part of NATO".
“He created the Military Intelligence Task Force and the 77th Intelligence and Psychological Operations Brigade to work on social media. "These are real cyber units of the British Royal Army and they are working 'non-violently' against Russia ," the MP said.
According to Lugovoy, Donnelly should be recognized as a terrorist.
"It is clear that he is not acting directly, behind him are governments, special services, organizations. In particular, programs and projects under the names of educational, educational and cultural projects continue to be implemented on the territory of Russia ," added Lugovoy.
In addition, the senator recalls, British experts participated in the planning of the recent terrorist drone attack on Black Sea Fleet ships and civilian ships in the Sevastopol Bay. Also, the British are probably behind the blowing up of the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines.
Chinese President Xi Jinping: "We will focus on preparing the country for war"
pronews.gr (November 8, 2022) - Chinese President Xi Jinping has declared that his country will focus on preparing for war. This is because the situation regarding its security is "increasingly unstable and uncertain".
The Americans agree about what they are preparing, saying that "the crisis in Ukraine, which we are in right now, is just the warm-up".
Last month Xi Jinping called for faster military development, "self-reliance and strength" in technology and defense of China's interests abroad, raising concerns about the possibility of conflict.
The Chinese president's announcement that the country will focus on preparing for war has raised fears of a possible Chinese attack on Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory.
China, which has the world's second-largest economy and second-strongest military, has repeatedly threatened to annex Taiwan in need by force.
The head of the US Strategic Command warns of the strengthening of China. A few days ago, the commander of the US Strategic Command, Admiral Charles Richard, who oversees the nuclear weapons program, in a speech at the Naval Submarine League's 2022 Annual Symposium & Industry Update, warned that the US is losing its nuclear deterrent to competitors such as China and Russia.
“This crisis in Ukraine that we're in right now is just the warm-up,” Richard said, adding: “The big crisis is coming. And it's not going to be long before we're tested in ways we haven't been tested in a long time," as China is developing nuclear weapons much faster than the U.S., and that's a "short-term problem."
Medvedev: "We are fighting against Satan (the West) in Ukraine - We have the weapons to send them to Hell"
pronews.gr (November 4, 2022) - The former President of Russia and current Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev called the war in Ukraine a "holy conflict with Satan" and stressed that Moscow can send all its enemies "to the eternal fires of Hell" (this is how the Hell in the Old Testament, where sinners will be punished after death).
At this moment in Ukraine, the biggest confrontation between Russia and the USA is taking place since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 and once again Humanity is on the brink of a nuclear war.
Medvedev said Moscow is fighting "crazy, drug-addicted Nazis" in Ukraine who are backed by the West, "drooling on their jaws with depravity."
In his message on the occasion of National Unity Day, Medvedev said that the country's goal is to "stop the supreme leader of Hell, whatever name he uses – Satan, Lucifer or Iblis (that's how the Devil is called in Islam)."
Satan's weapons, Medvedev concluded, are “artful lies. And our weapon is the truth. This is also the reason why our case is just. This is why we will win! Happy Holidays!".
It is the first time that a high-ranking Russian government official like N. Medvedev gives characteristics of a holy conflict to Russia's war against the West in Ukraine.
Holy war has one basic structural truth. He is existential. Whoever loses ceases to exist. His statement is very serious as it shows that Moscow is determined to go all the way.
N. Medvedev does not speak for himself, he is a man who talks daily with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
His statements today clearly show that Russians consider themselves the last defenders of Orthodoxy and traditional Christian values.
The truth is that they have every right to do so, since in the West and unfortunately in Greece, Christian values have been eroded for decades.
For Russian society, the war with the West is indeed the war against Satan, or otherwise against the antichrist forces.
Hedge fund giant Elliott warn s looming hyperinflation could lead to 'global societal collapse'
MORNINGSTAR (November 3, 2022) - That was from executives at leading hedge fund Elliott Management, who warned that the world is heading towards the worst financial crisis since World War II.
In a letter sent to investors, and seen by the Financial Times, the Florida-headquartered firm told clients that they believe the global economy is in an "extremely challenging" situation which could lead to hyperinflation. Elliott did not respond to MarketWatch's request for comment.
The firm, led by billionaire Paul Singer and Jonathan Pollock, told its clients that "investors should not assume they have 'seen everything'" because they have been through the peaks and troughs of the 1987 crash, the dot-com boom and the 2008 global financial crisis and previous bear and bull markets.
They added that the "extraordinary" period of cheap money is coming to an end and has "made possible a set of outcomes that would be at or beyond the boundaries of the entire post-WWII period."
The letter said the world is "on the path to hyperinflation", which could lead to "global societal collapse and civil or international strife."
They estimated that markets have not fallen enough yet and equity markets could drop more than 50% would be "normal," adding that they couldn't predict when that would happen. The S&P 500 has dropped 19% from its peak at the beginning of the year.
Elliott executives warned clients that the idea that "'we will not panic because we have seen this before' does not comport with the current facts."
They blamed central bank policymakers for the current global economic situation, saying they had been "dishonest" about the reason for high inflation. They said lawmakers had shirked responsibility by blaming it on supply chain disruption caused by the pandemic instead of loose monetary policy imposed two years ago during the COVID-19 peak.
Jeffrey Sachs at the Athens Democracy Forum: "The most violent country in the world since 1950 is the USA" – He was immediately interrupted!
pronews.gr (October 26) - The famous American economist professor, academic, public policy analyst and former director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University, said in a speech in Athens a few days ago that "The most violent country in the world since 1950 is the United States" and immediately he was interrupted!
In fact, he characteristically said , "You can be democratic at home and imperial abroad."
The moderator cut him off and this happened during a debate on democracy.
"Jeffrey, I'm your moderator and you've said enough," she told him and cut him off in an absolute manner.
This statement by Jeffrey Sachs was made during the Athens Democracy Forum in 2022 on the topic " A decade of democracy: China and Russia" . The event was recorded on September 29, 2022 at the Zappeion Megaron in Athens, Greece.
Intelligence veteran Ritter: The West has dug a hole for itself by calling Russia a gas station
politros.com (October 19, 2022) - Western countries will greatly regret their disrespectful attitude towards Russia. Such conclusions were presented on his YouTube channel by former US Marine Corps intelligence officer Scott Ritter.
In the US (we are talking about the words of US Senator John McCain - ed. note), a few years ago they called Russia "a gas station that pretends to be a country." According to Scott Ritter, this statement is an attempt by the West to denigrate the Russian state, and it is fundamentally wrong.
“The West has collectively vilified Russia by calling it a gas station disguised as a real country. First, it does not correspond to the real state of affairs. Secondly, if you really think so, then you should treat such a state with respect, ”said a veteran of American intelligence.
Scott Ritter stated that if the US and its partners call Russia a gas station, then they themselves can be called a car that will not last long without fuel. Against this background, the West, it would seem, should treat the largest supplier of energy carriers with respect. After all, if you break all ties with such an important partner, you can find yourself on some remote highway with an empty tank and no chance to get help. Approximately in such a position today is Europe, which is trying to refuse the supply of Russian energy.
The EC is considering the possibility of introducing a ceiling on Russian energy prices, and, according to the expert, such talk is simply ridiculous. Such actions will have extremely dire consequences for the entire region.
“These people (European politicians - ed.) have already dug the deepest hole possible. Now they want to make it even deeper,” the analyst said.
Russian Commander-in-Chief S.Surovikin: "No more sacrifices - I will simply flatten Ukraine"!
pronews.gr (October 17, 2022) - New battle doctrine in Ukraine was officially announced by General Sergei Surovikin, commander of the combined eastern and southern military commands of the "newborn" Russian republics: Crushing the enemy with an emphasis on missile and airstrikes, something similar to what the allies applied in World War II against the Hitler regime and NATO against Yugoslavia in 1999.
His statement is clear: "I do not intend to sacrifice any more Russian soldiers in a guerilla war with the fanatical hordes fighting with NATO weapons. We have enough power and technological means to provoke the total surrender of Ukraine"!
This is an unprecedented statement: For the first time a Russian commander-in-chief makes such a "political" statement and announces the leveling of Ukraine in order to protect the lives of Russian soldiers.
To complement the statement that "For Russia's enemies, breakfast does not start with coffee."
Obviously if there is to be a surrender of Ukraine by bombing alone, what is coming will hardly be able to be dealt with.
The Russian Armed Forces continued to target Ukrainian military and energy facilities over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said.
"Over the past day, the Russian Armed Forces continued to use high-precision and long-range weapons to target Ukrainian military means and energy facilities," he said, adding that all targets had been hit.
Russia Launches Large-Scale Strikes On Some 20 Ukrainian Cities In Response To "Terrorist" Crimea Bridge Blast
ZeroHedge (October 10, 2022) - A series of major explosions rocked Kyiv and several locations across Ukraine on Monday, following Russian President Vladimir Putin blaming Ukrainian special services for the "terrorist" blast which partially disabled the Crimean bridge that links Russia to the peninsula.
At least 100 strikes were carried out, with many cruise missiles launched from Russian warships in the Black Sea. Putin in a televised announcement said he ordered attacks on military, energy, and communications targets specifically in response to the Crimea bridge attack.
"If attempts to carry out terrorist attacks continue, Russia's response will be severe and at the level of the threats facing it. Nobody should be in any doubt," Putin warned. He threatened that more might follow: "If attempts to commit terrorist acts on our territory continue, the responses from Russia will be harsh and their scale will correspond to the level of threat to Russia," he added, addressing a meeting of his Security Council. "No one should have any doubts."
Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said this is only the beginning of the response, saying according to a state media translation:
"The first episode is over. There will be others... I will express my personal position... The Ukrainian state in its current configuration with the Nazi political regime will pose a constant, direct and clear threat to Russia. Therefore, in addition to protecting our people and protecting the country's borders, the goal of our future actions … should be a complete dismantling of the political regime of Ukraine," Medvedev wrote on his Telegram channel.
Independent geopolitical analyst Tom Fowdy described, "I honestly don't know what Ukraine and their supporters were expecting when they decided to attack a bridge Russia could not have made more clear was a massive, massive red line. They're forcing Putin's hand even when he has been massively lethargic to play it."
Shock confession of an American General: "We only paid 66 billion for Ukrainians to die for our interests"
warnews247.gr (October 7, 2022) - American general Jack Keane admitted on the Fox News channel that "only for $66 billion, we put Ukraine at war with Russia."
According to him, the United States has invested about 66 billion dollars in the Kiev regime since February of this year, which helped to arm Ukraine and build the local society for war with Russia.
The four-star general said that "investments in Ukraine today are very profitable, because for relatively little money in the interests of the United States, no Americans die in the war with Russia, but Ukrainians."
The confessions of the former chief of staff of the US army are so cynical and frank that they hit hard all pacifists and supporters of a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine.
The questions of who attacked first and why this is necessary disappear by themselves. You just have to listen carefully to the general's words:
“Some Republicans question the propriety of our spending today, including on Ukraine. But we have a budget of 6 trillion. dollars and, in reality, it is several hundred billion more. We invested crumbs in Ukraine, only 66 billion a year. This is 1.1% of the budget. And we have disproportionately large benefits. What is the goal of the US? Jack Keane clearly shows the goal of the United States.
“Washington was able to do the main thing, create a serious opponent for Moscow on the borders of Russia, which should prevent the Russian leadership from pursuing a policy of influence in Eastern Europe, especially in the countries of the former USSR.
This will deny them the opportunity under Putin to realize their ambitions, how to take back, for example, some of the former Soviet republics.
And, if that happened, and Russia still occupied some former USSR republic, then NATO would start a war. The scale of this war would be much larger than what is happening now. And the dangers of nukes would be much greater.
And the consequences of such a conflict are completely incomprehensible and not obvious to either side. This is what we avoided throughout the Cold War, a conventional war between two nuclear powers. Therefore, such an investment, especially in Ukrainians, who are fighting Russia for the interests of the United States, is very profitable."
OPEC+ "executes" the EU in terms of energy and "hurts" the USA, Britain and Norway: Production reduction by 2 million barrels!
pronews.gr (October 5, 2022) - With a "bombshell" decision, the powerful oil-producing countries of OPEC+, notably Saudi Arabia and Russia, responded "harshly" to the EU's decision to impose a ceiling on the price of Russian oil, i.e. to buy it cheaper than international prices.
In order, as the "inspired" EU president Ursula von de Leyen said, "Russia will suffer an economic loss of €7 billion."!
Unfortunately for the European citizens, instead of Russia suffering a €7 billion financial loss, they themselves will suffer a financial loss of the order of €50 billion, at least from the increase in the price of oil which will drag along its derivatives, gasoline, etc. by at least 20 % , due to the decision of OPEC+ to support Russia and also the economies of oil-producing countries and reduce production by 2 million barrels per day!
It is noted that the initial request of Saudi Arabia and Russia was to reduce production by 1 million barrels per day , but after yesterday's EU decision it was decided that production should be reduced to double the amount, in order to send a "message" to Western countries that the eras of colonialism are gone for good.
The OPEC+ decision, apart from European citizens that will "crush" them, will also mean corresponding increases in Western countries with large oil production, such as the USA, Norway and Britain.
It should be noted that this is the largest reduction by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies since 2020, which was reduced due to the coronavirus, as demand had collapsed.
The countries that make up OPEC+ are:
Angola, Algeria, Gabon, Republic of Congo, United Arab Emirates, Equatorial Guinea, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Philippines, Russia, Sudan and South Sudan.
NATO has declared an alarm due to the release of the Russian nuclear submarine "Belgorod" into the sea
avia.pro (October 3, 2022) - NATO announced an emergency warning in connection with the release of the Russian nuclear submarine "Belgorod" into the sea.
The command of the North Atlantic Alliance announced an emergency warning to the navies of the countries that are part of NATO and are allies of NATO. The reason for this was the dispatch to the open waters of the Russian nuclear submarine "Belgorod", which is not only one of the most secretive submarines, but is also capable of carrying the Poseidon nuclear underwater unmanned vehicle, which, according to La Repubblica, is capable to cause a nuclear tsunami.
“The alarm stems from a NATO intelligence report sent in recent days to the most important Allied commands. Report on the movement of the Belgorod nuclear submarine, which went into operation in July. Now the submarine is back to dive into the Arctic seas, and it is feared that the submarine's mission is to test the Poseidon super torpedo, often referred to as the "weapon of the Apocalypse", for the first time. Measuring 184 meters long and 15 meters wide, the submarine can move under water at a speed of about sixty kilometers per hour and with unlimited autonomy: approximately 120 days without the need to return to the surface. Propellers are also considered innovative because they are designed to protect against sonar ,” according to the Italian edition of “La Repubblica”.
NATO considers the Russian nuclear submarine "Belgorod" one of the strongest opponents, which is explained, among other things, by the use of modern technologies in its development.
“We provoke revolutions and wars”: the British supported Putin’s words about the West
rusvesna.su (September 30, 2022) - Readers of the British newspaper Daily Mail appreciated the words of Russian President Vladimir Putin about the desire of the West to provoke conflicts in the territory of the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
“The US, the UK and the EU benefit greatly from regime change and revolutions in other countries. Why don't the Americans and the British themselves rise up and fight for their freedom first? asked EEUK.
“The current conflict is the fifth war provoked by NATO in the last 30 years,” Alfred Horn recalled.
“Yes, we are fueling revolutions. This is what we do best,” said another participant in the discussion.
“Putin is actually right. Britain supports nationalism and revolutions everywhere, and in Scotland these processes are suppressed so that it does not break away from the kingdom, ”said CLAN 501.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin, at a meeting with representatives of the security and intelligence services of the CIS countries, said that the West is trying to unleash a bloody massacre on the territory of the Commonwealth. According to him, this is done in order to prevent the formation of a more just world order. He noted that the West is trying to stir up old conflicts, creating new problems and crises.
Putin: Anglo-Saxons switched to sabotage by organizing explosions at Nord Stream
rusvesna.su (September 30, 2022) - During a speech in the St. George Hall of the Kremlin, President Putin recalled what US policy is like in the 20th and 21st centuries, and laid the blame for the damage to the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines on the Anglo-Saxons.
“The United States is the only country in the world that has used nuclear weapons twice, destroying the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. By the way, they set a precedent.
They left a terrible mark in the memory of the peoples of Korea and Vietnam ... Many world leaders, like slaves, silently and meekly swallow American rudeness.
Sanctions are not enough for the Anglo-Saxons, they switched to sabotage, organizing explosions at the Nord Streams, in fact, they began to destroy the pan-European energy infrastructure, ”Putin said.
Russia Manifesto: "We have the right to nuke Ukraine - Targets loaded on RS-28 Sarmat if NATO gets involved..."
warnews247.gr (September 27, 2022) - The former president of Russia and current deputy Chairman of the country's Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, issued a manifesto in favor of the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine, stressing that Moscow "has the right to use them" and that " the West will not react, as it is afraid of a nuclear Revelation".
In addition, Russian mass media "complement" this manifesto by emphasizing that in case of NATO and US involvement, the targets will already be loaded on the Russian intercontinental missiles and from then on "God rest his hand"...
“Targets loaded on RS-28 Sarmat- Washington, Toronto, Vancouver, Texas, California
Russian media complement Medvedev's statements by emphasizing:
" For eight years, NATO supported puppets in Ukraine, financed attacks in Donbas, repeatedly violated the Minsk agreements, supported the ban on speaking Russian in the republics of Luhansk and Donetsk, and contributed to the destruction of the democratic opposition and free media. The result was a one-party government, essentially owned and funded by the United States, and run by American agents.
However, somehow, the US managed to convince the population of its own country and other Western countries that Russia is a "bad boy", that it is out of control and must be stopped.
Despite all of the above, Russia remained steadfast and constantly sought to control the situation. But he consistently said it would be a "red line" if Ukraine became a nuclear power, posing a direct threat to Moscow. This could not be allowed.
Surely this was a sober warning to any sane country that the one thing that must not happen is Ukraine becoming a nuclear power. After all, once this Pandora's box is opened, the last obstacle to a possible nuclear war will be overcome.
In February 2022, at the annual Munich Security Conference, the President of Ukraine announced his intention to make Ukraine a nuclear country. Five days later, Russia entered Ukraine. The American propaganda arm immediately came into play, and for months, even as Ukraine kept losing the war, at every turn the Western media repeated their claims that war was unfolding, that Russia was hesitating, and that Ukraine's heroes were fighting off the attacks. of the Great Bear.
Well, the lasting meaning of this is that NATO was reckless. He did not see the prospect of a nuclear conflict in the first place. They are crazy; Or are they so stupid that they think they have some kind of "advantage" in a nuclear conflict? Or do they see it as a game of "single sovereignty" in which the only important issue is which side has more rights?
"What would a nuclear war look like?" There are many studies out there, but the most revealing one I know of was from Princeton University. The study begins with an accidental launch in Eastern Europe and shows the size and number of nuclear warheads, as well as launch patterns. It shows the trajectories and additionally shows the diameters representing the degree of destruction of each projectile.
Smaller nukes would cover all of Europe, leaving little untouched there. Then the largest transatlantic nuclear weapons, the most advanced Sarmat missiles, will come into action. Sarmat has the ability to evade missile defense systems. It travels at five times the speed of sound, weighs over 200 tons, and each ICBM has multiple separate warheads.
There is nothing like it in the West. So what would be the result?
Well, every major US city would be targeted by multiple ICBM warheads, each one large enough to destroy them. The US would have been destroyed within hours. It is estimated that 90 million people would have been killed initially.
Those in the spotlight will evaporate. Those in the vicinity of the explosion could be saved if they reached the concrete shelter very quickly. They should then remain "sealed" in it for several weeks.
The northern US border will be destroyed, along with Canadian border cities like Vancouver and Toronto. The southern border with Mexico would also disappear. The next issue is the movement of radioactive fallout.
There will be no hope for those living in the immediate vicinity of the target, but there are places outside the US that are not a target. Parties that do not have a strategic advantage will not be selected as targets. So if you were in, say, Jamaica, you wouldn't be affected, but just as importantly, the Caribbean weather system – the winds – would push any precipitation away from you to the north, as would the Gulf Stream.
Even better, the world is divided at the Equator by two weather systems that don't mix. Rainfall in the north is unlikely to spread south.
Finally, there is the issue of nuclear winter. No one can know whether it will last months or years and whether it will be local or global. Nuclear war is not predetermined, but the West rattles dangerously on as if it is invincible and only others can be destroyed. This is completely false.
We can't be sure that a nuclear war will break out, but if it does, it will be quick. You won't have time to develop an escape plan. You should already be in a place you consider as safe as possible" the Russians conclude....
US has directly threatened Russia with 'disaster' if it defends its territory with nuclear weapons
pronews.gr (September 26, 2022) - The United States will respond decisively to any Russian use of nuclear weapons against Ukraine and has made clear to Moscow the "catastrophic consequences" it will face, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said today.
Sullivan's remarks are the latest US warning after Vladimir Putin said last Wednesday about the possible use of nuclear weapons in a speech in which the Russian president also announced his country's first military deployment since World War II.
"If Russia crosses that line, there will be disastrous consequences for Russia. The United States will respond decisively ," Sullivan said on NBC's "Meet the Press."
Accordingly, the Russians warned that "If the US responds with nukes, their territory will be hit within 10'" apparently by submarine ballistic missiles.
"Putin said it so succinctly, so clearly. We do not threaten, we do not want war. We are first in line to stop it. We don't want nuclear winter or nuclear war, but if you declare that we will be destroyed, we will have to destroy you."
There are no other options. Why can't they figure it out? Can't they follow that logical explanation?' said on Russian state television (military expert Igor Korotchenko and presenter Olga Skabeeva).
The US official did not outline the nature of the planned US response in his remarks today, but said Washington had in private talks with Moscow "specified in more detail exactly what that would mean".
US President Joe Biden in his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday accused Putin of making "blatant nuclear threats against Europe" in reckless disregard for non-proliferation responsibilities.
Russia is holding a referendum in four regions of eastern Ukraine aimed at incorporating territory seized by Russian forces during their operation in Ukraine that began in February. Ukraine and its allies have called the referendums a fraud designed to justify an escalation of the war and Putin's move to mobilize after recent battlefield losses.
By incorporating the Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions into Russia, Moscow could interpret attacks to retake them as an attack on Russia itself, a warning to Ukraine and its Western allies.
Putin is mobilizing 300,000 troops, while also threatening to use "all available means" to protect Russia.
"This is not a bluff, " Putin said in remarks seen on the world stage as a threat to the possible use of nuclear weapons.
Sullivan said today: “Putin remains intent ... on exterminating the people of Ukraine who do not believe they have a right to exist. So it will continue and we must continue with weapons, ammunition, intelligence and all the support we can provide."
The head of the Hungarian Foreign Ministry announced the complete failure of the EU sanctions strategy
rusvesna.su (September 26, 2022) - Europe's sanctions policy has completely failed, as the continent's economy has fallen into recession as a result, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said.
“The steps, choices, reactions of the European Union to the war in Ukraine, which have been so far, have completely failed, because the sanctions have caused much more damage to Europe than to Russia, and are causing great harm to the European economy, because European inflation, utility costs, prices have skyrocketed. on natural gas and food, and all this because of the sanctions, and the economy of the continent was in recession,” Szijjártó said on Kossuth radio.
Earlier, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that 11,000 sanctions were imposed against Russia, but they were unsuccessful, and the inflation and energy shortages caused by them could bring Europe to its knees. According to him, Europe needs to change its sanctions policy, because otherwise the situation will be difficult, the continent itself makes its own life more expensive and complicates the situation of its own industry. The Hungarian prime minister considers the sanctions "extraordinary" because they are introduced by "energy dwarfs against the energy giant."
His political adviser, Balazs Orban, said the sanctions imposed by the European Union against Russia have not lived up to expectations, so they are likely to be revised in the new political season. The representative of the Hungarian Foreign Ministry, Tamas Menzer, also said that a revision of the EU sanctions policy can be expected in the fall, since with the onset of cold weather, “reality is knocking on every door” in Western Europe.
Hungarian government spokeswoman Alexandra Szentkirayi said that the EU sanctions are a weapon that fired in the opposite direction, as a result of which Europe became poorer and Russia richer. According to a poll by the public opinion research center Szazadveg, more than 70% of Hungarians believe that anti-Russian sanctions harm Europe, including Hungary.
Daily Express: The West received a chilling warning about Russia's new weapons
politros.com (September 22, 2022) - Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev issued a frightening warning to the West. This information was shared by British journalist Matthew Dooley.
Retired American General Ben Hodges some time ago announced that the United States was ready to strike at military bases in Crimea if the Russian Federation used nuclear weapons in Ukraine. According to Matthew Dooley, in response to the retired military's threats, Dmitry Medvedev issued a chilling warning, reminding the West of Russia's new weapons.
Dmitry Medvedev issued a chilling warning, saying that it would not take long for Moscow's hypersonic missiles to hit targets in the West.
The comments of the Russian politician were made on the eve of the referendums in the LPR, DPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions. Medvedev said that the event would take place and the West would not be able to intimidate the Russian Federation with threats to strike at Crimea or other territories of the country. He also recalled that the latest Russian hypersonic missiles have one distinctive feature: they are very fast and able to reach their targets in Europe or the United States as soon as possible.
The author of the Daily Express noted that Medvedev's words sounded rather frightening for the West. The fact is that the Russian military has already tested the capabilities of its hypersonic weapons, using it to strike at Ukrainian defense facilities.
“Russia declares that it can use any weapon at its disposal to defend its territory, including strategic nuclear weapons and combat systems based on new principles (we are talking about physical principles of operation - ed.),” the analyst stated.
Retired US Lieutenant General Hodges threatened Russia with a strike on bases in the Crimea and the Black Sea Fleet
avia.pro (September 22, 2022) - A retired US general has threatened to destroy Russian military bases in Crimea.
Retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges threatened Russia with the destruction of military bases in Crimea if Russia uses nuclear weapons in the framework of the NMD in Ukraine. According to a retired American general, in the event of the use of nuclear weapons, Russia's military bases in Crimea will be liquidated, assuming that the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy will also come under attack.
According to American General Ben Hodges, the likelihood that Russia will use nuclear weapons is extremely small, but the United States of America is ready for such actions.
“He [Putin] knows that the US will have to respond if Russia uses nuclear weapons. The US response may not be nuclear... but it could very well be a devastating strike that could, for example, destroy the Black Sea Fleet or Russian bases in Crimea. Therefore, I think that President Putin and his entourage will not want to directly drag the United States into the conflict ,” said retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges.
The threats against Russia by the former American general are of very serious concern, since today the United States is actively supporting Kyiv with the supply of weapons, which does not exclude the possibility that the United States will further impede the conduct of a special military operation, for example, by supplying more weapons.
KEDMI: RUSSIA'S DOUBLE NUCLEAR SUPERIORITY OVER THE US DISCOURAGED THE PENTAGON
rusonline.org (September 21, 2022) - Russia's advantage over the United States in nuclear weapons turned out to be higher than the West believed, which discouraged the US military. This was stated by a military-political expert, ex-head of the Nativ Liaison Bureau (Israel) Yakov Kedmi.
The US military has come to the conclusion that Russia is far ahead of the US in terms of nuclear capabilities than previously thought. Kedmi referred to the Western media, according to which, Pentagon intelligence unexpectedly discovered: the Russian Federation is superior to the United States even in the tactical nuclear weapons segment (it was believed that the gap here was not so large or not at all).
The expert clarified that tactical nuclear systems include such complexes as Iskander and Kalibr, whose missiles can be equipped with low-yield nuclear charges.
“Pentagon intelligence officials noted two things. Seemingly imperceptible, it turns out that Russia has a huge advantage over the United States in tactical nuclear weapons - not in what you thought. With such a balance of power, no one will start a tactical nuclear war,” Kedmi said.
In addition to tactical nuclear weapons, Russia is many times superior to the United States in strategic weapons. The expert emphasized that even without taking into account the latest hypersonic systems, the advantage of the Russian Federation is overwhelming. American defense is unable to repel a full-scale Russian nuclear strike. Thus, the Russian Federation has a double nuclear advantage over the United States: in strategic and tactical weapons.
“It also turned out to be completely unexpected that the US missile defense system is weak and cannot withstand the attack of Russian intercontinental missiles. And it's not about hyper sound! We are talking about the usual ones that were before. That is, the US military lag behind Russia in the main types of weapons is much greater than they thought. And it is increasing more and more, ”Kedmi said in the Sunday Evening with Vladimir Solovyov program.
Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Patrushev arrived on a visit to China
svpressa.ru (September 19, 2022) - Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai Patrushev arrived in China.
According to the MC, he will have bilateral consultations on security here. The agreements reached at the recent meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on September 15-16, 2022 between President Vladimir Putin and President Xi Jinping will be discussed, as well as "a wide range of topics aimed at further strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of security."
EVGENY SATANOVSKY: THE ONLY WAY FOR RUSSIA TO LAY SIEGE TO THE INSOLENT WEST
rusonline.org (September 16, 2022) - The United States and its allies act as if Russia does not have the most powerful nuclear arsenal in the world. Political scientist Yevgeny Satanovsky explained how the Russian Federation can stop the impudence of the West.
The attitude of the collective West towards Russia is based on a deep conviction that Moscow will not respond harshly to attacks against it. According to Satanovsky, no one in the US and Europe believes in a nuclear strike in response to sanctions, the arrest of reserves, entry bans for Russians and other openly hostile actions against the Russian Federation. The political scientist believes that the perception of permissiveness can be changed by the formation in the West of the feeling that at any moment any action can be followed by a disproportionate and extremely harsh reaction.
“If you do not use nuclear weapons, consider that you do not have one. The current concept of relations with Russia is exactly the same. Until it is clear that anything can be realized, it will be so. Why has Israel always sought to give its Arab neighbors the complete feeling that absolutely anything can be expected of it? It stops a lot of things. For example, a lot of terrorist attacks on planes - at one time Ben-Gurion promised that any response would be disproportionate. But he demonstrated then that he would. And no one wanted to take risks, ”Satanovsky explained.
The political scientist wondered how Russia reacts to the intersection of the red lines designated by it. Attempts to influence the statements of politicians and diplomats without real action Satanovsky considers unproductive. An example of how the principle of unpredictability of a response works, the expert considers Israel, which has insured itself in this way against the hostile actions of its neighbors in the region.
“When the other side crosses a red line, something has to happen. Otherwise, they stop paying attention to you. And we only shame them endlessly. We say: “How can you? It’s not supposed to be like this,” Satanovsky said on the air of Solovyov LIVE.
Earlier, the political scientist said that the United States had already unleashed a third world war in an attempt to maintain financial and political hegemony. The situation in Ukraine, according to Satanovsky, is only a small front of the global confrontation that Washington is waging against all geopolitical opponents.
"WE REPEAT WHAT HAPPENED": SOROS MADE A SHOCKING STATEMENT
rusonline.org (September 14, 2022) - Infamous financier George Soros openly admitted that he is trying to destroy Russia, as he once destroyed the Soviet Union. However, serious problems arose with the plan for the collapse of modern Russia.
Billionaire George Soros, speaking at a public event, said that one of his first "projects" was the collapse of the Soviet Union and the establishment of Western influence on its ruins. The financier noted that he tried to do the same with Russia already in our time, but with her everything turned out quite differently.
Now I am most active in Russia. We repeat what happened during the collapse of the USSR. But, alas, there is a difference. Then the Union was dying, and Europe was experiencing an upsurge and flourishing. Now, on the contrary, Russia is returning, and the European Union is falling. Sad situation Soros (Sorrow) said.
The name of George Soros is closely associated with Western interference in the internal affairs of other countries and color revolutions. He defends the interests of globalists who want to maintain the current world order with the US at the head.
It is noteworthy that Soros is disliked even in the West. He is accused of trying to destroy Christianity and that he once ruined the Bank of England with his speculations.
Dmitry Medvedev on NATO-Russia war: Earth will burn and concrete will melt
Pravda.ru (September 14, 2022) - Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, commented on the draft of the security treaty that Kyiv published on September 13.
The document published by the Office of the President of Ukraine with recommendations on security guarantees is, in fact, a prologue to World War Three, Medvedev wrote on Telegram.
"Our sworn friends — Western bosses of various ranks, to whom this hysterical appeal is addressed — should finally come to understand one simple thing. It directly concerns NATO's hybrid war with Russia.
"If these half-wits continue the unrestrained supplies of most dangerous types of weapons to the Kyiv regime, sooner or later the military campaign will move to another level. Visible boundaries and potential predictability of the actions of the parties to the conflict will disappear. It will develop on its own military scenario, getting new participants involved. It has always been the case.
"In this case, Western countries will no longer be able to stay in their clean houses and apartments, laughing at how they masterfully weaken Russia by proxy. Everything around them will be on fire. Their people will experience trouble in full. The earth will be on fire and concrete will melt in the truest sense of the word. We will get to experience big problems as well. Everyone will be in big, big trouble."
In the Kyiv Security Treaty, it was said that the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Poland, Italy, Germany, France, Australia, Turkey, the Baltic countries, as well as Northern, Central and Eastern Europe could become the guarantors of Ukraine's security.
Ukraine should obtain security guarantees before the country becomes a possible NATO member.
North Korea's "ace" was "pulled" by China: Preemptive strikes with nuclear weapons "automatically" and "immediately" if it feels threatened
warnews247.gr (September 10, 2022) - A new escalation in the Asia-Pacific region is set by North Korea as it adopted a law allowing it to carry out pre-emptive strikes with nuclear weapons and describes the country's nuclear power status as "irreversible", which means that negotiations on its denuclearization are out of the question, North Korea said state news agency KCNA. This means that it also puts an end to any discussion or negotiation with the US and the West on its denuclearization.
The new "nuclear law" was passed on China's instructions. As the attack on Taiwan approaches, the surrounding countries are fortifying and preparing for engagement. North Korea will keep South Korea and Japan "busy" until China's military intervention in Taiwan ends with the risk of "mistake" always lurking.
In more detail, North Korea passed a law that states that its nuclear status is irreversible and that it has the ability to immediately and automatically launch preventive strikes with nuclear weapons if it feels threatened.
As North Korea's state news agency KCNA reported, the law passed (replacing a previous law from 2013) allows North Korea to launch pre-emptive strikes with nuclear weapons "automatically" and "immediately" if any foreign power threatens North Korea.
The 2013 law stipulated that North Korea could use nuclear weapons to counter an invasion or attack by a hostile nuclear power. The law now allows the military to launch pre-emptive strikes if an imminent attack with weapons of mass destruction is detected or if they are directed at "strategic targets" in North Korea.
Kim: I'm not giving up nuclear weapons, even with 100 years of sanctions
In addition, an important aspect of the new law is that "the country's status as a nuclear-weapon state becomes irreversible."
As early as last July, North Korean leader Kim Jong un claimed that his country was "ready to deploy" its nuclear deterrent in the event of a conflict with the US and South Korea.
"It is completely out of the question to renounce nuclear weapons and there will be no denuclearization or negotiation," Kim Jong un reportedly told the North Korean parliament before the law was passed.
As Kim said, it is of the utmost importance that the legislative policy on nuclear weapons draw an irreversible line so that there can be no negotiation on North Korea's nuclear weapons. In fact, Kim claimed that he would not hand over the nuclear arsenal, even if North Korea faced 100 years of sanctions.
"As long as nuclear weapons and imperialism remain on earth and the maneuvers of the United States and its allies against our Republic are not ended, our work to strengthen nuclear power will not stop ," Kim said.
“The era of their parasitism is over”: Volodin said that the West will no longer live at the expense of Russia
rusvesna.su (September 9, 2022) - State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin called the Western countries parasites and said that the era of their prosperity, based on the exploitation of cheap energy resources from Russia, is over.
“By their decision to introduce a “ceiling” on prices for Russian oil and gas, the G7 states recognize the ineffectiveness of the sanctions previously imposed against Russia. Washington and Brussels had to abandon the complete ban on our energy resources. An attempt to replace them failed.
What officials in the G7 states call a “ceiling” on prices will be a “floor”.
The world market is not limited to seven countries. More than 80% of the world's population does not support sanctions against Russia. The limit price announced by the West will become the lower bar. What will be the cost of energy resources - the market and contractual obligations will decide.
The Western model of the global economy, based on colonial principles, has become obsolete.
The G7 countries will no longer be able to exist by exploiting the rest of the world, buying cheap resources from Russia and other states.
The era of their parasitism is over,” he wrote in his Telegram channel.
Russia's VTB Launches Transfers in Chinese Yuan Bypassing SWIFT
U.S.News (September 6, 2022) - VTB said on Tuesday it had become the first Russian bank to launch money transfers to China in yuan without using the international messaging system SWIFT that underpins financial transactions globally.
Demand for the yuan in Russia has increased since Feb. 24 when Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine and the West imposed sanctions against Moscow, limiting its access to the dollar and euro markets.
The sanctions on major Russian banks, including state-controlled VTB, have effectively cut lenders off from the global financial system.
"The new reality is leading to a massive rejection of the use of the dollar and the euro in international payments," VTB CEO Andrei Kostin said in a statement.
"The launch of the yuan transfer system will significantly simplify the work of Russian companies and individuals with Chinese partners, increasing the popularity of the yuan in our country," he said.
VTB said the maximum amount of a single money transfer was equivalent to 20 million roubles ($328,677) and the maximum monthly limit is set at 100 million roubles. The bank is planning to start lending in the yuan and other non-Western currencies later this year.
Russia's largest lender, Sberbank, said on Tuesday it had already started lending in the yuan, as Moscow looks to develop its financial infrastructure in countries that have not imposed sanctions against it.
VTB's Kostin also said there was a need to develop payment systems as an alternative to SWIFT, which VTB was disconnected from in March.
Sanctions have increased the use of Russia's SWIFT alternative, the System for Transfer of Financial Messages (SPFS), which was developed by Russia's central bank.
Russia warns US of sending long-range weapons to Ukraine
YahooNews (September 2, 2022) - A senior Russian diplomat sternly warned Washington Friday against supplying long-range weapons to Ukraine, noting that the U.S. is balancing on the edge of direct involvement in the conflict.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov also pointed to the country's military doctrine that envisages the use of nuclear weapons in case of a threat to the existence of the Russian state.
“We have repeatedly warned the U.S. about the consequences that may follow if the U.S. continues to flood Ukraine with weapons," Ryabkov said. “It effectively puts itself in a state close to what can be described as a party to the conflict.”
Speaking on state television, Ryabkov warned that ”a very narrow margin that separates the U.S. from becoming a party to the conflict mustn't create an illusion for rabid anti-Russian forces that everything will remain as it is if they cross it.”
He emphasized that Russia will push its offensive in Ukraine until it reaches its aims.
“Russia is capable of fully defending its interests, and the goals of the special military operation will be fully achieved,” Ryabkov said.
He pointed out that Russia’s military doctrine stipulates that it could use nuclear weapons in case of aggression against Russia and its allies involving mass destruction weapons, or an aggression involving conventional weapons that threatens the very existence of the Russian state.
Supplies of the U.S. HIMARS multiple rocket launchers strengthened the strike capability of the Ukrainian army, which has used them to hit key infrastructure facilities and other targets. The truck-mounted systems fire GPS-guided missiles capable of reaching targets up to 80 kilometers (50 miles) away.
U.S. authorities so far have refrained from providing Ukraine with longer range missiles for HIMARS launchers that can reach targets up to 300 kilometers (186 miles) and could potentially allow the Ukrainian military to hit areas deep inside Russia.
“We are warning the U.S. against making provocative steps, such as deliveries of longer-range and more devastating weapons,” Ryabkov said. “It's a road to nowhere fraught with grave consequences, the responsibility for which will lie entirely with Washington.”
Europe will be fooled - Russia is preparing an unexpected response to sanctions
politros.com (September 1, 2022) - Western experts predicted the collapse of the Russian economy after the imposition of sanctions, as a result of which part of the country's foreign exchange reserves were frozen. According to James Rickards, he disagreed with such forecasts from the very beginning and turned out to be right in the end. This is reported by The Daily Reckoning (TDR).
“As soon as the US and the EU imposed the first economic and financial sanctions against Russia, I said that the restrictions would not be able to contain the Russian Federation. I went further and said that the sanctions would hurt the United States more than they would help the Russian side. All these predictions turned out to be correct, ”said the American analyst.
James Rickards stated that the Western elites today are so ignorant that they are unable to think even one step ahead. The situation with sanctions was a good confirmation of this. US and EU economic restrictions were supposed to hurt Russia, but instead, Moscow was able to greatly benefit from what happened. Against the background of the high cost of energy resources, the Russian Federation earns more than $21 billion a month from the export of oil and gas. This is much more than last year's figures, and the Russian ruble has become much stronger than before.
“Meanwhile, the US recession and inflation are at their highest levels in 40 years, interest rates are rising and gas and food prices have doubled over the past year. Things are even worse in Europe as the region faces energy and food shortages in the coming months. Could the situation get worse? In fact, yes, ”says the former CIA adviser.
By weaponizing the dollar, freezing Russian assets, and excluding Russia from global payment systems, the US has forced Russia to respond. Moscow began to look for alternative payment currencies, new channels for making money transfers and thinking about creating a new global currency. These projects are being implemented within the framework of BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, both of which are centered around Russia and China.
Russia has also begun to make efforts to form a gas cartel with the participation of Iran and other countries. This new organization could function just like OPEC, except that the strategic asset would be natural gas rather than oil. James Rickards did not rule out that Qatar and Azerbaijan could join the organization.
"Only Russia, Iran and Qatar control about 60% of the world's natural gas reserves," the author of The Daily Reckoning reported.
Such a Russian-led cartel would be able to negotiate exclusive deals with favored buyers such as China. As a result, Europe, which is highly dependent on Russian gas, literally and figuratively, will remain in the cold, as it will face a shortage and high energy prices.
As a result, Russia's response to sanctions may come as a complete surprise to Western strategists. Its consequences for the US and Europe will be much worse than the most gloomy forecasts suggested.
“Now there are unforeseen consequences, and they are even worse than analysts expected,” said James Rickards.
Taiwan Vows Counter-Attack If China Enters Territory Amid 2nd 'Warning Shot' Drone Incident
ZeroHedge (August 31, 2022) - Taiwan is warning that its military won't hesitate to exercise right of self-defense and to counter-attack in the event of Chinese forces entering its territory, following an unprecedented event on Tuesday wherein live ammunition was fired as 'warning shots' against a cluster of drones that appeared near the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen islands.
Flares had initially been deployed to warn off the drones, but per Taiwan's defense ministry live ammo was then used to force the drones' departure. Taipei followed Wednesday with this warning: "We will continue defending our national security, firmly holding on to the median line, and doing whatever it takes to protect our homes, our families, and our sovereignty," according to the words of defense ministry spokesperson Li-Fang Sun.
Within hours after issuing the warning, another drone incident has been reported, with Taiwan's military saying it detected "three civilian drones" in the area of its offshore island possessions on Wednesday. It further confirmed that warning shots were again fired to fend off the unidentified drones, believed to have been dispatched from China's mainland.
There's been a reported series of what are believed to be Chinese drones approaching Taiwan-held islands, which lie close to mainland China, including at Matsu islands.
While Taiwanese media described Tuesday's major incident as involving "civilian drones" - it's as yet unclear whether the PLA military was operating them, or the degree to which Chinese military drones have been deployed near the islands.
As for the Kinmen Islands, site of this latest warning shot incident, they lie a mere 10km east of the Chinese mainland city of Xiamen in Fujian.
23 Chinese Air Force combat aircraft simulated an attack on US Navy ships in the Taiwan Strait
avia.pro (August 29, 2022) - 23 combat aircraft of the PLA Air Force took part in practicing a strike on US Navy ships.
After the United States staged a serious provocation about a day ago by sending two of its warships into the waters of the Taiwan Strait, it became known that the PRC took tough steps and worked out a massive air raid on American ships. 23 Chinese combat aircraft took part in practicing the attack, simulating the application of missile and bomb strikes.
It is known that after two US Navy missile cruisers ended up in the passage between China and the island of Taiwan. 23 combat aircraft of the PLA Air Force, having flown to meet them, worked out the application of a massive missile and bomb strike. For obvious reasons, Beijing did not take aggressive steps, however, in this way, Beijing reacted quite effectively to the provocation arranged by Washington.
Among other things, there is evidence that after the passage of the Taiwan Strait, American ships were squeezed by eight Chinese warships, however, this also did not lead to any serious incidents.
Experts note that due to provocations orchestrated by the US, the risks of conflict between China and the US are very high, especially since Washington is not trying to reduce tensions in relations with Beijing, only exacerbating the situation.
China Prepares for Conflict: Politicians Hand Power to Military - Review of National Defense Law
warnews247.gr (August 21, 2022) - A particularly disturbing revelation comes from China. In July 2022, a Chinese businessman making medical equipment announced that local officials had asked him to convert his production lines in China so they could produce items for the military.
Communist Party officials, he said, issued similar orders to other businessmen.
In addition, Chinese academics argue that the ongoing expulsion of foreign colleagues from China's universities appears to be a preparation for hostilities. The People's Republic of China is preparing to go to war and is not hiding its efforts.
Power in the military
Amendments to the National Defense Act brought into force transfer powers from politicians to military officials.
In general, the amendments reduce the role of the central government's State Council by shifting power to the CMC, the Communist Party's Central Military Committee.
Specifically, the State Council will no longer supervise the mobilization of the People's Liberation Army. As Zeng Zhiping of Soochow University told Hong Kong's South China Morning Post, "the CMC is now formally responsible for formulating national defense policy and principles, while the State Council becomes a mere implementer providing support to the military."
Putin: Collective West Purposely Destroying European Security System, NATO Moving East
Sputnik (August 16, 2022) - The collective West is purposely destroying the European security system with NATO moving further east, said Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, addressing the X Moscow Conference on International Security.
“Western globalist elites are provoking chaos by rekindling old and inciting new conflicts, implementing a policy of so-called containment, while undermining any alternative, sovereign paths of development. Thus, they are desperately trying to preserve the hegemony and power that are slipping out of their grasp, trying to keep countries and peoples in the grip of a neo-colonial order,” Putin stated.
The Russian President emphasized that this “hegemony” was doomed to bring the whole world to a state of stagnation.
“Any means are used. The United States and its vassals rudely interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign states by organizing provocations, coups d'état and civil wars. Threats, blackmail and pressure are resorted to in a bid to force independent states to submit to their will.”
According to the Russian President, all this is done with one goal - to maintain global dominance.
"The so-called collective West is deliberately destroying the European security system, putting together new military alliances. The NATO bloc is expanding East, building up its military infrastructure, deploying missile defense systems and increasing the strike capabilities of its offensive forces," Putin underscored.
The Russian President pointed out that these actions are hypocritically justified by the need to strengthen security in Europe, but in actual fact, just the opposite is happening. At the same time, proposals on mutual security measures put forward by Russia in December last year were yet again ignored, he said.
According to the Russian leader, the collective West needs conflict to maintain hegemony. That is why the people of Ukraine were allotted the fate of “cannon fodder”.
“Implementing the “anti-Russia” project, they turned a blind eye to the spread of neo-Nazi ideology, the massacres of the inhabitants of Donbass, while continuously pumping the Kiev regime with weapons, including heavy armaments,” said Vladimir Putin.
Under these conditions, stressed the Russian President, the decision was taken to launch a special military operation in Ukraine in full accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.
“The goals of this operation are clearly and precisely defined: to ensure the security of Russia and our citizens, to protect the inhabitants of Donbass from genocide.”
Trump Supporters Are Calling for Civil War After FBI Search of Mar-a-Lago
Vice News (August 9, 2022) - After news broke that the FBI searched former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in Florida on Monday, his supporters openly called for an armed violent response, and ultimately, civil war.
“Civil War 2.0 just kicked off,” one user wrote on Twitter, with another adding, “One step closer to a kinetic civil war.” Others said they were ready to take part: “I already bought my ammo.”
MAGA, QAnon, and far-right message boards and Telegram channels lit up Monday night with calls for a violent response to what some extremists see as a political attack directed by the Biden administration.
“This is how you light the match to a civil war,” one user on Twitter wrote in response to the news. Similar rhetoric was shared in far-right channels on Telegram. “Civil war coming to America, there won't be any more elections,” one member said.
“A total war on dissidents is about to unfold. Not behind closed doors but blatantly, in public,” another member wrote in a different far-right channel. “Attacks on Alex Jones, Trump, and Patriot Day defendants are only setting the precedent for the future of us as the only opposition to the Deep State.”
In QAnon channels, there were some conflicting responses, with some conspiracy believers calling for armed responses and others suggesting the FBI was all part of the plan. A prominent QAnon influencer known as QAnon John is urging followers not to call for civil war, as this, the influencer said, is what the deep state wants them to do.
Within hours of the FBI search, however, the term “civil war” was already trending on Twitter, and hundreds of Trump supporters had already gathered outside Mar-a-Lago. Some claimed on Telegram channels that they were there to protect the former president.
'Time to fight together': China ends communications with US & upgrades strategic relationship with Russia - Shipyards catch fire
warnews247.gr (August 6, 2022) - China is beginning to cut communication bridges with Washington as it announced it is halting cooperation with the United States in several areas, including dialogue between top military commanders. According to Beijing's announcement, the first list includes 8 measures against the US.
Canceled:
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Conversations between military officials of a certain level
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The meetings between officials of the Ministries of Defense of the two countries
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The China-US Maritime Security Mechanism
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Cooperation with Washington to prevent cross-border crime
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Cooperation against drug trafficking
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Cooperation in the repatriation of illegal immigrants.
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Bilateral talks on climate change.
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China-US criminal-judicial cooperation
Earlier, China announced sanctions on US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her close family members in response to their "evil" and "provocative" actions, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.
China-Russia strategic cooperation will be strengthened
At the same time, Beijing announced plans to strengthen its strategic partnership with Russia after the incident in Taiwan.
This was seen during the visit of the head of the Russian diplomatic department, Sergey Lavrov, to Cambodia for negotiations within the framework of ASEAN. In Phnom Penh, Lavrov met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, who noted Russia's adherence to "One China" principles. The identification of views on what is happening will form the basis for the future strengthening of the strategic partnership between the two countries.
"Beijing is ready to strengthen the strategic engagement with Russia, so that together we can more effectively defend the international system in which the United Nations plays a key role, as well as the order based on the rules of generally accepted international law," said the Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi.
Moscow reacted negatively to the visit of the speaker of the US House of Representatives to Taiwan, considering it an "unnecessary provocation". According to Russian diplomats, Washington thus seeks to divert attention from the internal problems of the United States and the situation in Ukraine.
"For the sake of momentary gain, for the sake of momentary juncture, for the sake of these infamous public relations, domestic and foreign, they are ready to sacrifice everything, including the remnants of their reputation," the official spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, told the air of Radio Sputnik.
Map shows paths of Chinese missiles fired around Taiwan on Day 1
Taiwan News (August 5, 2022)
PLA launches military drills around the island of Taiwan
Global Times (August 4, 2022)
18 Chinese DF-21 hypersonic systems deployed to attack US aircraft carrier group
avia.pro (July 31, 2022) - China has put hypersonic missile systems on full alert.
Against the background of the appearance in the waters off the coast of China and Taiwan of the US Navy aircraft carrier strike group, China brought its hypersonic anti-ship missile systems to full combat readiness. This, according to Chinese sources, is about at least 18 missile systems, which allows you to destroy an entire aircraft carrier group in just a few minutes.
At the moment, it is known that 18 hypersonic anti-ship missile systems DF-21 and DF-21D are in operational readiness for combat use in service with the PRC. The latter are capable of inflicting high-precision strikes at great distances, while the flight speed of such a missile exceeds 12 thousand km / h, while the accuracy of hitting a target reaches 10 meters. Given the high flight speed of the DF-21D hypersonic missile, the probability of its successful interception is incredibly small.
At the moment, there is also information that China could put on full alert and DF-ZF missile systems, which are capable of striking with gliding warheads flying at speeds up to 12 MAX, which does not allow successful interception even with modern missile defense systems. , while for air defense systems this speed is very high.
Experts highly appreciate the risk of clashes between China and the United States, especially since the visit of the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the US Congress Nancy Pelosi should take place within the next few hours.
"YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO SIT OUT": PUTIN'S WORDS SOBERED THE USA
rusonline.org (July 29, 2022) - The United States is wrong in assessing the risks of a nuclear war with Russia. Military-political expert Yakov Kedmi, in the words of Russian President Vladimir Putin, clarified the conditions for a strike on the United States.
According to Kedmi, the RAND analysts' report on the risks of Russia's use of nuclear weapons in NATO countries reflects reality. If the Russian Federation feels that the Alliance is preparing an attack, it can strike at its territory. However, the boundaries of what is permissible, as the expert notes, were determined not by the West, but by the President of Russia, including with regard to the special operation of the Russian Federation in Ukraine.
Russia treats the threat from NATO according to the following principle: they are ready to respond, but a preventive strike is not needed. An exception, according to the expert, could be the deployment of US nuclear weapons in Eastern Europe, which Poland is desperately seeking. At the same time, in the event that any weapon of the North Atlantic Alliance is used by its forces against Russia in Europe, the Russian strike will follow the decision-making centers on American territory.
"If there is a conflict and NATO uses them, the President of Russia said: “It doesn’t matter how the conflict starts in Europe, the answer will be in Washington and the main centers of NATO.” That is, it makes no sense to preventively destroy NATO or American forces on the border of Ukraine,” Kedmi reminded.
Don’t say we didn’t warn you – Symposium of China’s top think tank sends classic, pre-war warning to provocative Pelosi
Global Times (July 29, 2022) - "Don't say we didn't warn you!" - a phrase that was used by the People's Daily in 1962 before China was forced to fight the border war with India and ahead of the 1979 China-Vietnam War, was frequently mentioned during a forum held Friday by a high-level Chinese think tank, as analysts warned that open military options and comprehensive countermeasures ranging from the economy to diplomacy from China await if US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi gambles with a visit to the Taiwan island during her Asia tour.
On Thursday night, Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone conversation with US President Joe Biden, during which he once again warned the US about the seriousness and significance of the Taiwan question and said, "Public opinion cannot be defied. Those who play with fire will perish by it. It is hoped that the US will be clear-eyed about this."
In the recent week, in response to Pelosi's potential visit to the island of Taiwan, a string of warnings have also been made by different ministries and departments of China. On Friday, the Institute of Taiwan Studies in Chinese Academy of Social Sciences - the highest-level think tank - held a forum with analysts and discussed the damage of Pelosi's possible Taiwan island visit to the China-US relations, cross-Straits stability and regional and global peace, and China's countermeasures.
Sending fighter jets to intercept Pelosi's plane, declaring air and maritime zones around the island of Taiwan as restriction zones for military exercises … China's responses will be systematical and not limited to small scale given the severity of Pelosi's move and the damage to the political trust of China-US relations, Yang Mingjie, head of the Institute of Taiwan Studies in Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.
Continue reading: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202207/1271745.shtml
US military: "It's over, Ukraine has colossal losses - Russia is winning on all fronts - Europe & USA are collapsing"
warnews247.gr (July 26, 2022) - Two US military officers describe an ominous future for Ukraine, stressing that the current Ukrainian state is over. The losses of her Army are colossal and will not be replaced. But according to them, the battle in Ukraine has turned into a nightmare for Europe as well, as Russia is winning on all fronts, military, political and economic.
"The Armed Forces of Ukraine are suffering huge losses"
The Ukrainian armed forces are at risk of collapse if they continue to suffer heavy casualties, according to retired US Lt. Col. Daniel Davis.
The American officer notes that the Ukrainian side is losing daily more than a thousand military dead during the hostilities, while a significant part of the trained personnel was lost in the battle for Mariupol.
At the same time, instead of experienced contract soldiers, the Ukrainian troops must take conscripts who have never held weapons in their hands. Only 20 percent of young military personnel joining the Armed Forces of Ukraine have ever fired a shot, according to a study by the Modern Warfare Institute.
"It is difficult to overestimate the damages caused to the Ukrainian army, especially for regular commanders at the platoon, company and battalion level," the lieutenant colonel writes, adding that the losses deprive Kiev of the opportunity to organize a counterattack.
According to Davis, every day the risk of the collapse of the Armed Forces of Ukraine increases due to the replacement of professional soldiers with recruits. He noted that it would not be possible to compensate for the loss of special forces.
“You can't create experienced leaders, they have to be 'nurtured' over time. The more Ukraine loses war-experienced personnel in leadership positions, the less combat-ready its general forces will be," the officer summarized.
He also added that the training of professional soldiers at the company or battalion level takes about several months and should start with the recruitment of experienced lieutenants and captains, etc. Earlier, Lt. Col. Davis of the US Armed Forces said that Western generals are deliberately hiding real data about the situation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Donbas.
"It's over, Russia is winning on all fronts"
For his part, American military analyst Scott Ritter made a series of statements in which he assessed the situation at the front and the confrontation between the West and Russia.
“In short, yes, it's all over. It won't take long for everyone to come to that conclusion. But the fact remains, Russia is winning on all fronts: in the military, on the battlefield. Politically, we just have to look at the collapse of the European political system and the continued degradation of the Biden administration here in the US.
But also economically, Russia has turned the situation around, the sanctions have backfired on the US and Europe. The Russian economy is fine. If you take all three aspects together, there is nothing that can change the direction of each of these aspects. Russia is winning and will develop the victory on the battlefield.
Moscow's goals are also changing. The Russians say that the more weapons we supply to Ukraine, the higher the price both Ukraine and the West will pay. Russian representatives stated:
"Now the issue is not limited only to Donbass, the entire territory we hold will not return anywhere, it belongs to us forever." These are the regions of Kherson and Zaporizhia. "And we will move on."
This means Odessa. Anyone who doubts the fate of Odessa should understand that this city will forever become part of the Russian Federation. The Russians will not stop and take this city. Maybe they will take Kharkiv, maybe Dnepropetrovsk. We don't know that yet.
The Russians were clear, and we were given to understand it, earlier this week, when the Ukrainians began using the HIMARS MLRS, a weapon with greater range and accuracy than other Ukrainian weapon systems. They began to use them not only against Russian military targets, but also against populated areas of Luhansk and Donetsk. And Russia said:
"We cannot end the conflict in Donbass. We should expand our military presence to drive Ukrainian forces further inward so they cannot reach the people of Lugansk and Donetsk."
They may have been 80 or 100 kilometers from the border. But now the conversation goes even further. Now we are literally talking about the liquidation of the Ukrainian state. We can now talk about the hostility of Ukrainians towards Russia. But there is enmity only so long as they can afford the luxury of nurturing that enmity. They won't have that luxury anytime soon. You harbor enmity, but only for your own destruction.
I don't want to scare anyone, but Russia is tired of playing games. Putin recently said, "I haven't even started yet," and now Russians are saying: "That's it, we start using painful means."
D. Medvedev: "It's not our fault that the stupid Europeans will freeze - Ukraine will disappear from the map"
pronews.gr (July 21, 2022) - It is not Russia's fault that "ordinary European citizens will freeze in their homes this winter," said Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council and former President and Prime Minister of the country, Dmitry Medvedev.
In fact, he described as stupid the European governments that were "deceived by the Americans" and followed American interests with the result that their citizens suffered the most painful consequences.
Regarding Ukraine, he said that it may eventually lose " the remains of state sovereignty and completely disappear from the world map", fully confirming the publication of pronews.gr that Russia is moving into the third phase of the special military operation in Ukraine with the aim now the advance and perhaps the occupation of the entire country, as announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Moscow, Sergei Lavrov.
Yesterday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that "The geographical targets of Moscow's special military operation in Ukraine are no longer limited to the eastern Donbas region but include a number of other territories. The geography is now different."
It is not only the People's Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, it is also the regions of Kherson and Zaporizhia and a number of other territories, and this process continues, in a steady and unrelenting way," he told the Ria-Novosti news agency.
At the same time, he added that the EU leadership has completely lost touch with reality and is forcing Ukrainians to sacrifice their lives to join the European Union.
"The village lunatics who call themselves the EU leadership have completely lost touch with reality and are forcing the unfortunate Ukrainians to sacrifice their lives to join the European Union," noted Medvedev, while pointing out that "numerous political crooks" are manipulating the issue of the restoration of Ukraine's statehood within its former borders "based on new military orders and the curtailment of financial flows available to the Kiev regime."
At the same time, Medvedev stressed, NATO continues "against logic" to approach Russia's borders, creating "a real threat of global conflict and the death of a significant part of humanity."
"NOW WE BEGIN": SHOIGU GAVE THE DECISIVE ORDER
rusonline.org (July 16, 2022) - The head of the Ministry of Defense, Sergei Shoigu, gave instructions to increase the actions of groups in all operational areas in Ukraine. The armed forces should deprive the Kyiv regime of the chance to launch massive rocket and artillery strikes on civilian infrastructure and residents of Donbass and other regions.
At the command post, Shoigu heard reports from the commander of the South grouping, General of the Army Sergei Surovikin, the commander of the Center group, Colonel General Alexander Lapin, and other commanders and commanders taking part in the special operation. They reported on the current situation, the nature of enemy actions and the progress of combat missions. The head of the ministry inspected the groupings on the implementation of further tasks.
Commenting on the information about Shoigu's order, journalist Yulia Vityazeva briefly explained: “Now let’s get started!” she wrote.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Western and Ukrainian haters of our country that we, in fact, had not even started in earnest yet.
"Everyone should know that we, by and large, have not started anything seriously yet," Putin said.
In other words, the president said that Russia was winning in Ukraine with little force. According to experts, only 18 percent of our professional military are involved in the special operation. What we are now doing in Ukraine is, in a sense, a "warm-up", only preparation for a "serious conversation".
Former White House employee: Russia has one way to stop Western provocations in Ukraine
politros.com (July 15, 2022) - The West continues to arrange various provocations against Russia, and it continues to adhere to the letter of the law. This state of affairs leads to Armageddon. This point of view was expressed by former White House employee Paul Craig Roberts. Especially for its readers , PolitRussia presents an exclusive retelling of the material.
According to a former White House official, Westerners who are under the influence of propaganda do not realize that it is not Moscow that is actually showing aggression, but Washington. At the same time, Russia remains the only one among the powerful countries that upholds the rule of international law and the observance of business contracts and state agreements.
“In some ways, this is commendable, but in some ways, the Kremlin’s adherence to laws that the West no longer honors is dangerous for Russia and for the whole world,” says Paul Craig Roberts.
According to the American expert, Washington operates according to its own ever-changing rules and does not care whether they are legal or not. For the United States, the law is what serves their interests.
Today, American provocations have reached the point where the United States is supplying Ukraine with long-range missile systems and intelligence information. All this makes the States directly involved in the war against Russia.
Moscow recognizes that America is behaving aggressively, but at the same time does not respond to provocations and continues to adapt to Western aggression. According to Paul Craig Roberts, this is a big problem, because the United States sees in Russia's willingness to put up with humiliation uncertainty, indecision and lack of will. This pushes the American side to even greater provocative actions.
“NATO intervention (in the situation in Ukraine – ed.) would never have happened if the Kremlin had cut off all energy supplies to the West at the first sign of the West’s involvement in the conflict,” the former White House official is sure.
He is convinced that the best way for Russia to put an end to the unfriendly actions of Western countries is to deprive them of oil and gas. But Moscow adheres to the letter of the law and continues to respect international agreements. For now, the question, according to Roberts, is how long Russia will be able to put up with provocations, and whether it will do something before Washington crosses the red line and provokes Armageddon.
19FortyFive: The US is lucky that Russia did not declare them a party to the conflict in Ukraine
politros.com (July 9, 2022) - Washington was lucky that Russia did not name it as a direct participant in the conflict in Ukraine. Christopher Blattman, a columnist for the American edition of 19FortyFive, wrote about this. Especially for its readers , PolitRussia presents an exclusive retelling of the publication.
The Biden administration assures that the United States is not a party to the conflict in Ukraine, but this does not mean that NATO is not embroiled in this fight. Christopher Blattman believes that both the North Atlantic Alliance as a whole and the United States in particular are deeply mired in the conflict.
According to the 19FortyFive observer, it is a great success for the United States that Russia has not yet recognized Washington as a party to the conflict and a direct adversary. In fact, according to Blattman, Moscow has four reasons to consider America as a direct participant in the situation.
“The level of support (for Ukraine from the United States and NATO – ed. note) is extraordinary and continues to grow,” the journalist writes.
The four reasons that could prompt Russia to name Washington as its direct adversary in Ukraine are as follows: the first is anti-Russian sanctions, the second is the supply of arms and money to Ukraine, and the third is the exchange of intelligence between the United States and Kyiv. Finally, the fourth reason lies in the rhetoric of the United States, which constantly says that they must defeat Russia, thereby recognizing themselves as a party to the conflict.
“Nothing in international law prevents Russia from changing its mind and treating the United States as an active party to the conflict,” Blattman writes.
In his opinion, the fact that Moscow has not yet called NATO and the United States an accomplice in hostilities is a great success for the collective West. At this stage, Russia is guided by a strategic calculation and therefore does not talk about direct confrontation, but one day it may get tired of drawing red lines and conducting vague and subjective negotiations. States should think about this.
Russian Navy receives nuclear torpedo submarine
RT (July 9, 2022) - The world’s longest submarine, the K-329 Belgorod, was officially handed over to the Russian military on Friday at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk.
Russian Navy commander Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov attended the ceremony and thanked the shipbuilders for delivering the “research" vessel.
The Belgorod, however, is also designed to be able to carry up to six ‘Poseidon’ nuclear-powered torpedoes, which are still under development.
The vessel “opens up new opportunities for Russia in conducting various studies, allowing us to conduct a variety of scientific expeditions and rescue operations in the most remote areas of the oceans,” Yevmenov said at the ceremony, thanking both Sevmash, the Rubin design bureau and Russia’s entire military industry for successfully building the submarine.
The multi-purpose nuclear submarine was previously designated as Project 09852. It is based on the Project 949A series, known in the West as the Oscar II-class, but with significant modifications. The lengthened hull allows the Belgorod to carry undersea drones, a deep-sea rescue vehicle (DSRV), as well as a smaller nuclear-powered submarine such as the AS-31 Losharik.
While Admiral Yevmenov chose to highlight the scientific and rescue capabilities of the vessel, Western observers are mainly interested in Belgorod’s ability to carry ‘Poseidons’. The United States Naval Institute dubbed the vessel a “doomsday submarine… armed with a strategic nuclear torpedo the size of a school bus,” while the War Zone defense blog called it one of “Russia’s most versatile and feared weapons, built with espionage and launching nuclear powered, nuclear-armed torpedoes in mind.”
Formerly known as the ‘Status-6 Oceanic Multipurpose System’, the nuclear-powered autonomous torpedo was one of the six “superweapons” officially announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin back in March 2018.
Still in development, the Poseidon is supposedly designed to be undetectable by conventional means, and capable of destroying entire carrier battle groups or causing tsunamis that could wreck coastal cities. An entire new class of submarines, the Khabarovsk, is allegedly being designed around carrying the ‘Poseidons’, but all information about them is classified.
Evseev: it would be great to destroy the entire US satellite constellation
avia.pro (July 7, 2022) - Russia can destroy the entire US satellite constellation, but it won't do it yet.
Against the background of how American spacecraft are monitoring Russian territory, and according to a number of data, they are even adjusting the strikes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Russian side announced its intention to investigate the recent strike on Belgorod, since there are very serious suspicions that the guidance of Ukrainian missiles was carried out by the Maxar GeoEye-1 satellite.
According to the expert of the National Institute of Commonwealth countries Vladimir Evseev, Russia can successfully destroy the entire US satellite constellation.
“It would be great to destroy the entire US satellite group ... There is such a possibility ... But as soon as we start blocking the American satellite constellation, we will actually be at war with the USA ,” said Vladimir Evseev, an expert at the National Institute of Commonwealth Countries.
Today, Russia has a large number of anti-satellite weapons in service, a technique that allows not only to hit spacecraft at altitudes of 100 kilometers or more, but also to carry out electronic suppression of satellite constellations, which, probably, if a sufficient threat is detected, will lead to that Russia will begin to actively oppose them.
Russia Fired Space Weapon: “We Can Wipe Out Your Satellites”
warnews247.gr (June 30, 2022) - The statements of the Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Yuri Borisov, may not be accidental.
"Russia has made great strides in the development of laser weapons," Yuri Borisov said in a speech at the Forum of Engineers of the Future. According to him, serious progress has been made in the Russian Federation in the creation of the special power of the nitride laser beam and its maintenance within the specified parameters when it hits the target object.
“Russian laser manufacturers have outperformed their competitors from other leading military world powers. I will give you a secret. Concerning our serious achievements in the field of nitride lasers, we have made a very serious global progress.
Russia is 3-5 years ahead of the whole world in the creation of lasers, it was our specialists who found unique technical solutions for a major breakthrough in this field," said Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov recently.
"They can disable satellites in orbits up to 1.5 kilometers high," he added.
Nuclear weapons ready for Kaliningrad - Russia: "Time is running out - we are not even seconds away from World War III"
warnews247.gr (June 23, 2022) - Tensions around the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad are escalating dangerously, with Russian journalist and Putin's spokesman Vladimir Soloviev stressing that "time is running out".
"We are no longer seconds away from World War III, the seconds are over," Soloviev said on the set of his evening show "The Evening With Vladimir Soloviev," threatening the West ahead of the NATO summit.
Soloviev essentially announced an increase in the level of readiness of Russia's nuclear deterrent strategic weapons. He specifically said:
"We are not seconds away from World War III"
"I have the feeling that some westerners are watching our program very closely, believing that there are secret clues as to when and if we will hit them."
"You do not really understand that we are no longer just seconds from World War III, but even those seconds are already over."
"Russia is not aggressive. We are acting very rationally, which is evident from the fact that in 30 years we have managed to move from a country that has almost ceased to exist to a country that you are all afraid of. And together you all try and fail to break us up. Russia has superiority in its strategic weapons."
"Our innate humanity prevents us from using them. But you can not forever rely on our humanity. For those who watch and write about our programs, let me remind you that our programs are banned in the United Kingdom, Germany and other countries."
"Beware, we have not even started with your countries. You understand how lucky you are that Putin is a very peaceful man. We even help you in the fight against terrorism, he said.
Medvedev on nuclear: "We do not need to reduce them"
warnews247.gr (June 20, 2022) - The former president of Russia "strikes again" with inflammatory rhetoric. Dmitry Medvedev said there is no reason to hold talks on a nuclear weapons reduction with the US and that Moscow would have to wait until the Americans begged for talks.
Russia and the US, by far the largest nuclear powers in the world, have negotiated a series of major treaties to reduce strategic nuclear weapons since Ronald Reagan came to power in 1981.
But Russia's invasion of Ukraine has caused the greatest disruption in Russia's relations with the West since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, when many feared that the world was on the brink of nuclear war.
Medvedev, as president from 2008-2021, signed the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) in 2010 with Barack Obama in Prague, which was extended in February 2021 for five years until 2026.
"Everything is a dead zone now. We have no relations with the US now. They are at zero on the Kelvin scale," Medvedev told the Telegram about discussions on a new treaty to reduce strategic nuclear weapons.
"We do not need to negotiate with them (on nuclear disarmament) yet. This is a bad thing for Russia," said Medvedev, who is Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council. "Let them run or crawl and ask."
Russia and the US control about 90% of the world's nuclear warheads, each with about 4,000 warheads in its military stockpile, according to the Federation of American Scientists.
Medvedev, who when he was president sought to present himself as a reformer who wanted better relations with the West, hinted that Moscow should become tougher on the US.
Referring to the shoe incident with Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, Medvedev said:
"There is another proven method of communicating with America on this issue - with a shoe from the podium at the UN. It worked."
Outraged by the criticism that the Soviet Union was "swallowing" parts of Eastern Europe, Khrushchev raised a shoe at the General Assembly and, according to a report in the New York Times at the time, struck it on his seat.
View Khrushchev's action here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKdo1xwVK7s&ab_channel=dominevola
Putin's speech: "The US thought they were God's messengers on earth - Changes in the world are fundamental, new strongholds have been created"
warnews247.gr (June 17, 2022) - "We are a strong people and we can meet any challenge. Like our ancestors, we will solve any problem; the whole thousand-year history of our country proves this."
Vladimir Putin launched a fierce attack on the West, US-EU with a full-length speech from the podium of the 25th St. Petersburg World Economic Forum (SPIEF2022).
Putin received applause from the hall when he reaffirmed his determination to continue the "special military operation" in Ukraine, which he said had caused an unprecedented barrage of Western financial sanctions.
Nothing will be the same in world politics
The Russian president accused the United States of treating other countries as "colonies", saying the bleak forecasts for the Russian economy had not been verified, calling Russia's decision "difficult but necessary" to invade Ukraine.
"Change in the world is fundamental, crucial and relentless. And it is wrong to believe that you can sit outside at the time of rapid change, to expect that everything will return to normal, that everything will be as before. It's not going to happen," he said.
"After winning the Cold War, the United States has declared itself a messenger of God on earth with no obligations but only it's interests. They do not seem to notice that new powerful centres have been created on the planet. Washington and its allies sought to change the course of history, to weaken a sovereign, independent Russia," he continued.
We are a strong sovereign country
"Russia is entering a new era as a strong sovereign country. Only powerful sovereign states can have a say in the emerging world order otherwise they are doomed to remain or become colonies," Putin foresee.
"The United States has increased food prices by printing money and 'looking for' food on world markets," he said.
"Hunger in the poorest countries will be borne by the conscience of the West and the so-called European democracies," he added.
Putin promised Russia was ready to boost its grain and fertilizer exports and that Moscow would export food to Africa and the Middle East.
Attack on the EU - "Its people will pay for it"
On the EU and the West, he said:
"The West has essentially refused to fulfil its previous obligations, it has proved impossible to conclude new agreements with it."
The EU has lost "political sovereignty" by embarking on a path that will lead to radicalism and elite change, criticizing EU economic policies such as "printing money" to tackle high inflation and inequality.
"Its elites dance to the rhythm of someone else, causing harm to their own population."
"Inequality in Europe will only increase as a result of sanctions. There will be deep degradation in Europe; the current elites will be replaced. Their wrong policies will lead to an increase in nationalist and extremist sentiments in society."
"European politicians have dealt a severe blow to their economy with their own hands. The European Union's immediate losses from the sanctions fever alone could exceed $400 billion a year. This is the price of decisions that are cut off from reality and taken against the common sense," Putin said, adding that the cost was borne by the people.
"Do you want to bring us to our knees? Well, try it ": Lavrov laid siege to the British
politnavigator.net (June 17, 2022) - As part of a special operation in Ukraine, Russia is doing what the Kyiv regime refused to do in all previous years, violating a UN resolution.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated this in an interview with the British news agency BBC, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
The diplomat stressed that Russia does not hide its goals and its face, unlike the West.
“Russia is not white and not fluffy - Russia is what it is. And we are not ashamed to show ourselves as we are... The purpose of the operation is to protect the rights of Russians, who for eight years have been grossly ignored not only by the Kyiv regime, but by the entire Western civilized community.
Refused to implement the "Minsk agreements". If you would like to ensure the rights of Russians in the Donbass by implementing the resolution of the Security Council by Kyiv, we will ensure the rights of Russians ourselves. And we are doing it,” Lavrov said.
The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry also noted that today relations between Russia and Great Britain are at the lowest level.
“You know, in my opinion, there is no longer any room for maneuver in these relations. Because both Johnson and Truss say publicly: "We must defeat Russia, we must bring Russia to its knees." Come on, put it on (or bring it on),” the minister suggested.
Xi Jinping ordered to begin preparations for a military special operation against Taiwan
avia.pro (June 14, 2022) - The Chinese leader gave the order to begin preparations for a military operation in Taiwan.
Xi Jinping ordered preparations for a special military operation in Taiwan. As it became known, the purpose of conducting a special military operation ('non-war' military operations) is to ensure the national sovereignty of the PRC.
The full text of the document signed by the PRC leader is not published, however, as it became known to Avia.pro journalists, the document provides for actions aimed at preserving the national sovereignty of the country, while this is not an order to start a military special operation, but only provides for its implementation in the event of the slightest threat to China's national interests and sovereignty.
At the same time, analysts believe that given the current situation in the region, China may well launch a military special operation in the coming months, provided that the situation around Taiwan is not defused.
Experts note that even taking into account the support provided to Taiwan by the United States, the island has no real opportunity to oppose the PRC.
“The appearance in the region of American warships, submarines, fighters and bombers is nothing more than an attempt by Washington to demonstrate its strength. If necessary, China will destroy the American fleet within a few hours, and US aircraft are unlikely to be able to approach the borders of China at a distance of 150 kilometers.
Russia-Nicaragua agreement: Russian troops in Central America - Nuclear missiles on the doorstep of the USA!
warnews247.gr (June 10, 2022) - The Russia-Nicaragua military agreement announced 24 hours ago is causing great concern in the United States. Russian forces will be stationed in Central America, on the threshold of the US after the agreement between Putin and Daniel Ortega.
The concern is that shortly after the agreement was reached, Russian state television triumphed over "something very powerful" targeting US cities.
These are nuclear missiles that will be just 1,000 kilometers to the southern border of the American city of Florida and will have the ability to hit US soil in zero time.
Russia-Nicaragua military agreement
The President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, approved the entry and parking of Russian troops, ships and aircraft in the country.
The law will enter into force in the second half of 2022. The size of the Russian forces that will be hosted has not yet been announced.
What exactly prompted the Nicaraguan president's decision to call the Russian army into the country is not clear, but it is an extremely serious challenge for the United States.
However, there was already a Russia-Nicaragua agreement from 2017 to build a spy base in the country. The agreement was to set up an electronic intelligence base in Nicaragua near Laguna de Najapa, on the outskirts of the capital Managua.
Other reports said the base would be located off the coast of the Caribbean.
Immediately after the announcement of the agreement with Nicaragua, Russian state television demanded that Russian weapons and troops be placed "closer" to the United States.
Russian television presenter Olga Skabeyeva called it "the most unpleasant cherry on top of the democratic cake for the United States" that Ortega "allowed Russian troops, ships and planes to enter Nicaragua."
What were you waiting for? If American missile systems can reach Moscow from Ukrainian territory, it is time for Russia to put something powerful near an American city, on a hill!
Kedmi: A probable military confrontation between Russia and the United States will begin with a thermonuclear strike on the States
politobzor.net (June 10, 2022) - The all-round support of the Kyiv authorities from the United States only exacerbates the conflict in Ukraine and contributes to its prolongation, Israeli expert Yakov Kedmi believes.
At the same time, according to him, such a situation is contrary to the interests of Washington. The thing is that continued support for Ukraine in the war with Russia will inevitably bring closer a direct conflict between the United States and our country.
According to the former head of the Nativ intelligence service, a likely military confrontation between Russia and the United States will begin with a thermonuclear strike on the United States.
Kedmi emphasizes that Russia will not use nuclear weapons in Europe, since there simply are no targets important for our country. At the same time, there are such goals in the United States, and, as the expert put it, we are not talking about cities.
Kedmi noted that Washington is now not ready for a nuclear war with Russia. This is understood in the United States itself, which is expressed in more frequent statements about the need for a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Ukraine.
Therefore, according to the expert, the Americans should think carefully about whether “some” Ukraine is worth getting involved in a deadly confrontation with Russia, where the United States will definitely be defeated.
Medvedev: "The Horsemen of the Apocalypse are already on their way - Our only hope is in God"!
warnews247.gr (June 3, 2022) - Shocking statement by Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman and former President Dmitry Medvedev, who said in an interview with Al Jazeera that "the Horsemen of the Apocalypse are already on their way, our only hope is in our Almighty Lord and God.".
The statement has caused a global shock and is making the rounds of the world as it comes from Putin's right hand man.
The first video provided by WarNews247 has English subtitles and shows the characteristic movement it makes the moment it refers to God. He raises his gaze and looks to Heaven.
"These are not predictions. This is something that has already happened. There are different ways to look at it, but we can assume that the 'Horsemen of Revelation' are on their way and all hope is in the Lord God, the Almighty," Medvedev said.
The statement confirmed WarNews247 as it relates to the nuclear alert it has signaled to Russia following the deployment of MLRS HIMARS in Ukraine.
Medvedev warns of crackdown on decision-makers outside Ukraine.
Medvedev: Talking about the impossibility of nuclear war is a mistake
rusvesna.su (June 3, 2022) - Nobody wants a nuclear war, but talking about its impossibility is a mistake. This was stated by Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev.
“You see, when they say that it is impossible, because it is never possible, they are always mistaken. Moreover, nuclear weapons have already been used in the history of mankind, ”he said in an interview with Al Jazeera.
He recalled that, in accordance with its doctrine, Russia responds to a nuclear strike if it has been subjected to such an attack, or if its critical infrastructure has been attacked, or if the Russian Federation has been hit by conventional weapons, but this strike is of such a nature that it threatens the existence the state itself.
“Nobody should forget about this either. It is also natural that no one wants a nuclear war. This is a dead end, this is the end of humanity, and we all must do everything to ensure that a nuclear collapse never happens on Earth,” Medvedev stressed.
19FortyFive: Russia and China gave Biden a serious warning
politros.com (May 26, 2022) - Russia and China issued a warning to US President Joe Biden. Such conclusions were presented by American analyst Michael Peck.
Military aircraft of Russia and China conducted joint patrols of the waters of the Japan and East China Seas on May 24. The aviation of the two countries was in the air for 13 hours, performing the assigned tasks. According to Michael Peck, the patrol was carried out at a time when US President Biden was in Tokyo and, apparently, was intended as a warning to the United States. This is reported by the publication 19FortyFive. PolitRussia presents an exclusive retelling of the article.
"Why did Russia and China fly strategic bombers together?" asks an American expert.
Patrolling was carried out by an air-tactical group consisting of Russian Tu-95MS strategic missile carriers and Chinese H-6 bombers. The flight was accompanied by Russian Aerospace Forces Su-30SM fighters. China and Russia have conducted joint air exercises for the past four years, with the first joint air patrol taking place in 2019.
Joe Biden at the time of the Russian-Chinese patrol was in Tokyo, where he took part in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) summit. In addition to him, the leaders of Japan, India and Australia were present. All of these countries are members of an informal coalition whose goal is to counter the growing power of China. Against this background, Moscow and Beijing sent a warning to their opponents, and it is quite simply deciphered.
“The message was unmistakable: the anti-China alliance would be met with closer Sino-Russian ties,” notes Michael Peck.
Leaked Secret Audio: War Mobilization Meeting of Guangdong Province: Normal to War State Transition
A leaked secret audio file of the war mobilization meeting of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Communist Party Committee of China on May 14, 2022. The audio file was released by Lude Media.
The full 57-minute video link is provided here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUDKWh0QQn0&t=0s&ab_channel=InconvenientTruthsbyJenniferZeng
West conducting war against Russia – Kremlin
RT (May 17, 2022) - Western powers opposing Russia in Ukraine could be considered enemies waging a war against the state, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday. He pointed out that economic sanctions, the arming of Ukrainian nationalists, and giving them intel to attack Russian troops all amounted to acts of war.
“Sure, we are still using the mild term ‘unfriendly states’ when referring to them,” Peskov told an educational forum.
He cited the decision to freeze Russian foreign reserves that the country kept in Western financial institutions and discussions about giving the money to Ukraine as an obvious attack on property rights, the cornerstone of Western civilization. “That was money that you and I own,” Peskov told the audience. “It was stolen from us, it is being stolen from us.”
Russia’s opponents are playing a more direct role in their attempts to hurt Russia in their “hybrid war,” the official said.“ Not only American but also British military advisers are telling armed Ukrainian nationalists what they should do and provide intelligence to them,” he explained.
Foreigners are also helping Ukrainians smear Russia’s reputation amid the hostilities, Peskov added. “They stage provocations that are on occasion so bloodthirsty that a human conscience cannot imagine them,” he insisted. He explained that he was referring to the town of Bucha and Kiev’s claims that Russian troops had committed war crimes while they controlled it. Moscow has accused Kiev of fabricating the evidence. “It’s clear that Ukrainian ‘specialists’ would not be able to do it with such professionalism. An army of PR companies, TV crews, and information warfare advisers are working for them,” he said.
The conflict didn’t come out of the blue, Peskov noted, citing that as early as 2005, when Russia created an English-language news outlet meant to air alternative viewpoints to Western audiences, it was met with resistance. “If you compare RT to the Anglo-Saxon media empire, you’ll see how small it is. But its effectiveness grew because of the alternative viewpoint,” he said. Western dissidents “were not given a platform” in Western media, because “if you go outside the margins there and voice a different opinion, the inquisition comes, just like in medieval times,” according to Peskov.
It seems sometimes that the very existence of Russia is a significant irritant to the West and they would do anything not to let us develop in the way we want and live the way we want.
The time the world is experiencing now is “a perfect storm and a moment of truth,” he said.
This is a failure: France admitted that Europe's policy towards Russia has failed
rusvesna.su (May 17, 2022) - French politician Stephane Buffeteau described European policy towards Russia as "an incomprehensible gaffe". He made this statement in an article for the Boulevard Voltaire.
Europe, the politician is sure, should remember that until 1917 the Russian Empire was its ally. After the collapse of the USSR, it was necessary to re-integrate it into European politics and thus ensure a balance in Eurasia.
However, everything was done exactly the opposite: the European Union obeyed the American doctrine, according to which the rapprochement of Western Europe with Russia is unacceptable, since it will cause the US to leave the region.
It is the United States that has destabilized the world in recent years with its policies in the Middle East, for which the Europeans have paid a high price, writes Buffeto.
At the same time, the politician considers Russia not a threat, but an important element in maintaining world order and recalls that neither Charles XII, nor Napoleon, nor Hitler succeeded in erasing it from the map of the world.
As Russkaya Vesna reported , Germany recognized that Latin America sided with Moscow.
Great Wall of Naval Targets Discovered in Chinese Desert
USNI News (May 11, 2022) - China has been honing its ship-killing skills for potential future conflicts on new targets in a remote desert, according to new satellite photos reviewed by USNI News. New analysis shows the People’s Liberation Army is testing the ability to hit ships in port with long-range ballistic missiles.
Since USNI News reported China has been building aircraft carrier targets in the Taklamakan Desert, other target sites have emerged forming a string of large-scale target ranges running along the eastern edge of the desert, according to new satellite photos. Several of these are naval and two have layouts that appear to be modeled on ships in port.
Eight miles southwest of an elaborate aircraft carrier layout, a site with full-scale piers and a destroyer-sized ship-like target was constructed in December. A test missile hit a dead center on the ship replica in February and then the target was quickly disassembled and is now gone, according to more recent images.
Continue Reading: https://news.usni.org/2022/05/11/great-wall-of-naval-targets-discovered-in-chinese-desert
China orders 'stress test' on banks & economy over impending Western-US sanctions: 'Invasion of Taiwan at any time'
warnews247.gr (May 5, 2022) - "China could launch an invasion of Taiwan at any time," the statement said. Beijing has ordered a comprehensive "stress test" in the country's banking and financial sector to study the "impending effects" of US sanctions.
Beijing takes it for granted that it will be sanctioned by the West and is trying to minimize losses. As it turns out, Britain and the US have been aware of this for some time, and the recent special summit on Taiwan.
According to information, the American intelligence services informed that from now on "China can launch an operation against Taiwan at any time until the end of Xi Jinping's term".
As WarNews247 has revealed, Chinese regulators have held an emergency meeting with domestic and foreign banks to discuss how they could protect the country's assets abroad from US sanctions similar to those imposed on Russia for invading Ukraine.
CANADIAN GENERAL TREVOR KADIER CAPTURED WHILE TRYING TO ESCAPE FROM AZOVSTAL
musicnewsfirst.com (May 3, 2022) - A Canadian high-ranking officer tried to escape from the territory of the Azovstal metallurgical plant in Mariupol.
General Trevor Kadier was arrested by Russian military personnel, media reported.
According to information, the general led the First Biolab, where 18 people worked on the creation of a deadly virus.
The general has already been taken to Moscow, media reports.
In social networks, they suggest testing new medications on the Canadian general as punishment.
Everything happened after the messages that on the metallurgical plant was a foreign general in contact with Zelensky.
Hungary Throws EU Neighbors Under The Bus, Says 10 Nations Technically Buying Gas-For-Rubles From Putin
ZeroHedge (May 2, 2022) - The Ruble has 'mysteriously' surged to six-month highs against the dollar (and even stronger relative to the Euro) over the last few weeks since Russian President Putin demanded Rubles-for-Gas...
But now, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff, Gergely Gulyas, appears to have spilled the beans on what is really going on among the Russia-dependent European nations.
Gulyas told public radio on Sunday that while multiple European leaders have publicly proclaimed they won’t comply with Putin's demand that they buy Russian gas in rubles, 10 EU countries are technically going along with Putin’s plan.
Continue Reading: https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/hungary-throws-eu-neighbors-under-bus-says-10-nations-technically-buying-gas-rubles-putin
“The blow will be lightning fast”: Putin warned Western countries against interfering in the situation in Ukraine
topwar.ru (April 23, 2022) - The tasks of the special operation in Ukraine will be fulfilled, in the event of the intervention of third forces in the situation, strikes will be delivered with lightning speed, the decision has already been made. This was stated by Vladimir Putin at a meeting with the Council of Legislators of the Federal Assembly.
The Russian President stressed that the military special operation for demilitarization and denazification will be completed only when all the tasks set are achieved in order to ensure the security of Russia in the historical perspective. Thus, he confirmed that no one is going to stop halfway, after the liberation of Donbass, the operation will continue.
"In this regard, I want to emphasize again: all the tasks of the special military operation we are conducting in the Donbass and Ukraine, launched on February 24, will be unconditionally fulfilled in order to guarantee peace and security for the residents of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, the Russian Crimea in the historical perspective and all of our country" Putin added.
In addition, Putin warned "third forces" in the face of the collective West that interference in a special operation carried out by Russian troops is unacceptable. In the event of a strategic threat, Russia's response will be lightning fast. The president especially emphasized that decisions on strikes had already been made - and strikes would be delivered in the event of a direct threat to the Russian Federation. According to political experts, this "message" is primarily directed to the United States, Great Britain and Poland.
We have all the tools for this. One that no one can brag about. And we won't brag. We will use them if needed. And I want everyone to know about it, he added.
Putin also noted the courage and heroism of the Russian military personnel performing tasks on the territory of Ukraine. According to him, our soldiers prevented a much larger conflict that the West wanted to unleash on Russian territory by playing out its own scenario.
Dramatic moment Putin test-fires 16,000mph ‘Satan-2’ nuke in warning to ‘those who threaten Russia’
TheSun (April 20, 2022) - RUSSIA has successfully launched its 'Satan' missile, capable of firing up to 12 nuclear warheads at once, Vladimir Putin has claimed.
The launch of the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile will give "food for thought for those who try to threaten Russia," the Russian president warned.
The missile, nicknamed Satan 2, can fly 6,000 miles, carry 15 warheads and has the potential to destroy an area the size of France.
It was successfully launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Arkhangelsk Oblast, northwestern Russia, according to Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti.
Video shows the enormous 115-foot missile being launched from an underground silo, triggering an enormous fireball. It travelled almost the entire length of Russia, almost 3,600 miles.
Continue Reading: https://www.the-sun.com/news/5163399/putin-test-fires-nuclear-missile-russia-satan/
Beijing sees no point in supporting Ukraine, which lost in the confrontation with Russia
politexpert.net (April 19, 2022) - The West is annoyed at how Beijing is supporting Moscow in a Russian special operation in Ukraine. The American magazine The Diplomat, which specializes in Asian topics, expressed regret for such a position of China.
Washington is concerned that Beijing has sided with Russia, writes the author of the Free Press . He drew this conclusion from an article by Sarah Cook, Director of Research for China, Hong Kong and Taiwan at Freedom House, in an American magazine.
“Over the past seven weeks, the apparent decision of the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to side with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Ukraine has sparked a full-scale campaign to shape public opinion and online discussions about events unfolding thousands of miles away,” writes the author of The Diplomat.
Cook has criticized Chinese outlets such as the People's Daily, the Global Times and China Central Television for spreading the Russian military's successes in Ukraine and denouncing Western arms sales to Kiev.
The author of "Free Press" recalled that the United States has repeatedly threatened China with a blow to its economy for supporting Russia. However, Washington is afraid to break off relations with Beijing, as this threatens with an economic crisis. According to the journalist, pragmatic Beijing has long understood that Ukraine will lose in the confrontation with Russia, so it sees no reason to support the losing side.
Note: China does not support Ukraine in conflict with Russia because Russia will support China when China invade Taiwan.
Putin's cunning maneuver turned the ruble into a "real pearl"
politros.com (April 18, 2022) - Vladimir Putin's financial maneuver has turned the Russian ruble into a real gem among the world's currencies. This opinion was shared by the American expert Roger Wright.
The United States and its European partners have imposed several packages of sanctions on the Russian Federation in the hope of weakening the Russian economy. According to Roger Wright, the effect of the restrictions has been very controversial, and the Russian ruble, which has strengthened strongly against the dollar in recent days, is an example of this. This is reported by the publication Farm Progress. PolitRussia presents an exclusive retelling of the article.
“All the massive sanctions that have been imposed on the Russian economy seem to have had the opposite effect. How is this possible? asks the analyst.
The author of Farm progress noted that in order to support the ruble, Moscow took a very curious move. Since March 28, the Bank of Russia has fixed the price of gold by pegging the national currency to the precious metal. One gram of gold is now valued at 5,000 rubles. Now, one troy ounce equals to 31.1 grams. In US dollars, the precious metal is currently trading at $1,978 per ounce or $63.60 per gram. Base on current exchange rate of $1 equals 81.18 rubles, this means one gram is 5,163 rubles. Hence, it will be cheaper to buy gold with rubles in Russia.
The US dollar was pegged to gold until 1933, meaning up to that point anyone could take greenbacks and exchange them for gold at a guaranteed rate. Back then, the dollar was a really strong and very reliable currency. But in the end, the Federal Reserve System and the US Government declared that the dollar was still backed by gold, but paper dollars could not be exchanged for gold, and in 1971 Washington completely refused to back its currency with precious metals.
Today, Vladimir Putin is doing what Western economists fear most. He turns the Russian ruble into one of the strongest currencies in the world by backing it with gold. According to the expert, when the noise around the current geopolitical unrest subsides, various funds and rich people from the West will start looking for a way to buy rubles, which can be exchanged for gold at a fixed rate at any time.
“By moving to the gold standard, Putin has made the Russian ruble the pearl of world currencies and negated all the negative effects of economic sanctions, because people will find a way to buy rubles simply because they can exchange them for gold,” Roger Wright shared his opinion.
52 foreign organizations have joined the Russian analogue of SWIFT
ria.ru (April 18, 2022) - More than 50 foreign organizations from 12 countries have already joined the Russian Financial Messaging System, an analogue of SWIFT, said Central Bank Chairman Elvira Nabiullina, speaking in the Duma.
Today, more than 11 thousand participants in all countries of the world are connected to the international interbank system for transferring information and making payments SWIFT. The Central Bank began to work on an alternative way of exchanging financial messages because of the threat of a possible disconnection of Russian institutions from it.
After the start of a military special operation to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine, the European Union disconnected seven major Russian banks from SWIFT : VTB, Rossiya, Otkritie, Novikombank, Promsvyazbank, Sovcombank and VEB.RF.
As reported by the Central Bank in mid-April, the total number of SPFS users exceeded 330 banks and companies.
Russia Has Withstood West's 'Economic Blitzkrieg' Attempt - Putin
Sputnik (April 18, 2022) - The US and its allies have slapped a grand total of over 9,600 sanctions against Russian officials, the state, companies, tycoons and other entities in connection with the crisis in Ukraine. Moscow now has more restrictions against it than Iran, Syria, North Korea, Venezuela and Myanmar combined.
Russia has successfully withstood unprecedented sanctions pressure from the West, President Vladimir Putin has said.
"The calculation was to quickly undermine the financial and economic situation in our country, to provoke panic in the markets, the collapse of the banking system, and a large-scale shortage of goods in stores," Putin said, speaking at a briefing on the economic situation on Monday.
"We can say with confidence that this policy against Russia has failed - that the strategy of the economic blitzkrieg has failed," he added.
Meanwhile, the president said, ordinary Europeans and Americans have been made to suffer a deterioration in their living standards as a result of their leaders' shortsightedness.
"Moreover, the sanctions were not without consequences for the initiators themselves. I am referring to the growth of inflation and unemployment, the deterioration of economic performance in the US and the countries of Europe, the decline in the standard of living of the Europeans and the devaluation of their savings," Putin said.
Putin asked the government to continue to expand its programme of emergency measures to deal with Western pressure, including by accelerating the switchover to foreign trade in rubles and the currencies of Russia's trade partners.
"The restrictions placed on Russia by unfriendly countries have undoubtedly affected the possibilities of our businesses. They have complicated the logistics of delivery in export and import, created obstacles for payment. It is necessary to assist entrepreneurs in solving these problems, including by speeding up the transition of foreign trade to settlements in rubles and the national currencies of countries which are reliable trade partners," he said.
At the moment, the president said, the Russian economy has stabilized, and the ruble exchange rate has basically returned to the levels seen in early February, before Moscow and its Donbass allies kicked off their military operation in Ukraine. Russia achieved a Q1 2022 current account balance of payments of over $58 billion, "a historic maximum," Putin said.
The Russian ruble collapsed in late February and early March against major foreign currencies, falling 30 percent against the US dollar and by a similar amount against the euro. The move prompted a temporary halt in trading on the Moscow stock exchange, led the central bank to raise the interest rate to 20 percent, and prompted authorities to force companies to sell 80 percent of their foreign exchange reserves to stabilize the situation.
The ruble began to bounce back after Putin's announcement on 23 March ordering payments for Russian gas to be made in rubles, and is trading for about 80.6 USD/ruble, approaching the 77.3 marker it hit before dropping once Russia recognized the sovereignty of the Donbass republics in February.
The Kremlin has since asked the relevant ministries to expand the list of goods to be traded for using national currencies.
Russia has confirmed a serious fire on the cruiser Moskva. Ukraine rejoices
politnavigator.net (April 14, 2022) - As a result of a fire on the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, the Moskva missile cruiser, ammunition detonated, the ship was seriously damaged . The crew was completely evacuated , the causes of the fire are being established. This was reported by the state agency RIA Novosti, citing data from the Russian Defense Ministry.
A few hours before that, the Ukrainian side reported about the fire at the Moskva. Since the news was voiced by the well-known fake distributor Aleksey Arestovich, there was little trust in him. Subsequently, in Ukraine they began to claim that the state of emergency was the result of a successful attack by Neptune missiles on the cruiser . Such data was announced by the head of the military administration of the Odessa region Maxim Marchenko.
Note: A translation from Russian website
Ukraine Invasion Meant to End U.S. 'Dominance,' Russia's Lavrov Says
TheMoscowTimes (April 12, 2022) - Russia's “special military operation” in Ukraine is partly being fought to end the “total dominance” and “reckless expansion” of the United States on the world stage, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said.
Russian officials have given a number of different justifications for the country's invasion of Ukraine since President Vladimir Putin ordered troops over the border on Feb. 24 with the stated goal of "de-Nazifying and demilitarizing" Moscow's pro-Western neighbor.
“Our special military operation is designed to put an end to the reckless expansion and the reckless course toward the total dominance of the United States — and the rest of the Western countries under them — in the international arena,” Lavrov said in an interview with the state-run Rossia 24 broadcaster that aired Monday.
The foreign minister also accused the U.S. of not following international law.
“In Iraq … they saw a threat to their American security, they bombed it. And when neo-Nazis and ultra-radicals are being grown right on our borders …we are not allowed to react to this threat on our borders,” Lavrov said.
In addition to unfounded claims that Ukraine's government is controlled by neo-Nazis, carrying out a genocide of ethnic Russians in the east and seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, Russian officials and state media have also justified the invasion with accusations that the U.S. is funding research into the development of biological weapons in Ukraine.
Dutch Journo: 'We are Here, in Donbass, to Awaken Westerners Deluded by MSM Propaganda'
Sputnik (April 8, 2022) - There are only a handful of Western journalists on the ground in Donbass, while the Western mainstream press is rubber-stamping fake news about the Ukrainian crisis using the same templates it previously exploited in Iraq, Libya and Syria, says Dutch independent journalist Sonja van den Ende.
Sonja van den Ende, an independent journalist from Rotterdam, Netherlands, went to the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics as an embedded reporter with the Russian army to see how the special operation is unfolding with her own eyes.
The sound of shelling and explosion does not frighten her: she's gotten used to it. Seven years ago, van den Ende worked in Syria, months before the Russians stepped in at the request of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and changed the tide. The parallels between the Western mainstream press' coverage of the Syrian and the Ukrainian conflicts are striking, according to her.
"They lie continuously about everything just to implement their own agenda," van den Ende. "Like in Syria, President Assad was 'the murderer' and now President Putin is 'the butcher.' They had used this script for many years in Iraq, Venezuela and [other] countries which don’t comply with their agenda; they need a bad “guy”. But they (media) are not even there on the ground, they can’t judge. Only a handful of journalists from the West are here: Graham Philips, Patrick Lancaster, Anne-Laure Bonnel and me."
However, this is not the only parallel, according to the Dutch journalist. She has drawn attention to Kiev's fake reports and "false flag" operations including the Snake Island hoax, hype over Russia's alleged "attack" on the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), the now-debunked story of Russia's "strike" on a Mariupol hospital, and the most recent Bucha provocation, to name but a few. Van den Ende says that it resembles nothing so much as jihadists' false flags and the White Helmet's staged "gas attacks". She specifically recalls the 4 April 2017 chemical provocation in Khan Sheikhun, Idlib, which was debunked by investigative reporters including Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist Seymour Hersh.
"The same happened in Bucha," says the Dutch journalist. "Many witnesses are saying that the Russian army left on 30 March. Even the Ukrainian military who came in on 1 April didn’t report about corpses on the streets. This happened on 3 April, according to the Western media. Also, evidence is saying that the bodies had white armbands, the sign of the Russian army, the soldiers wear them. So the soldiers are killing the Russian Ukrainians? No way."
Continue Reading: https://sputniknews.com/20220408/dutch-journo-we-are-here-in-donbass-to-awaken-westerners-deluded-by-msm-propaganda-1094596416.html
US Warns China Would Face Sanctions Similar to Russia for Invading Taiwan
AntiWar.com (April 6, 2022) - On Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that the US would be ready to use sanctions similar to what has been imposed on Russia against China if Beijing were to invade Taiwan.
Yellen told the House Financial Services Committee that she believes the US has shown it can impose significant economic pain.
“I think you should not doubt our ability and resolve to do the same in other situations,” she said.
Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman also testified before the Committee and warned that the US would impose harsh sanctions on China if it helped Russia in its war in Ukraine.
"It gives President Xi, I think, a pretty good understanding of what might come his way should he, in fact, support Putin in any material fashion,” she said.
China has strongly denied US claims that it was considering giving Russia military support. Last month, US officials told media outlets that Moscow had asked Beijing for help. But US officials told NBC News this week that the claim “lacked hard evidence.”
US officials have also warned that Washington would take action against Beijing if it helped Russia avoid Western sanctions.
Over the past few years, the US has imposed a series of sanctions and export controls against Beijing, but they have not been as harsh as what Russia is facing. While Washington is warning Beijing it could impose tougher sanctions, such measures could do serious damage to the US economy since it is so intertwined with China’s.
For now, Yellen said that the US shouldn’t sanction China for its relationship with Russia. “We would be very concerned if they were to supply weapons to Russia, or to try to evade the sanctions that we’ve put in place on the Russian financial system and the central bank,” she said. “We don’t see that happening at this point.”
Note: No one should doubt the US Treasury's resolve to impose the harsh sanctions on China when China invade Taiwan. But will the US Treasury still exist shortly after China invade Taiwan?
US Officials Admit They Made Up Ukraine 'Chemical Weapons' Scare for 'Info War' on Russia
Sputnik (April 6, 2022) - The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has already uncovered Ukrainian plans to stage a 'false flag' chemical attack on its own soil in a bid to draw NATO into the conflict as well as a network of US-funded biolabs developing potential biological weapons.
Three US officials have admitted Washington fabricated the scare story that Russia was preparing a chemical weapons attack in Ukraine.
The unnamed sources told NBC News that "declassified intelligence" was used as propaganda in an "information war", even when President Joe Biden's administration knew the reports were not "rock solid".
They admitted there was no evidence that Russia had deployed chemical weapons — which it no longer possesses — in or near Ukraine. The claim was seized upon by many in Washington to demand direct US military confrontation with Russia.
The officials claimed the fake news had kept the Russian leadership "off balance" and even served to "deter" Russia from even considering use of chemical warfare agents.
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) certified in 2017 that Russia had destroyed its last stockpiles of chemical weapons.
One former spook said the US claims had the advantage of being hard to debunk.
“There’s no way you can prove or disprove that stuff,” said retired US intel officer Paul Pillar.
Tim Weiner, author of the 2006 history of the CIA Legacy of Ashes, praised the Washington psy-op for drowning out briefings of the Russian Defence and Foreign Affairs ministries on the conflict.
"It's the most amazing display of intelligence as an instrument of state power that I have seen or that I've heard of since the Cuban Missile Crisis," Weiner gushed. "It has certainly blunted and defused the disinformation weaponry of the Kremlin."
The NBC article, which "praises the Biden administration for putting out an intelligence report saying that Russia was about to use chemical weapons even though it turned out to be false", is "ludicrous", says independent journalist and writer Daniel Lazare.
"Basically, NBC is bragging about how eager media outlets are to be manipulated by the CIA. Where they once condemned interference by the intelligence agencies, now they can't get enough", Lazare tells Sputnik.
The journalists stresses that corporate outlets like NBC "are cheering on an information war in which they are the first victim".
Europe has only two ways to pay for gas from Russia
politros.com (April 6, 2022) - The European Union was left with only two ways to pay for gas from Russia. This is reported by the Canadian portal Investor Ideas. PolitRussia publishes an exclusive retelling of the material.
As the authors note, the effectiveness of anti-Russian sanctions has long been questioned by various economists. In particular, this concerns Russia's disconnection from the SWIFT system and Europe's attempts to abandon Russian fuel.
Thus, Germany and Poland declare their intention to replace Russian oil with supplies from other countries in order to put economic pressure on the Russian Federation. However, this plan, apparently, has already failed, as India and China began to actively buy up Russian fuel.
“India and China, which refused to condemn the Russian special operation, continue to buy Russian oil. What's more, enticed by deep discounts, India has bought at least 13 million barrels of Russian oil since the end of February, representing more than 80% of its imports for all of 2021.
Despite the fact that the sanctions did not give the desired results, European countries continue the policy of abandoning Russian oil. The EU leadership hopes that supplies from other states will be able to replace imports from the Russian Federation. According to the authors, these plans are overly optimistic, as the leadership of the European Union missed an essential detail.
“Refineries need a long adaptation period to recalibrate equipment to new imported sources because crude oil can have very different components depending on where it comes from. Most politicians in the EU cannot even understand this fact, as they continue to pretend that they are able to simply switch from one source to another,” the publication says.
The West also failed in an attempt to completely disconnect Russian banks from the international SWIFT system, analysts write. This is due to the fact that European countries need to pay Russia for gas supplies, and it turned out to be simply impossible to do this without the participation of Russian banks.
The situation was complicated by Moscow's decision to sell blue fuel to unfriendly countries for rubles. As a result, Europe was left with only two options, how to pay for Russian energy supplies.
“Importing countries now have only two options. First, they will have to pay for their imports in gold, which is sure to be accepted. The second option: payment through an intermediary bank that is not disconnected from SWIFT, such as Gazprombank. In it, the EU countries will open two client accounts: currency and ruble. They will transfer euros to foreign currency, after which the bank will sell this currency on the Moscow Stock Exchange and credit the received rubles to a ruble account,” writes Investor Ideas.
Note: A translation from Russian website
A new world financial order will be negotiated: Moscow
Investing.com (March 31, 2022) - A new financial order will be negotiated in the world, and the West won't have the main say in it anymore, ex-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has claimed.
The "hellish" sanctions imposed on Russia by the US, EU, and their allies over the conflict in Ukraine have failed to cripple the country, but are instead "returning to the West like a boomerang," Medvedev, the former Russian president who is now the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, said, RT reported.
According to Medvedev, the US and EU have "tarnished their reputation" by blocking the reserves of the Russian central bank. "It is impossible to trust those who freeze the accounts of other states; steal other people's business, assets and personal possessions, compromising the principles of sanctity of private property."
Continue Reading: https://in.investing.com/news/a-new-world-financial-order-will-be-negotiated-moscow-3143711
There is no substitute for Russian oil – UAE
RT (March 28, 2022) - The world’s energy markets need Russian oil and no producer can replace it, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Energy Suhail al-Mazrouei said on Monday.
Russia produces some 10 million barrels of oil a day, which makes it a critical member of the OPEC+ energy alliance, al-Mazrouei explained during an energy forum in Dubai.
“Leaving the politics aside, that volume is needed today,” he insisted, adding that “unless someone is willing to come and deliver that amount, we don’t see that someone can substitute Russia.”
Continue Reading: https://www.rt.com/business/552843-no-substitute-russian-oil/
CIA veteran Johnson: Russia destroyed two NATO military bases during a special operation in Ukraine
politros.com (March 26, 2022) - The Russian army is successfully conducting a special operation in Ukraine, disabling facilities belonging to both the Armed Forces of Ukraine and NATO. This was stated in an interview published on the Global Research portal by CIA veteran Larry Johnson. An exclusive retelling of the publication is provided to its readers by PolitRussia.
The Russian special operation on the territory of Ukraine, the main goal of which is to stop the genocide of the Russian population in Donbas, has been going on for a month. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation regularly reports on the successes of the Russian army, as well as the armed forces of the DPR and LPR. However, in the West, the Russian special operation to demilitarize Ukraine is portrayed as being drawn out. Allegedly, the Russian Armed Forces have not coped with the task assigned to them, as Ukrainian troops continue to resist.
However, as noted in an interview with American journalist Mike Whitney, a veteran of the US Central Intelligence Agency, as well as the Office of Counterterrorism of the State Department, Larry Johnson, such statements have nothing to do with reality. All statements about the failures of the Russian army in Ukraine are the result of ignorance reigning in the West. Do not forget about the large-scale anti-Russian propaganda promoted through the Western media. In reality, Johnson is sure, even today we can safely talk about the complete defeat of the Ukrainian army in the confrontation with Russia.
The main evidence of this, the CIA veteran is sure, is the fact that already within the first 24 hours of the special operation, Russian troops managed to destroy all Ukrainian electronic warfare equipment. As a result, the Ukrainian Air Force lost the ability to carry out air interceptions.
In the first three weeks, the Russian military managed to take control of an area larger than the land area of the United Kingdom. They then proceeded to pinpoint strikes against key military targets. Also, the Russian army is strengthening its control over Mariupol and has secured all approaches to the Black Sea.
Finally, Russia successfully neutralizes NATO's infrastructure facilities, causing irreparable damage to the North Atlantic Alliance. We are talking about two military bases in Yavoriv and Zhytomyr. Officially, they belong to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but de facto the military bloc began using them for its own needs back in 2015. In particular, there was a training and logistics center in Yavoriv, which the Alliance used to supply fighter jets and weapons to Ukraine. Thus, summarizes Larry Johnson, in the course of a special operation in Ukraine, Russia has already destroyed two NATO military bases.
Note: A translation from Russian
"Dollar into toilet paper": Germany shocked by Russia's decision to switch to rubles in gas trade
utro.ru (March 25, 2022) - The Russians laughed at the reaction of the Germans from the new demand of Moscow.
Moscow's decision to switch to Russian rubles in gas trade with Western buyers has caused bewilderment among representatives of the gas industry in Germany.
Recall that earlier today the Kremlin sent the world a "black mark" - Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia is receiving payments for the supply of blue fuel from unfriendly countries in rubles.
This news had not yet had time to really fly around all the news agencies, as hysteria began abroad. The Germans were the first to react. Note that Germany is also included in the list of unfriendly countries along with the entire European Union.
“With great bewilderment, we heard the message that Russia wants to process gas supplies only in rubles. At the moment, we cannot yet assess what specific impact this will have on gas trade,” Koehler was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.
In his opinion, Moscow's unexpected decision indicates that "sanctions are in effect." The German did not specify whether they act in one direction, or they also hit their Western authors with a boomerang.
"Sanctions against Russia are in effect and are turning the dollar and the euro into toilet paper," Tom Soir stated.
"Putin again came up with something interesting for the West - they grabbed their heads again," Tatyana Medvedovskaya noted.
“They haven’t notified the independent yet that the transit is also in rubles,” wrote Elena K.
"Brilliant move from Putin. 2 birds with one stone," Geralt of Rivia believes.
“What, got a little crazy…?! But you still have to pay and buy rubles for gold,” concludes Yuri Alekseev.
“Sanctions really work, the Germans have already made sure of this at gas stations and utility bills. And Russia is just starting to sovereignties the economy. Not everything is euro for Berlin,” Zlydennemets Three emphasized.
"I'm especially touched by the wording 'unexpected demands'. They extinguish us with sanctions, and then suddenly 'unexpected' demands! But who would have thought!" Erdokrane the First was indignant.
Note: A translation from Russian website
“Slow down”: Putin’s gas gambit reversed anti-Russian sanctions against the West
inforector.ru (March 24, 2022) - Russia will accept payments for the supply of gas to unfriendly countries in rubles, announced the head of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
The Russian leader drew attention to the fact that it makes no sense for Moscow to supply Russian goods to the EU and the USA for euros and dollars.
The head of the Russian Federation noted that the cost of the contracts themselves will not change. Only the resource payment currency will change.
Economist Alexander Dudchak, in an interview with iReactor, said that such a decision by the Russian president would certainly have a positive effect on the ruble exchange rate.
This situation will have a detrimental effect on the Europeans. Gas prices are rising. We are interested in the ruble and the stabilization of its exchange rate. Those who will pay for gas are now interested in the normal exchange rate of the ruble. And they will pay in rubles, no matter how sad it is for them, or they will not buy at all. In this regard, everything is going well for the ruble,” Dudchak noted.
Europe has five years
The expert noted that the demand for the ruble will grow, and the currency itself will be supported by less volatility. The economist also drew attention to the fact that the West will have to lift part of the sanctions to circumvent the inability to pay for gas directly.
Putin's decision suggests that those who want to buy Russian gas should moderate their zeal. If Western countries switch to ruble payments, they will have to look for new ways to circumvent sanctions. If Europe does not want to take such a step, they may try to find other sources of gas. In the next five years, they will not be able to do this. During this time, we are not going to heat and feed them. Everyone who gave us an economic song should now get a response, the economist added.
According to Dudchak, Putin has put the West in such a position that now the EU will have to "get out."
Everything depends on the decision of the leadership of these countries in relation to the population and their economy. If they want to destroy it further, then they will not receive gas. If they want to take a sober look at the situation and solve economic problems, then everything will be fine with them. Let's see their reaction. It’s even interesting to see how the West will get out,” Dudchak concluded.
Abroad, while restrainedly commenting on Putin's decision. Only Poland, Austria and Italy declared their unwillingness or lack of opportunity to pay Russia in rubles. The rest of the countries either refrain from commenting or do not see any problems in the changes at all.
Note: A translation from Russian website
The draft law on Russia's withdrawal from the WTO was submitted to the State Duma
topwar.ru (March 21, 2022) - Russia may withdraw from the World Trade Organization (WTO), which it joined in 2012. The relevant bill has been submitted to the State Duma for consideration.
A draft law on the denunciation of the protocol on Russia's accession to the Marrakesh Agreement on the approval of the World Trade Organization has been submitted to the State Duma. The document, which is already in the electronic database of the parliament, was developed by deputies from the Just Russia - For Truth party and Senator Olga Epifanova.
As the developers explained, Russia's accession to the WTO was due to political motives, not economic ones. Today, Russia, which is under sanctions, is also limited by WTO rules. On the one hand, we are being pressured by sanctions, on the other hand, we are not allowed to develop the economy, since this violates the provisions of the WTO. Withdrawal from this organization will make it possible to remove the conditions that hinder us, which will lead to a reduction in tariffs, prices, and support for Russian manufacturers.
The explanatory note to the bill states that the denunciation of the agreement on joining the WTO is carried out in order to "protect the national interests of the Russian Federation, the need to pursue a protectionist policy, as a response to sanctions pressure and as self-defense."
Establish that the termination of the membership of the Russian Federation in the World Trade Organization on the basis of this federal law releases the Russian Federation from any obligation to fulfill its obligations in the future.
Note: A translation from a Russian website
“We looked like a bunch of boy scouts”: a mercenary from Colombia on how he survived a Russian strike
topwar.ru (March 17, 2022) - Colombian mercenary Martin Rios, who came to Ukraine to "deal" with Moscow on the side of Kyiv, told the Colombian TV channel Noticias Caracol TV about how he survived a Russian missile attack on the Yavorovsky training ground in the Lviv region.
Colombian correspondent Juan Camilo Melano reported from the Polish-Ukrainian border and interviewed a former fighter of the French Foreign Legion who fought in Mali and arrived in Ukraine 12 days ago, and now moved to Poland and is on his way home.
I felt the impact because the whole building shook, it literally started to move, the mercenary said.
He clarified that he was in shorts, but managed to put on shoes and take a rifle, after which he ran out of the room. As a result of one of the rockets hitting the building, he was thrown aside by a shock wave, he fell into the mud, received a shell shock and lost consciousness. After about 30-40 seconds, he came to his senses and began to prepare "for a Russian ground attack."
After a while, it dawned on him that there were no Russians around, but only their rockets, which continued to hit the mercenary camp. After that, he ran towards the forest to take cover in the trench, watching more and more new arrivals from there.
I met a US citizen who got lost in the forest, she was in shock, she did not know where to go. I had to give her a slap in the face to make her come to her senses. We tried to get as far away from the landfill as possible, he said.
Rios counted 35 hits on the range. He later returned to the facility, packed his things, and found a place to sleep. While in ruins, he began to reflect that this missile attack was his trigger to make the decision to leave Ukraine.
Our unit looked like a bunch of Boy Scouts. We only had one ammo magazine for everyone, we didn't have helmets, we didn't have body armor, we didn't have anything, he added.
According to him, what he experienced in Ukraine is completely different from the war from the movies. He addressed the Colombians who want to go to Ukraine: Don't give your life in a war that isn't worth it.
Note: A translation from Russian website
Formation of the Foreign Legion in Ukraine suspended
russtrat.ru (March 15, 2022) - As you know, on March 13, 2022, 180 foreign mercenaries were killed as a result of the Kalibr cruise missiles attacking the training centers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near the village of Starichi and at the Yavorovsky military training ground.
Later, information appeared that Ukraine had suspended the recruitment of volunteers for the International Legion of Territorial Defense. And part of the mercenaries, frightened, decided to return home.
The dogs of war thought they were going on a "safari" to shoot at the Russians. A certain number of mercenaries had combat experience. However, it was the experience of participating in conflicts of low combat intensity, when they were opposed by a technologically weak enemy, and there was air supremacy.
In Ukraine, the situation is completely opposite. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation conduct combat operations using the most modern methods and the most modern weapons. And here, luck will not be easy for the soldiers, they need to be ready to turn into compost.
Note: A translation from a Russian website
Russia Sanctions President Biden, Secretary Blinken & Top Defense Officials
ZeroHedge (March 15, 2022) - Moscow has hit back against Washington by sanctioning top US leadership, including President Joe Biden himself. The punitive retaliation measures extend to the chiefs of the Pentagon, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken and CIA Director William Burns. Russian state media announced in a Tuesday statement:
"Russia on Tuesday sanctioned US President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Tony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and ten other administration officials and political figures. Moscow has said that the sanctions are a reciprocal measure, imposed after Washington blacklisted top Russian leaders, including President Vladimir Putin."
Despite the measures being largely symbolic - as it will be essentially impossible for Moscow to actually go after US officials' assets unless they are held in Russia itself (and certainly no top American official is looking to travel to Russia anytime soon) - it signals that tensions with the West are ratcheting fast, with increasingly few off-ramps as the two sides chart a war-footing course.
The full list of retaliatory sanctions: Joseph Biden; Anthony Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Mark Milley, Jacob Sullivan, William Burns, Jennifer Psaki, Duleep Singh, Samantha Power, Hunter Biden, Hillary Clinton, Adewail Adeyemo, and Reta Jo Lewis.
Petrodollar Cracks: Saudi Arabia Considers Accepting Yuan For Chinese Oil Sales
ZeroHedge (March 15, 2022) - One of the core staples of the past 40 years, and an anchor propping up the dollar's reserve status, was a global financial system based on the petrodollar - this was a world in which oil producers would sell their product to the US (and the rest of the world) for dollars, which they would then recycle the proceeds in dollar-denominated assets and while investing in dollar-denominated markets, explicitly prop up the USD as the world reserve currency, and in the process backstop the standing of the US as the world's undisputed financial superpower.
Those days are coming to an end.
Continue Reading: https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/petrodollar-cracks-saudi-arabia-considers-accepting-yuan-chinese-oil-sales
Russia Seeking China's Military Help In Ukraine, US "Sources" Say In Afternoon Of Media Leaks; China Responds: "Never Heard Of That"
ZeroHedge (March 14, 2022) - According to Reuters, when asked about claims that Russia is requesting military help from China, the spokesperson for China's embassy in Washington responded "I've never heard of that."
The spokesperson, Liu Pengyu, said China's priority was to prevent the tense situation in Ukraine from getting out of control.
"The current situation in Ukraine is indeed disconcerting," he said in an emailed response to a query from Reuters, adding that "the high priority now is to prevent the tense situation from escalating or even getting out of control."
Continue Reading: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russia-urging-chinas-military-help-ukraine-biden-admin-says-sunday-afternoon-media
Goldmoney Holding: The West made a mistake with the assessment of the Russian economy
russtrat.ru (March 9, 2022) - The West, imposing sanctions against Russia, mistakenly considers it weak from an economic point of view. This is written by the German edition of Deutsche Wirtschafts Nachrichten , citing an analyst at Goldmoney Holding.
“The Russian economy is in a relatively healthy and stable state. Income tax is 13%, business regulation is low, public sector debt is less than 20%, ” RIA Novosti quotes the publication.
According to the expert, back in 2014 Russia diversified its financial reserves, reducing their volume in dollars and increasing their shares in euro, yuan and gold. Now the cost of gold in dollars and euros has increased by 60% and 73% respectively, which confirms the effectiveness of the decisions of the Central Bank of Russia. Anti-Russian sanctions could backfire, causing the euro system to fall, while freezing Russian assets could negatively impact European banks.
“If gas and oil prices continue to rise, the Eurozone central banking system may have to bail out European banks,” said an expert at Goldmoney Holding.
At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking at the first election meeting in the commune of Poissy, said that Europe would face big problems if Russia cut off gas supplies. “France is not so dependent on Russian gas. But if Russia stops gas supplies, Europe will face great difficulties next winter, ” TASS quotes him as saying.
John Kerry, the US presidential special envoy for climate change, speaking at an energy conference in Houston on Monday, called the events around Ukraine the "defining moment" of the century.
“There will probably be a price to pay. Obviously, the energy markets are in a turbulent state. We will have to live with this for a while,” he said.
Note: A translation from Russian website
Russia-Ukraine conflict spurs more sentiment in France to leave NATO
Global Times (March 7, 2022) - Jean-Luc Melenchon, a far-left French presidential candidate on Sunday called for leaving NATO, an organization which he labeled as useless on Twitter. Melenchon is not the only candidate questioning the transatlantic bloc. French far-right presidential candidate Eric Zemmour in December also expressed that he wanted to withdraw France from NATO. Furthermore, Marine Le Pen, another far-right presidential candidate, announced in February that France will leave NATO if she wins the elections.
Three of the five leading French presidential candidates are critics of the US-led transatlantic alliance. France's reasons for wanting to leave NATO are not groundless. France has always pursued strategic autonomy. Former French president Charles de Gaulle withdrew French forces from NATO's command in 1966 at the height of the Cold War and expelled the alliance's headquarters from Paris and Fontainebleau the following year in protest of what he saw as US hegemony in Europe. French incumbent President Emmanuel Macron has also expressed disappointment toward the bloc. In an interview with the Economist in 2019, Macron said, "What we are currently experiencing is the brain death of NATO."
Continue Reading: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202203/1254222.shtml
ICBM "Sarmat" will be able to hit the territory of the United States and through the South Pole
russtrat.ru (March 7, 2022) - The head of Roskosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, stated the following : “This year we will replenish the arsenals of strategic nuclear forces with another Sarmat intercontinental ballistic complex, which will give us guarantees of a safe life for 35-40 years ahead, just as the Voevoda complex gave us."
ICBM "Sarmat" has a number of important advantages. Its engines allow the missile to be accelerated to the required speeds in a shorter period of time, which drastically reduces the trajectory segment when it can be shot down after takeoff, and the probability of intercepting the missile is reduced.
The missile has an almost unlimited range. It can hit US territory both through the North Pole and the South. And from the south, the United States does not have deployed missile defense systems.
Sarmat will have two variants of combat equipment: 10-15 individually targetable thermonuclear warheads or three Avangard hypersonic gliding warheads. Taking into account the maneuvering, it is almost impossible to shoot down the Avangard warheads. At the same time, due to a slightly different, more gentle, flight path of the Sarmat ICBM, equipped with Avangards, a strike can be struck anywhere on the planet 30 minutes after launch.
It should be noted that it is precisely the strategic nuclear parity between Russia and the United States that keeps the world from a large-scale war, including during the period of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine. That is why NATO has refused direct military intervention in this situation, the use of its ground and air forces in Ukraine.
Note: A translation from Russian website
Russian Nuclear Triad Takes Up Standby Alert Duty With Reinforced Staff, Shoigu Tells Putin
Sputnik (February 28, 2022) - The Russian president ordered the nation's nuclear deterrence forces to be placed on high alert Sunday following "aggressive statements" from NATO related to the Russian military operation in Ukraine. Earlier, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss warned that if Russia wasn't "stopped" "in Ukraine," the crisis could escalate into a conflict with NATO.
Russia's ground, air and submarine-based nuclear deterrent forces have begun standby alert duty with reinforced personnel, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has informed President Putin.
Putin asked Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov to put the Russian armed forces' strategic deterrent on "special combat duty mode" on Sunday. The president ordered the heightened alert status to be implemented after alleging that "top officials of leading NATO nations" had indulged "in making aggressive statements about our country," on top of and separately from the sanctions slapped on Moscow by Washington and its allies.
Putin did not specify who these "top officials were" or which specific "aggressive" remarks he was referring to, but just hours prior to his comments, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss declared in an interview with Sky News that unless Russia's ongoing military operation in Ukraine to demilitarise the country was "stopped," the crisis could "end up in a conflict with NATO".
Ex-MI6 agent Cook: Putin put an end to US illusions
politros.com (February 28, 2022) - Anti-Russian sanctions will accelerate the economic decline of Europe and the entire West, warns former MI6 officer Alastair Cook. PolitRussia offers its readers an exclusive retelling of his article published on the Strategic Culture portal.
According to a British analyst, the collective West "has experienced a stroke" after Russian President Vladimir Putin "shocked Western leaders by announcing the start of a special operation in Ukraine."
Alastair Cook emphasizes that the Western camp, led by Washington, claims that Moscow has broken the Minsk agreements. However, Russia has never been a subject of these agreements, and therefore cannot violate them. Moscow's role was to enforce the agreement from Kyiv, including with the help of colleagues, Paris and Berlin. However, at the end of 2021, it became clear that France and Germany were not going to exert any diplomatic influence on Ukraine.
According to Alastair Cooke, Vladimir Putin's address to the nation was laced with bitterness that many Russians feel. The head of the Russian state emphasizes that the events in Ukraine after 2014 were a project of the West, which set the task of establishing an anti-Russian regime in Kyiv. The special operation of the Russian troops is aimed, among other things, at the denazification of Ukraine, that is, at the liberation of the country from neo-Nazi groups.
There are two main reasons for the West's anger. First, Western leaders realized that they were not capable of confronting Russia militarily. Secondly, there is an understanding that the economic measures taken against Moscow will hurt the entire Western bloc.
Sanctions will hit directly on the pocket of the Europeans, writes Alastair Cook. According to him, in fact, Europe imposes sanctions against itself and will suffer great damage from its own sanctions. At the same time, one should not forget that Moscow promised to respond to any anti-Russian sanctions as harshly as possible, and this will cause serious damage to the United States and Europe.
Europe is forced to tacitly admit that Biden's (and the entire West's) diplomacy in Ukraine has failed. In addition, Germany's awkward tactics associated with the Russian Nord Stream 2 project doomed the EU to years of economic recession and suffering, the expert is convinced.
Another fear in Brussels is that the two main opponents, Russia and China, could change the world order.
Alastair Cook emphasizes that Vladimir Putin's speech on the recognition of the DPR and LPR marked a turning point, and the EU is only now beginning to realize this. Despite the fact that the main topic of the Russian leader’s speech was the situation in Ukraine, the most alarming call for the West was Moscow’s firm intention (with the support of Beijing) to forever change the geopolitical balance and security architecture in the world.
Note: A translation from Russian website
Chinese journalists: West will pay a high price for disconnecting Russia from SWIFT
politexpert.net (February 27, 2022) - Disabling the Russian Federation from the SWIFT payment system can hit the US and the EU. This is written by the Chinese edition of Huanqiu Shibao.
Talk that Russia could be disconnected from SWIFT began back in 2014. For eight years it was assumed that this would put pressure on the Russian economy. In connection with the recent events in Ukraine, information began to appear in the press that the United States and Europe nevertheless decided to “punish” the Russian Federation in this way. However, this decision will make the West pay a heavy price.
Observers of the Chinese edition noted that the Russian authorities had carried out thorough preparations for possible Western sanctions, including disconnection from the payment system. Russia has already successfully tested and launched its own financial system. Moscow is trying to do everything to reduce its dependence on the US dollar, the journalists stressed.
“Disconnecting Russia from SWIFT will be quite painful for the US and EU themselves. Russia occupies an important place in the world export of energy resources, fuel and metals. <…> She will be able to withstand this period, while the West will have a very hard time,” write Chinese observers.
Huanqiu shibao journalists specified that the confrontation between Russia and the West would lead to large-scale global turmoil in the financial market. It is possible that a new economic crisis will happen in the world, which will be difficult to overcome, according to an article in a Chinese publication.
Earlier, US leader Joe Biden said that disconnecting the Russian Federation from SWIFT was not discussed. According to him, this decision will have significant consequences for European countries.
Note: A translation from Russian website
Chinese author: US military is powerless against Russian missiles
en.topwar.ru (February 24, 2022) - The Chinese press is discussing the possible development of events in terms of confrontation between Russia and the West. Chinese observers note that the United States was convinced that Russia was bluffing when making specific demands on Washington and NATO. And when Moscow took decisive action, the West "began an alarming fuss amid an avalanche of critical statements."
An attention-grabbing publication was made by the Chinese information resource Baijiahao. The publication says that if the United States could, it would have unleashed a war against the Russian Federation long ago. But, as a Chinese author writes, the United States understands that the American army is powerless against Russian missiles.
Russian missiles are capable of destroying an entire city in seconds, even without a nuclear weapons.
The Chinese author writes that these are not empty words. The fact is that American military think tanks are constantly studying the situation in terms of the power of their opponents. The study of Russia's military capabilities is ongoing. And for American military analysts, it is quite obvious that these capabilities have increased significantly in recent years. Moreover, they have increased precisely in terms of the development of missile weapons.
America is beginning to understand that it is really better not to make the Russians angry.
Against this background, the Chinese Sohu published an article stating that Vladimir Putin’s speech, in which the words about the recognition of the republics of Donbass, “was one from which both Ukraine and the United States need to draw operational conclusions.” The Chinese author notes that the West, which for a long time considered Russia incapable of a serious response, now understands that "Russia can give answers that show that the unipolar world no longer exists."
Note: A translation from Russian website
Erdogan during a telephone conversation with the President of the Russian Federation stated the importance of the sovereignty of Ukraine, he was reminded of the sovereignty of Syria
en. topwar.ru (February 23, 2022) - The Turkish president said that he does not support Russia's decision to recognize the independence of Donbass. According to Erdogan, he stands for the territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as for its sovereignty.
According to sources, during a conversation with Turkish President Erdogan was reminded that the sovereignty of Syria "is also extremely important to respect." A clear and transparent hint that Turkish troops are actually illegally occupying part of Syrian territory. Moreover, the so-called buffer zone in northern Syria was created by the Turkish side with the following argument: for the security of Turkey in connection with the threats emanating from the territory of Syria.
In addition, Vladimir Putin told his Turkish counterpart of his disappointment that the United States and NATO ignored Russian proposals to build an indivisible security space. According to the Russian leader, ignoring Russian proposals in this regard is the short-sighted policy of the North Atlantic Alliance.
Note: A translation from Russian website
The Federation Council received an appeal from the President on the use of the RF Armed Forces outside the country
politros.com (February 22, 2022) - Chairman of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko reported on the received appeal from Russian President Vladimir Putin on the use of the Armed Forces outside the country.
Kiev has concentrated most of the army on the line of contact and has been regularly shelling the militias in recent days. Due to the threat of Ukraine's invasion from the Luhansk and Donetsk republics, women, children and the elderly began to be evacuated to Russia.
The day before, Putin signed decrees recognizing the independence of the DNR and LNR. Matviyenko said that the head of state had received an appeal to use the aircraft outside the country. Earlier, the head of state instructed to ensure the maintenance of peace in the republics.
Note: A translation from Russian website
One word that will stop Putin’s war machine: R-E-S-P-E-C-T
IsraelNationalNews (February 20, 2022) - Now, what does a 1970’s soul song have to do with stopping any possible Putin/Russian invasion of Ukraine? Everything! For the one thing, Putin demands, and, more importantly, deserves it: R-E-S-P-E-C-T! Whether the Western elites like it or not, Putin commands the second greatest military power on earth, and leads a great and historic country, culture, and civilization. Russia, by the way, is not a country that prosecutes a Member of its own Parliament for “incitement” for merely quoting from the Bible because quoting from the Bible was allegedly “likely to cause intolerance, contempt, and hatred towards homosexuals.”
But, the deck has been dealt, and Putin is President of Russia and the address to resolve issues.
Instead of a little respect, what have these people who run our lives done? Escalated, threatened, sanctioned, and blustered. “He’s going to invade tomorrow.” “No, no, he going to invade Thursday.” “We will wage economic warfare on Putin like he’s never seen.” Or the latest ridiculous statement by Mircea Geoana, the Deputy Secretary General of NATO, that “A Russian cyber-attack will invoke the Article 5 war trigger of the NATO Pact.”
Continue Reading: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/322572
The authors of Sohu saw a hint for the West in the words of Peskov about the black suitcase
politros.com (February 19, 2022) - Chinese analysts found in Peskov's words a hint made to the West. PolitRussia presents an exclusive retelling of an article published by Sohu.
On February 19, Vladimir Putin took an important step - he personally commanded the exercises of the strategic deterrence forces. The RF Ministry of Defense announced the day before that it was the Supreme Commander-in-Chief who would give the order to launch missiles during the maneuvers.
“The so-called strategic deterrence exercises are actually, frankly, nuclear exercises,” write the authors of Sohu.
Indeed, the country's nuclear triad is involved in the maneuvers. The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that the Aerospace Forces, the Southern Military District, the Strategic Missile Forces, the Northern Fleet and the Black Sea Fleet are involved in the exercises. This is a major operation commanded by Putin himself, and its scale should not be underestimated.
“Such exercises, training launches, of course, are impossible without the head of state. You know about the famous black suitcase, the red button and the like,” said Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the President.
The Chinese believe that it is worth paying attention to the keywords “black suitcase” and “red button” that sounded in this speech by the Kremlin representative.
“Peskov seemed to be hinting at something,” Chinese analysts are convinced.
In their opinion, the more the West blames Russia and tries to suppress it, the more it should show its strength, especially nuclear power. And the strategic exercises of nuclear forces are a signal to the West that if Russia's security requirements are not met this time as well, then Moscow will be forced to respond, including by military-technical measures.
“With these exercises, Putin seemed to say to the West: “Don’t worry about Russia, she has powerful nuclear forces and is not a vegetarian.” This is Putin's containment,” sum up the authors of Sohu.
Note: A translation from Russian
West promised not to expand NATO – Der Spiegel
RT (February 18, 2022) - A newly discovered document from March 1991 shows US, UK, French, and German officials discussing a pledge made to Moscow that NATO would not expand to Poland and beyond. Its publication by the German magazine Der Spiegel on Friday comes as expansion of the US-led bloc has led to a military standoff in Eastern Europe.
The minutes of a March 6, 1991 meeting in Bonn between political directors of the foreign ministries of the US, UK, France, and Germany contain multiple references to “2+4” talks on German unification in which the Western officials made it “clear” to the Soviet Union that NATO would not push into territory east of Germany.
Continue Reading: https://www.rt.com/news/549921-nato-expansion-russia-document/
Blinken Lays Out Russian False Flag 'Chemical Attack' Claims In Dramatic UN Security Council Speech
ZeroHedge (February 18, 2022) - In a dramatic address to the UN Security Council in New York on Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said "I am here today not to start a war but to prevent one." He referenced "evidence" though without detailing it that Russia is "moving toward an imminent" (there's that word again) invasion of Ukraine.
He then called on the Kremlin to "announce today, with no qualification, equivocation or deflection that Russia will not invade Ukraine," urging further to "State it clearly, state it plainly to the world and then demonstrate it by sending your troops, your tanks, your planes back to their barracks and hangars, and sending your diplomats to the negotiating table."
Continue Reading: https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/blinken-lays-out-russian-false-flag-chemical-attack-claims-dramatic-un-security-council
Here’s what Russia told US and NATO after its proposals were rejected
RT (February 17, 2022) - Russia may respond with “military and technical measures” to ensure its own security after the US and NATO ignored key points from its proposal for a long-term European security architecture, and instead cherry-picked issues from a package deal, Moscow said on Thursday.
The overall sentiment of the 10-page document, published by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Thursday, was that the US and its allies refused to even address Russia’s “red lines” and key security interests. The MFA also addressed specific issues such as Ukraine, Crimea, US troop presence and weapons build-up along Russian borders, as well as arms control. Here are the key takeaways.
Continue Reading: https://www.rt.com/russia/549775-moscow-response-us-nato-security/?utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fzen.yandex.com&utm_campaign=dbr
Putin ‘doesn’t give a s*** about sanctions’ says ambassador as Russia moves attack helicopters to Ukraine border
TheSun (February 13, 2022) - VLADIMIR Putin "doesn't give a s**t about sanctions" a Russian ambassador has said.
Viktor Tatarintsev was speaking as his country moved attack helicopters to its border with Ukraine, further raising invasion fears.
He bluntly warned that "the more the West pushes Russia, the stronger the Russian response will be".
The Kremlin's ambassador to Sweden brushed off the threat of sanctions and boasted Russia had become "more self-sufficient" in response to the ultimatums.
Continue Reading: https://www.the-sun.com/news/4677703/russia-attack-helicopters-ukraine-border/
Since Washington Wants War So Badly Why Doesn’t Washington Simply Attack Russia?
Paul Craig Roberts
(February 12, 2022) - Washington keeps on adding fuel to what it says is a Ukrainian crisis. Washington puppet Jens Stoltenberg, the nominal secretary-general of NATO, says NATO is considering a larger and permanent Black Sea presence. The Black Sea is to Russia what the Mediterranean Sea was to the Romans–mare nostrum, “our sea.” Stoltenberg’s announcement is akin to Russia announcing that Russia is considering establishing a “Chesapeake Bay Battle Group.” Stoltenberg added that NATO is planning to establish battle groups in Romania and in other countries around the Black Sea. Why such dangerous provocative actions at a time of such high tension? Why is Washington pouring gasoline on a fire?
Even I did not suspect this level of Washington irresponsibility. As if this isn’t enough, Stoltenberg declared the Black Sea to be of strategic importance for NATO, and the White House national security advisor said the buildup of forces on Russia’s borders are necessary for future contingencies whether or not Russia invades Ukraine.
Continue Reading: https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2022/02/12/since-washington-wants-war-so-badly-why-doesnt-washington-simply-attack-russia/
Time has come: Kedmi on Russia's response to the West's unwillingness to "understand what they are being told"
Smotrim.ru (February 9, 2022) - The West is so far unwilling to listen to what Moscow has to say about security in Europe. If this continues, "Russia itself" will establish the situation that it needs, "expert Yakov Kedmi believes. In his opinion," the last warning "will be followed by" real operational actions.
If the West does not listen to Russia's proposals on security guarantees in Europe, Russia itself "will establish the situation it needs and ensure its security by military-technical methods."
This opinion was expressed by an expert, ex-head of the Israeli Nativ service, Yakov Kedmi, on the air of the Full Contact program.
As host Vladimir Solovyov noted, Russian President Vladimir Putin quite harshly and methodically explained to his colleagues in the West that "we are not just on the brink of war, but on the brink of nuclear war."
According to Kedmi, so far attempts to "explain that the situation is serious and that Russia is not joking" have not yet led to anything.
"This time he (Vladimir Putin) explained it even more clearly," Kedmi believes elements that even the restrained Putin could hardly digest: first, the lack of an elementary desire to understand what they are being told.
Kedmi recalled that Russian military maneuvers of the so-called nuclear triad (strategic aviation, intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear submarine missile carriers) are scheduled for late February - early March.
“If they were so startled by the fact that one or two S-400 divisions were transferred to Belarus for announced maneuvers with Belarusian troops ... these are children's toys. Strategic nuclear triad maneuvers are a completely different thing. They really need to understand what is happening,” continued the expert, “On the other hand, the constant flights of strategic bombers to the borders of Russia with electronic imitation of shelling the territory with missiles with nuclear warheads continue almost every week.”
According to Kedmi, the situation is moving towards what Russia will say: "Okay, now everything is clear, we are moving on to real practical actions."
Note: Translation from Russian
Taiwan thanks US for Patriot deal
Taipei Times (February 9, 2022) - The Ministry of National Defense yesterday thanked Washington after the US Department of State approved the sale of up to US$100 million in equipment and services to support Taiwan’s air and missile defense systems.
With the arms sale, which would maintain Taiwan’s Patriot missile air-defense system, the US is honoring its commitment to ensure that Taiwan has the capability to defend itself, as stated in the US’ Taiwan Relations Act and “six assurances,” the ministry said in a statement, expressing its “sincere gratitude” for the deal.
Continue Reading: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2022/02/09/2003772795
Russia-China relationship now ‘unprecedented’ – Putin
RT (February 4, 2022) - The friendship between Russia and China has become an example of how two nations can develop together and support each other “in almost all areas,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.
Speaking to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at their first face-to-face meeting since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Putin noted how Moscow and Beijing have been in constant contact and have continued to boost cooperation.
Continue Reading: https://www.rt.com/russia/548333-putin-meeting-xi-beijing/
Putin’s China visit crucially significant for entire world, Russian envoy says
TASS (February 2, 2022) - Russian President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming visit to China for the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics is crucially significant for the entire world, Russian Ambassador to Beijing Andrey Denisov told the Soloviev Live YouTube channel on Wednesday.
"Undoubtedly, it (the visit - TASS) is crucially important for us, [it] is crucially important for China, [and] I would say, for the entire world. The leaders of two major countries that have a great impact on global politics are meeting, and they are meeting during rather contradictory times," the envoy noted.
The diplomat emphasized that the Russian leader’s visit to China is very important since it creates an opportunity for a trustworthy dialogue. "The conversation, indeed, acquires such a friendly nature in a good sense of the word. We are talking, above all, about an atmosphere for the discussion of very important issues for our countries since our president and Chinese chairman [Xi Jinping] realize the extent of the responsibility they bear for their peoples," he added.
"Our opinions are either close or coincide on key matters not only in international politics but also on how to develop our states under the current complicated conditions," the ambassador pointed out.
Putin’s visit to China is scheduled for February 4.
No one ever thought what can be if Ukraine is admitted to NATO and attacks Crimea — Putin
TASS (February 2, 2022) - No one in the West has ever thought that if Ukraine is admitted to NATO and ventures an attack on Crimea, Russia will have to be at war with the alliance, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"[Crimea] is Russia’s sovereign territory. The matter is closed for us in this sense. Let us imagine that Ukraine is a NATO member and ventures such a combat operation. Are we supposed to be at war with NATO? Well, has anyone even given a thought to it? It looks like no one has," he said.
He once again stressed that Ukraine’s membership of NATO is unacceptable for Russia. "Listen to me carefully. Ukraine’s doctrinal documents say that they are planning to return Crimea, including by military means. It is not what they are saying in public but what is actually written in documents," Putin explained. "Let us imagine that Ukraine is a NATO member, stuffed with weapons and state-of-the-art missile systems like in Poland and Romania. Who will stop it from unleashing operations in Crimea, let alone Donbass."
Russia warns of NATO nuclear threat
RT (January 27, 2022) - NATO is developing the capacity for devastating nuclear strikes against Russia – which includes involving members of the alliance who don't have such weapons in training operations – Moscow’s top arms control official has claimed.
In an interview with TASS on Thursday, Vladimir Yermakov, Director of the Department of Arms Control and Non-proliferation in the Russian Foreign Ministry, said that the US was in the process of modernizing its atomic capabilities in Europe and had deployed missiles in the territories of several other member states.
Continue Reading: https://www.rt.com/russia/547552-nato-prepare-nuclear-strikes/?utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fzen.yandex.com%2F%3Ffromzen%3Dabro
France’s Macron Calls for EU-Russia Security Pact in Break With U.S. Calls for Unity
TheMoscowTimes (January 20, 2022) - French President Emmanuel Macron urged the European Union to forge its own security pact with Russia on Wednesday in a break with U.S. calls for unity amid ongoing efforts to forestall a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The EU was not involved in direct talks with Moscow during last week's high-level diplomatic talks to try to ease tensions caused by Russia's massing of tens of thousands of troops near its border with Ukraine.
“It’s good that Europeans and the United States coordinate, but it’s necessary that Europeans conduct their own dialogue,” Macron told the European Parliament.
Continue Reading: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/01/20/frances-macron-calls-for-eu-russia-security-pact-in-break-with-us-calls-for-unity-a76095
US Warns of ‘Strong Response’ if Russia Tries to ‘Intimidate’ Washington With Nukes in Latin America
Sputnik (January 18, 2022) - On Monday, asked to comment on whether Moscow may try to station missiles in some Latin American country or countries to counter US and NATO deployments near Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said the Russian side was considering “various options” to ensure its security.
Washington will not be ‘intimidated’ by ‘aggressive’ Russian brainstorming about putting military hardware or even nuclear-tipped missiles near the United States, US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield has said.
Continue Reading: https://sputniknews.com/20220118/us-warns-of-strong-response-if-russia-tries-to-intimidate-washington-with-nukes-in-latin-america-1092349826.html
Washington’s Bi-Partisan Russia-Bashers Are Determined To Start a War
AntiWar.com (January 18, 2022) - Russia-bashing is a bi-partisan activity in Washington. Both parties think it makes them look “tough” and “pro-America.” But while Republican and Democrat politicians continue to one-up each other on “risk-free” threats to Russia, they are increasingly risking a devastating nuclear war.
It’s all fun and games until the missiles start flying. And in this case we are risking total destruction over who governs eastern Ukraine! Has so much ever been risked for so little?
Continue Reading: https://original.antiwar.com/paul/2022/01/17/washingtons-bi-partisan-russia-bashers-are-determined-to-start-a-war/
Russia evacuating embassy in Ukraine – media
RT (January 18, 2022) - With tensions rising on the Russian border with Ukraine, Moscow has started to remove its diplomats and their families from its embassy in Kiev and consulate in Lvov, the New York Times has claimed, citing anonymous officials.
Continue Reading: https://www.rt.com/russia/546357-moscow-evacuate-embassy-ukraine/
Putin is preparing to ram NATO: bluff is no longer an option
Relations with the West are approaching "X hour"
MKRU (January 13, 2022) - There is such an English catchphrase - go through the motions. It means performing all the required actions and movements, but without any hope that they will give the desired result. The January talks between Moscow and the West at three venues (the Ryabkov-Sherman dialogue in Geneva, the dialogue with NATO, and the dialogue at the OSCE platform) are exactly go through the motions on our part. There is a thinly concealed impatience in many statements by Russian officials. Like, have you talked? We talked. Did not work out? Did not work out. Wonderful! We didn't expect anything else. Let’s move on, therefore, to what might actually work—Putin’s notorious “Plan B.”
I will make a reservation right away: this plan has not yet been put into action. We are in the middle of another delay. Russian diplomacy is waiting for a precise written response from the United States to its proposals, where everything will be set out point by point: what is accepted (yes, for the sake of diversity, it could theoretically be), what is rejected out of hand, and what can be a subject for further discussion. But this delay seems to be purely technical. Having taken the position before the start of negotiations “either all our demands are accepted, or go through the woods” and “no delay”, Moscow clearly showed in advance that it does not count on a “good agreement”.
“Our patience has run out. We are very patient, you know that we harness for a long time. We harnessed for a very long time, now it's time for us to go. We are waiting for the coachman on that wagon to answer us specifically on our proposals,” Sergey Lavrov said today at a press conference. Translated from the diplomatic: give us your piece of paper as soon as possible! We can’t bear to do the real thing, and not this endless transfusion of yours from empty to empty.
The expectation of this "real thing" has indeed become painful for a long time. It is impossible to constantly be in a state of permanent uncertainty and suspension. But at the same time, I'm waiting for "real things" without any joyful anticipation. The constant declaration of the thesis "our cause is just" is not enough to achieve success in politics (it does not matter - in international or domestic). Success requires resources, allies, and a plan that can work. Official Moscow behaves as if it has all this. But what exactly is this belief based on?
With allies in Europe, we are now very tight. At a press conference, Lavrov made a number of other interesting statements: "The US and NATO are hindering the European Union's attempts to achieve autonomy in security matters." I agree, they interfere. But aren't we helping the US and NATO in this task? Haven't we "lost our patience" too quickly?
Back in the early autumn of last year, there was no question of any fateful confrontation with the West over NATO expansion. But suddenly everything on our part changed in the most radical way. Now the question is put like this: either pan or gone. In my opinion, such a decisive and not fully understood plot twist - why did our patience run out right now, and not six years ago? contributes to our isolation in Europe.
If a diver ascends too quickly from a great depth, he may experience decompression. Now, it seems to me, we are witnessing a political decompression. During the past butts with NATO over military infrastructure in the old world in the 70s and 80s, the USSR had such a strong ally as a powerful anti-war movement in countries that were and still are US allies. Now nothing of the kind is observed. Public opinion in Europe is consolidated on anti-Russian positions. And I believe that we have made a very significant contribution to this consolidation. In terms of pushing Sweden and Finland towards the North Atlantic Alliance, Moscow has done no less than Washington.
Who else can be seen among our reliable allies? Belarus? Well, well, the very phrase “Lukashenko is a reliable ally” contains a deep internal contradiction. Kazakhstan? Now ranting about "understanding the importance of allied relations with the Russian Federation," the new Minister of Information of the republic, Askar Umarov , is in itself an answer to the question of how deep these relations are. And these countries are not of that calibre, with all my deepest respect for them.
The only potential serious partner of Russia in terms of confrontation with the West is China. By announcing Putin's talks in Beijing as early as early February, Lavrov made a bid for a very serious intrigue. But so far, there are no signs that Russia and China are conducting a multi-move with the West, acting "in concert", there is no evidence. Instead, we still see a “flight in parallel courses”, coupled with a constant expression of mutual respect, respect and moral support.
Of course, in a sense, it is good that we do not see what kind of cards are in the hands of Putin. Who is forewarned is forearmed. Who warned - he disarmed. But here's what I personally miss so much is the confidence that we really have strong trump cards in our hands that can ensure the achievement of Moscow's strategic goals. GDP has raised the stakes in the game so much that bluffing is no longer an option.
Note: Translation from Russian
"The West has gone too far." Russia announced the "unacceptable" actions of NATO
gazeta.ru (January 13, 2022) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov , at a press conference on the results of the activities of Russian diplomacy in 2021, said that NATO could begin to build up forces near the Russian borders in the coming months under the pretext of a hypothetical Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“We have reason to believe that those loud statements that are now being heard from the West that if Russia does not obey the demands of the West on how to deal with its troops on its territory, which is absurd in itself, then in the next two or three month, the West will increase the activity of rapid reaction forces, NATO special operations forces around our borders, ” TASS quotes the minister.
Lavrov called the appearance of additional alliance forces on the border of the Russian Federation a real “red line”, and the creation of US bases in the Sea of Azov - a “second red line”.
“This is also unacceptable to us, because the deployment of strike weapons on the territory of our neighbours, in this case Ukraine, which will pose a threat to the Russian Federation, is another red line,” he stressed.
Lavrov pointed out that Moscow presented its proposals for security guarantees right now in connection with changes in the "real configuration of weapons, military equipment and armed forces in Europe." The minister added that the Russian side is waiting for an answer on all the proposed initiatives.
“We are waiting for a written response, we have reason to believe that our partners have understood the need to do this quickly, concretely, on paper, and have understood that we will not wait indefinitely, and plans to “roll up” this process, of course, exist,” - Lavrov said, adding that the statements of the American side about the need for consultations with the allies are just an excuse. “We harnessed for a very long time, now it’s time for us to go. We are waiting for the driver on that wagon to answer us, ”he said.
According to Lavrov, the response of the United States and NATO, if any, will demonstrate how sincere the West is in relations with Moscow. “Let's see what they give us on paper. And then we will decide how sincere our Western colleagues are in general in relations with the Russian Federation, ” RIA Novosti quotes the minister.
He stressed that the Northern Alliance is actively developing the territories of the countries that have joined NATO militarily. “If our proposal is aimed at reducing the military confrontation, de-escalating the overall situation in Europe, then exactly the opposite is happening in the West: NATO is building up its ground forces, aviation in the territories that are directly adjacent to Ukraine, the scale and number of exercises in the Black Sea have increased many times over recently ", the minister noted.
Western countries are creating military bases in the Baltics and the countries of Northern Europe, as well as on the Black and Azov seas, while advising Russia to “send its troops to the barracks,” the foreign minister was surprised.
“This is an unacceptable approach. So the time that was chosen simply reflects the period when the West went too far, let's be direct,” Lavrov said.
He added that the West went to aggravate the situation "in violation of all obligations and common sense."
Note: Translation from Russian
NATO Seeks to 'Contain' Russia, There's 'No Room for Common Positive Agenda,' Top Diplomat Says
Sputnik (January 12, 2022) - Russian and NATO officials met in Brussels on Wednesday to discuss security proposals put forth by the Russian Foreign Ministry in December aimed at cooling tensions between Moscow and the Western bloc. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has said the alliance won't give up its open door policy, or its right to beef up troop numbers near Russia.
Continue Reading: https://sputniknews.com/20220112/nato-seeking-to-contain-russia-top-russian-negotiator-says-after-talks-1092209867.html
NATO: We Won't Give Up "Right" To Station Troops In States Ringing Russia
ZeroHedge (January 12, 2022) - As we detailed earlier, a Kremlin delegation led by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko went to NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday where he was received by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. The meeting reportedly lasted four hours.
"If Russia once again uses force against Ukraine and further invades Ukraine, then we have to seriously look into the need to further increase our presence in the eastern part of the alliance," Stoltenberg told reporters after Wednesday's meeting.
While Stoltenberg reiterated what's at stake amid the 'Ukraine 2.0' crisis, highlighting "a real risk for a new armed conflict in Europe" - Russia has continued to assure the West it is not planning any kind of Ukraine invasion.
Continue Reading: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/nato-we-wont-given-right-station-troops-states-ringing-russia
Kedmi: US thinks Putin is bluffing
Smotrim.ru (January 11, 2022) - The United States does not fully understand what is happening. Washington is not serious about the current situation with regard to relations with Russia. This opinion was voiced by Israeli expert Yakov Kedmi.
Israeli expert Yakov Kedmi spoke about the talks between Russia and the United States, which took place in Geneva. According to him, Washington does not fully understand what is happening. The United States believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin is bluffing. Kedmi expressed this opinion on the air of the "Full Contact" program.
The expert is sure that the United States is not serious about the current situation. Washington is still trying to convince itself that this is all just work for the public.
Jacob Kedmi believes that if the next meeting takes place, it will be no different from the one that took place. According to the expert, Russia will think about whether it makes sense to hold another round of negotiations.
Earlier, the Russian-American talks on security guarantees took place in Geneva . No concrete results have been achieved.
Note: Translation from Russian
Russia tried to explain to US why playing with fire is no longer acceptable — diplomat
TASS (January 10, 2022) - At talks with the US in Geneva, Russia tried to explain why playing with fire on the part of Washington was no longer acceptable, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said after Russian-US consultations on security guarantees on Monday.
"We came to Geneva to avoid entering into an impasse. We spent a lot of effort trying to explain to our American counterparts why playing with fire is not in their interests, why the potential disregard for our absolutely justified presentation of the problem that things cannot any longer go the way they were in the past decades, cannot continue in relations with NATO," Ryabkov said. "We need drastic changes in the narrative or our relations, its matrix, its framework," he added.
Continue Reading: https://tass.com/politics/1385959
Biden urged to warn Kremlin about possible strike
gazeta.ru (January 1, 2022) - More than two dozen American diplomats and US national security officials posted an appeal to US President Joe Biden on the Atlantic Council website. They demanded to inflict an "economic blow" on Russia in the event of an escalation of the conflict with Ukraine. And warn Russia in advance.
24 authors of the message emphasized that they express only private opinions, not their institutions. They are convinced that Moscow's fears are "wrong" that NATO expansion does not pose a military threat to Russia.
The diplomats also rebuked the Russian Federation for allegedly violating its obligations under several treaties, including the UN Charter , the Charter of Paris and the Budapest Memorandum.
“In short, Moscow appears to be setting the stage for a major attack on Ukraine, even as the United States and NATO have shown a willingness to sit down and discuss the Kremlin’s concerns,” the letter's authors concluded.
They believe the Biden administration must continue to work with the European Union and other partners to agree on a response to any Russian attack on Ukraine, regardless of the scale or form of Russian escalation.
“Such a response would have to include a package of serious and painful sanctions that would be applied immediately if Russia attacks Ukraine. Ideally, the plan for these sanctions should be brought to Moscow's attention right now so that the Kremlin has a clear idea of the scale of the economic blow that it will face, ”the message explains.
Diplomats are confident that Washington should secure Berlin's consent not to launch Nord Stream 2 in the event of a Moscow attack on Kiev. The authors of the message also demanded to expand and accelerate the delivery of military aid to Ukraine, to strengthen the military presence of NATO forces on the eastern flank. At the same time, the authors of the letter insist that the allies must continue to "clearly declare" their readiness for dialogue with Russia.
Note: Translation from a Russian website.
Putin tells Biden Russia ready to fully terminate relationship with USA
Pravda.ru (December 31, 2021) - During the conversation, Biden warned his Russian counterpart that the West would develop large-scale and unprecedented sanctions in the economic and military spheres should the crisis on the Ukrainian border continue to escalate. In response, Putin pledged to sever relations between Russia and the USA if new restrictive measures are implemented.
"Our president immediately responded to this by saying that if the West still decides to introduce the above-mentioned unprecedented sanctions under certain conditions, then all this could lead to the complete termination of relations between our countries. In addition, serious damage will be caused to Russia's relations with the West in general," Yuri Ushakov said.
Continue Reading: https://english.pravda.ru/news/world/149995-putin_biden/
China Panic-Hoards Half Of World's Grain Supply Amid Threats Of Collapse
ZeroHedge (December 28, 2021) - About two and a half years ago, we told readers China was panic hoarding food, which was several months before the virus pandemic began to spread worldwide; Beijing has managed to stockpile more than half of the world's maize and other grains that have resulted in rapid food inflation and triggered famine in some countries.
In August 2019, we asked the question:
Does China believe that we are on the verge of a major global crisis? The communist Chinese government has always been very big into planning, and it appears that they have decided that now is the time to hoard food, gold and other commodities.
Continue Reading: https://www.zerohedge.com/commodities/china-panic-hoards-half-worlds-grain-supply-amid-threats-global-collapse
Note: China will invade Taiwan and has to hoard food in preparation for war situation.
Russian Defence Ministry: NATO Preparing for Large-scale High-intensity Conflict With Moscow
Sputnik (December 27, 2021) - Moscow has expressed concerns about the concentration of Western alliance missile systems, troops, warships and aircraft near Russia's borders, and NATO's decades' long eastward expansion. This month, the Russian Foreign Ministry formally signalled that it considers Ukraine to be a 'red line' for Moscow which NATO is strongly advised not to cross.
NATO is preparing for a large-scale armed conflict with Russia, in contravention of Rome Declaration of 2002, Russian Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin has said.
Continue Reading: https://sputniknews.com/20211227/nato-preparing-for-large-scale-armed-conflict-with-russia-russian-defence-ministry-says-1091840807.html
Russia’s Aerospace Force to get new aircraft armed with hypersonic weapons in 2022
TASS (December 21, 2021) - Russia’s Aerospace Force in 2022 will commission new generation aircraft armed with hypersonic weapons, Aerospace Force Deputy Commander, Colonel-General Andrey Yudin said on Tuesday.
"Our task is to commission new generation weapons, aircraft and special equipment, including those armed with hypersonic weapons and to participate in a strategic command staff exercise," Yudin told the media at the Defense Ministry’s yearend board meeting on Tuesday.
In the outgoing year, the Aerospace Force obtained 250 pieces of new equipment, including new generation aircraft and drones, as well as 420 sets of communication equipment, radio-technical support equipment and automated control systems.
"Joint centres for training Russian and Belarusian aviation and air defence specialists were created at the Baranovichi airbase and in Grodno," Yudin said.
U.S. Mercenaries Preparing Donbass 'Provocation' — Russian Defense Chief
TheMoscowTimes (December 21, 2021) - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed on Tuesday that U.S. private military companies have stationed troops in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine and are preparing a “provocation using unknown chemical components.”
Shoigu’s statements came during a Defense Ministry meeting in Moscow amid growing fears that Russia could launch an invasion of Ukraine.
Continue Reading: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/12/21/us-mercenaries-preparing-donbass-provocation-russian-defense-chief-a75892
"Let's put a pistol to the temple of the USA": Kiselev warned the West about Ukraine
MKRU (December 20, 2021) - Prominent Russian TV journalist Dmitry Kiselev told the BBC about what Russia's actions could be if the West continues to draw Ukraine into NATO or deploy weapons on its territory.
"If we are talking about Ukraine's accession to NATO or the military development of the territory of Ukraine, then we will put our pistol barrel to the temple of the United States," Kiselyov said.
The Vesti Nedeli host stressed that Russia has such a military-technical capability thanks to hypersonic weapons. According to Kiselev, Russian missiles will have the same flight time as American or British missiles from Ukraine to Russia.
"This will be the situation of the Cuban missile crisis, but with a different flight time," he added.
Kiselev also noted that this would be the choice of the West, but Russia does not want such a development of the situation.
Note: Translation from Russian
Russia to create counter threats if NATO turns down security proposals - diplomat
TASS (December 19, 2021) - Russia will engage in creating counter threats if NATO turns down the Russian proposals for security guarantees, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said on Solovyov Live YouTube channel on Saturday.
"We are making clear that we are ready to talk about switching over from a military or a military-technical scenario to a political process" that will strengthen the security of all countries in the area of the OCSE, Euro-Atlantic and Eurasia, he said. "If that doesn’t work out, we signalled to them (NATO-TASS) that will also move over to creating counter threats, but it will then be too late to ask us why we made these decisions and why we deployed these systems."
Continue Reading: https://tass.com/politics/1377621
Russian proposals to US & NATO ‘not a menu to choose from’ –Moscow
RT (December 17, 2021) - Security proposals submitted to the US and NATO by Russia this week represent a broad deal required to defuse escalating tensions between Moscow and the military bloc, one of the country's top diplomats explained on Friday.
“Those two texts are not a menu from which one can pick and choose this or that. They are complementary and must be considered as a whole,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told journalists.
Continue Reading: https://www.rt.com/russia/543502-russian-security-proposals-nato/
Note: This security proposals demanding written guarantee is a brilliant move by Russia
Russia reveals security proposals to West
RT (December 17, 2021) - With relations between Russia and the US-led NATO bloc at an all-time low, Moscow has handed the West proposals for security guarantees that it says it hopes will help end the current crisis and start to normalize relations.
The draft documents, which were given to US Assistant Secretary of State Karen Donfried on Wednesday and revealed to the public on Friday, include a request for a wide range of guarantees from both NATO and Washington that Moscow claims are aimed at boosting the security of all parties involved.
Continue Reading: https://www.rt.com/russia/543492-moscow-west-security-guarantees/
Putin’s 16,000mph ‘Satan-2’ nuke with 12 warheads that could destroy UK to be ready in a year in WW3 fears
TheSun (December 17, 2021) - RUSSIA says its 16,000mph hypersonic ‘Satan-2’ missile which can fit 12 nuclear warheads and could destroy the UK will go into service within a year.
The Kremlin will also significantly increase the number of test launches of its nuke-tipped rockets in 2022, amid fears its tensions with neighbour Ukraine could spark World War 3.
Continue Reading: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/17068427/satan-two-nuclear-missile-ready-russia/?rec_article=true
Full-blown warfare in cyberspace in progress, says Russian diplomat
TASS (December 16, 2021) - Full-scale military activities are unfolding in cyberspace, Special Russian Presidential Representative for International Cooperation in Cybersecurity and Director of the Foreign Ministry International Security Department Andrey Krutskikh said at the 9th All-Russian congress of political scientists held at MGIMO University on Thursday.
"The war [in cyberspace] is underway and unfolding very intensively. No matter how hard we may try to say that all this is disguised and that it isn’t that war or this war, in actual fact, military activities in cyberspace are in full swing," the diplomat said.
Continue Reading: https://tass.com/world/1376491
Kremlin reveals new independent Russian-Chinese financial systems
RT (December 15, 2021) - Russia and China will develop shared financial structures to enable them to deepen economic ties in a way that foreign states will be unable to influence, the Kremlin has announced following talks between the countries’ leaders.
The move appears to be a response to a series of warnings that Western nations could push to disconnect Russia from the Brussels-based SWIFT financial system as a form of sanctions.
Continue Reading: https://www.rt.com/russia/543258-moscow-china-create-independent-structure/
Russia Adopts Protocols for Burying the Population in Mass Graves in Case of Catastrophic Event
Anti-Empire (December 15, 2021) - From February 1, 2022, for the first time in Russia, the national standard “Urgent burial of corpses in peacetime and wartime” is being introduced. It describes that the authorities must be prepared to bury thousands of people in mass graves. The standards for graves, labour costs, the amount of equipment and the way of storing corpses have been established.
As “NI” found out, on September 13, 2021, the Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology issues an order, which approves the rules for the urgent burial of corpses in peacetime and wartime. As expected, this strictly technical document outlines all the disposal work point by point. Here is a quote from this noteworthy document:
Continue Reading: https://anti-empire.com/russia-adopts-protocols-for-burying-the-population-in-mass-graves-in-case-of-catastrophic-event/
Note: This article is translated from Russian language https://newizv.ru/article/general/13-12-2021/mogila-v-zakone-gosudarstvo-prinimaet-natsionalnyy-standart-po-massovym-zahoroneniyam
Russian, Chinese presidents to discuss NATO’s belligerent rhetoric, says Kremlin spokesman
TASS (December 14, 2021) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will address NATO’s belligerent rhetoric and tense situation in Europe during the talks, which are going to take place on Wednesday via video linkup, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Tuesday.
"[The sides] will exchange their views on international affairs. The recent developments in international affairs, especially on the European continent, are now very tense and this definitely requires discussion between the allies, between Moscow and Beijing," the Kremlin spokesman noted.
Continue Reading: https://tass.com/politics/1375233
Putin: Russia Maintains Nuclear Parity With US But Leads in New Armaments
Sputnik (December 12, 2021) - Moscow and Washington maintain nuclear parity, but when it comes to new armaments, Russia is the world leader, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday.
"Russia and the United States maintain general parity of carriers and the number of warheads, but [Russia] is, unconditionally, the leader in promising developments... And we do not only modernise the traditional assets at our disposal, but we create new complexes. In this sense, we can affirm that we are the world's number one in this direction", Putin told the Russian broadcaster Rossiya 1.
Continue Reading: https://sputniknews.com/20211212/putin-russia-maintains-nuclear-parity-with-us-but-leads-in-new-armaments-1091463170.html
Note to Sullivan: You are dragging US down by talking big: Global Times editorial
Global Times (December 9, 2021) - US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday, "from the point of view of both deterrence and diplomacy," the US is going to take every action it can to make sure that the reunification of the Chinese mainland with the island of Taiwan by force "never happens." He made these remarks when responding to a question whether the US is prepared to deal with the situation in the Taiwan Straits and in Ukraine. Sullivan also mentioned that the US' "efforts" during the past eight months in the Indo-Pacific region were to avoid "any kind of scenario where China chooses to invade."
Continue Reading: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202112/1241043.shtml
Russia hands note of protest to US warning of consequences of US, NATO provocations
TASS (December 8, 2021) - The Russian Foreign Ministry handed a note of protest to the US embassy in Moscow on Wednesday, warning about the perilous consequences of provocations near Russia’s borders, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
"The military activity of the United States and NATO member states along the perimeter of Russia’s border, including flights by combat aircraft and dangerous manoeuvres by naval ships, continues to spiral upwards. The US military and its NATO allies have switched from attempts to test the system of our border protection to provocations against civilian aircraft, jeopardizing airspace safety and human lives. In connection with these provocative actions, the US embassy in Moscow was handed a note of protest on Wednesday, which warns of the dangerous consequences of such recklessness," Zakharova said in a statement posted on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s website.
Continue Reading: https://tass.com/politics/1372901
Republican senator mentions nuclear strikes when asked about possible US action against Russia
INDEPENDENT (December 8, 2021) - A GOP senator who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee casually suggested that the US could enter a massive ground war with Russia in defence of Ukraine as Russian troops are massing near the country’s borders.
Sen Roger Wicker made the comments during an evening interview with Fox News host Neil Cavuto. He made clear that he was ruling out nothing as a possibility for use in defence of Ukraine’s sovereignty. Mr Cavuto, however, had not mentioned nuclear weapons at any point in his questioning.
Continue Reading: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/roger-wicker-ukraine-russia-nuclear-b1971691.html
Biden Agreed To Putin's Request For Future Talks On Halting NATO Eastward Expansion: Kremlin
ZeroHedge (December 8, 2021) - The Kremlin indicated there were no "breakthroughs" in the morning's Biden-Putin virtual meeting, which lasted two hours, and focused on the brewing Ukraine crisis - which we noted is perhaps to a large degree a wholly manufactured crisis. However, there were "constructive" strides made. Crucially the two leaders agreed to initiate lower-level government-to-government talks on Russia's "red lines" - according to the Kremlin.
The Russian side is also saying Biden agreed to discuss Putin's proposal for legal guarantees preventing any further NATO expansion eastward. Here's a further breakdown of official Kremlin states following the call, according to Bloomberg:
Continue Reading: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/biden-warn-putin-us-prepared-move-more-troops-near-russias-border
China Hides Secret Missile Systems in Cargo Containers for 'Surprise' Attack Anywhere - Report
Sputnik (December 7, 2021) - Placing missile systems in containers is not a novel military concept, as a number of countries have been engaging in the practice for years now. Such systems allow for prompt and covert delivery, as they can be installed on a ship or coastal location. This enables a country to rapidly increase its military build-up wherever necessary.
China continues to secretly develop container missile systems, which can be disguised as commercial cargo that could easily gain access to almost any international port, said Rick Fisher, senior fellow in Asian military affairs at the International Assessment and Strategy Centre, in an interview with The Sun on Monday.
Continue Reading: https://sputniknews.com/20211207/china-hides-secret-missile-systems-in-cargo-containers-for-surprise-attack-anywhere---report-1091301280.html
New Norwegian Government to Restrict NATO Traffic Near Russia
Sputnik (December 3, 2021) - In the words of the country's Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt, it is in Norway's best interests to take care of its northernmost areas using its own armed forces, as a means of balancing deterrence with reassurance.
Norway's Labour Party, which came to power earlier this year after nearly a decade of Conservative rule, wants the planes and vessels from allied countries to keep some distance from border areas near Russia in the north, Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt has said.
Continue Reading: https://sputniknews.com/20211203/new-norwegian-government-to-restrict-nato-traffic-near-russia-1091217057.html
Note: This is the right attitude to de-escalate tension with Russia
NATO snubs Russia’s proposals on easing tension on borders, says Lavrov
TASS (December 3, 2021) - The North Atlantic alliance continues escalating the situation on the Russian borders and rejects Moscow’s proposals on easing tension, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on the side lines of a meeting of OSCE foreign ministers on Thursday.
Continue Reading: https://tass.com/politics/1370135
Putin demands NATO guarantees not to expand eastward
PBS News Hour (December 1, 2021) - President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Moscow would seek Western guarantees that would preclude any further NATO expansion and deployment of its weapons near Russia’s borders.
Continue Reading: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/putin-demands-nato-guarantees-not-to-expand-eastward
Russia tells US embassy staff to leave Moscow
RT (December 1, 2021) - American embassy workers who have been stationed in Moscow for over three years have been given just weeks to leave the country, Russia’s Foreign Ministry has announced, amid a growing row with Washington over diplomatic visas.
Speaking at a briefing on Wednesday, diplomatic spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced that “by January 31, 2022, employees of the US embassy in Moscow who have been on assignment for more than three years must leave Russia.”
Continue Reading: https://www.rt.com/russia/541845-us-embassy-staff-leave-moscow/
US dangerously misguided in believing Russia won’t respond to NATO threat — ambassador
TASS (November 28, 2021) - The assumptions heard in the United States that Russia is likely to be frightened with NATO capabilities in Ukraine and the Black Sea are dangerous delusions, Russia’s Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov said on the YouTube channel Soloviev Live on Saturday.
"NATO states are taking over the Black Sea, Ukrainian territory. There are assumptions, which are voiced here, that certain daredevils or a group of combatants may turn up in Ukraine, who will try to test the strength of Russian defences, expecting that we will not respond fearing the NATO potential. I would like to say and emphasize unequivocally that it is a very dangerous delusion," the diplomat said.
Continue Reading: https://tass.com/world/1367367
THREAT TO THE WEST
How Russia’s ‘deadly’ new military alliance with China could end America’s status as world’s leading superpower
TheSun (November 26, 2021) - RUSSIA and China's "deadly" alliance would effectively end the United States' status as the world's leading superpower, an expert has claimed.
On Tuesday, Moscow said it has ramped up its military "cooperation" with Beijing in light of alleged threats by Washington including US nuke bombers flying near their borders.
Continue Reading: https://www.the-sun.com/news/4148553/russia-china-alliance-military/
Inside Putin’s ‘Star Warrior’ weapon as Russia threatens to destroy 32 Nato satellites to cripple missile systems
TheSun (November 23, 2021) - RUSSIA'S new weapon dubbed "Star Warrior" has the West worried as it can blast satellites out of orbit at heights of up to 500 miles above Earth.
Vladimir Putin's state owned TV issued a chilling threat that Russia may deploy the system to destroy some 32 Western satellites to render Nato missiles useless.
Continue Reading: https://www.the-sun.com/news/4126730/putin-star-warrior-missile-russia-nato/
‘Clock is ticking’ as U.S. vulnerable to Chinese electromagnetic attack, experts warn
The Washington Times (November 23, 2021) - America’s electric grid and other key infrastructure remain vulnerable to an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack from China, North Korea or other adversary, and the U.S. is at a pivotal moment if it wants to avoid a potential doomsday scenario, a panel of experts warned Tuesday.
At a major virtual forum hosted by the Universal Peace Federation, specialists warned of the growing threat of an EMP attack that could knock out communications, water and sewer services, transportation systems, retail and other central components of American society.
Continue Reading: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/nov/23/clock-ticking-us-vulnerable-chinese-electromagneti/
Russia, China Sign Roadmap for Closer Military Cooperation
Military.com (November 23, 2021) - Russia's defence chief on Tuesday signed a roadmap for closer military ties with China, pointing to increasingly frequent U.S. strategic bomber flights near both countries' borders.
During a video call, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe “expressed a shared interest in stepping up strategic military exercises and joint patrols by Russia and China,” according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
Continue Reading: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/11/23/russia-china-sign-roadmap-closer-military-cooperation.html
Biden administration is considering sending more WEAPONS to Ukraine including Javelin anti-tank missiles as Putin amasses 92,000 troops on the border and invasion fears rise
Mail Online (November 22, 2021) - The Biden administration is reportedly considering supplying Javelin anti-tank missiles and Mi-17 helicopters, as well as military advisers, to Ukraine as Russia masses armed forces near its borders.
It comes as the U.S. shared intelligence with European allies suggesting that the buildup could be the first step in a three-pronged invasion.
Ukrainian officials fear an attack could come as soon as January after Russia sent more than 92,000 troops to the border.
Continue Reading: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10231693/Biden-administration-considering-sending-WEAPONS-Ukraine-Putins-troops-mass-border.html
NATO ignores Russia’s warnings and continues to fan tension at its borders — diplomat
TASS (November 22, 2021) - NATO is ignoring Moscow’s warnings and continues to fan tension at the Russian borders, with the joint US-Estonian drills being another example of such actions, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sunday.
"Russia warns NATO against fanning tension near the Russian borders. NATO keeps silent and continues," she wrote on her Telegram channel. She drew attention to the statement by the US embassy in Estonia about joint military drills in that country. "The US diplomatic mission said that non-traditional methods of delivery were drilled during the exercise. I don’t even want to think about what they mean," she noted.
Continue Reading: https://tass.com/politics/1364371
China is ready for a full-scale invasion of Taiwan and has added missiles and amphibious boats to strengthen assault: Congress' dire warning after US said they'd step in if Beijing attacked island
Mail Online (November 20, 2021) - The report found that the PLA's current sea and air lift capacity could launch an initial landing force in Taiwan of at least 25,000 troops
'It has become less certain that U.S. conventional military forces alone will continue to deter China's leaders from initiating an attack on Taiwan,' it found
It found Xi Jinping has a high tolerance for risk and a desire to establish a legacy, which could outweigh his concern for US warnings against attacking Taiwan
Continue Reading: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10218333/China-ready-scale-invasion-Taiwan-congressional-report-states.html
Theater of Absurd… Pentagon Demands Russia Explain Troops on Russian Soil
Strategic Culture Foundation (November 19, 2021) - There is something of the theater of absurd in American and European posturing. But it’s far from funny. It’s menacingly deranged.
The United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin this week performed impressive, albeit pathetic, mental gymnastics. In a press conference, the Pentagon chief called on Russia to be more transparent about troop movements “on the border with Ukraine”. In others words, on Russian soil.
Meanwhile, the absurd hypocrisy sees U.S. and NATO forces brazenly escalating their offensive presence on Russia’s borders, especially in the Black Sea region.
Continue Reading: https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2021/11/19/theater-absurd-pentagon-demands-russia-explain-troops-russian-soil/
Aegis Ashore in Poland on Target for 2022
US Department of Defense (November 19, 2021) - The Aegis Ashore capability planned for Poland is moving ahead to be operational by the end of next year, said the program executive officer for Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense.
The Aegis Combat System was originally designed as a shipboard system to track and destroy incoming enemy targets, but now the system has also been deployed for use on land, as "Aegis Ashore."
Already an Aegis Ashore capability is up and running in Deveselu, Romania, about 90 miles from Bucharest. The site, which is under the control of NATO, has been in operation for more than five years now.
Continue Reading: https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2849023/aegis-ashore-in-poland-on-target-for-2022/
Vladimir Putin says West taking Russia’s ‘red lines’ too lightly
TheIndianEXPRESS (November 19, 2021) - President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that the West was taking Russia’s warnings not to cross its “red lines” too lightly and that Moscow needed serious security guarantees from the West.
In a wide-ranging foreign policy speech, the Kremlin leader also described relations with the United States as “unsatisfactory” but said Russia remained open to dialogue with Washington.
Continue Reading: https://indianexpress.com/article/world/us-russia-vladimir-putin-nato-7630020/
Lavrov: Russia Vows Asymmetrical Response to 'Unfriendly' Western Actions
Sputnik (November 13, 2021) - Negotiations between the foreign and defence ministers of Russia and France took place in the French capital city of Paris on Friday in a "2+2" format.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov pledged that Moscow will take asymmetric retaliatory steps in response to any unfriendly actions by Western countries.
"We reaffirmed our intention to continue to show an exceptionally restrained approach, not to create problems artificially, but we will, of course, react to the unfriendly steps that the West is taking", Lavrov said. "We will act in a reciprocal manner, and if necessary, also asymmetrically".
Lavrov also noted that NATO has been acting "aggressively" towards Russia lately, specifically referring to the alliance's recent naval build-up in the Black Sea.
Continue Reading: https://sputniknews.com/20211112/lavrov-russia-vows-asymmetrical-response-to-unfriendly-western-actions-1090693719.html
Putin: NATO Using Strategic Air Force in Black Sea Drills is Challenging Russia
Sputnik (November 13, 2021) - The alliance has boosted its activities across the Mediterranean, with multiple aircraft approaching the Russian border, and vessels performing manoeuvres in the Black Sea.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Saturday that NATO drills near Russia's border are a dangerous challenge because the bloc is using its strategic air forces.
"Now, the United States and its NATO allies are conducting unscheduled, I want to underline it, unscheduled drills in the waters of the Black Sea. And not only a powerful ship group has been formed, but also aviation, strategic aviation, is being used in the drills", Putin said.
Continue Reading: https://sputniknews.com/20211113/putin-nato-using-strategic-air-force-in-black-sea-drills-is-challenging-russia-1090702861.html
US says Russia will be making a 'serious mistake' as it warns it is 'looking at ways of dealing' with Lukashenko as UK sends soldiers to Poland after Putin provokes West by deploying troops in Belarus and sending bombers over North Sea
Mail Online (November 12, 2021) - Fears are growing of an imminent conflict in eastern Europe as Russia and Belarus carry out snap military drills close to where a migrant crisis is playing out on Poland's border, while Washington warns Putin is preparing to invade eastern Ukraine
Continue Reading: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10195079/Russia-deploys-paratroopers-Belarus-border-region-amid-fears-conflict.html
China's Ruling Party Urges Army, People to Unite Around Xi
Sputnik (November 12, 2021) - The central committee of China's ruling Communist Party has urged both civilians and servicemen to rally around President Xi Jinping, in a rare declaration published Thursday.
The core political body released the document — the third of its kind in the party's centennial history — at the end of a four-day meeting, which precedes the 2022 national congress.
Continue Reading: https://sputniknews.com/20211111/chinas-ruling-party-urges-army-people-to-unite-around-xi-1090661585.html
You sanction us again? We’ll freeze you, Lukashenko warns Europe, threatening to cut gas supply
The Washington Post (November 11, 2021) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko threatened Thursday to cut gas supplies to Europe if the European Union introduces new sanctions on Belarusian officials and entities, in a sharp escalation of tensions over a migration crisis on the Belarusian-Polish border.
European leaders blame Lukashenko for orchestrating the crisis in retaliation for European sanctions. They accuse him of opening Belarusian borders to migrants, mainly from the Middle East and North Africa, who are trying to reach Europe through Belarus.
Continue Reading: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/belarus-threaten-europe-gas/2021/11/11/970c725c-42df-11ec-9404-50a28a88b9cd_story.html
US setting up multinational group of forces close to Russian border — top brass
TASS (November 9, 2021) - The United States is setting up a multinational group of armed forces close to the Russian border, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Tuesday.
Currently, the US Navy’s guided missile destroyer Porter, tanker John Lenthall and command ship Mount Whitney are deployed to the Black Sea. Two US Air Force B-1B long-range strategic bombers performed flights over the Black Sea at a distance of 100 km from the Russian state border, the ministry said.
Continue Reading: https://tass.com/defense/1359145
Current crisis in Russia-US ties may be more dangerous than Cold War — senior diplomat
TASS (November 3, 2021) - The current crisis in relations between Russia and the US may be even more dangerous than the situation the countries experienced under the Cold War, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told the Fort Ross Dialogue conference, speaking online.
"Let me tell you in all frankness, friends and colleagues, that according to our judgements, what we see now in our bilateral relations between Russia and the US can be described as a very tough and challenging crisis, probably to an extend that it exceeds in some ways the worst situation that both of our nations experienced under the Cold War," the senior diplomat said.
Continue Reading: https://tass.com/politics/1357269
China sparks fear about Taiwan tensions, food shortages after families urged to stockpile ‘daily necessities’
South China Morning Post (November 2, 2021) - China’s Ministry of Commerce urged local authorities to stabilise food supply and families to stockpile daily necessities
The notice ahead of winter and amid sporadic Covid-19 outbreaks sparked panic, with some linking it to war with Taiwan
Continue Reading: https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3154603/china-sparks-fear-about-taiwan-tensions-food-shortages-after?module=lead_hero_story&pgtype=homepage
‘It Did Circle the Globe’: US Confirms China’s Orbital Hypersonic Test
Defense One (October 27, 2021) - A hypersonic missile that China launched into space this summer “did circle the globe,” a U.S. official confirmed to Defense One, and the Pentagon is still working through the implications of the surprise test.
Continue Reading: https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2021/10/it-did-circle-globe-us-confirms-chinas-orbital-hypersonic-test/186407/
NATO’s bullish new plan to fight Russia on the seas, the skies & in space could backfire, igniting a catastrophic nuclear conflict
RT (0ctober 25, 2021) - NATO’s new strategy to fight Russia across the width of Europe – from Baltic to Black Sea – has been approved. Unsurprisingly, the details are secret, but bloc officials have confirmed it includes nuclear, cyber and space warfare.
Continue Reading: https://www.rt.com/russia/538389-nato-new-strategy-nuclear-conflict/
Moscow decries U.S. move to call Russians 'homeless' for visa purposes
Reuters (October 24, 2021) - Russia on Sunday condemned a decision by the United States to add Russians seeking U.S. visas to a list of "homeless nationals" who can apply for visas in third countries.
The move allowed Russians to apply for U.S. visas in Warsaw instead of their home country after the American Embassy stopped processing most visa applications in May due to Moscow's ban on employing embassy staff in Russia.
Continue Reading: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/moscow-decries-us-move-call-russians-homeless-visa-purposes-2021-10-24/
Russian MoD: Berlin Must Know How Amassing Troops Near Russia's Border Ended for Europe in Past
Sputnik (October 23, 2021) - On Friday, German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer accused Moscow of a host of malign activities, and urged NATO to make clear to Russia its willingness to use military force. Moscow has repeatedly expressed concerned about the Western alliance’s expansion and the buildup of conventional and strategic capabilities on Russia’s borders.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has responded to his German counterpart’s comments on the need for NATO to take a tough stance to "contain Russia," warning that the German politician is obliged to know what happened the last time foreign forces engaged in a buildup on Russia’s borders.
Continue Reading: https://sputniknews.com/20211023/russian-mod-berlin-must-know-well-how-amassing-troops-near-russias-border-ended-for-europe-in-past-1090157382.html
NATO Presence In Ukraine "Already Underway" Poses "Real Threat" To Russia: Putin
ZeroHedge (October 22, 2021) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued statements in reaction to US Secretary of Défense Lloyd Austin's official visit to Ukraine, Romania and Georgia this week where Austin told Ukrainian leaders there's an "open door to NATO" membership if the necessary defence spending and anti-corruption reforms are made.
"The military development of the territory [of Ukraine] is already underway, and this really poses a threat to Russia. We are aware of this," Putin said in public remarks Thursday before the Valdai International Discussion Club.
Let's see what will happen on the domestic political scene of Ukraine in the near future," he said.
"The Secretary of Défense has arrived, in fact, opening the doors for Ukraine to NATO, in fact, his statement should and can be interpreted in this way," Putin added.
Continue Reading: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/nato-presence-ukraine-already-underway-poses-real-threat-russia-putin
NATO unveils master plan to defeat Russia in nuclear war, as Moscow says ‘confrontational’ playbook shows it was right to cut ties
RT (October 22, 2021) - Top defence chiefs from NATO member states have given a green light to a new grand strategy on how to beat Russia in any potential all-out conflict, as Moscow says the move proves the US-led bloc isn’t open to improving relations.
On Thursday, ministers met in Brussels to sign off the scheme, named the “Concept for Deterrence and Défense in the Euro-Atlantic Area.”
Continue Reading: https://www.rt.com/russia/538197-nato-unveils-plan-nuclear-war/
Putin Calls NATO Military Presence in Ukraine a Real Threat to Russia
Sputnik (October 22, 2021) - This comes after earlier this week, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said that third countries do not have the right to veto Ukraine's accession to NATO, adding that Washington supports Kiev in its aspirations.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin said that NATO military presence in Ukraine poses a real threat to Russia.
Continue Reading: https://sputniknews.com/20211021/putin-calls-nato-military-presence-in-ukraine-a-real-threat-to-russia-1090108239.html
Moscow’s decision to halt its representation to NATO will worsen ‘ice age’ of relations between Russia & bloc, says German FM Maas
RT (October 19, 2021) - The relationship between Russia and NATO is currently in an ‘ice age,’ and the latest moves by Moscow to suspend its permanent representation to the US-led bloc will only serve to prolong and worsen the already dire situation.
That’s according to German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, who reacted on Monday to Moscow’s decision to withdraw its envoys in response to NATO’s move earlier this month to expel eight Russians over espionage accusations, and what the bloc called “suspected malign Russian activities.”
Continue Reading: https://www.rt.com/russia/537851-maas-russia-nato-worsening-relationship/
Russia to suspend direct diplomatic ties with NATO from November with US-led bloc’s Moscow mission ordered to close – FM Lavrov
RT (October 18, 021) - Moscow has announced that it will completely suspend the operations of its mission to NATO, two weeks after the US-led bloc expelled eight Russian diplomats for alleged 'undisclosed espionage' at its Brussels headquarters.
Speaking on Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also revealed that the NATO information bureau in Moscow will be forced to shut down as part of retaliatory measures.
Continue Reading: https://www.rt.com/russia/537765-russia-to-suspend-diplomatic-ties-nato/
PLA practices cross-sea troop transport with large civilian ferry
Global Times (October 17, 2021) - The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) recently held an integrated military-civilian cross-sea troop manoeuvring exercise using a large civilian ferry with a displacement of 45,000 tons, much larger than similar vessels used in previous practices. The move aimed to enhance the troops' transport efficiency in future battlefields, analysts said on Sunday.
Continue Reading: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202110/1236527.shtml
GLOBAL THREAT
China fires hypersonic nuke ‘right round the Earth’ as terrifying display of advanced weapons ‘leaves US reeling’
The Sun (October 16, 2021) - CHINA has fired a hypersonic missile around the globe with the US left reeling by the terrifying display of military strength.
US intelligence and military officials were reportedly left stunned after China launched a rocket in space carrying a hypersonic glide vehicle which circled the globe before before speeding towards its target.
Continue Reading: https://www.the-sun.com/news/3872929/china-fires-nuke-capable-hypersonic-missile-space/
Chinese media warns US troops defending Taiwan would suffer 'death blow'
Taiwan News (October 15, 2021) - Global Times threatens US with nuclear attack with ICBMs if it tries to defend Taiwan. China's state-run mouthpiece the Global Times on Thursday posted an editorial in which it warned that the dispatch of U.S. forces to defend Taiwan would deal a "death blow" to American soldiers.
Continue Reading: https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4315793
China, Russia hold joint naval drill in Sea of Japan, display ‘higher level of trust, capability’
Global Times (October 14, 2021) - With China's advanced Type 055, a 10,000 ton-class large destroyer, for the first time joining an exercise with a foreign navy, China and Russia on Thursday kicked off a joint naval drill in the Sea of Japan, in a move that Chinese experts said not only displays the two sides' high level of strategic mutual trust, but also will enhance their capability to jointly deal with maritime security threats and safeguard regional peace and stability, at a time when Western countries are building antagonistic regional security organizations like the Quad and AUKUS.
Continue Reading: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202110/1236294.shtml
Taiwan is part of China, Russia declares
The Naija Weekly (October 13, 2021) - Russia on Tuesday said Taiwan is recognised as part of China, brushing off concerns that the recent air surveillance conducted by Beijing over Taiwan could escalate regional tensions.
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said there would be no issues in the region even if China continues its aggressive tactics over Taiwan.
Continue Reading: https://www.thenaijaweekly.com/2021/10/taiwan-is-part-of-china-russia-declares.html
Pentagon’s first software chief quit because China has already won global tech war
NewYorkPost (October 11, 2021) - The Pentagon’s former software chief said he quit because China has already won the tech war guaranteeing global dominance — with some US government systems mere “kindergarten level” in comparison.
Nicolas Chaillan, 37, told the Financial Times on Sunday that there is “good reason to be angry” at the US failing to rise to China’s cyber threat, even fearing that it puts his children’s future at risk.
Continue Reading: https://nypost.com/2021/10/11/pentagon-software-chief-nicolas-chaillan-resigns/
ISLAND STRIKES BACK
Taiwan developing missile that could hit China as President warns Beijing it’s ‘playing with fire’
TheSun (October 8, 2021) - TAIWAN is developing a missile that can strike back at China as fears mount Beijing is preparing an invasion. The Yun Feng is able to hit major Chinese cities including - the capital Beijing - and news of its development comes as the island's President warned China was "playing with fire".
Continue Reading: https://www.the-sun.com/news/3816938/taiwan-developing-missile-hit-china/
China Fires Back at Reports of U.S. Commandos in Taiwan
US News (October 7, 2021) - ‘See whether the PLA will launch a targeted air strike to eliminate those U.S. invaders!’ the chief of the Chinese Communist Party’s propaganda outlet threatened on Thursday.
Continue Reading: https://www.usnews.com/news/world-report/articles/2021-10-07/china-levies-new-threats-at-reports-of-us-commandos-in-taiwan
US Marine Special Ops Forces Have Been In Taiwan For Over A Year, Report Confirms
ZeroHedge (October 7, 2021) - A bombshell Wall Street Journal report has revealed (and confirmed) that an elite contingent of special operations Marines has been deployed to Taiwan for at least the past year - a revelation sure to outrage Beijing amid ongoing charges that the US has effectively abandoned the status quo One China policy.
Continue Reading: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/us-marine-special-ops-forces-have-been-taiwan-over-year-report-confirms
Former White House advisor says 2022 spells danger for Taiwan
Taiwan News (October 6, 2021) - Former White House National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster says the next 12 months will be a very dangerous time for security in the Taiwan Strait.
Continue Reading: https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4307641
‘PLAYING WITH FIRE’ China says war could be ‘triggered at any time’ in chilling warning to the West over Taiwan tensions
The SUN (October 5, 2021) - CHINA has said war could be triggered "at any time" in a chilling warning to the West over rising tensions in Taiwan. Beijing launched into a tirade against the US and its allies after 56 Chinese warplanes crossed into Taiwan's air defence zone on Monday.
Continue Reading: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/16330801/china-warns-of-war-over-taiwan/
US Warns China's Actions "Increase The Rise Of A Miscalculation" As Taiwan Urges 'Help' From Allies
ZeroHedge (October 4, 2021) - As expected a flurry of threats and counter-threats have been issued between China, Taiwan, and the Untied States in the wake of Monday's largest ever Chinese military aircraft incursion of contested airspace near Taiwan, which saw 52 PLA jets - including bombers and reconnaissance planes - breach the self-ruled island's southwest air defence zone.
Continue Reading: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/us-warns-chinas-actions-increase-rise-miscalculation-taiwan-urges-help-allies
Humanity on brink of nuclear annihilation with threat highest for 40 YEARS, UN chief warns in chilling message
The SUN (September 26, 2021) - Humanity is on the brink of "nuclear annihilation" with the threat reaching its highest boiling point in forty years, a top UN chief has warned. The nuclear arms race has the globe teetering "unacceptably close" to mass atomic destruction, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.
Continue Reading: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/16249178/human-annihilation-threat-highest-un-chief-warns/
‘By Whatever Means Possible’: Chinese Communist Takeover of Taiwan Imminent, Asserts Regime Flack
The National Pulse (September 20, 2021) - A top advisor to several Chinese Communist Party-affiliated think tanks as well as the New York-based Asia Society gave a “stern warning” to those opposing a Chinese Communist Party takeover of Taiwan. He suggested the regime will pursue the policy by “whatever means possible.”
Continue Reading: https://thenationalpulse.com/news/ccp-advisor-issues-stern-warning-to-us/
Russia Possesses ‘Unbelievable Military Power’ After Transforming Forces, US General Says
Sputnik (September 18, 2021) - Russia now has "unbelievable military power" after transforming its armed forces over the past 20 years, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen.John Hyten said on Friday.
"Russia has an unbelievably powerful military," Hyten told an Atlantic Council podcast. "They have transformed their military in the past 20 years."
Continue Reading: https://sputniknews.com/20210917/russia-possesses-unbelievable-military-power-after-transforming-forces-us-general-says-1089170788.html
China’s PLA commanders come out in force as troops chase perfect response to US and NATO
South China Morning Post (September 12, 2021) - Chinese People’s Liberation Army commanders assembled in numbers not seen in three years as troops focused on quick responses to problems at a key annual exercise this week, as part of China’s continued efforts to upgrade combat readiness and modernise its armed forces.
Continue Reading: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3148288/chinas-pla-commanders-come-out-force-troops-chase-perfect
Taiwan says China can 'paralyse' its defences, threat worsening
Reuters (September 1, 2021) - China's armed forces can "paralyse" Taiwan's defences and are able to fully monitor its deployments, the island's defence ministry said, offering a stark assessment of the rising threat posed by its giant neighbour.
Continue Reading: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-says-china-can-paralyse-its-defences-threat-worsening-2021-09-01/
China says it successfully tested two new missiles that can take out military command and communications systems
South China Morning Post (August 21, 2021) - China has successfully tested two short-range conventional missiles designed to take out enemy communications systems, state media reported on Saturday.
Continue Reading: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3145896/china-says-it-successfully-tested-two-new-missiles-can-take-out
China warns Taiwan it should be ‘trembling’ as the US ‘won’t protect you’ from invasion leading to WW3 fears
TheSUN (August 16, 2021) - FEARS of World War Three have been reignited after China warned Taiwan it should be "trembling" as the US "won't protect" the island from invasion.
Continue Reading: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/15884822/china-taiwan-us-wont-protect/
New Russian ICBM to enter combat service in 2022: 208-ton Sarmat can carry 16 warheads and has operational range of 18,000km
RT (August 6, 2021) - Russia is poised to begin test flights of a new liquid-fuelled, super-heavy intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), Défense Minister Sergey Shoigu has confirmed. The missiles are expected to enter service in 2022.
Continue Reading: https://www.rt.com/op-ed/531370-sarmat-russian-missile-icbm/
Russian attack submarines running mysterious 'deep penetration' missions
Mirror (August 2, 2021) - Russian attack submarines are running “deep penetration” missions unusually far under water, in craft capable of carrying new hypersonic weapons.
Large numbers of Borei-class nuclear powered subs have been diving beyond 500m, the limit for most attack subs, in an apparent bid to enter the Atlantic undetected.
Continue Reading: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/russian-attack-submarines-running-mysterious-24664998
Putin: We Have Nukes Capable of Taking Out the Deep State
News Punch (July 27, 2021) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that the navy has nuclear weapons ready to take out the ‘Deep State’ if they attempt to harm Russia in any way.
His warning comes a few weeks after a British warship sailed through the waters off Crimea, putting the Kremlin on full alert. Putin addressed a crowd at a navy parade in St Petersburg on Sunday:
Continue Reading: https://newspunch.com/putin-we-have-nukes-capable-of-taking-out-the-deep-state/
Putin’s warning to the West: Moscow sees Ukraine as part of ‘Russian world’ & this is meant to be taken seriously by outsiders
RT (July 14, 2021) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has fired the starting pistol on a new row with Kiev this week. The events in question, however, are not new – but very, very old, with Putin questioning the very basis of Ukrainian nationhood.
“I consider the wall that in recent years has gone up between Russia and Ukraine, between what are in essence two parts of a single historical and spiritual space, to be a great common misfortune, a tragedy.” With these words, Putin laid out his version of Russian-Ukrainian history in a long article published on the Kremlin website earlier this week.
Continue Reading: https://www.rt.com/russia/529177-putin-warning-west-ukraine/
Russian Embassy in the US: West's Attempts to Test Black Sea Borders 'Doomed to Failure'
Sputnik (July 10, 2021) - Moscow has signalled to the world that it's not happy with NATO’s Exercise Sea Breeze manoeuvres in the Black Sea near the Crimean peninsula.
Russia is warning Western allies that nothing good will come out of provocations in the Black Sea as any attempts to test Moscow’s willingness to defend its borders are “doomed to failure,” Russia's Embassy in Washington told Newsweek.
Continue Reading: https://sputniknews.com/20210710/russian-embassy-in-the-us-wests-attempts-to-test-black-sea-borders-doomed-to-failure-1083356783.html
US Navy Calls Black Sea Drills "Essential" As Russia Threatens Military Response
ZeroHedge (July 9, 2021) - One might hope that after the dramatic close call June 23rd events on the Black Sea which saw a Russian patrol ship fire warning shots to deter a UK warship which came near Crimea - all of which was reportedly monitored by an overhead US reconnaissance plane (as Putin has alleged) - "cooler heads" would prevail and that the West would seek de-escalation in the waters.
Continue Reading: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/us-navy-hails-essential-black-sea-drills-russia-warns-military-response
WW3 fears as Chinese state media reveals ‘three-stage battle plan’ to invade Taiwan as US stages war games in Pacific
TheSun (July 2, 2021) - World War Three fears are growing after China vowed to invade Taiwan and explained how it would do it as the Communist Party celebrates its centenary.
An article in a state-controlled publication has offered a glimpse of a terrifying three-stage plan to pave the way for an invasion force to storm the breakaway island.
Continue reading: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/15465131/ww3-fears-chinese-state-media-three-stage-battle-plan/
US, Japan running secret war games to prep for China-Taiwan conflict
Taiwan News (July 1, 2021) - The U.S. and Japan are reportedly conducting secret war games in preparation for a potential military confrontation with China over Taiwan.
The Financial Times on Thursday (July 1) cited six sources as saying that the U.S. and Japan started preparing contingencies for a conflict with China since the last year of the Trump administration. This planning reportedly involves "top-secret table top war games and joint exercises in the South China and East China seas."
Even if Russia had sunk British warship, it wouldn’t have started WW3 because US & UK know they can't win such a conflict - Putin
RT (June 30, 2021) - President Vladimir Putin has slammed the violation of Russian territorial waters by British warship HMS Defender as a "provocation," He also claimed that London's American allies had a hand in last week's incident, near Crimea.
Continue Reading: https://www.rt.com/russia/527976-nato-defender-world-war/
Russia fires warning shots, drops bombs to deter UK warship in Black Sea
The Times Of Israel (June 23, 2021) - A Russian warship fired warning shots and a Russian warplane dropped bombs Wednesday to force a British destroyer away from an area in the Black Sea near Crimea that Russia claims as its territorial waters.
The incident marked the first time since the Cold War that Moscow has used live ammunition to deter a NATO warship, reflecting growing risks of military incidents amid soaring Russia-West tensions.
Continue Reading: https://www.timesofisrael.com/russia-fires-warning-shots-drops-bombs-to-deter-uk-warship-in-black-sea/
Russian fleet practices sinking aircraft carrier 35 miles off Hawaii coastline
TheBL (June 22, 2021) - In a massive war games exercise that has concerned the United States, Russia’s military ministry reported that it sunk an aircraft carrier barely 35 miles off the coast of Hawaii. The move is allegedly related to recent Biden-Putin summit.
At least 20 Russian warships, submarines, and support boats are taking part in the exercises, which are the largest since the Cold War and are flanked by 20 fighter aircrafts.
Continue Reading: https://thebl.com/us-news/russian-fleet-practices-sinking-aircraft-carrier-35-miles-off-hawaii-coastline.html
By enlarging NATO, West ‘spat upon’ Russia’s interests despite good relations, Putin says
TASS (June 10, 2021) - Even in times of having a good relationship with Moscow, Western countries did not care about its interests when enlarging NATO, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised interview on Rossiya-24 channel.
"As for NATO’s enlargement and the advancement of NATO infrastructure towards Russia’s borders, this is a matter of paramount significance as far as the security of Russians and Russia goes," the president noted.
Continue Reading: https://tass.com/politics/1300975
China-US tension: state media reports amphibious landing drill after US senators land on Taiwan
South China Morning Post (June 9, 2021) - The Chinese military has conducted an amphibious landing exercise in waters near Taiwan amid renewed tensions between Beijing and Washington.
According to the official WeChat account of the Eastern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army, its 72nd Group Army carried out naval training that included transporting amphibious vehicles and conducting an assault landing in unspecified waters south of Fujian Province, which faces the self-ruled Taiwan island.
Continue Reading: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3136603/china-us-tension-state-media-reports-amphibious-landing-drill
Massive NATO War Games Focus on Black Sea, Stoking Russia Tensions
AntiWar.com (May 28, 2021) - Stoking tensions with Moscow, NATO is carrying out its largest war games yet this year that spread across the Atlantic Ocean and extend into Russia’s backyard in the Black Sea.
Continue Reading: https://news.antiwar.com/2021/05/28/massive-nato-war-games-focus-on-black-sea-stoking-russia-tensions/
Cornerstone of China’s strategic deterrence against the US: more nuclear missiles and warheads
Global Times (May 27, 2021) - As the US strategic containment of Chinas has increasingly intensified, I would like to remind again that we have plenty of urgent tasks, but among the most important ones is to rapidly increase the number of commissioned nuclear warheads, and the DF-41s, the strategic missiles that are capable to strike long-range and have high-survivability, in the Chinese arsenal. This is the cornerstone of China's strategic deterrence against the US.
Continue Reading: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202105/1224725.shtml
Russia Blocking Any EU Flights That Circumnavigate Belarus In Alarming Escalation
ZeroHedge (May 27, 2021) - Sky News' Europe Correspondent Adam Parsons is reporting a worrisome huge escalation between the EU and Russia in the wake of the Belarus-Ryanair plane diversion and arrest of Roman Protasevich on Sunday. European carriers have been avoiding Belarusian airspace after widespread condemnation of what was dubbed "state hijacking" after Belarusian MiG fighters escorted the Lithuania-bound flight to Minsk where authorities grabbed the anti-Lushenko activist and his girlfriend based on prior charges.
Continue Reading: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russia-barring-any-eu-flights-circumnavigate-belarus-alarming-escalation
Lukashenko warns armed conflict in Belarus may trigger WW3
TASS (May 26, 2021) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has warned about the potential threat of another world war if an armed conflict erupts in Belarus, the country’s news agency BelTA reported on Wednesday citing the head of state.
Continue Reading: https://tass.com/world/1294167
Risk of Taiwan Strait conflict ‘at all-time high’, Beijing-backed think tank says
South China Morning Post (May 21, 2021) - Tensions across the Taiwan Strait have risen to the point where the risk of armed conflict is at “an all-time high”, according to a Beijing-backed think tank.
Continue Reading: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3134248/risk-taiwan-strait-conflict-all-time-high-beijing-backed-think
Putin threatens to 'knock out the teeth' of foreign aggressors
Reuters (May 20, 2021) - President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Moscow would "knock out the teeth" of any power that tried to take a chunk of Russia's territory.
The Russian leader, in televised remarks during a virtual meeting with senior officials, cited what he said were foreign remarks questioning Russia's control of energy-rich Siberia.
Continue Reading: https://www.reuters.com/world/putin-threatens-knock-out-teeth-foreign-aggressors-2021-05-20/
MBS Diplomacy: Saudi Arabia's Alleged Detente With Syria is Part of Bigger Plan, Mideast Expert Says
Sputnik (May 19, 2021) - Since the beginning of this year Saudi Arabia has been involved in talks with regional players, including Qatar, Turkey, Iran, and Syria. What's behind Riyadh's diplomatic initiatives and could it help Syria overcome decade-long isolation in the Arab world?
Continue Reading: https://sputniknews.com/20210519/mbs-diplomacy-saudi-arabias-alleged-detente-with-syria-is-part-of-bigger-plan-mideast-expert-says-1082928772.html
Global microchip shortage has China eyeing Taiwan
FOXBusiness (May 1, 2021) - One hundred miles off the coast of China is the largest and most sophisticated microchip maker in the world – Taiwan. These chips power the world's cars, phones, and computers.
Continue Reading: https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/global-microchip-shortage-has-china-eyeing-taiwan
Russian FM Lavrov: US Relations Now Worse Than Cold War
ZeroHedge (April 29, 2021) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that the state of US-Russia relations is now even worse than during the Cold War. His Wednesday comments during a televised interview might be easily dismissed as hyperbole, given there's not something that's quite equivalent to the Cuban missile crisis happening right now, but it does accurately convey things in terms of lack of simple communications at a diplomatic level. He said it was the "lack of respect" in the current climate that makes things worse.
Continue Reading: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russian-fm-lavrov-us-relations-now-worse-cold-war
European Parliament to consider Russia's disconnection from SWIFT
Pravda.ru (April 28, 2021) - The European Parliament included a proposal to disconnect Russia from SWIFT international payment system in its resolution, RIA Novosti reports.
Continue Reading: https://english.pravda.ru/news/world/48292-ep_russia_swift/
BREAKING: US Strategic Command Casually Warns About Possible Imminent Nuclear War Under Biden Regime
100PercentFedUp.com (April 20, 2021) - In a shocking tweet, last night at 11:09 PM, US Strategic Command calmly informed the world that America may be bracing for a serious nuclear conflict imminently. And, almost simultaneously, US Space Force Commander issued a grave warning to America: “…highly capable competitors realize the extraordinary military and economic advantages that space-based capabilities give to the United States and our allies” What do these two well-planned and striking statements portend for America in the future?
Continue Reading: https://100percentfedup.com/breaking-us-strategic-command-casually-warns-about-possible-imminent-nuclear-war-under-biden-regime/
NATO concentrating over 40,000 troops near Russian border
TASS (April 13, 2021) - NATO will concentrate 40,000 troops and 15,000 items of armament and military hardware near Russian borders, basically in the Black Sea and Baltic regions, Russia’s Défense Minister Army General Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday.
Continue Reading: https://tass.com/defense/1277345
Russia says U.S. warships should steer clear of Crimea ‘for their own good’
Yahoo!News (April 13, 2021) - Russia on Tuesday warned the United States to ensure its warships stayed well away from Crimea "for their own good," calling their deployment in the Black Sea a provocation designed to test Russian nerves.
Continue Reading: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/russia-says-u-warships-steer-112444670.html
Artillery Barrage in Ukraine; Russia TV Talks "Nuclear First-Strike"
Hal Turner Radio Show (April 7, 2021) - Artillery fire has broken out along the line of control between breakaway Oblasts (states) Luhansk/Donetsk, and the Ukrainian Army this morning. The exchanges are described as "Heavy shelling."
Continue Reading: https://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/en/news-page/world/artillery-barrage-in-ukraine-russia-tv-talks-nuclear-first-strike
Taiwan says it’s now making long-range missile capable of striking China
RT (March 25, 2021) - Taiwan said it is now mass producing a long-range missile capable of striking deep into China and is actively developing three more models – with the missile program deemed “a priority” by Taipei.
Continue reading: https://www.rt.com/news/519131-taiwan-missile-program-parliament/
'We're going to lose fast': U.S. Air Force held a war game that started with a Chinese biological attack
YahooNews (March 11, 2021) - Last fall, the U.S. Air Force simulated a conflict set more than a decade in the future that began with a Chinese biological-weapon attack that swept through U.S. bases and warships in the Indo-Pacific region. Then a major Chinese military exercise was used as cover for the deployment of a massive invasion force. The simulation culminated with Chinese missile strikes raining down on U.S. bases and warships in the region, and a lightning air and amphibious assault on the island of Taiwan.
Continue Reading: https://news.yahoo.com/were-going-to-lose-fast-us-air-force-held-a-war-game-that-started-with-a-chinese-biological-attack-170003936.html
China expands its 2 air force bases closest to Taiwan
Taiwan News (March 8, 2021) — Amid dramatically more frequent incursions by Chinese military planes into Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ), China appears to be expanding its two airbases closest to Taiwan.
Continue Reading: https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4145038
China's gray-zone warfare against Taiwan at highest possible level: Analyst
Taiwan News (February 25, 2021) — Shu Hsiao-huang (舒孝煌), a scholar at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR), said that China’s gray-zone warfare tactics toward Taiwan have reached the highest level.
The National Policy Foundation held a symposium titled "The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) military threat to Taiwan." In addition to Shu, Former Defense Minister Yang Nien-tsu (楊念祖), retired Lieutenant General Shuai Hua-min (帥化民), military expert Chi Le-I (亓樂義), former Legislator Lin Yu-fang (林郁方), and others also attended the meeting, CNA reported.
Continue Reading: https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4136241
Attempts to deter Russia intensify as it grows stronger — Putin
TASS (February 14, 2021) - The policy of deterring Russia is intensifying as the country grows stronger, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday during a meeting with editors-in-chief of Russian media outlets.
Continue Reading: https://tass.com/russia/1256193
Russia-US relations likely to remain extremely cold in coming years, says Medvedev
TASS (January 16, 2021) - The relations between Moscow and Washington are likely to remain extremely cold with the new US administration that will continue a tough anti-Russian policy, the deputy chief of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev wrote in his op-ed published by tass.com on Saturday.
Continue Reading: https://tass.com/politics/1245615
China’s military takes charge of war powers with new defence law
South China Morning Post (January 3, 2021) - China has expanded the power of its Central Military Commission (CMC) – headed by President Xi Jinping – to mobilize military and civilian resources in defense of the national interest, both at home and abroad. Revisions to the National Defense Law, effective from January 1, weaken the role of the State Council – China’s cabinet – in formulating military policy, handing decision-making powers to the CMC.
Continue Reading: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3115988/chinas-military-takes-charge-war-powers-new-defence-law
Russia ready to ‘fight off’ Western attempts to seize its assets in $50bn battle with oligarchs over collapsed Yukos oil empire
RT (December 29, 2020) - Any hope of a quiet 2021 for Russia has been dashed as one of the country’s top officials warns it faces a series of court battles that risk confrontation with the West, including a fight over the world’s largest legal bill.
Continue Reading: https://www.rt.com/russia/511001-yukos-oil-empire-assets-seizure/
Russia, Saudi Arabia to ink cooperation roadmap in 2021
TASS (December 20, 2020) - Russia and Saudi Arabia plan to adopt a roadmap on trade and economic cooperation, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said at a briefing after holding talks with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman in Riyadh on Saturday.
Continue Reading: https://tass.com/economy/1237473
Russia 'Looking To Counter' U.S. Sanctions Against Iran
RadioFreeEurope (December 12, 2020) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said Moscow continues to reject U.S. sanctions against Iran, has put its money where its mouth is by increasing trade with Tehran, and that Moscow will continue to look for new ways to counter the punitive measures.
Continue Reading: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-looking-to-counter-us-sanctions-against-iran/30997189.html
BOMBS AWAY Joe Biden sends B-1 bombers to Russian doorstep in powerful message to Putin after fiery first phone call
TheSun (February 9, 2021) - JOE Biden is sending B-1 bombers to Russia's doorstep in a powerful message to Vladimir Putin.
Four B-1s and 200 Americans stationed at Dyess Air Force in Texas are being deployed to Orland Air Base in Norway.
Continue Reading: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/worldnews/13992939/joe-biden-b1-nuke-bomber-putin/
STRATCOM commander warns nuclear war with China or Russia 'a very real possibility'
i24NEWS (February 4, 2021) - The head of US Strategic Command (STRATCOM) warned in an article published in the February edition of the US Naval Institute that there was a “real possibility” the United States could end up in a nuclear conflict with China or Russia.
In a stark assessment of the current geopolitical landscape, STRATCOM Commander Adm. Charles Richard called on military and federal leaders to reimagine the United States' methods of deterring aggressive action from its rivals, reported FOX News.
Continue Reading: https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/1612366983-stratcom-commander-warns-nuclear-war-with-china-or-russia-a-very-real-possibility
New grid threat: Russia deploys 'first-strike weapon,' and China ready too
Washington Examiner (January 27, 2021) - With the United States waking up to the threat posed to the electric grid and electronics from cyberwarfare, Russia is mastering systems that can already overcome the latest protections to keep the lights on, according to one of the nation’s leading experts.
The latest intelligence indicates that Russia has specialized a “super-electromagnetic pulse” weapon and warhead capable of traveling at Mach 20 that could put the U.S. in the dark with little notice.
Continue Reading: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/washington-secrets/new-grid-threat-russia-deploys-first-strike-weapon-china-ready-too
Russia Warns US It Will "Respond" To Future Border Violations In Sea Of Japan
ZeroHedge (November 27, 2020) - Russia's foreign ministry said Friday that it's lodged a formal protest with the United States over this week's incident in the Sea of Japan, calling it a "provocation designed to disturb the peace".
Continue Reading: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russia-warns-us-it-will-respond-future-border-violations-sea-japan
US Exit of Open Skies Treaty: Russia Warns of Tough Response to Washington’s ‘Dishonest Game’
Sputnik (November 23, 2020) - On Sunday, Washington confirmed that it is no longer a party to the Open Skies Treaty. This comes six months after the Trump administration announced that it would withdraw from the agreement, citing Russia's alleged violations of the treaty and non-compliance with its terms, something Moscow has strongly rejected.
Continue Reading: https://sputniknews.com/20201123/us-open-skies-treaty-exit-russia-warns-of-tough-response-to-washingtons-dishonest-game-1081250681.html
US may hit more than 100 Chinese & Russian firms with trade restrictions over alleged military ties – report
RT (November 23, 2020) - The Trump administration is planning to designate 89 Chinese and 28 Russian entities as “military end-users,” American companies from doing business with them, Reuters reported citing a draft document.
Continue Reading: https://www.rt.com/business/507513-chinese-russian-firms-us-restrictions/
US Ambassador Predicts Another 5 to 10 Arab Countries Will Seek Peace with Israel
Israel Today (October 26, 2020) - “Following the peace agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, as regards what is in store for the future, I really think the sky is the limit. I think in time, and I don’t know if it will take a year or a month, but I think that in our lifetime, God willing, we will see an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict as we know it. The idea of 22 Arab League members united in opposition to Israel, refusing to recognize Israel, is coming to an end. It does not mean that all 22 members of the Arab League will join in and right away, it will be gradual, but I have no doubt that it will grow – five, ten countries, maybe more, over time,” said U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman.
US Approves $2.4BN Coastal Defense Missile Sale To Taiwan Amid China Sanctions Retaliation
ZeroHedge (October 26, 2020) - The State Department has made the official announcement late in the day Monday of US approval for up to 100 Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems and related weapons equipment to be sold to Taiwan in a deal estimated at $2.37 billion.
Continue Reading: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/us-approves-24bn-coastal-defense-missile-sale-taiwan-amid-china-sanctions-retaliation
US effort to destroy multibillion Nord Stream 2 project is ‘act short of war against Russia’ – George Galloway to Boom Bust
RT (October 21, 2020) - Widening restrictions on the participants of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline constitute the “egregious use of the sanctions weapon” targeting both Russia and the US’ loyal ally Germany, former British MP George Galloway believes.
Continue Reading: https://www.rt.com/business/504141-us-sanctions-nord-stream/
Chinese military beefs up coastal forces as it prepares for possible invasion of Taiwan
South China Morning Post (October 18, 2020) - Beijing is stepping up the militarization of its southeast coast as it prepares for a possible invasion of Taiwan, military observers and sources have said.
The People’s Liberation Army has been upgrading its missile bases, and one Beijing-based military source said it has deployed its most advanced hypersonic missile the DF-17 to the area.
Continue Reading: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3105953/chinese-military-beefs-coastal-forces-it-prepares-possible
China Signals War Footing: PLA Minesweepers In 'Drill' To "Break Taiwan Sea Mines Threat"
ZeroHedge (September 21, 2020) - China's state media has confirmed what is a very serious and direct escalation in waters surrounding Taiwan amid ongoing PLA military exercises in the area.
Continue Reading: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/china-signals-war-footing-pla-minesweepers-drill-break-taiwan-sea-mines-threat
Stephen Cohen Has Died. Remember His Urgent Warnings Against The New Cold War
Caitlin Johnstone (September 19, 2020) - Stephen F Cohen, the renowned American scholar on Russia and leading authority on US-Russian relations, has died of lung cancer at the age of 81.
As one of the precious few western voices of sanity on the subject of Russia while everyone else has been frantically flushing their brains down the toilet, this is a real loss. I myself have cited Cohen’s expert analysis many times in my own work, and his perspective has played a formative role in my understanding of what’s really going on with the monolithic cross-partisan manufacturing of consent for increased western aggressions against Moscow.
Continue Reading: https://caityjohnstone.medium.com/stephen-cohen-has-died-remember-his-urgent-warnings-against-the-new-cold-war-cf6d4c844dd
Georgia Hosts Major NATO Troop Drills While Touting Bid To Join The Alliance
ZeroHedge (September 9, 2020) - Yet another provocation sure to increase tensions between Russian and NATO has begun this week in the form of war games hosted by the Republic of Georgia.
Continue Reading: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/georgia-hosts-major-nato-troop-drills-while-touting-bid-join-alliance
SHOIGU: NATO Jets Conduct Dry-Run Missile Strikes Against Russia
FRN Moscow (September 8, 2020) – The US and NATO air forces have not only boosted their surveillance activities along Russia’s borders, but now also increasingly train for potential strikes on the country’s soil, Défense Minister Sergey Shoigu said. Speaking to Russian TV on Sunday, Shoigu noted a sharp increase in foreign surveillance and training flights testing the country’s borders and air defences.
Continue Reading: https://fort-russ.com/2020/09/shoigu-nato-jets-conduct-dry-run-missile-strikes-against-russia/
Chinese military fires ‘aircraft-carrier killer’ missile into South China Sea in ‘warning to the United States’
South China Morning Post (August 26, 2020) - China launched two missiles, including an “aircraft-carrier killer”, into the South China Sea on Wednesday morning, a source close to the Chinese military said, sending a clear warning to the United States.
Continue Reading: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3098972/chinese-military-launches-two-missiles-south-china-sea-warning
Former top US officials say China could take Taiwan in 3 days in early 2021
Taiwan News, TAIPEI (August 15, 2020) — In an essay published by the U.S. Naval Institute, former Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Michael Morell and former Admiral James Winnefeld warn that Chinese leader Xi Jinping (習近平) will "bring Taiwan back into China" in mid-January 2021.
Continue Reading: https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3988080
Pompeo Signs Pact To Redeploy Troops To Poland From Germany, Boosting "NATO Deterrence"
ZeroHedge (August 16, 2020) - Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was in Poland Saturday at the conclusion of a four-nation tour of Europe, where crucially he inked a new defense pact with the Eastern European country at a moment Russia has consistently been accusing Washington of provocative and 'irresponsible' military build-up along its western border.
Continue Reading: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/pompeo-signs-pact-redeploy-troops-poland-germany-boosting-nato-deterrence
South China Sea: Beijing mobilizes invasion craft along coast as Taiwan tensions escalate
nzherald.co.nz (August 9, 2020) - As tensions between Taiwan and China continue to escalate, satellite images reportedly show amphibious armored vehicles and mobile missile launchers massing at military bases near the island nation.
Continue Reading: //www.nzherald.co.nz/world/south-china-sea-beijing-mobilises-invasion-craft-along-coast-as-taiwan-tensions-escalate/DEC6TYPEQQNF5ARRJTQEEG7NCA/
US Global Deployment Of Land Missiles Will Prompt Russia’s Quick Reaction, Non-Nuclear Attack Could Trigger Nuke Response
FRN Moscow (August 7, 2020) - The Russian Foreign Ministry announced,
“It is clear that deployment of American land-based short and intermediate-range missiles globally seriously undermines regional and global security and will provoke a new dangerous phase of the arms race. Russia cannot ignore the appearance of more missile threats to its territory which will be seen as strategic for us. This will require an immediate reaction, irrespective of what missiles will be deployed, nuclear or not,” the foreign ministry said in a comment, marking the anniversary of termination of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty), according to TASS.
The foreign ministry highlighted,
“The only reasonable and <…> justified step forward is to look together for a mutually acceptable settlement of the current situation through political and diplomatic means.”
“Russia remains open to equal and constructive work to restore trust and strengthen international security and strategic stability. We are hoping for a similar interest and responsibility from the US side,” the diplomatic agency underlined.
In another statement (and a possible warning to the US and Western allies) Russia announced it will consider any missile attack as being nuclear in nature, and so will result in a nuclear response.
“Any missile attack will be considered nuclear, because there is no possibility of identifying what type of the warhead it carries, and will trigger a nuclear response,” Russia’s Defense Ministry said in its official newspaper Krasny Zvezda (Red Star).
The ministry added,
“Once radar has detected the launch of ballistic missiles attacking Russian territory, the military leadership will be automatically informed and will determine the scale of nuclear weapons’ use.”
Publication of the procedures follows President Vladimir Putin this June signing a new policy on nuclear deterrence allowing nuclear weapons to be used to repel a conventional arms attack if it threatens the homeland. By specifying that a non-nuclear attack can trigger Russian nuclear retaliation, the procedure appears to warn the US and its allies against any missile attack on Russia, nuclear or not.
The newspaper also said nuclear weapons will also be used to repel attacks using weapons of mass destruction, aggression with conventional weapons, and attempts to destroy critical Russian facilities. Russia has repeatedly argued that its nuclear capability is defensive in nature and that it has a policy of not being the first to launch a nuclear strike.
China confident ‘de-dollarization’ is fast underway amid tense times
Global Times (July 20, 2020) - A global trend toward "de-dollarization" has already begun. The last piece of "load-bearing wall" of the "US Empire State Building" has cracked, in other words.
Continue Reading: https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1195115.shtml
Russian-US Ties Are Virtually at Their Lowest Point, Kremlin Says
Sputnik (July 12, 2020) - Apart from the continuing practice of implementing unilateral sanctions against Russia, the US recently engaged in ending binding arms control treaties, with the New START being the only one still in force after Washington ditched the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) and the Open Skies treaties with Moscow.
Continue Reading: https://sputniknews.com/20200712/russian-us-ties-are-virtually-at-their-lowest-point-kremlin-says-1079862076.html
China Launches Final Beidou Satellite To Challenge America's GPS
ZeroHedge (June 23, 2020) - China, on Tuesday, successfully launched the final satellite in its BeiDou-3 navigation system, further cementing its ability to ditch the use of the US government-owned Global Positioning System (GPS).
US Media Reveals Why Russia Really Does Have Reason to Be Wary of NATO Invasion
Sputnik (June 13, 2020) - In the three decades since the end of the Cold War, NATO has expanded eastward toward Russia’s borders, staging large-scale drills and deploying potential dual-use strategic weapons systems such as the Aegis Ashore missile defense platforms in Poland and Romania. Through it all, the alliance has the nerve to accuse Moscow of aggressive intentions.
Continue Reading:
Vladimir Putin endorses nuclear doctrine allowing for first strike
LBC News (June 2, 2020) - The new policy authorizes Moscow to use nuclear weapons in the event of a conventional attack on key military and government infrastructure.
President Vladimir Putin has endorsed Russia’s nuclear deterrent policy which allows him to use atomic weapons in response to a conventional strike targeting the nation’s critical government and military infrastructure. By including a non-nuclear attack as a possible trigger for Russian nuclear retaliation, the document appears to send a warning signal to the US.
The new expanded wording reflects Russian concerns about the development of prospective weapons that could give Washington the capability to knock out key military assets and government facilities without resorting to atomic weapons.
In line with Russian military doctrine, the new document reaffirms that the country could use nuclear weapons in response to a nuclear attack or an aggression involving conventional weapons that “threatens the very existence of the state”.
But the policy document now also offers a detailed description of situations that could trigger the use of nuclear weapons. They include the use of nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction against Russia or its allies and an enemy attack with conventional weapons that threatens the country’s existence.
In addition to that, the document now states that Russia could use its nuclear arsenals if it gets “reliable information” about the launch of ballistic missiles targeting its territory or its allies and also in the case of “enemy impact on critically important government or military facilities of the Russian Federation, the incapacitation of which could result in the failure of retaliatory action of nuclear forces”.
The reference to a non-nuclear strike as a possible trigger for nuclear retaliation reflects longtime Moscow concern about US military plans. The buildup of conventional forces near Russia’s borders and the deployment of missile defense assets and space-based weapons are among the threats identified by Moscow in the new document.
US-Russia relations are at post-Cold War lows over the Ukrainian crisis, the accusations of Russian meddling in the US 2016 presidential election and other differences. Amid the tensions, the Kremlin has repeatedly voiced concern about the deployment of US and allied forces in the Baltic and NATO drills near Russia’s borders.
Russian officials have cast the US-led missile defense programme and its plans to put weapons in orbit as a top threat, arguing that the new capability could tempt Washington to strike Russia with impunity in the hope of fending off a retaliatory strike.
In 2018, Mr Putin revealed an array of new weapons that he said would render US missile defense useless.
They include the Avangard hyper-sonic vehicle capable of flying 27 times faster than the speed of sound and making sharp manoeuvres on its way to target to dodge the enemy’s missile shield.
The first unit armed with the Avangard entered duty in December. Another doomsday weapon that Mr Putin has mentioned is the nuclear-armed and atomic-powered Poseidon underwater drone capable of causing a devastating tsunami near an enemy coast. Its tests are continuing.
Last year, both Moscow and Washington withdrew from the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
The only US-Russia nuclear arms control agreement still standing is the New Start treaty, which was signed in 2010 by then-US president Barack Obama and then-Russian president Dmitri Medvedev.
The pact limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers and envisages sweeping on-site inspections to verify compliance. Russia has offered to extend the New Start, which expires in February 2021, while the Trump administration has pushed for a new arms control pact that would also include China.
Moscow has described that idea as unfeasible, pointing at Beijing’s refusal to negotiate any deal that would reduce its much smaller nuclear arsenal. Russian diplomats said the Avangard could be included in the New Start if it is extended. They also voiced readiness to open talks to discuss the Poseidon and other new weapons along with prospective US strategic assets.
In a call with members of his Security Council over the weekend, Mr Putin warned that the New Start treaty is bound to expire, but “the negotiations on that crucial issue, important not just for us but for the entire world, have failed to start”.
Is War Next?
May 22, 2020
Remember the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong against Chinese authoritarianism?
Well, guess what? They’re about to start again. And U.S.-Chinese relations could get even worse than they are right now.
Are you prepared for a bumpy ride? Let’s unpack this…
Last year’s protests came in response to a proposed law that would have allowed the extradition of Hong Kong residents to Beijing for trial on charges that arose in Hong Kong.
That would have deprived Hong Kong residents of legal protections in local law and subjected prisoners to torture and summary execution.
The legislation was proposed by Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam, who many consider a puppet of Beijing.
The demonstrations grew exponentially, ultimately involving hundreds of thousands of protesters.
The list of demands also grew to include more democracy and freedom and adherence to Hong Kong’s rule of law.
Due to social media, these protests were seen around the world. The proposed bill behind the original protests was scrapped last October, which was a victory for the pro-democracy protesters.
The protests didn’t end altogether, but tensions were at least diffused to a great extent and the world moved on. Well, here comes round two…
China’s Communist parliament is preparing to roll out legislation that would ban “treason, secession, sedition (and) subversion” in Hong Kong.
This is different from the previous legislation because this bill actually originates in Beijing, not Hong Kong. It’s a direct assault on Hong Kong’s democracy. The Chinese parliament would insert the legislation directly into Hong Kong’s constitution.
It’s scheduled for passage next week.
Pro-democracy activists have called for mass protests this weekend in response to what they rightly consider a Chinese invasion of their autonomy.
We could be in for a fresh round of protests, with as many or more people. China’s reaction will be key. Will they try to put the protests down by force? That could have major consequences.
Yesterday, news emerged that the U.S. Senate is introducing bipartisan legislation to impose sanctions on officials and business entities that enforce the new law.
And President Trump warned yesterday that the U.S. would react “very strongly” to the Chinese legislation. In response, China’s foreign ministry warned Beijing would “fight back” against any U.S. interference. At a time when U.S.-Chinese relations are already at a low ebb due to China’s almost criminal handling of the coronavirus pandemic, it looks like things are about to get even worse.
This situation could become very interesting.
But you shouldn’t be surprised. The current trajectory of U.S.-China relations is following a familiar course. It started with the currency war…
When my first book, Currency Wars, was published in 2011, I made the point that currency wars don’t exist all the time, but when they emerge they can last for 15 or 20 years.
The reason is that the currency devaluations just go back and forth between major trading partners and no one is any further ahead in the long run.
Readers said, “OK, we get that, but what comes next?”
The answer is trade wars. Once currency devaluations fail, countries turn to tariffs to slow down imports and help their own exports.
That’s where the U.S. and China are now, with the ongoing trade war (which could get worse).
But that’s also a dead end from an economic perspective. Again, the question is: What comes next?
Well, with history as a guide, we can see that today’s pattern is a repeat of what the world went through in the 1920s and 1930s.
First came currency wars (1921–1936). Then came trade wars (1930–34) and then finally a shooting war (1939–1945).
Are we heading for another shooting war with China? The signs are not good.
Trade war tariffs can be weaponized to pursue geopolitical goals. Trump is using tariffs to punish China for its criminal negligence (or worse) in connection with the spread of the Wuhan virus to the U.S. and the rest of the world.
This also has historical precedent. Between June and August 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt placed an oil embargo on Japan and froze Japan’s accounts in U.S. banks.
In December 1941, the Japanese retaliated with the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. Will China now escalate its retaliation to the point of armed conflict?
We’ll find out soon, possibly in the South China Sea or the Taiwan Strait. The latest reemergence of tensions in Hong Kong only adds kerosene to the fire.
Investors should prepare for U.S.-China geopolitical tension to grow worse. Maybe a lot worse. That’s the lesson of history.
Regards,
Jim Rickards
for The Daily Reckoning