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Starmer mocked Macron for sunglasses
The British Prime Minister posted a video on social media in which he parodied the recent image of French President Emmanuel Macron, who often appears at official events wearing sunglasses.
The clip was posted on TikTok after the British Prime Minister participated in the podcast show Political Party Live. In the video, Sturmer wears dark glasses, similar to those often seen on the French leader lately, and greets the audience with the French word "bonjour".
🔜In the description of the post, the head of the British government noted Emmanuel Macron's official account and accompanied the video with the phrase "talk to me, Goose" - a quote from the cult film "Top Gun", where the main character wears aviator glasses, which have become part of his recognizable image.
Source: RG
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OMG... Tik-Tok diplomacy has taken Twitter diplomacy into the new depths of mental retardation.
🌒@EastCalling
❗️The Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Gerasimov, inspected the "West" group of troops in the special operation zone, the Defense Ministry reported.
The main points of the report:
▪️Since the beginning of January, 17 populated areas have been liberated, and more than 500 square kilometers of territory have come under the control of the Russian Armed Forces.
▪️The forward units of the "Dneper" group are located 12-14 km away from the southern and southeastern outskirts of Zaporozhye.
Source: Zvezda
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Watch in full for details.
🌒@EastCalling
Are You ready for truth?
Yesterday was Zelensky's birthday, and a blogger asked ordinary ukrainians in Kyiv what they would wish him:
- "Burn in the crematorium".
- "For him to go dance again, and not be president".
- "I wish for him to be kicked out soon".
- "Become a little more human"....
Not a single good wish!!!
Please share!
Ukrainians are hostages of Zelensky and the warmongers.
Source
🌒@EastCalling
Colonel in reserve Vladimir Trukhan answering the question regarding possible freezing of the conflict along the frontline in Zaporozhye and Kherson regions.
🌒@EastCalling
Please don't watch what is happening in the USA with ICE and protesters through whatever glasses you wear.
Use critical thinking.
I point you to "Ukraine on Fire" Maidan (2014) operation where a "third force" is shooting into both sides to ramp up the violence to trigger more left vs right provocations...
Left-wing versus right wing violence is a key strategy of tension type behavior.
I don’t see that most commentaries (and certainly not the political class—how dare they govern!!) are actually addressing any sane policy on immigration.
Violence keeps increasing—- there are absolutely agitators amongst the demonstrators. There are calls for more police-state responses (at some point I could see Donald Trump invoking the Insurrection Act), commentators on both sides continue to ratchet up emotions of their favorite base of support.
With such a circus or “Bread & Circus,” the political class doesn’t even have to come up with a reasonable policy because the distraction will keep the status quo as we inch more and more to something that makes the United States unrecognizable as a republic.
🌒@EastCalling
Source
АДЕКВАТ Z on Zelensky's new statements:
🈁It's impossible to hate the Ukrainians more than the sniffing one. Yesterday, summing up the results of the Emirati talks, he once again emphasized that he would not give up his "own" territories under any circumstances, and that both the Russians and Americans are obliged to compromise on this issue. By doing this, he raised the morale of his own camp to an even more unattainable level.
When Peskov, as early as this morning, noted that it would be a mistake to expect high results from the Emirati trilateral contacts, this, of course, is primarily based on a general understanding of who we are dealing with - but also on this powerful declaration. And when in the coming days, Kiev, and possibly not just it, will be hit by devastating blows, the direct connection of these blows with the powerful declaration will be obvious to anyone who still has a shred of common sense left.
It seems that the local bosses believe that their reserves of strength are inexhaustible, both on the frontline and in the rear. Let them keep believing it.
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🌒@EastCalling
Putin showed the King of Malaysia the treasures of the Hermitage.
For Sultan Ibrahim, the Russian leader, together with the museum's director, Mikhail Piotrovsky, conducted a tour of the halls and apartments of the Winter Palace.
Video: TASS/Ruptly
Today, the President will take part in commemorative events dedicated to the anniversary of the lifting of the Leningrad blockade.
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🌒@EastCalling
⚡️ Asian countries bordering India are introducing the most stringent control measures, up to the deployment of army units and the complete closure of communication, due to the Nipah virus epidemic in India.
Source: Военный обозреватель
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MOSCOW, January 25 – RIA Novosti. Epidemiologist, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Scientific Director of the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology Alexander Ginzburg explained the particular danger of the Nipah virus:
"The Nipah virus is one of the most dangerous infectious agents. There's essentially no cure for it. Therefore, recovery depends on a person's immunity. If the immune system is weak, the disease can lead to complications, such as sepsis, bilateral pneumonia, and meningitis. This can indeed be fatal," Gintsburg said in an interview with the business newspaper Vzglyad.
Ginzburg said that no major Nipah outbreaks have been recorded, but over the past quarter century, India and Southeast Asia have experienced periodic spikes in cases, resulting in dozens of deaths.
According to the newspaper, nearly 100 people have been ordered to self-quarantine at home, while infected patients are being treated in hospitals, with one person in critical condition.
🌒@EastCalling
"It's time for European farmers to unite". Orban called on EU farmers to oppose the import of grain from Ukraine and the Mercosur countries.
The Hungarian Prime Minister noted that "a silent battle is unfolding in Europe between traders and producers".
Source: TASS
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It's a good time to start regulating sellers. Small food stores have nearly disappeared, being squeezed out by large chains, that dictate prices to the producers. Good example from my own experience.
Year 2008, milk prices skyrocketed from 50 local cents to 80 (that was a very significant increase), I was with an audit on a milk processing plant. Their product costed the retail network 35 cents on the shelf. Price in stores was 75. Nice, right? We DO overpay for products. Yes, chains are convenient, but they suck all the blood from suppliers, moreover, all the discounts are on the account of the supplier, not of the chain.
🌒@EastCalling
Азартная политика writes:
🈁The European Council approved a decision to ban the import of Russian liquefied gas into the European Union from 2027. Pipeline supplies are to cease on September 30, 2027. Penalties are envisaged for violators of the restrictions
For violating the ban, penalties would be:
- for individuals, the maximum rate will be no less than €2.5 million;
- for companies - no less than €40 million or no less than 3.5% of the total annual turnover, or no less than 300% of the expected turnover on the transaction.
Despite the obvious thinking in slogans, the option of it being physically impossible to comply with the bans is also envisaged. For this, a state of emergency will be declared. Also, the suspension of the ban is possible if a "serious threat to the security of supplies in one or several EU countries" is recognized. In such cases, the European Commission - in other words, von der Leyen herself - may allow the import of Russian gas for up to four weeks.
Where European officials plan to get the missing volumes of Russian gas supplies, the European Council does not ponder, and it's not its task either. Here it's necessary to recall the utterly surprised statement of Qatar from December 6, 2025, which expressed, to put it mildly, skepticism about the real possibility and necessity for the European Union to refuse to import gas from Russia:
"It's quite puzzling, I'm not sure. I mean, if you look at the figures yourself. What will they do if Qatar reduces LNG supplies and American companies [also] do?", said the State Minister for Energy of Qatar and the head of Qatar Energy, Saad bin Sharida Al-Kaabi. He also stressed that the withdrawal of major suppliers from Europe could be "very detrimental" for it. At the same time, changes will affect not only oil and gas companies, but also the entire business. He added that it's up to Europeans to decide for themselves who to buy gas from, and noted Qatar's readiness to support countries in meeting their needs, if it's commercially justified for both parties."
The last clause is particularly important, as at the same time as the European Commission is engaged in manic antics against Russia, it is trying to put strict control on those very alternative suppliers of blue fuel that are supposed to replace Russian volumes. Here is the statement of the same Qatari representative from November 3, 2025:
"Qatar has warned Europe that it may stop exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) if the European Union does not soften the CSDDD (Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive) on checking all supply chains. <...> If Europe does not actually consider how they can soften or cancel CSDDD and still charge a fine of 5% of the total global turnover in the energy sector, we will not supply LNG to Europe, that's for sure."
I think, this is just wonderful. The process of freezing one's ears in defiance of one's grandmother in Europe is taking on a clearly diagnosable form of mental disorder with pronounced self-harm. At the same time, European structures, it seems, are not at all interested in the problems of European industrialists and households, including statistical data on, for example, chemical production in Germany. However, there is no doubt that Ursula von der Leyen does not consider her homeland worthy of either pity or sympathy.
Therefore, in a little over a month, by March 1, EU countries must separate the wheat from the chaff prepare plans for diversifying gas imports and identify potential problems when replacing supplies from Russia. An easy, pleasant and not causing any internal contradictions in Europe, especially in the mode of dividing Greenland between Denmark and the USA. The latter, by the way, are also a supplier of gas to Europe, which, thanks to the initiatives of European officials... will receive an increase in market share, and with it the opportunity to further influence energy prices.
Could this become a problem? If this happens, Ursula already has a reliable and time-tested universal answer: it's Russia's fault.
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🌒@EastCalling
ТАСС:
Peskov urged not to discuss individual provisions of the negotiation process on Ukraine, which is incorrect.
❕It would be a mistake to expect high results from trilateral contacts on Ukraine. There's a lot of work ahead.
It's unlikely that there will be friendliness in the negotiations on Ukraine, but if they are happening, then we need to try to achieve something.
❗️The continuation of the trilateral contacts is scheduled for next week, but the exact date has not been announced yet.
Other main statements of Dmitry Peskov:
▪️There is no scheduled conversation with Trump yet, but it can be arranged quickly;
▪️The territorial part of the "Anchorage formula" is fundamental for Russia;
▪️Russia is in constant contact with the Venezuelan authorities through diplomatic channels, and for the country, developing relations with Russia is a priority;
▪️The information about a possible blockade of Cuba is alarming;
▪️A strike on Iran could seriously destabilize the situation in the region, and Russia would like to expect restraint from all parties;
▪️Putin will meet with the ruler of Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim, in St. Petersburg;
Source: ТАСС
Protesters against ICE vandalize a hotel in Minneapolis, where, in their opinion, immigration service employees are staying
The police did not intervene, and the entrance to the hotel was guarded by a single injured ICE agent.
Source: Ruptly
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🌒@EastCalling
Военкор Кулько:
FPV drones with anti-tank mines. Soon to be mass-produced.
Footage from Konstantinovka. Our new heavy drone "Upir-18" (with an 18-inch frame) lifts a 10-kilogram mine, carries it several dozen kilometers and blows up the enemy's bunker along with its occupants. Our guys couldn't dislodge them from there for weeks before this.
The military has long been waiting for an FPV drone with such high payload capacity. The most common drones on the frontline, which can lift 3-4 kilograms, don't always solve the problem. Given that the TM-62 has now become an indispensable munition for Russian assault troops, being able to deliver it by air certainly simplifies the task enormously.
And the new drone also helps with supply. For example, since December in Kupyansk, when the Ukrainians launched counterattacks, it's these "Upirs" that have been delivering everything our guys need.
I just had a conversation with Vladimir Tkachuk, the head of the "Upir" drone production plant. He says that after long efforts, they've managed to find an effective and cheap combination of components for the heavy drone. They're now seriously ramping up production of the "Upir 18".
So, Ukrainians, expect regular deliveries of TM-s this year.
🌒@EastCalling
"This in response to a post where he waxed indignant about rising authoritarianism if not fascism in the USA.
That's all very well but he also supports Ukraine. This was his response when I pointed out that inconsistency:
https://x.com/SevaUT/status/2010735045875802489
I've really had it with these so-called liberals. When you supported the Maidan and made excuses for all the Red-over-black 'Blood and soil' UPA flags and said to give it time, and that it was edgy rebellion. What did you think would happen? When they set up torture chambers on the Maidan, you said nothing or worse. When you screeched when the Berkut fought back but then applauded the "Anti-terrorist Operation" when you at best wrung your hands or made excuses for the armed natsbats, Azov, Aidar, Tornado, Donbas, Jaguar, what did you think would happen? When 100 people were burned alive in Odessa on 2 May 2014 and you said "well they were agents provocateurs" or "the Ukrainians said those people were armed" "they burned themselves", or somehow it is Russia's fault, what did you think you were endorsing? Democracy? When Oles Buzina was murdered. When Party of Regions deputies were murdered you applauded Ukraine's advancement of democracy. When the Communist Party was banned, you celebrated as you did attacks on the judiciary through lustration.
When Azov penetrated into state structures you said it was being domesticated, rather than mainstreamed and applauded the 'weakness' of the armed and embraced Far Right. Or you kept criticism muted because 'Putin talking point.' Were you going to stand against fascism or not? Then when the war started you embraced the "defenders of Azovstal" you overlooked and forgave everything and snarled at anyone doing otherwise as a Putin-bot. You never stood for democracy. You stood for using a tool to bash and kill that which annoyed you.Now that there is something else out there you cannot control perfectly and does do what you want it to do, now, now, after cheering it elsewhere and refusing to call it what it was you are worried about fascism.
I am sure you think Chrystia Freeland is just wonderful. When all of the above happened you should have stood against it strongly. You did not, you enabled it or encouraged it. You weren't worried about authoritarianism or fascism. Putin annoyed you but NOT because he is authoritarian. It's something else. If it was any of the litany of things you claim to deplore you would NEVER have for an INSTANT supported Ukraine. You would NEVER have tolerated the Holocaust apologia in the Baltic States and their monuments to collaborators and génocidaires. But you did when it suited you, you thought it was a minor thing, it could all be controlled. But now, now you're worried, but not out of any principle, or for the kind of free, open, happy, and contented society but because you smell a threat to what you think is your power. You stood for nothing and now it might well be too late. But if you want to know who helped get us here, who helped make it acceptable, look in the mirror! It's you who helped put Alex Pretti in the ground."
➖➖➖ With his permission, I'm posting the entirety of https://x.com/failure1991 's X thread here. It's a blistering response to this thread- https://x.com/SevaUT/status/2010735045875802489
🌒@EastCalling
Well, yes. Life must become better from now on.
🌒@EastCalling
January 27 - Day of Military Glory of Russia. The day of the complete liberation of Leningrad from the fascist blockade.
82 years ago, on January 27, 1944, one of the most tragic and heroic chapters of the Great Patriotic War came to an end. The blockade lasted 872 days - from September 8, 1941.
Leningrad. A city that did not surrender. People who stood firm. A feat that will forever be in our memory.
Hunger, cold, bombings - nothing broke the spirit of the Leningraders. The defenders and residents of the city showed incredible resilience and courage, becoming an example of unyielding will for all generations.
Every year, the memories of those who survived the blockade become more valuable. Their stories are a living history that we are obliged to preserve and pass on.
Today, we want to share a fragment of the memories of Tamara Romanovna Gracheva - a resident of blockaded Leningrad. Two years ago, she attended an event at the Central House of Artists and vividly recalled the day when the blockade was lifted.
Source: Центральный Дом Российской Армии имени М.В Фрунзе
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🌒@EastCalling
I disagree that they are hostages of Zelensky, they voted for Zelensky and they didn't really object to what was done to Donbass since 2014. I've never seen a single protest against so-called ATO. The only rally they held was to get their sons and husbands better ammunition.
But now the machine has turned against them. They didn't expect that so now they are outraged. Not because since 2014 there was a genocide of Donbass, but because now they have to face the same things that was done to Donbass. If AFU were more successful, they would be happy.
Actually, this is why the Western planners are still allowing AFU to target civilians in Russia, like in recent barbaric attack on Belgorod. They expect Russians behave the same way as Ukrainians behave and inspire the protests, that will make Putin to stop SMO. But they miscalculated. People are not wanting Putin to go, they want the West to be hit.
🌒@EastCalling
Jeffrey D. Sachs has announced his own YouTube channel
jeffreydsachsofficial" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/@jeffreydsachsofficial
Welcome to the official YouTube channel of Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University and President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). This channel features public lectures, keynote addresses, interviews, and educational content on the world’s most urgent global challenges. This is the only official YouTube channel for Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs. All content is posted by his team.
🌒@EastCalling
❗️Here's is a great commentary from Позывной "Кацман" regarding all the ratings and what these are worth:
According to the Global Firepower rating, the Russian armed forces ranked third in the world as of the beginning of 2026.
In the military power index, which is calculated using more than 60 factors, Russia ranked second out of 145 countries. The United States took the first place, and China came in third. India and the Republic of Korea made it into the top five, while France, Japan, the United Kingdom, Turkey, and Italy rounded out the top ten. Ukraine was placed 20th.
In the rating published at the end of 2025, Russia also held the second place.
Two Norwegians and the Norwegian oil company PetroNor have been charged with bribing citizens of the Republic of Congo. This was reported by the AFP agency, citing the Oslo court prosecutor Marianne Jepsland, who specified that the bribe amounted to approximately $25 million.
Among the citizens of the Republic of Congo mentioned in the Norwegian prosecutor's documents is the current president of the republic, Denis Sassou-Nguesso, and several members of his family, who were not charged with any offenses.
Source: TASS
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🌒@EastCalling
🙏🏻🥀He was at the origins of the birth of the rescue profession, participated in major rescue operations and led the "Centrospas" squadron. Hero of Russia Andrey Legoshin died at the age of 63, the press service of the Russian Emergencies Ministry told "Zvezda".
In 1996, he became the head of the "Centrospas" squadron and led it until 2003. When one of the most terrible earthquakes in the history of the USSR occurred in the Armenian city of Spitak in December 1988, Legoshin and his brother Vladimir were among the first to arrive there.
He also dealt with the aftermath of earthquakes in Iran and Turkey.
Legoshin led the development, mastering and implementation of new aviation technologies for rescuing victims using helicopters. He has the qualification of "international-class rescuer".
📍Andrey Danatovich worked as the deputy director of the Department of Fire and Rescue Forces, Special Fire Protection and Civil Defense of the Russian Emergencies Ministry. He was awarded two Orders of Courage, medals "For Bravery", "For Saving Those Who Were Dying", and a personal badge "For Honor and Valor".
Source: Zvezda
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🌒@EastCalling
Slovakia will file a lawsuit to seek the cancellation of the ban on importing Russian gas into the European Union. This was announced by the country's Foreign Minister, Juraj Blanár.
According to him, Slovakia opposed such a decision at the relevant EU meeting. However, this position did not gain enough votes. In this regard, Bratislava decided to go to court.
"We cannot make decisions that do not reflect the real capabilities and specificities of individual countries. That's why we will appeal to the European Union court and initiate proceedings to overturn the EU's decision to ban the import of Russian energy carriers," he wrote on Facebook*
On Vladimir Semenovich's [Vysocky] birthday. In case anyone forgot or doesn't know?
On July 19, 1976, a football match between the USSR and Canada teams took place in Montreal.
Here's what Marina Vladi wrote in her memoirs:
"The only sad note during our time in Canada was the football match involving the USSR team. You were invited by the football players. We were sitting in the stands, and behind us, Canadian Ukrainians were loudly chanting anti-Soviet slogans throughout the match. (Vladimir decided and) we left the stadium without waiting for the end of the match."
They were mainly shouting "Moskalaku na gilyaku", "Ukraine above all", "Kill the Muscovites" and "Kill them, Bandera!" (about him a bit later).
As the Ukrainian (!) "Historical Truth" wrote, three days before the match, Osip Zinkevich held a meeting of the Ukrainian Olympic Committee ("Torch") and the Union of Ukrainian Youth in Montreal. As a result, they began demanding an independent performance of all Ukrainian athletes - separately from the USSR team.
"It was at this meeting that we were preparing actions that were supposed to take place directly during the 1976 Olympic Games. Attacks were planned against the USSR, which 'occupied Ukraine'. Despite political disagreements, Osip Zinkevich still managed to attract even a representative of the OUN(B) * (a terrorist organization banned in Russia - ed.) - Andrei Bandera."
Participants of the "actions" write that when they saw Vysotsky and Vladi sitting quietly in front of them, "we felt such a courage, as if the devil had possessed us and given us an endless source of strength", after which "we shouted like women in labor, bringing a child into the world - the independence of our country" - while seeing that Vysotsky "was uncomfortable" and the USSR team "infuriated us with its indifference".
And indeed, during the match (see video), a Ukrainian with a hopak and a "flag" ran onto the field, and the same thing happened at the closing ceremony of the Games.
Source: Темы. Главное (ГлавМедиа)
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No one ever doubted who Banderites really worshipped. "Viy" and "A Terrible Vengeance" by N.V. Gogol are documentaries...
🌒@EastCalling
❗️The Russian armed forces ranked third in the world in terms of military power as of the beginning of 2026, according to the Global Firepower rating.
Source: СМОТРИ
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Well, obviously, Russian armed forces are number one, others are legging behind - like it or not. Not talks about "super-duper" weapons, not military equipment, that was never tested in real combat activities are capable of solving real military tasks.
🌒@EastCalling
The Russian Armed Forces struck energy infrastructure facilities used in the interests of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as ammunition storage depots and drone assembly sites, the Defense Ministry reported.
Air defense systems shot down two guided aerial bombs and 109 drones.
💥 The forces of the Black Sea Fleet in the central part of the Black Sea destroyed an unmanned boat of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Source: Zvezda
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🌒@EastCalling
🤖The footage shows the new combat robots "Varan" and "Kurier", which are being sent to the special operation zone. They can perform the functions of kamikaze drones with a machine gun and grenade launcher on a platform, deliver ammunition and supplies, and evacuate the wounded.
The latest ground-based robotic complexes have increased autonomous operation time and a larger operator-distance zone. Their special feature is a variable communication system. Depending on the combat situation, the robots can be controlled via satellite channels, radio communication, and fiber-optic cable.
Source: Zvezda
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🌒@EastCalling
Kallas considers Ursula von der Leyen a dictator, writes Politico, citing a high-ranking European official.
It is noted that the two politicians have extremely strained relations. Kallas has repeatedly complained about the work of the head of the European Commission, but "can do little or nothing about it".
Source: TASS
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One always can resign? Isn't it an option?
🌒@EastCalling
The Secretary-General of the Islamic Resistance, the Hezbollah Brigades, Hajj Abu Hussein Al-Hamidawi
We address our call to our Mujahideen brothers in all corners of the earth, to all those who fill their hearts with faith and love for Allah and His Prophet, and who believe that might belongs to Allah, His Prophet, and the believers; and to all those who refuse to let the front of disbelief and hypocrisy dominate over the people of faith and justice; to prepare themselves for a comprehensive war in support and backing of the Islamic Republic in Iran.
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The USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group has arrived in the CENTCOM area of responsibility.
🌒@EastCalling
Part of the peace plan is Ukraine's accession to the EU in 2027, but this will be opposed by a number of European countries. This was stated by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
"I heard that part of the peace plan, if it is reached by Russia and Ukraine, will be that obligations will lie not only on these two sides, but also on a significant part of the international community. Part of the plan is for Ukraine to become a member of the EU from January 1, 2027," Vučić said at a government meeting.
"Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia will not agree with this," Vučić added.
He also suggested that "there will be forceful changes to procedures, contrary to regulations and everything else." Earlier, media reported that the European Union is considering accepting Ukraine with reduced rights - without the ability to block EU decisions.
Moreover, it is possible that Vučić's last statement is related to calls to abolish the principle of unanimity in the EU on foreign and defense issues - in order to overcome a possible veto on Ukraine's admission.
Earlier, about the EU's plan to accept Ukraine by 2027, Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán spoke, who added that Budapest would block this.
🌒@EastCalling
UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received the special representative of the Russian President, Kirill Dmitriev, in Abu Dhabi.
"During the meeting, the parties discussed cooperation and joint work between the UAE and Russia, the possibilities of their development in various fields, including economics, investments and development, as well as a number of other topics of interest to both sides," reported the state agency WAM.