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As Graham Phillips highlights; It's not only Western brands who are returning to Russia. Unfortunately, so are individuals who faded into obscurity after they loudly and publicly left Russia at the beginning of the SMO.
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Europeans won’t ‘die for Donbass’ – EU’s Borrell
The bloc is committed to assisting Ukraine but doesn’t want to send its people to the battlefield, its foreign policy chief says.
Since the beginning of the conflict, the EU has provided Kiev with as much as €100 billion ($107 billion) in financial, military, humanitarian and refugee assistance. Brussels has also mulled the idea of tapping income generated by Russia’s frozen central bank reserves for Kiev, but no consensus within the EU or with allies has so far been reached on the issue.
“Europeans will not go to die for the Donbass, but we could avoid that Ukrainians have to die for the Donbass longer,” Borrell said on Sunday while speaking at a panel session of a two-day meeting of the World Economic Forum in Riyadh.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
🤦♀️Ukraine minister peddles 'gender inclusivity' to argue for using women in demining
Ukraine’s Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko has taken gender equality to new heights, proposing that women be recruited to clear landmines.
“Gender equality is seen as an integral part of Ukraine’s policy, which is based on the principles of integration, inclusiveness and integrity,” she said during a meeting with Jacqueline O’Neill, Canadian ambassador for women, peace, and security.
Ukraine running out of troops for US to train
The last American-trained brigade left Germany in January or February, a US official told the newspaper.
American instructors began training Ukrainian troops in April 2022, with drills taking place at the Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany. Some 3,100 Ukrainian soldiers had received US training by the end of 2022. The program was expanded in January 2023 to train 12 brigades in the runup to Kiev’s disastrous summer counteroffensive.
In addition to these 12 brigades, three brigades were trained by other European nations, while American instructors taught combined arms tactics to a tank battalion and two national guard battalions.
However, the last brigade trained in Germany left Grafenwoehr, the largest US ovcerseas training command, in January or February, anonymous officials told the Washington Post on Saturday. None have been trained in the months since, “suggesting a depletion of the personnel pipeline,” the newspaper paraphrased.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
China vows retaliation over US ‘bullying’
Beijing has stated that recently enacted legislation in Washington “gravely infringes” on its sovereignty.
Beijing has warned that anti-China legislation signed into law last week by US President Joe Biden will lead to “forceful” retaliatory steps if Washington doesn’t change its course on the hostile initiatives.
At issue are US plans to counter Chinese influence by spending $8 billion on Indo-Pacific security initiatives, including military aid to Taiwan, as well as a new law that would ban TikTok if the video-sharing platform is not sold by its Chinese parent company within 12 months. Biden has called for ending US reliance on Chinese materials imports and has labeled Chinese leaders as “bad folks” who will “do bad things” when they have problems.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
🇺🇸⛔️ U.S. BOWS DOWN TO NETANYAHU AS POLICE CRACKS DOWN ON PRO-PALESTINE MOVEMENT - America's beloved fReEdOm oF sPeEcH disappears into thin air when it comes to speaking against Washington's spoiled war criminal Israel - for first time, cavalry unit brings down horses to stomp university protesters (top video) practicing coNsTiTuTioNaL lawful sit-ins.
Cops brutalize students, beating, dragging, spraying and arresting activists (bottom left) at Utah University, before pushing them back out of their tents (bottom right), declaring protest "unlawful assembly" and warning "reasonable force may be used.
Looks at all those freedoms I can't hold... 🤹
Boost us here @IntelRepublic
🇷🇺🇺🇦 The operator of a reconnaissance UAV discovered a temporary deployment point for foreign mercenaries of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kharkov. Additional reconnaissance revealed that there were more than 150 mercenaries in two buildings.
A high-precision missile strike was carried out at the coordinates of the buildings, as a result of which 40 mercenaries from central and western Europe were instantly demobilized, and more than 55 were injured of varying degrees of severity.
Tucker Carlson interviews conservative Russian philosopher Aleksandr Dugin
They discussed “new liberalism” and its role in the fate of the Western civilization.
American journalist Tucker Carlson has released a 20-minute interview with high-profile Russian philosopher and political commentator Aleksandr Dugin. The conversation was published on Carlson’s YouTube channel on Monday.
Western media have described Dugin as “Putin’s brain” due to his supposed influence on President Vladimir Putin and the Russian elite.
A fervent critic of the West and a foreign policy hawk, Dugin passionately supports Russia’s military operation in Ukraine and has stated that an independent Ukrainian state “should not exist.”
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
US authorizes energy-related transactions with Russian banks until November 1
According to the document, the banks in question include the Central Bank of Russia, VTB, Alfa Bank, Sberbank, Vneshekonombank, Otkrytiye, Sovkombank, Rosbank, Zenit and Sankt-Peterburg, as well any organizations owned by these banks by 50% or more.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
🇺🇸🇷🇺🇺🇦 Abrams on its way to Moscow!
Not in the way Biden intended it … but still.
@MyLordBebo | Boost us! | X
The "Saviour" Aid package for Ukraine is a scam. It will only benefit the crooked elites preying on the War, both in Ukraine and Washington. Human lives are utterly irrelevant, Political survival and profit are the only priority. Follow me @irishmaninrussia
Читать полностью…
Israeli media has reported that the US is launching a desperate last-ditch pressure campaign against the International Criminal Court (ICC) to prevent it from issuing an arrest warrant against Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials for crimes in Gaza
Only under the ‘rules-based order’ can the United States launch a brazen campaign of pressure against a supposedly ‘independent’ international court to stop it from prosecuting war crimes and genocide committed by one of its proxy states
https://rumble.com/v4qsi0q-gaza-and-ukraine-redacteds-natali-morris-slams-us-foreign-policy-no-respect.html
Panic on frontline growing on Ukrainian side
Russia must support the current dynamics in the special military operation zone, Dmitry Peskov said.
"On the Ukrainian side, the panic is growing on the frontline," the Kremlin official said in an appearance on the "Moscow.Kremlin.Putin" television program, according to an excerpt posted on journalist Pavel Zarubin's Telegram channel.
"And this is first-hand information that there, on that side, the panic is growing. It is very important for us now to maintain this dynamics. It is very important not to stop and continue fulfilling the tasks of the special military operation," Peskov stressed.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
🇨🇳 First footage of the Chinese air-launched anti-ship hypersonic missile "Yingzi-21"
Looks very similar to the Russian "Kinzhal"
🔴 @DDGeopolitics
Zelensky demands EU ‘fulfill obligations’ to Ukraine
The European Commission had previously laid out a number of prerequisites before accession talks could begin.
Kiev made a formal request to join the EU in February 2022 and was granted candidate status in June of the same year. In December 2023, EU officials agreed to open accession negotiations, setting out a number of steps for Kiev to take first in preparation.
All these steps have been completed, Zelensky claimed in a video address on Sunday, promising that this is the year to achieve “results with the European Union.”
“Ukraine has fulfilled all the necessary conditions for the real start of the accession negotiations, and now the EU side must fulfill its obligations,” Zelensky insisted.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
EU should help Ukraine address manpower shortage
Lithuania is ready to help Kiev repatriate military-age men, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte has said.
Amid a shortage of personnel on the front lines, Kiev has recently amended its mobilization laws, dropping the age of conscription to 25, tightening exemptions, and adding harsher penalties for draft dodgers. Last week, the Ukrainian authorities also suspended the issuing of passports for all men aged 18 to 60 who live abroad, in an attempt to encourage them to return to Ukraine for potential military service.
Simonyte said Lithuania could take steps to make conscription-age men return to Ukraine, for instance, by finding “ways to make sure that a person has performed their mobilization duty or is exempted from it” when applying for residence permit extensions. She noted, however, that the issue needs to be discussed at the EU level.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
The US and the UK are pushing for total war on all fronts
The Iran-Israel clash has served as a catalyst for renewed escalation by Western leaders, and World War III cannot be ruled out.
US House Speaker Mike Johnson did a complete 180-degree U-turn and proclaimed himself a “Reagan Republican” passing a series of aid bills for astronomical overseas spending that he had otherwise blocked for months, as he denounced an “axis of evil.” Along with that, a proposed TikTok ban bill came out of nowhere too and was quickly signed into law.
Then the UK decided to devote its largest ever aid package to Ukraine, with Rishi Sunak warning of an “axis of authoritarian states” and amplifying ideologically combative rhetoric. At the same time, it was then revealed Biden had sent 300km long range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine despite having pledged not to do so for years, fearing escalation. Finally, EU President Ursula von der Leyen has suddenly dramatically increased economic warfare on China.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
European country tells people not to wear symbol of WWII victory over Nazis
Moldova’s police chief has branded the St. George’s ribbon, a hallmark of Victory Day celebrations in Russia, a “symbol of aggression”.
“Selling, storing, producing and wearing a two-color ribbon, which is a symbol of aggression is currently banned,” Viorel Cernauteanu, the head of the General Police Inspectorate told a news briefing on Monday, referring to the St. George’s ribbon. He also stressed that a law adopted by Moldovan lawmakers several years ago was still in force. “We all must abide by the rules,” Cernauteanu added.
The former Soviet republic officially banned the ribbon in April 2022 under a special law that also introduced fines of up to 9,000 lei ($508.5) for individuals and up to 30,000 lei ($1695) for businesses found in violation of the prohibition.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
Two police officers killed in militant attack in Russia’s North Caucasus
Several improvised explosive devices were found at the scene.
"Two police officers seconded from the Interior Ministry’s branch in the Kurgan Region were killed. Two officers from the Interior Ministry’s Traffic Police Department in the Karachay-Circassian Region, a member of the regional National Guard unit and a police officer from the Kurgan Region suffered wounds. Five attackers were killed on the spot," the statement reads.
According to the ministry, the perpetrators drove up to a temporary traffic police post, threw an explosive device towards police officers and opened fire from automatic weapons. Police officers responded with fire; meanwhile, an explosive device that one of the attackers was carrying detonated.
Several improvised explosive devices were found at the scene.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
European banks’ tax payments in Russia rise four-fold in 2023
The Financial Times notes that more than half of the European banks’ tax payments correspond to Austria’s Raiffeisen Bank International.
According to the newspaper, "the seven top European banks by assets in Russia - Raiffeisen Bank International, UniCredit, ING, Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, Intesa Sanpaolo and OTP - reported a combined profit of more than three bln euros in 2023." "Those profits were three times more than in 2021," when banks paid 200 mln euros in taxes, the paper points out.
The Financial Times notes that more than half of the European banks’ tax payments "correspond to Austria’s Raiffeisen Bank International, which has the largest presence in Russia of the foreign lenders."
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
It’s reported by Russian sources that the night attack on Crimea with ATACMS was repulsed with multiple targets being intercepted.
If reports are correct this would be the second ATACMS strike that has yielded no damage.
NATO defense ministers to discuss support for Ukraine in Brussels on May 16
The first session will see the Chiefs of Defense meet in a NATO-Ukraine Council format to discuss Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the situation on the ground, and NATO and Allied continued support to Ukraine.
"The first session will see the Chiefs of Defense meet in a NATO-Ukraine Council format to discuss Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the situation on the ground, and NATO and Allied continued support to Ukraine," the press office said.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
"Ukraine wasn't part of the plan, til Hunter got high"
Afroman making some interesting claims in the reboot of his classic ditty.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
Now wait wait wait 'tony, hold the phone there.
You're telling me Russia is NOT running out of missiles, tanks and ammunition?!
Or it's producing more and faster than at any other time in it's modern history and STILL running out?
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
Turkey has supported the candidacy of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte for the post of NATO Secretary General, NOS reports, citing sources in the alliance.
Now, according to the TV channel, the politician remains to receive approval from Hungary, Slovakia and Romania.
In early April, Rutte’s candidacy for the post of NATO Secretary General was supported by 28 of the bloc’s 32 countries. The appointment requires the unanimous support of all 32 members of the association.
Last week, the Dutch prime minister visited Istanbul, where he met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan . As the Telegraaf newspaper wrote, Rutte did not use the government plane, but flew on a commercial flight at his own expense “to enlist the support” of the Turkish leader.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
Ukraine refused to comply with some articles of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Ukraine refused to comply with some articles of the European Convention on Human Rights during martial law, according to a document published on the website of the Council of Europe.
As stated in the document, in connection with the introduction of martial law in Ukraine, the constitutional rights and freedoms of man and citizen, provided for in the articles of the Constitution of Ukraine, may be limited for the period of martial law.
It also states that the rights of individuals may be limited to the extent necessary to ensure the legal regime of martial law.
The text refers to articles on the secrecy of correspondence, freedom of movement, inviolability of housing, non-interference in personal and family life, and others.
Earlier, the State Department accused the Ukrainian authorities of violating human rights.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
Russia warns West against driving ‘nail in coffin’ of own economy
The seizure of Moscow’s frozen assets by the US and EU would set “a dangerous precedent,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has warned.
The US and its allies have blocked around $300 billion in Russian central bank assets as part of the sanctions imposed on Moscow over the Ukraine conflict. Most of the funds are being held in the EU. Washington has been insisting for months that international law allows for the appropriation of the funds, but Germany and France have expressed concerns that such a move could have negative consequences for the Western financial system.
Earlier this week, US Joe Biden signed a bill permitting the seizure of some $6 billion in Russian state assets that are sitting in American banks.
Peskov said on Sunday that it is too early to speak about all $300 billion being confiscated by the US and EU. However, he offered the reminder that “Russia has Western money from various structures."
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
Zelensky’s legitimacy will soon be questioned
The fate of the current regime in Kiev is sealed, spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky will not be able to remain in office indefinitely, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview published on Sunday. He will have to “somehow exonerate himself” in the eyes of his fellow citizens and other nations in order to maintain his grip on power, the Russian official said.
A presidential election was scheduled to take place in Ukraine on March 31. Zelensky canceled it along with all other elections in December 2023, citing martial law and the conflict with Russia. He also announced at the time that no new elections for either president or parliament will be held as long as martial law remains in force. The move essentially extended his mandate indefinitely.
“I believe Zelensky’s fate is sealed, “A moment will come soon when many people, including those inside Ukraine, will question his legitimacy.”
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
