Moscow to take corresponding measures in response to the expansion of NATO towards Russian borders

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said that the Moscow would continue to take corresponding measures in response, especially as NATO keeps expanding its military infrastructure towards Russia’s borders.NATO’s Steadfast Defender 2024 that kicked off in Europe last week present a threat to Russia’s national security, Peskov said.

The exercises, hailed to be the largest NATO has held in decades, are said to involve some 90,000 troops from all 31 member states as well as Sweden and will last for several months, ultimately ending in May, according to the bloc’s Supreme Allied Commander for Europe Christopher Cavoli.It’s also noted that some 1,100 combat vehicles, including 133 tanks and 533 infantry fighting vehicles, as well as over 50 naval vessels and 80 helicopters, drones and fighter jets are set to take part in the exercises.

Peskov also said that NATO has always been intended as a “instrument of confrontation” that is controlled by Washington.The alliance, in fact, was conceived, formed, configured and is currently managed by the United States precisely as an instrument of confrontation. This instrument continues to fulfill its role and, of course, it is a threat to us,” the Kremlin spokesperson said.

The launch of NATO’s military drills come as a number of officials from its member countries, including the UK, Germany, and Estonia, have been urging the bloc to prepare for a full-scale military confrontation with Russia in the near future, suggesting that Moscow had plans to attack Europe in the next few decades.

Russia has vehemently denied any such plans, calling the claims a “hoax.” Russian President Vladimir Putin has insisted that Moscow “has no interest … geopolitically, economically or militarily … in waging war against NATO” and would instead prefer to develop a relationship with the US-led bloc.

NATO creeping into Asia – North Korea

North Korea’s Foreign Ministry has claimed NATO is seeking to increase its influence in Asia, citing growing “military collusion” with Japan, which hosted a delegation from the military bloc last month to discuss ways to step up cooperation. 

In comments carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Monday, an official with the Foreign Ministry’s Japan Research Center, Kim Seol-hwa, said Washington is gradually pushing NATO into Asia through partnerships with regional powers.

It is an open secret that the United States… has been trying to create a military alliance like this in the Asia-Pacific region,” he said, adding that the “recent unprecedented military collusion between Japan and NATO is arousing great concern and alertness in the international community.”

Kim went on to cite recent reports that NATO is now in talks to open a “liaison office” in Japan, its first such facility in Asia. The office would be used to “conduct periodic consultations with Japan and key partners in the region such as South Korea, Australia and New Zealand,” according to the Nikkei Asia news website.

All facts clearly show that NATO’s attempt to advance into the Asia-Pacific region through military collusion with Japan has entered a dangerous implementation phase,” the Foreign Ministry official continued, also pointing to other “confrontational alliances” such as the ‘Quad’ bloc – which Beijing has described as an “Asian NATO” – and AUKUS pact between Australia, the UK and the US.

Last month, Japan hosted a delegation from NATO’s Cooperative Security Division, which met with senior military leaders to “discuss the current military cooperation and opportunities to foster a stronger partnership,” as well as future joint drills with Japan’s armed forces. 

Further highlighting the increased cooperation, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg sat down with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi at the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels on April 4, where the two officials  vowed to further strengthen their partnership. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also met with NATO chief earlier this year, after attending an alliance summit in 2022, a first for a Japanese premier.

Kim argued that NATO’s overtures to countries like Japan and South Korea were part of plans to “build a huge anti-China and anti-Russia encirclement” in the broader region, claiming the US-led alliance hopes to “keep neighboring countries in check” while expanding its military footprint across the continent.RT

Europe is bleeding over the sanctions on Russia: Hungarian PM

Hungarian PM Viktor Orban has repeatedly called for “the failed policy of Brussels” to be changed, noting that the sanctions “didn’t fulfill the hopes that were pinned on them,” while Europe is “slowly bleeding.”

The European Union has exhausted its options for further economic restrictions against Russia. But even after the ten rounds of sanctions in response to the Ukraine conflict and currently working on an eleventh package of punitive measures against Moscow, EU officials have admitted that those parts of the Russian economy that were left unsanctioned are parts that one or more EU member states “can’t live without,” and thus measures targeting them would be vetoed.

One of the EU officials told that“We are done, “If we do more sanctions, there will be more exemptions than measures.” Officials have admitted that the embargo harms the EU and West more than Moscow.

Newly planned restrictions could reportedly target Russia’s nuclear fuel and services exports, but those would be opposed by some member-states, such as France, Hungary, and others.

Ukraine will disappear: Medvedev

Ukraine is a mistake created by the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said that Ukraine will disappear because its Western backers, the rest of the world, and even its own citizens have no need for the troubled country to keep existing.

“Why would Ukraine disappear? Because nobody needs it,” Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, wrote in a post on the VK social network on Saturday.

The EU doesn’t need Ukraine because supporting the country amid the conflict with Russia “on the order of their American mentor, plunged the Europeans into a real financial and political hell,” he insisted. Detrimental anti-Russia sanctions, spiking inflation, high energy prices, and the “decay” of businesses have already led to protests in various parts of the continent, the official pointed out.

“The prospect of decisively planting Ukrainian blood-sucking parasites on the neck of the shriveling EU” is real and, if it happens, it’s going to signal the demise of the bloc, Medvedev warned.

Kiev’s prime backer, the US, doesn’t need Ukraine either, because most ordinary Americans have no idea where it’s located and consider it “some abstract part of Russia,” the post read. They wonder “why the establishment in the US isn’t trying to deal with inflation and [the lack of] jobs or emergencies in their home states, but is instead occupied with this 404 country,” the former president wrote, referring to the “404 error” protocol in network communications.

Former president urges Russians to pirate Western content
Only “political demagogues” in Washington, “who have long conceded their impotence and dementia, are trying to make PR gains from military and sanctions campaigns,” he added.

Africa and Latin America reject Ukraine because the “billions that the US is wasting on senseless battles somewhere in Ukraine would’ve been enough to fund many social-development programs” in those regions, Medvedev wrote.

Asian countries don’t need Ukraine because, through the example of the conflict between Moscow and Kiev, “they see how the technologies of ‘color revolutions’ are being developed to eliminate the largest competing powers. They understand what scenario the collective West, led by the US, has prepared for them in case of disobedience,” the official explained. Besides, Russia is much closer to such nations as China and India in a geopolitical sense and has historically proven to be their reliable partner, he added.

Medvedev also claimed that Russia doesn’t need Ukraine because the country is “a mistake created by the collapse of the Soviet Union,” .

Xi Jinping to visit Russia

The Chinese president’s visit to Russia has been confirmed. The Chinese president will arrive in Moscow next Monday and stay for three days.

According to the Kremlin and the Chinese Foreign Ministry, President Xi Jinping of China will make a state visit to Russia next Monday. The trip will last until Wednesday. Xi will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss “aspects of further development of comprehensive partnership,” according to a statement from the Kremlin.

There will also be a discussion of the international agenda and cooperation between the two nations in world affairs, the Kremlin added. Russian and Chinese officials are expected to sign a number of bilateral agreements.

Putin invited Xi to Russia during a phone call in late December, but the date of the trip was not previously announced. This visit is expected to be significant while it has been closely monitored by west after Moscow launched its military operation in Ukraine in early 2022.

Ukraine looking for a way to directly involve the US and NATO in the conflict: ex-CIA official

Former CIA officer Philip Giraldi said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is looking for ways to directly involve the US and NATO in the conflict, as former CIA officer Philip Giraldi speaks about the recent drone strikes inside Russia’s borders.

On the other hand, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that the US has nothing to do with the Ukrainian drone attack on two air bases within the borders of Russia, but will continue to supply everything that Kyiv needs.

Speaking to reporters, Blinken said, “We have neither encouraged nor enabled the Ukrainians to attack inside Russia. What really matters is how Ukraine responds to the ongoing Russian aggression,” he said. It is determined to provide the equipment it needs to defend its territory, to defend its independence, but when the US first sent HIMARS to Ukraine, it said it received assurances from Kyiv that those weapons would not be used against Russian territory.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, two strategic bomber camps in the Ryazan and Saratov regions were attacked by drones on Monday morning. Moscow said three soldiers were killed and two bombers were lightly damaged by drones shot down by air defenses.

Meanwhile, Moscow has warned that providing heavy weapons to Ukraine has crossed Russia’s “red line” and threatens that it will involve the US and NATO directly in the conflict.

Prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine

According to the Ministry of Defense of Russia, 110 Russian citizens returned to Russia as part of the exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine.

In exchange for 110 Russian citizens under a prisoner exchange, Russia has released 108 Ukrainian female soldiers it had detained. It is said that 2 of the released female soldiers decided not to return to Ukraine because they wanted to stay in Russia.

Kyiv detained dozens of Russian citizens who had been in boats that stopped at Ukrainian ports in late February after the war broke out.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Moscow and Kyiv have frequently exchanged prisoners since the conflict between the two neighbours began in late February.
At the end of last September, Ukraine released 55 Russian soldiers from Donbas, and Russia also released Ukrainian opposition leader Viktor Medvedchuk.

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, since the war began, Russia has released 215 Ukrainian soldiers under prisoner exchange.

image:sputnik

Ukraine using NATO weapons to kill innocent civilians in Donbass

Western media is ignoring Ukraine’s attack on civilians

The Ukrainian strike on the civilians of Donetsk is an act of terrorism.

Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), Denis Pushilin said that the Ukrainian forces killed 16 civilians, including two children on Monday. According to him, Ukrainian forces used 155mm of NATO shells in the attack.

According to the Canadian independent journalist, Eva Bartlett, a Ukrainian attack in the central region of Donetsk on August 4 also killed six people, including an 11-year-old ballerina, her grandmother, and her ballet teacher. She says that the Ukrainian strike on the Donetsk market was an act of terrorism.

Another Ukrainian assault, which took place on Saturday in the centre of Donetsk was hit by around ten bombs over the course of 30 minutes around noon. She said, “at least four civilians were killed, one of whom I saw still on the ground. Some minutes later, her body was taken away. One of the shells hit a car driving along Artema Street, setting it ablaze and killing two civilians. By the time I reached that site, the vehicle had burned out, the dead taken away. Workers were already repaving the roads, sweeping debris and glass from sidewalks.”

Writing on Saturday’s bombings,War correspondent, Christelle Neant says that,“After submitting the photos of the shrapnel I found on the spot to NATO weapons expert for the DPR’s representation in the JCCC (Joint Monitoring and Co-ordination Center on Ukraine’s War Crimes), he confirmed that they were American 155mm shells, some fired from Caesar guns and others from TRF1 guns.The famous TRF1 guns that can fire (banned) 155mm cluster munitions, which France sold to Ukraine.”

But, while the Russian and Donbass speaks against the Ukraine’s attack on Donbass civilians with Western weapons, the west claims that Russia is bombing Donbass .Western media has continuously ignoring the Ukrainian’s attack on civilians, calming that as an attack made by Russian forces. According to her, the Ukrainian army has been blaming Russia for the continuous attacks on the citizens of Donbas, which were actually attacks carried out by Ukrainian forces.

Image: Eva Bartlett

NATO increases its presence in Kosovo

US troops have reportedly been sent to northern Kosovo after talks between the Serbian and Kosovo leaders collapsed

The NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) has increased its patrols of the northern part of the province amid ongoing tensions between Belgrade and Pristina.

Troops were deployed in significant numbers to two checkpoints at the border between Serbia and Kosovo, the reports said, adding that KFOR had vowed to “intervene” if necessary.

The move follows the collapse of talks between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti on Thursday.

“We would like to assure everyone that KFOR is ready to intervene, if necessary,” the NATO-led force said. The development comes just three days after NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg vowed that the military bloc would take action if “stability” in Kosovo is jeopardized. He also urged “all sides” to “show restraint and avoid violence.” The NATO chief also met both Vucic and Kurti earlier this week.

Meanwhile,Moscow has accused the West of fueling the conflict between Belgrade and Pristina and pressuring Serbia to adopt anti-Russian sanctions supported by much of the continent.

EU approved one billion euros financial aid to Ukraine

The European Union has approved one billion euros infinancial aid to Ukraine.

EU finance ministers have approved one billion euros in economic aid to help Ukraine meet its immediate needs.The amount was approved as the first installment of the nine-billion-euro aid pledged to Kiev last May.

The Czech finance minister Zbynek Stanjura said the assistance would help Ukraine meet its needs and ensure the operation of critical infrastructure.

This war is the beginning of the complete dissolution of American world order: Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia is ready to engage in peace talks with Ukraine, but those who deny the possibility of talks and try to prolong the ongoing conflict will only make the situation worse.

President Putin has challenged those who say Russia has lost its grip on the Ukraine conflict can try and defeat us on the battlefield. He also said that those who think we are loosing our grip should know that we haven’t started anything yet.

Putin said it is a tragedy for the Ukrainian people that the West is willing to fight till the last Ukrainian. He also said that NATO had jeopardized Russia’s consistent efforts to create a fair international security system .

He said the West’s goal of provoking a conflict between Russia and Ukraine had clearly succeeded, but that Moscow’s launch of a military operation in Ukraine was a defeat of the West. He also said that the beginning of this war is the beginning of the complete dissolution of the American world order.

Russia announces military action in Ukraine

Russia has announced military action against Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced military action as the crisis in Ukraine was being discussed in UN Security Council. Putin announced in a televised address that a special military operation had been launched in the Donbas area.

Meanwhile, large explosions were heard in the capital Kyiv, Donetsk, and Luhansk, the BBC reported. Russia has recognized Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states.

Moscow accused NATO of using the crisis as a “pretext” to increase its military presence near Russia’s borders

Moscow has accused NATO of using the crisis as a “pretext” to increase its military presence near Russia’s borders.

Moscow has strongly opposed its neighbour’s efforts to join NATO but it has also been denying about the rumours of invading ukraine. Moscow clearly says that it wants security guarantees that the US-led alliance will stop its expansion into former soviet republics but invading ukraine is just a rumours.

Meanwhile,NATO has raised the alarm about the Ukraine crisis, warning of “a real risk for a new armed conflict in Europe”, and promised to reinforce its eastern flank.

United States has temporarily deployed soldiers in Romanian airbase ,considering to maintain a long-term presence in Eastern Europe in the coming months.