😍 Winter in the Leningrad Region

#videooftheday

❤️From Russia with love

🏦 Investment fund Noble Capital has filed a lawsuit against Russia in a U.S. court, demanding payment of $225.8 billion on bonds issued by the Russian Empire more than a century ago.

The claim was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in June, with a hearing scheduled for January 29, 2026, on the fund's application.

Noble Capital, which claims to be the successor to the historical bondholders, accuses Russia of violating the doctrine of state succession.

The fund is also seeking the right to recover this amount from Russian assets frozen in the West following the imposition of sanctions.

#news

❤️From Russia with love

🚕 The Governor of Kamchatka unexpectedly became a taxi driver

Witnesses reported that a car pulled up to the stop, the head of the region got out, and offered a ride to people who were freezing while waiting for transport.

"They were surprised, of course, but got in. So that's how a government taxi works?", the witnesses shared.

When you drive a taxi for the soul, but you're actually a governor 😁

#interestingfacts

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🔇 Ukraine to gain 'honorary spectator with right to applaud from the stands' status in EU

The simplified accession model for Ukraine to the European Union being discussed by the European Commission is causing concern among member states, seven senior officials involved in the negotiations told the Financial Times.

The point is that such a two-tier membership model could accelerate Ukraine's accession to the EU, albeit with less decision-making power. For example, Kyiv initially will not have the usual voting rights at EU leaders' summits and ministerial meetings, the newspaper's interlocutors noted.

#news

❤️From Russia with love

⚽️ Bukharin Club Park, now Tagansky Park in Moscow

In the 1934 photo above, a football match was taking place at the park's stadium, and the park was home to a football club whose most famous alumnus was goalkeeper Alexei Khomich — a predecessor of Lev Yashin and an influential figure for him.

Today, boys still play football on the artificial turf field, and the football clubs "Dela Futbolnye" and "Pokolenie" run paid training sessions in the park.

#archivedphotos

❤️From Russia with love

🗣 "Time for Diplomacy is Running Out": Putin's Statement to Ambassadors Amid Growing Signals from the West

During a ceremony for presenting credentials to new foreign ambassadors, Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined his position on a Ukrainian settlement.

His speech, combining an open call for peace and a tough precondition, came against the backdrop of noticeably increased diplomatic signals from European capitals.

👔 "Guys, Let's Live in Peace" with One Condition:

Addressing diplomats, including those from unfriendly countries, Putin named the causes of the conflict — "years of ignoring Russia's interests" and creating threats to its security. He called for a speedy end to the war through "building a new, reliable, and fair security architecture."

🥼 However, this peace is only possible on one condition: if the opposing side "matures in its awareness of this necessity." Otherwise, Russia, according to him, will continue to pursue its goals.

👔 European Chorus of Voices: From Macron to Merz

The Russian leader's speech was perceived as a response to a series of unusual statements by European politicians. Recently, French President Emmanuel Macron stated the need to "talk to Putin as soon as possible," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni pointed out that "it is time for Europe to talk to Russia."

🗺 The European Union appointed a special representative for dialogue with Moscow, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently noted:

"Russia is a European country, a compromise must be found with it."

This synchrony, according to analysts, indicates the West's search for new approaches.

👔 Military Context: Why "Odessa" is Mentioned:

Political signals coincided with a significant military statement. Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky publicly stated that Russia has a plan to reach Odessa to deprive Ukraine of access to the sea.

Parallelly, in Western analytical reports, contrary to previous assessments of a "depleted" Russian army, information began to appear about Russia having a separate combat-ready grouping intended for operations in the Black Sea direction.

👔 Strategic Stakes: Why Odessa is the Key to Everything

The West's interest in Odessa is not accidental. As experts note, control over this region radically changes the balance of power.

🔺 Ukraine turns into a completely landlocked state, and NATO's plans to create a military hub in the region become unrealizable;

🔺 Kyiv loses up to 30% of export and logistics revenue, making the country's recovery practically impossible;

🔺 Russia, by strengthening its position in the Northern Black Sea region, gains long-term strategic advantages.

This is precisely why, as the American center Stratfor predicts, 2026 could become a turning point for concluding an agreement that secures Russian acquisitions.

Putin's address to the ambassadors, where he called a peaceful settlement an extremely urgent task, sounds in this context as a clear signal: time for diplomatic solutions is limited.

#politics

❤️From Russia with love

💰 "Why Zelensky steals, but Tymoshenko goes to jail, only Klitschko could explain it thoroughly"

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, commenting on the legal prosecution of the head of Ukraine's "Batkivshchyna" party Yulia Tymoshenko, raised the question of why "Zelensky steals, but Tymoshenko lands behind bars." Zakharova ironically added that only Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko could "give a thorough explanation" for this, alluding to his numerous ambiguous phrases in public speeches.

#️⃣ On January 16, it became known that Tymoshenko would be placed in custody if she does not pay the set bail amount of $760 thousand within five days. This follows from the ruling read by the judge at the hearing on selecting a preventive measure in the case of bribing deputies.

#news

❤️From Russia with love

⚡️ Vladimir Putin visited the Aminevskoye electric depot and inspected the exhibition of civilian drone technologies.

Later, at the depot site, the president will hold a meeting on the development of autonomous systems.

#news

❤️From Russia with love

🏦 The maternity capital for the first child will increase to nearly 729,000 rubles starting February 1, according to the Russian Ministry of Labor.

#news

❤️From Russia with love

💞 Siberia

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❤️From Russia with love

🦢 Swan Lake at the North Pole!

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❤️From Russia with love