◾️ On April 4, 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was founded — the Washington Treaty was signed by 12 nations from Europe and North America.

Since its inception, this so-called “defensive alliance” has continually expanded. Over time, NATO has absorbed 20 new member-states through ten rounds of enlargement (a euphemism for expansion), with seven of these occurring following the dissolution of the Soviet Union: in 1999, 2004, 2009, 2017, 2020, 2023, and 2024.

The alliance’s military interventions worldwide have always been a major source of instability and chaos in global affairs, undermining security worldwide, directly leading to mass civilian casualties and devastating consequences — as witnessed by the aggression against Yugoslavia, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, Syria, the crisis and situation around Ukraine, and elsewhere.

❗️Back in 2007, during the Munich Security Conference, Russia's President Vladimir Putin explicitly highlighted NATO’s destabilizing role in following the Cold War:

I think it is obvious that NATO expansion does not have any relation with the modernisation of the Alliance itself or with ensuring security in Europe. On the contrary, it represents a serious provocation that reduces the level of mutual trust. And we have the right to ask: against whom is this expansion intended?

Both the Soviet Union and Russia, at various times, sought rapprochement with NATO, even expressing frank interest in joining the alliance to create a an indivisible security system in Europe.

The fact of the matter is that the Soviet-lead Warsaw Pact, often used as a scarecrow by Western propaganda, was established only in 1955 — 6 years after NATO’s creation. Unlike NATO it never had any intentions of aggressive nature, while e.g. UK with its infamous Operation Unthinkable called for a massive assault on 1 July 1945 (not even 2 months after the Victory over Nazis) by British, American and... German (i.e. Nazi) forces against the Red Army.

Not only Russia and USSR never devised aggressive plans against NATO members, but NATO itself have acted in a threatening, aggressive and expansionist manner from the get-go.

Prior to this, Moscow aimed to normalize relations and even considered joining the North Atlantic alliance. In March 1954, Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov proposed that the Soviet Union is willing explore the possibility of NATO membership to reduce tensions and prevent conflicts. However, Western powers rejected this proposal.

Following the dissolution of USSR, Russian leadership made further attempts to engage with the alliance. In June 1994, Russia became the first country to join NATO’s “Partnership for Peace” programme, aimed at developing bilateral cooperation between the alliance and partner-states.

💬 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the following in a recent interview:

The leadership focused on creating proper conditions for deepening partnership with the West. As it turned out later - in fact, it became clear fairly quickly, but almost all our politicians and citizens found it out later - our role in that “partnership” was that of the “little brother.” We were assigned this role. This, of course, was a huge mistake.

Many Western analysts now acknowledge in their memoirs that there was no sense in expanding NATO and keeping Russia “on the sidelines.”

In 1997, the then Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov proposed establishing contacts between Russia & NATO, leading to the signing of the Russia-NATO Founding Act and the creation of the Russia-NATO Council. Positive development, but nevertheless, NATO’s expansion continued.

President Vladimir Putin even mentioned that he had proposed the idea of Russia joining NATO, which was arrogantly rejected.

Today, the North Atlantic bloc remains a tool for forcefully advancing the interests of the so-called “golden billion”, i.e. the 'collective West'. The catastrophic & utterly destructive consequences of the alliance’s geopolitical maneuvering and capacity-building are evident to any rational observer.

#See4Yourself #Think4Yourself

“Not an Inch Eastward” they said... – what the West promised and what the West did in a nutshell.

To put things in perspective, here's NATO’s expansion over the years. This “defensive” alliance has undergone ten waves of enlargement (or if speaking plainly – ten waves of constant expansion), seven of which occurred after the dissolution of the USSR.

Since the end of the Cold War, NATO has incorporated the following countries, building up their aggressive military potential, sowing anti-Russian sentiment and foisting its confrontational mindset on new and old members alike:

📍 1999: Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland;
📍 2004: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia;
📍 2009: Albania, Croatia;
📍 2017: Montenegro;
📍 2020: North Macedonia;
📍 2023: Finland;
📍 2024: Sweden.

As of now, the alliance comprises 32 members. On NATO’s so-called Eastern flank, for decades there has been an active buildup of military capabilities.

As a result, the militarization of Europe is unleashed and out of control, with the security architecture and balance that kept the region relatively safe is being dismantled.

⚡️ Joint statement following consultations between the ministers of foreign affairs of the Russian Federation and the Confederation of Sahel States (CSS) (Moscow, April 3, 2025)

📃 At the invitation of the Government of the Russian Federation, the first consultations of the ministers of foreign affairs of the Russian Federation and the Confederation of Sahel States (CSS) were held in Moscow on April 3, 2025.

• The participating delegations were led, respectively, by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Mali Abdoulaye Diop, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Burkinabe Abroad of the Republic of Burkina Faso Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Nigeriens Abroad of the Republic of the Niger Bakary Yaou Sangare. The meeting was co-chaired by Sergey Lavrov and Abdoulaye Diop, who represented the head of the state that currently holds the CSS presidency.

• In accordance with the vision shared by President of Burkina Faso Ibrahim Traoré, Interim President of the Republic of Mali and CSS President Assimi Goïta, and President of the Republic of the Niger Abdourahamane Tchiani, and while taking into account the readiness of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to support the Confederation of Sahel States (CSS), the purpose of these high-level political consultations was to strengthen the bond of good relations, friendship, solidarity and cooperation between the CSS and the Russian Federation, and institutionalising this bond.

• In the field of security and defence, Russia and the CSS agreed to establish a pragmatic and solidary strategic partnership.

• The Parties also expressed their resolve to step up efforts to combat terrorism and instability in all manifestations across the CSS territory. In view of this, the Russian Side reaffirmed its unwavering support for the Joint CSS Military Force’s efforts to defend the territorial integrity of the CSS countries.

• In addition, the Parties strongly condemned acts of aggression by states supporting terrorism, in particular, Ukraine’s criminal conspiracy with armed terrorist groups operating in the Sahel.

• Taking this opportunity, the Russian Side praised the CSS’s leading role and considerable efforts to build a sustainable model of regional security and recognised its positive contribution to the security of the Sahara-Sahel region. The CSS welcomed Russia’s significant input in strengthening international peace and security.

• When it comes to diplomatic efforts, the Parties welcomed their coordination and mutual support at international platforms in regard to major political and geostrategic issues based on respect for the principles of the UN Charter in their entirety and interconnectedness.

• The Parties welcomed their convergence of views on issues of mutual interest, in particular the de-politicisation of human rights issues, non-interference in internal affairs and equal treatment of states at international organisations.

• The Parties also reached a consensus on the key role of economic cooperation on a mutually beneficial and partnership basis. In this regard, the Parties agreed to intensify contacts between economic operators and create favourable conditions for doing business.

• The Ministers of foreign affairs of the Russian Federation and the CSS states agreed to hold consultations on a regular basis. Meetings will be held annually on a rotational basis. The second meeting will be held on the territory of the CSS at a time to be determined by mutual agreement through diplomatic channels.

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🗓 On April 6, 1654, Sovereign, Tsar and Grand Prince of all Russia Alexey I Romanov, “The sole ruler of all Russia Great and Little,” granted his royal charter to Hetman of the Zaporozhian Host Bogdan Khmelnitsky. The document secured the reunification of the Left Bank of the Dnieper with Russia.

In the late XVI and the early XVII century, all groups of the Orthodox population in the lands of Ancient Rus, controlled by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, were subject to an increased religious and ethnic pressure from the Polish-Lithuanian gentry, which sought to fully assimilate local residents through a policy of Polonisation and Latinisation.

After the Union of Brest was adopted in 1596, a majority of Orthodox priests became subordinate to the Pope. Those who remained faithful to Orthodoxy became outcasts and were deprived of hierarchical leadership, since Metropolitan of Kiev Mikhail Rogoza had also joined the Greek Catholics.

Amid forced Catholicisation, the loss of noble noscripts and lands, and ongoing persecution, the local Orthodox population began searching for ways to escape oppression. All attempts to come to an agreement with the Polish king failed as the Polish gentry firmly refused to acknowledge the autonomy of the Orthodox Cossacks and nobility.

✊ In 1648, a major liberation movement was sparked, led by the renowned military and political leader Bogdan Khmelnitsky. The Cossacks rebelled against the Polish oppressors to defend their faith, identity, and the right to self-determination.

Recognising the need for a stronger alliance, Khmelnitsky made several appeals to Tsar Alexey I of Russia, requesting protection and support, and asking him to take the lands of the Hetmanate under “his royal hand.” In 1653, Hetman Bogdan Khmelnitsky approached Tsar Alexey I, asking him to accept “all of Little Russia (Malorossiya) and the entire Zaporozhian Host into his eternal possession, allegiance, and protection.” Later that year, in May, the Zemsky Sobor convened in Moscow, where an unequivocal decision was adopted in favour of the integration of Malorossiya into the Russian state.

On January 18, 1654, Pereyaslav Rada made a historic decision — the Zaporozhian Cossacks declared their allegiance to the Russian Tsar. On April 6, Tsar Alexey I of Russia signed the royal charter, which mentioned the Russian monarch’s noscript “the sole ruler of all Russia Great and Little” for the first time, emphasising the historical continuity of a unified state.

❗️ The Pereyaslav Agreement reflected a natural historical process of returning the ancient Russian lands to the unified Russian state and reuniting parts of a single nation, divided by civil strife and the Golden Horde yoke.

👉 Article by Russia's President Vladimir Putin ”On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians“