Also, Tochka-U tactical missile was shot down near Donetskoe.
In total, 140 aircraft and 106 helicopters, 511 unmanned aerial vehicles, 254 anti-aircraft missile systems, 2,410 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 262 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,046 field artillery and mortars, as well as 2,259 special military vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed during the operation. (www.mil.ru)
21.04.2022 (19.45)
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue a special military operation in Ukraine.
During the day, high-precision air-based missiles attacked 14 objects of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. As a result of strikes in the area of Popasnaya settlement, the following were hit: a command post, two ammunition depots, two areas of concentration of manpower and Ukrainian military equipment, as well as two strongholds of nationalists.
In the settlements of Shnurki and Slavyansk, ammunition depots were destroyed, and the manpower and equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Cherkasskoye and Aleksandrovka regions were also defeated. Up to 120 nationalists were destroyed, as well as more than 30 armored vehicles.
Air Force and Army aviation hit 64 military facilities of Ukraine during the day. Among them: 17 areas of concentration of manpower and Ukrainian military equipment in the areas of Krasny Liman and Drobyshevo, as well as two depots of rocket and artillery weapons in the area of the city of Zaporozhye.
Missiles and artillery hit 450 enemy targets during the day. Including: 14 control points, as well as 429 strongholds and places of accumulation of manpower and equipment in the settlements of Velyka Kamyshevakha, Chervonoe, Pashkovo, Novaya Dmitrovka, Kharkiv region.
Russian air defense destroyed a Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle near the settlement of Yasnoye in the Donetsk People's Republic.
In total, 140 aircraft, 106 helicopters, 512 unmanned aerial vehicles, 254 anti-aircraft missile systems, 2422 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 266 multiple rocket launchers, 1051 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 2274 special military vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed during the operation. (www.mil.ru)
3. Crimes of the Ukrainian Nazis and the armed forces of Ukraine
The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation has opened a criminal case against servicemen of the 36th Marine Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for using prohibited means and methods of warfare. It has been established that in order to intimidate the population, destabilize the activities of the authorities of the Donetsk People's Republic, international organizations, as well as influence their decisions, the command of the Ukrainian military unit repeatedly gave orders to fire artillery and other types of small arms towards residential buildings, civilian facilities, infrastructure and life support of the city of Mariupol, as well as the civilian population. In the course of collecting evidence of this illegal activity, military investigators examined the Mariupol city hospital No. 4, where they found dozens of bodies of civilians. (https://sledcom.ru/)
Investigative Committee of Russia, in cooperation with law enforcement agencies of Donbass will record traces of illegal actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine related to the shelling of settlements in the DPR. Over the city of Shakhtyorsk, located in the DPR, air defense systems intercepted a missile fired by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Rocket fragments fell in a residential area. According to preliminary data, as a result of the illegal actions of the Ukrainian forces, a child was killed, three adults and another child were injured. (https://sledcom.ru/)
4. Exposure of disinformation
Fake: In Ukraine, journalists and bloggers are not persecuted for a position that differs from the state one, the country has freedom of speech. Officials of Ukraine constantly talk about this.
In total, 140 aircraft and 106 helicopters, 511 unmanned aerial vehicles, 254 anti-aircraft missile systems, 2,410 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 262 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,046 field artillery and mortars, as well as 2,259 special military vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed during the operation. (www.mil.ru)
21.04.2022 (19.45)
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue a special military operation in Ukraine.
During the day, high-precision air-based missiles attacked 14 objects of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. As a result of strikes in the area of Popasnaya settlement, the following were hit: a command post, two ammunition depots, two areas of concentration of manpower and Ukrainian military equipment, as well as two strongholds of nationalists.
In the settlements of Shnurki and Slavyansk, ammunition depots were destroyed, and the manpower and equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Cherkasskoye and Aleksandrovka regions were also defeated. Up to 120 nationalists were destroyed, as well as more than 30 armored vehicles.
Air Force and Army aviation hit 64 military facilities of Ukraine during the day. Among them: 17 areas of concentration of manpower and Ukrainian military equipment in the areas of Krasny Liman and Drobyshevo, as well as two depots of rocket and artillery weapons in the area of the city of Zaporozhye.
Missiles and artillery hit 450 enemy targets during the day. Including: 14 control points, as well as 429 strongholds and places of accumulation of manpower and equipment in the settlements of Velyka Kamyshevakha, Chervonoe, Pashkovo, Novaya Dmitrovka, Kharkiv region.
Russian air defense destroyed a Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle near the settlement of Yasnoye in the Donetsk People's Republic.
In total, 140 aircraft, 106 helicopters, 512 unmanned aerial vehicles, 254 anti-aircraft missile systems, 2422 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 266 multiple rocket launchers, 1051 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 2274 special military vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed during the operation. (www.mil.ru)
3. Crimes of the Ukrainian Nazis and the armed forces of Ukraine
The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation has opened a criminal case against servicemen of the 36th Marine Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for using prohibited means and methods of warfare. It has been established that in order to intimidate the population, destabilize the activities of the authorities of the Donetsk People's Republic, international organizations, as well as influence their decisions, the command of the Ukrainian military unit repeatedly gave orders to fire artillery and other types of small arms towards residential buildings, civilian facilities, infrastructure and life support of the city of Mariupol, as well as the civilian population. In the course of collecting evidence of this illegal activity, military investigators examined the Mariupol city hospital No. 4, where they found dozens of bodies of civilians. (https://sledcom.ru/)
Investigative Committee of Russia, in cooperation with law enforcement agencies of Donbass will record traces of illegal actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine related to the shelling of settlements in the DPR. Over the city of Shakhtyorsk, located in the DPR, air defense systems intercepted a missile fired by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Rocket fragments fell in a residential area. According to preliminary data, as a result of the illegal actions of the Ukrainian forces, a child was killed, three adults and another child were injured. (https://sledcom.ru/)
4. Exposure of disinformation
Fake: In Ukraine, journalists and bloggers are not persecuted for a position that differs from the state one, the country has freedom of speech. Officials of Ukraine constantly talk about this.
In reality: The well-known Chilean-American journalist and writer Gonzalo Lira was kidnapped and killed in Ukraine just because he criticized the policies of the Ukrainian authorities and expressed his opinion, which did not coincide with the position of Kyiv. (войнасфейками.рф)
Fake: A Ukrainian blogger draws attention to the events in Mariupol - the posts are illustrated with a photo of a crying girl from the streets of the city.
In reality: This post is from 2014, owned by photographer Fadi Thabet and taken in Palestine. It shows a frightened seven-year-old girl collecting her notebooks after the Israeli bombing. This is a fairly well-known picture - it has been circulating on social networks for many years and is published during periods of various conflicts. It is often attributed to later Israeli-Palestinian conflicts as well. In the information war, the Ukrainian side often uses old photographs that are not related to the current conflict. (войнасфейками.рф) #Russia #Ukraine #Donbass
Fake: A Ukrainian blogger draws attention to the events in Mariupol - the posts are illustrated with a photo of a crying girl from the streets of the city.
In reality: This post is from 2014, owned by photographer Fadi Thabet and taken in Palestine. It shows a frightened seven-year-old girl collecting her notebooks after the Israeli bombing. This is a fairly well-known picture - it has been circulating on social networks for many years and is published during periods of various conflicts. It is often attributed to later Israeli-Palestinian conflicts as well. In the information war, the Ukrainian side often uses old photographs that are not related to the current conflict. (войнасфейками.рф) #Russia #Ukraine #Donbass
❗️BRIEFING on a provocation against the Russian Federation prepared by the USA and NATO with the accusation of using nuclear, biological and chemical weapons (April 23, 2022)❗️
Diapositive 1 (Opening)
Diapositive 2 (Statements against Russia)
The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation possesses the information related to the preparation of provocations by the United States of America in order to accuse the Russian Armed Forces of using chemical, biological or tactical nuclear weapons. This plan has already been developed and represents a response to the success of Russia in conducting the special military operation.
Only in March and April senior officials of the Western countries have been making regular provocative ‘warning’ statements. The mass media propagate the points about the possibility of using weapons of mass destructions by Russia.
For example, the National Security Advisor J.Sullivan has commented on Biden’s words that the USA “in kind” to the possible use of weapons of mass destructions by our country. And on February 27 the American permanent representative to the UN Greenfield announced an intention of Russia to use any instruments ‘under a false flag’, including chemical and biological weapons for intimidating the Ukrainian population and the international community.
Against this background, the US State Department considered positively the transfer of up to 400 sets of personal protection equipment, 390 NBC reconnaissance devices and 15 ‘Stryker’ reconnaissance vehicles.
Diapositive 3 (Examples of falsification)
We inform you that this kind of projects has already been implemented many times by the USA for achieving its goals. The most vivid example of an information provocation is the speech of the US Secretary of State Colin Powell on February 5, 2003. The vial with laundry detergent in his hands provided a pretext to invade Iraq and caused death of half a million civilians.
In 2017, the widely spread photographs of the ‘White Helmets’ that showed people taking samples in a site of the alleged sarin attack and using simple gauze bandages, while the people standing around lacked any personal protection equipment, caused a missile attack on Shayrat airfield in Syria.
And in 2018, a staging of the Syrian children who had been allegedly poisoned by chlorine caused the destruction of a scientific research centre in Barzeh and Jamra. Only the testimony of the witnesses of those developments who had been brought by the Russian Federation to the Hague have opened the eyes of the international community to these events.
Until now, no one has been held accountable for these provocations.
Diapositive 4 (Staging scenarios)
This time there are three scenarios to be applied in order to accuse the Russian Federation.
The first one is a ‘staged incident under a false flag’ that is the most probable.
This could include a real use of chemical and biological weapons that would cause deaths among the population or staging ‘sabotages’ from Russia at the facilities of Ukraine involved in the development of components for weapons of mass destruction.
The abovementioned scenario can be implemented in the chemical and biological facilities located in Kharkov and Kiev. There also may occur a provocation in the nuclear energy facilities: above all others, it could refer to Zaporozhie Nuclear Power Station controlled by the Russian Federation. On April, 21, a convoy of 10 motor vehicles that was transporting dangerous goods to the nuclear station was stopped and turned about to Zaporozhie.
In addition, the leadership of Ukraine is seriously considering striking at the radioactive waste storage facility at the former Pridneprovsky Chemical Plant in the village of Kamenskoye in Dnipropetrovsk Region. The Ministry of Defense has documents confirming the critical condition of the storage facility and the inappropriate spending of funds allocated by the European Union for the maintenance of the facility.
Diapositive 1 (Opening)
Diapositive 2 (Statements against Russia)
The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation possesses the information related to the preparation of provocations by the United States of America in order to accuse the Russian Armed Forces of using chemical, biological or tactical nuclear weapons. This plan has already been developed and represents a response to the success of Russia in conducting the special military operation.
Only in March and April senior officials of the Western countries have been making regular provocative ‘warning’ statements. The mass media propagate the points about the possibility of using weapons of mass destructions by Russia.
For example, the National Security Advisor J.Sullivan has commented on Biden’s words that the USA “in kind” to the possible use of weapons of mass destructions by our country. And on February 27 the American permanent representative to the UN Greenfield announced an intention of Russia to use any instruments ‘under a false flag’, including chemical and biological weapons for intimidating the Ukrainian population and the international community.
Against this background, the US State Department considered positively the transfer of up to 400 sets of personal protection equipment, 390 NBC reconnaissance devices and 15 ‘Stryker’ reconnaissance vehicles.
Diapositive 3 (Examples of falsification)
We inform you that this kind of projects has already been implemented many times by the USA for achieving its goals. The most vivid example of an information provocation is the speech of the US Secretary of State Colin Powell on February 5, 2003. The vial with laundry detergent in his hands provided a pretext to invade Iraq and caused death of half a million civilians.
In 2017, the widely spread photographs of the ‘White Helmets’ that showed people taking samples in a site of the alleged sarin attack and using simple gauze bandages, while the people standing around lacked any personal protection equipment, caused a missile attack on Shayrat airfield in Syria.
And in 2018, a staging of the Syrian children who had been allegedly poisoned by chlorine caused the destruction of a scientific research centre in Barzeh and Jamra. Only the testimony of the witnesses of those developments who had been brought by the Russian Federation to the Hague have opened the eyes of the international community to these events.
Until now, no one has been held accountable for these provocations.
Diapositive 4 (Staging scenarios)
This time there are three scenarios to be applied in order to accuse the Russian Federation.
The first one is a ‘staged incident under a false flag’ that is the most probable.
This could include a real use of chemical and biological weapons that would cause deaths among the population or staging ‘sabotages’ from Russia at the facilities of Ukraine involved in the development of components for weapons of mass destruction.
The abovementioned scenario can be implemented in the chemical and biological facilities located in Kharkov and Kiev. There also may occur a provocation in the nuclear energy facilities: above all others, it could refer to Zaporozhie Nuclear Power Station controlled by the Russian Federation. On April, 21, a convoy of 10 motor vehicles that was transporting dangerous goods to the nuclear station was stopped and turned about to Zaporozhie.
In addition, the leadership of Ukraine is seriously considering striking at the radioactive waste storage facility at the former Pridneprovsky Chemical Plant in the village of Kamenskoye in Dnipropetrovsk Region. The Ministry of Defense has documents confirming the critical condition of the storage facility and the inappropriate spending of funds allocated by the European Union for the maintenance of the facility.
The second one refers to a ‘Maximally covert use of weapons of mass destruction in small volumes’ for neutralising the will power and the capacity to resist within the fulfilment of a particular operational task.
This scenario was supposed to be implemented in ‘Azovstal’. But the order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief to cancel the assault of the entity has frustrated the plans of the Pentagon.
The third and the least probable one is the ‘overt use of weapons of mass destruction at a combat area’ in case of failure to succeed in using conventional armaments in the combat zone.
This scenario was considered for Slavyansk and Kramatorsk that had been transformed into fortified towns.
The high probability of staging the application of chemical arms is confirmed by the facts of the supply of antidotes with toxic substances to Ukraine. Only in 2022, on request of the Ministry of Healthcare of Ukraine, more than 220 thousand of vials with atropines. This fact is an evidence of a targeted preparation of a provocation that includes the use of toxic nerve-paralytic substances.
Diapositive 5 (Incidents investigation)
The US State Department has already determined the procedure of investigation and has assigned the officials who will be responsible for its implementation.
The chemical incidents will be investigated by the attributive staff of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons that permits to fabricate the necessary proofs and to sentence the responsibility as it can be seen fit.
It will be essential to gather evidence at the scene (sampling, questioning of witnesses, photo- and videographic documenting).
The investigative mechanism applied to the cases of possible use of biological weapons will be put in operation with the authorisation of the UN Secretary-General that determines the expert panel basing on his own preferences.
It is planned to involve the Red Cross International Committee representatives equipped with means of personal protection and indication to operate in the combat zones to which the NATO representatives will have no access.
Diapositive 6 (Staging results)
Staged use of WMD is aimed at accusing Russia of using prohibited weapons with the subsequent implementation of the so-called «Syrian scenario», in which the state is subjected to economic and political isolation, as well as exclusion from international organizations, including the UN Security Council.
A possible way forward is to put pressure on the countries loyal to and friendly to the Russian Federation, including India and China, to compel them to impose sanctions on our country.
We would like to recall that the Russian Federation completely destroyed its chemical arsenal on September 27, 2017, which is confirmed by an OPCW certificate. In turn, the United States, with its strong financial, economic and technical potential, is the only country party to the Chemical Weapons Convention that still possesses an impressive arsenal of chemical warfare agents (672.5 tons).
CIA Director Burns' statement about Russia's possible use of tactical nuclear weapons is absurd. With the current level of technical equipment of the international nuclear test monitoring system, it is impossible to conceal the use of such weapons. If the CIA director does not understand this, then he is either unprofessional, or he is being misled.
The biological weapons programs in the USSR were completely phased out in 1972. At the same time, the number of U.S. biological laboratories is incomparable to other countries. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Washington controls 336 laboratories in 30 countries, which is of great concern.
Diapositive 7 (features of U.S. legislation)
Note, that contrary to its international obligations, the U.S. has retained domestic legislation that permits biological weapons work.
This scenario was supposed to be implemented in ‘Azovstal’. But the order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief to cancel the assault of the entity has frustrated the plans of the Pentagon.
The third and the least probable one is the ‘overt use of weapons of mass destruction at a combat area’ in case of failure to succeed in using conventional armaments in the combat zone.
This scenario was considered for Slavyansk and Kramatorsk that had been transformed into fortified towns.
The high probability of staging the application of chemical arms is confirmed by the facts of the supply of antidotes with toxic substances to Ukraine. Only in 2022, on request of the Ministry of Healthcare of Ukraine, more than 220 thousand of vials with atropines. This fact is an evidence of a targeted preparation of a provocation that includes the use of toxic nerve-paralytic substances.
Diapositive 5 (Incidents investigation)
The US State Department has already determined the procedure of investigation and has assigned the officials who will be responsible for its implementation.
The chemical incidents will be investigated by the attributive staff of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons that permits to fabricate the necessary proofs and to sentence the responsibility as it can be seen fit.
It will be essential to gather evidence at the scene (sampling, questioning of witnesses, photo- and videographic documenting).
The investigative mechanism applied to the cases of possible use of biological weapons will be put in operation with the authorisation of the UN Secretary-General that determines the expert panel basing on his own preferences.
It is planned to involve the Red Cross International Committee representatives equipped with means of personal protection and indication to operate in the combat zones to which the NATO representatives will have no access.
Diapositive 6 (Staging results)
Staged use of WMD is aimed at accusing Russia of using prohibited weapons with the subsequent implementation of the so-called «Syrian scenario», in which the state is subjected to economic and political isolation, as well as exclusion from international organizations, including the UN Security Council.
A possible way forward is to put pressure on the countries loyal to and friendly to the Russian Federation, including India and China, to compel them to impose sanctions on our country.
We would like to recall that the Russian Federation completely destroyed its chemical arsenal on September 27, 2017, which is confirmed by an OPCW certificate. In turn, the United States, with its strong financial, economic and technical potential, is the only country party to the Chemical Weapons Convention that still possesses an impressive arsenal of chemical warfare agents (672.5 tons).
CIA Director Burns' statement about Russia's possible use of tactical nuclear weapons is absurd. With the current level of technical equipment of the international nuclear test monitoring system, it is impossible to conceal the use of such weapons. If the CIA director does not understand this, then he is either unprofessional, or he is being misled.
The biological weapons programs in the USSR were completely phased out in 1972. At the same time, the number of U.S. biological laboratories is incomparable to other countries. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Washington controls 336 laboratories in 30 countries, which is of great concern.
Diapositive 7 (features of U.S. legislation)
Note, that contrary to its international obligations, the U.S. has retained domestic legislation that permits biological weapons work.
The United States ratified the 1925 Geneva Protocol with a number of reservations, one of which allows for the retaliatory use of chemical and toxin weapons.
Under the U.S. «Uniting and Strengthening America to Obstruct Terrorism Act» research into biological weapons is permitted with the approval of the U.S. government. Participants in such research are not criminally liable for developing such weapons.
Given the blocking by the United States of any international initiatives to verify the Biological (Toxin) Weapons Convention, there are prerequisites for violating international agreements on the non-proliferation of biological weapons.
Diapositive 8 (Unmanned aerial vehicles)
We noted earlier that Ukraine had sent a request to the manufacturing company about the possibility of equipping the Bayraktar drones with aerosol attachments.
It is a matter of concern that on 9 March Russian reconnaissance units in Kherson Region discovered three unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with 30-litre containers and equipment for spraying formulations.
According to available data, in January 2022, Ukraine purchased more than 50 such devices through intermediary organizations, which can be used to apply biological formulations and toxic chemicals.
On April 21, 2022, a container with ampoules was dropped onto the position of Russian troops from a drone. It was planned that their destruction would cause a chemical reaction that would cause an explosion and fire, releasing toxic substances not included in the convention lists.
With regard to the contents of the ampoules, a chemical analysis is carried out in laboratory 27 of the Scientific Center of the Russian Ministry of Defense, accredited by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the results of the analysis will be sent to its technical secretariat in the prescribed manner.
Diapositive 9 (WMD)
In addition, I would like to recall that today the United States is the only state in world history that has used all three types of weapons of mass destruction.
The dropped nuclear bombs during the Second World War on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the use of toxic chemicals in Vietnam and Iraq - all these crimes were not properly assessed by relevant international organizations.
Thus, in an attempt to discredit the special military operation of the Russian troops, the Kyiv regime, at the suggestion of the American administration, is able to implement scenarios in the near future that will lead to the death of tens of thousands of Ukrainian citizens and cause an environmental and humanitarian catastrophe.
Under the U.S. «Uniting and Strengthening America to Obstruct Terrorism Act» research into biological weapons is permitted with the approval of the U.S. government. Participants in such research are not criminally liable for developing such weapons.
Given the blocking by the United States of any international initiatives to verify the Biological (Toxin) Weapons Convention, there are prerequisites for violating international agreements on the non-proliferation of biological weapons.
Diapositive 8 (Unmanned aerial vehicles)
We noted earlier that Ukraine had sent a request to the manufacturing company about the possibility of equipping the Bayraktar drones with aerosol attachments.
It is a matter of concern that on 9 March Russian reconnaissance units in Kherson Region discovered three unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with 30-litre containers and equipment for spraying formulations.
According to available data, in January 2022, Ukraine purchased more than 50 such devices through intermediary organizations, which can be used to apply biological formulations and toxic chemicals.
On April 21, 2022, a container with ampoules was dropped onto the position of Russian troops from a drone. It was planned that their destruction would cause a chemical reaction that would cause an explosion and fire, releasing toxic substances not included in the convention lists.
With regard to the contents of the ampoules, a chemical analysis is carried out in laboratory 27 of the Scientific Center of the Russian Ministry of Defense, accredited by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the results of the analysis will be sent to its technical secretariat in the prescribed manner.
Diapositive 9 (WMD)
In addition, I would like to recall that today the United States is the only state in world history that has used all three types of weapons of mass destruction.
The dropped nuclear bombs during the Second World War on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the use of toxic chemicals in Vietnam and Iraq - all these crimes were not properly assessed by relevant international organizations.
Thus, in an attempt to discredit the special military operation of the Russian troops, the Kyiv regime, at the suggestion of the American administration, is able to implement scenarios in the near future that will lead to the death of tens of thousands of Ukrainian citizens and cause an environmental and humanitarian catastrophe.
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
Media is too big
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#See4Yourself & #Think4Yourself
📽 Watch (with ENG subs) the documentary by Russian journalist Andrei Medvedev #Donbass to learn more about the tragedy of the region, the horrors of the past 8 years under constant attacks by the Kiev regime, killings of civilians, murder of children. All the things the Western mainstream media has so resolutely turned a blind eye to, ignoring or even laughing at the human suffering.
Learn the story of Donbass and its people.
📽 Watch (with ENG subs) the documentary by Russian journalist Andrei Medvedev #Donbass to learn more about the tragedy of the region, the horrors of the past 8 years under constant attacks by the Kiev regime, killings of civilians, murder of children. All the things the Western mainstream media has so resolutely turned a blind eye to, ignoring or even laughing at the human suffering.
Learn the story of Donbass and its people.
⚡️Comments on the reasons of global food crisis 🍞
We see that today a number of countries are trying to accuse Russia of the looming food crisis and make our country responsible for all the negative trends in agricultural markets, gloomy prospects in terms of access to food and huge losses of farmers. The cause of this crisis is widely attributed to Russia’s “actions in Ukraine”.
However, the truth is absolutely different, and it is well illustrated by comprehensive and objective analysis of the roots and drivers of this crisis. It is vital to understand them properly, without emotions and political prejudice.
Agricultural production is indeed among the most injured sectors because of the global economic instability. The key point is that the problems in the global agricultural markets are multifaceted in origin and deep-rooted in the long-lasting economic instability. They are linked to a number of factors, including the COVID-19 Pandemic and related disturbances.
The current situation in the food markets is not a result of two months of this year, but a steady trend of at least last two years. Food prices started rising in mid-2020 and reached an all-time high in February 2022. This is a real market shock caused by high demand and rising prices on food, raw materials and transportation services, including freight in the post-COVID recovery period.
According to the data of the stock exchanges, the current situation in the food market is not a result of two months of this year, but a steady trend of at least last two years. The annual growth rate of wheat prices in 2021 amounted up to 25%. By February 2022, they exceeded the average prices for 2017-2021 by 31-62%. The cost of corn for the years of 2020-2021 increased by 162%, for rapeseed - by 175%. In 2020 and 2021 the WFP has repeatedly warned that as the world was dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, it was also “on the brink of a hunger pandemic” that could lead to “multiple famines of biblical proportions”. Peak energy price were reported in 2021.
Ref. As of March 31, 2022, the prices for food were the following: wheat – 375 USD/t, corn – 295USD/t, barley – 422USD/t, rapeseed – 1027 USD/t. The crisis phenomena of recent years, particularly in the agricultural market, are associated, first of all, with miscalculations and systemic mistakes in the macroeconomic (including financial and trade), energy (including climate) and food policies of developed countries. COVID-19 Pandemic followed by the breach of supply and distribution chains as well as spike of freight and insurance rates also contributed to this trend.
• In developed countries in 2020-2021 the volume of monetary support to the economy has sharply increased (5 trillion USD in the US, 1 trillion in the EU, 2 trillion in Japan). Growing budget deficits, coupled with ultra-mild monetary policy, accelerated demand and led to a surge of inflation (including food prices spike). The trend was aggravated by growing protectionism, trade wars, persistent acute contradictions in the regulation of agricultural markets, including such issue as government support and subsidies to agricultural production. As a result, food stocks have decreased to hit the lowest level for the last 5 to 10 years.
• The accelerated transition of a number of Western countries to "green energy", reliance solely on the development of renewable energy sources to the detriment of traditional fuels, low investment in oil and gas processing, as well as abandoning nuclear energy triggered growth of energy prices. In particular, oil prices in 2020-2022 grew by more than 22%. Spot natural gas prices went up in 2021, reaching a three-four times increase at the peak (1000 USD for 1000 cubic meters as of the end of February, during winter 2021-22 prices jumped to a record high of 2500 USD). As a result December 2021 marked an unprecedented increase in prices for mineral fertilizers: for urea and saltpeter - by 3-4 times, for other types - by 2-3 times.
Due to restrictions in international transportation, breaches in cargo deliveries, and
We see that today a number of countries are trying to accuse Russia of the looming food crisis and make our country responsible for all the negative trends in agricultural markets, gloomy prospects in terms of access to food and huge losses of farmers. The cause of this crisis is widely attributed to Russia’s “actions in Ukraine”.
However, the truth is absolutely different, and it is well illustrated by comprehensive and objective analysis of the roots and drivers of this crisis. It is vital to understand them properly, without emotions and political prejudice.
Agricultural production is indeed among the most injured sectors because of the global economic instability. The key point is that the problems in the global agricultural markets are multifaceted in origin and deep-rooted in the long-lasting economic instability. They are linked to a number of factors, including the COVID-19 Pandemic and related disturbances.
The current situation in the food markets is not a result of two months of this year, but a steady trend of at least last two years. Food prices started rising in mid-2020 and reached an all-time high in February 2022. This is a real market shock caused by high demand and rising prices on food, raw materials and transportation services, including freight in the post-COVID recovery period.
According to the data of the stock exchanges, the current situation in the food market is not a result of two months of this year, but a steady trend of at least last two years. The annual growth rate of wheat prices in 2021 amounted up to 25%. By February 2022, they exceeded the average prices for 2017-2021 by 31-62%. The cost of corn for the years of 2020-2021 increased by 162%, for rapeseed - by 175%. In 2020 and 2021 the WFP has repeatedly warned that as the world was dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, it was also “on the brink of a hunger pandemic” that could lead to “multiple famines of biblical proportions”. Peak energy price were reported in 2021.
Ref. As of March 31, 2022, the prices for food were the following: wheat – 375 USD/t, corn – 295USD/t, barley – 422USD/t, rapeseed – 1027 USD/t. The crisis phenomena of recent years, particularly in the agricultural market, are associated, first of all, with miscalculations and systemic mistakes in the macroeconomic (including financial and trade), energy (including climate) and food policies of developed countries. COVID-19 Pandemic followed by the breach of supply and distribution chains as well as spike of freight and insurance rates also contributed to this trend.
• In developed countries in 2020-2021 the volume of monetary support to the economy has sharply increased (5 trillion USD in the US, 1 trillion in the EU, 2 trillion in Japan). Growing budget deficits, coupled with ultra-mild monetary policy, accelerated demand and led to a surge of inflation (including food prices spike). The trend was aggravated by growing protectionism, trade wars, persistent acute contradictions in the regulation of agricultural markets, including such issue as government support and subsidies to agricultural production. As a result, food stocks have decreased to hit the lowest level for the last 5 to 10 years.
• The accelerated transition of a number of Western countries to "green energy", reliance solely on the development of renewable energy sources to the detriment of traditional fuels, low investment in oil and gas processing, as well as abandoning nuclear energy triggered growth of energy prices. In particular, oil prices in 2020-2022 grew by more than 22%. Spot natural gas prices went up in 2021, reaching a three-four times increase at the peak (1000 USD for 1000 cubic meters as of the end of February, during winter 2021-22 prices jumped to a record high of 2500 USD). As a result December 2021 marked an unprecedented increase in prices for mineral fertilizers: for urea and saltpeter - by 3-4 times, for other types - by 2-3 times.
Due to restrictions in international transportation, breaches in cargo deliveries, and
lower cargo turnover caused by anti-covid measures transportation costs grew enormously. Freight rates nearly doubled.
• during the period of the “corona crisis”, Western governments “pulled off” scarce commodity flows and worsened the already difficult situation in developing countries dependent on food imports. The situation was exacerbated by low levels of food supplies, adverse weather conditions (in particular, prolonged drought in North America) and general underinvestment in the industrial sector. Amidst rising fuel and fertilizer prices, farmers are reducing crops areas everywhere. Ever-growing demand is not met by supplies of agricultural products.
Western measures of economic coercion against Russia exacerbated already existing negative trends in the global food market, energy, and industry. Payment restrictions and logistical difficulties affected all economic operators, including agricultural companies, who faced difficulties with regard to financial and transport services under contracts of food deliveries. In terms of current uncertainty farmers doubt if there is a reason to invest in expansion of agricultural business.
Threats of mass arrests of dry cargo ships and disconnection of Russia from SWIFT contribute to disruption of the logistic and financial chains with the participation of Russian economic operators. Restrictions in the transportation sector (including prohibited entry of Russian ships into ports) breach food supplies and made it impossible to deliver Russian and Belarusian fertilizers to agricultural producers. As a result the global market is on the brink of an inevitable and significant drop in crops around the world.
The Russian Federation, as a responsible participant of the global food market, intends to continue to fulfill its obligations under international commitments in terms of export deliveries of agricultural products, fertilizers, energy and other vital products. We are deeply concerned about a possible food crisis and are well aware of the importance of supplying essential goods for the social and economic development of the states of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Food deliveries are also linked to the successful achievement of food security and the implementation of the SDGs.
Certain restrictive economic measures of the Russian Federation, affecting export of agricultural and raw materials, are temporary and are directed solely at minimizing the consequences of sanctions pressure and adapting the national economy and businesses to the conditions of external restrictions.
The current situation should be viewed by all countries through the lens of their vital national interests. All stakeholders are therefore called upon to voice their firm position. Lifting unilateral coercive measures can significantly downgrade the tensions around transportation-related, logistical, and financial aspects, ensure unimpeded deliveries and reverse the economics back to seeking stability of global agricultural, energy and financial markets. Mutually respectful and constructive dialogue on problems with global ramifications is required. If this is not done in an urgent manner, then the consequences can become catastrophic for everyone.
• during the period of the “corona crisis”, Western governments “pulled off” scarce commodity flows and worsened the already difficult situation in developing countries dependent on food imports. The situation was exacerbated by low levels of food supplies, adverse weather conditions (in particular, prolonged drought in North America) and general underinvestment in the industrial sector. Amidst rising fuel and fertilizer prices, farmers are reducing crops areas everywhere. Ever-growing demand is not met by supplies of agricultural products.
Western measures of economic coercion against Russia exacerbated already existing negative trends in the global food market, energy, and industry. Payment restrictions and logistical difficulties affected all economic operators, including agricultural companies, who faced difficulties with regard to financial and transport services under contracts of food deliveries. In terms of current uncertainty farmers doubt if there is a reason to invest in expansion of agricultural business.
Threats of mass arrests of dry cargo ships and disconnection of Russia from SWIFT contribute to disruption of the logistic and financial chains with the participation of Russian economic operators. Restrictions in the transportation sector (including prohibited entry of Russian ships into ports) breach food supplies and made it impossible to deliver Russian and Belarusian fertilizers to agricultural producers. As a result the global market is on the brink of an inevitable and significant drop in crops around the world.
The Russian Federation, as a responsible participant of the global food market, intends to continue to fulfill its obligations under international commitments in terms of export deliveries of agricultural products, fertilizers, energy and other vital products. We are deeply concerned about a possible food crisis and are well aware of the importance of supplying essential goods for the social and economic development of the states of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Food deliveries are also linked to the successful achievement of food security and the implementation of the SDGs.
Certain restrictive economic measures of the Russian Federation, affecting export of agricultural and raw materials, are temporary and are directed solely at minimizing the consequences of sanctions pressure and adapting the national economy and businesses to the conditions of external restrictions.
The current situation should be viewed by all countries through the lens of their vital national interests. All stakeholders are therefore called upon to voice their firm position. Lifting unilateral coercive measures can significantly downgrade the tensions around transportation-related, logistical, and financial aspects, ensure unimpeded deliveries and reverse the economics back to seeking stability of global agricultural, energy and financial markets. Mutually respectful and constructive dialogue on problems with global ramifications is required. If this is not done in an urgent manner, then the consequences can become catastrophic for everyone.
❗Mass Media of Russia about Situation in Ukraine (April 24, 2022)❗
1. Political statements by the leadership of the Russian Federation and friendly countries
The work of the Russian embassy in the US was blocked by the American authorities, said Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov. "The embassy is under blockade by US government agencies, the accounts of our two consulates general in Houston and New York were closed by Bank of America," the diplomat explained.
According to Antonov, the embassy also began receiving phone and written threats, the entrance to the building was blocked for some time (gazeta.ru).
2. The course of special military operation. Briefings by Russian Defense Ministry
24.04.2022
The Russian Armed Forces continue the special military operation in Ukraine.
The workshops of an explosives manufacturing facility were destroyed by high-precision ground-based missiles near Pavlograd.
Russian Air Force hit nine military facilities of Ukraine with high-precision air-based missiles. Among them: a command post, 4 strongholds and 4 artillery weapons stockpiles near Barvenkovo, Novaya Dmitrovka and Ivanovka in Kharkov Region.
Russian Army aviation hit 26 military assets of Ukraine. Among them: one battalion's command post and 25 strongholds. Killed up to 150 nationalists, as well as more than 40 armoured vehicles and cars were destroyed.
Missile and artillery units carried out 423 firing missions. As a result 26 command posts, 367 strongholds and military equipment stockpiles, 4 ammunition depots near Gusarovka and Velikaya Kamyshevaha, as well as 25 artillery positions, were destroyed.
Russian Air Defense systems shoot down 10 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Barvinok, Vasilievka, Krasnogorovka, Kremennaya, Novyi Pervomaisk, Poltavka, Tomarino, Fedorovka and Yasinovatoe.
Totally, 141 aircraft and 110 helicopters, 551 unmanned aerial vehicles, 264 anti-aircraft missile systems, 2,496 MBTs and other armored combat vehicles, 282 MLRS, 1,093 field artillery and mortars, as well as 2,343 units of special military vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed during the operation (mil.ru).
3. Crimes of the Ukrainian Nazis and the armed forces of Ukraine
The Chairman of the Russian Investigative Committee ordered to investigate the shelling by Ukraine a checkpoint in the Kursk region.
It was reported that the checkpoint in the Glushkovsky district of the Kursk region was subjected to mortar fire from Ukraine. There were no injured or dead (sledcom.ru).
4. Exposure of disinformation
Fake:
According to Ukrainian sources Russian military kidnapped the honorary Consul of Bulgaria in Melitopol.
As a matter of fact:
The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied this information. The ministry reported the consul was not abducted by anyone, he is in safety at his own home (войнасфейками.рф). #Russia #Ukraine #Donbass
1. Political statements by the leadership of the Russian Federation and friendly countries
The work of the Russian embassy in the US was blocked by the American authorities, said Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov. "The embassy is under blockade by US government agencies, the accounts of our two consulates general in Houston and New York were closed by Bank of America," the diplomat explained.
According to Antonov, the embassy also began receiving phone and written threats, the entrance to the building was blocked for some time (gazeta.ru).
2. The course of special military operation. Briefings by Russian Defense Ministry
24.04.2022
The Russian Armed Forces continue the special military operation in Ukraine.
The workshops of an explosives manufacturing facility were destroyed by high-precision ground-based missiles near Pavlograd.
Russian Air Force hit nine military facilities of Ukraine with high-precision air-based missiles. Among them: a command post, 4 strongholds and 4 artillery weapons stockpiles near Barvenkovo, Novaya Dmitrovka and Ivanovka in Kharkov Region.
Russian Army aviation hit 26 military assets of Ukraine. Among them: one battalion's command post and 25 strongholds. Killed up to 150 nationalists, as well as more than 40 armoured vehicles and cars were destroyed.
Missile and artillery units carried out 423 firing missions. As a result 26 command posts, 367 strongholds and military equipment stockpiles, 4 ammunition depots near Gusarovka and Velikaya Kamyshevaha, as well as 25 artillery positions, were destroyed.
Russian Air Defense systems shoot down 10 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Barvinok, Vasilievka, Krasnogorovka, Kremennaya, Novyi Pervomaisk, Poltavka, Tomarino, Fedorovka and Yasinovatoe.
Totally, 141 aircraft and 110 helicopters, 551 unmanned aerial vehicles, 264 anti-aircraft missile systems, 2,496 MBTs and other armored combat vehicles, 282 MLRS, 1,093 field artillery and mortars, as well as 2,343 units of special military vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed during the operation (mil.ru).
3. Crimes of the Ukrainian Nazis and the armed forces of Ukraine
The Chairman of the Russian Investigative Committee ordered to investigate the shelling by Ukraine a checkpoint in the Kursk region.
It was reported that the checkpoint in the Glushkovsky district of the Kursk region was subjected to mortar fire from Ukraine. There were no injured or dead (sledcom.ru).
4. Exposure of disinformation
Fake:
According to Ukrainian sources Russian military kidnapped the honorary Consul of Bulgaria in Melitopol.
As a matter of fact:
The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied this information. The ministry reported the consul was not abducted by anyone, he is in safety at his own home (войнасфейками.рф). #Russia #Ukraine #Donbass
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
Media is too big
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▪️Since the coup d'état in 2014, Ukraine has plunged into the abyss of political chaos.
👉 Learn more about military and other crimes of the Kiev regime - from 2014 to 2022 - in our video. Hard facts & testimonies that the "collective West" & the Kiev regime prefer to hush up...
👉 Learn more about military and other crimes of the Kiev regime - from 2014 to 2022 - in our video. Hard facts & testimonies that the "collective West" & the Kiev regime prefer to hush up...
❗️Mass Media of Russia about Situation in Ukraine (April 25, 2022)❗️
1. Political statements by the leadership of the Russian Federation and friendly countries
President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin during the meeting with the Attorney General said that Russia over recent years have found issues under the unprecedented sanctions pressure of the Western countries. This pressure increased after Russia launched the special military operation to support the Donbass people’s republics. The Government and regions are taking large-scale measures to support the citizens of Russia and ensure the uninterrupted operation of the social protection mechanisms at all levels. (kremlin.ru)
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Croatia has refused to organize a humanitarian flight for the employees of the Russian embassy in Zagreb, adding that Moscow will respond accordingly.
"In its 'militant Russophobia', official Zagreb has reached the point that in a non-diplomatic form, violating the decency and standards of international communication, it refused to carry out a humanitarian flight in order to evacuate a large group of employees of the Russian Embassy in Croatia with families, including young children. Moreover, we are talking about people who themselves were unreasonably ordered by the Croatian authorities to leave the country," Zakharova said in a statement, as quoted by the ministry.
The spokeswoman added that "inhumane, mocking" attitude towards Russian citizens will not be left without a proper response. (mid.ru)
2. The course of special military operation. Briefings by Russian Defense Ministry
25.04.2022 (10:47)
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation in Ukraine.
High-precision sea- and air-based long-range weapons destroyed fuel production facilities of an oil refinery in the northern outskirts of Kremenchuk, as well as storage facilities for oil products to supply military equipment of Ukrainian troops. 6 enemy assets were hit by high-precision air-based missiles. Among them: 3 strong points and 3 ammunition depots in Barvenkovo and Novaya Dmitrovka in Kharkov Region.
Air Force and Army Aviation hit 56 military assets of Ukraine. Among them: 2 command posts and 53 strong points, 1 fuel storage facility near Novaya Dmitrovka. Up to 160 nationalists, more than 23 armoured vehicles, artillery mounts and cars, were destroyed.
At night 19 missile strikes destroyed 4 command posts of the nationalists, including the 81-st Airborne Assault Brigade and the 110-th Territorial Defence Brigade and three ammunition depots. 21 strong points of Ukrainian army were hit. Up to 240 nationalists were killed, more than 28 armoured vehicles, artillery mounts and cars were destroyed.
967 artillery strikes destroyed 33 command posts, 929 strong points, 5 missile and artillery weapons and ammunition depots.
Russian Air Defence systems shot down 13 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Mezhurino, Balakleya, Borodoyarkoe, Nevskoe in Kharkov Region and Vysokoe and Chernobaevka in Kherson Region.
In addition, anti-aircraft missile system "Pantsir-S" shot down 1 Ukrainian missile "Tochka-U" and 18 rockets of the multiple-launch rocket system over Chernobaeka.
In total, 141 aircraft and 110 helicopters, 566 unmanned aerial vehicles, 265 anti-aircraft missile systems, 2,526 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 283 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,096 field artillery and mortars, as well as 2,362 units of special military vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed during the operation. (mil.ru)
25.04.2022 (20:00)
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue a special military operation in Ukraine.
Long-range high-precision weapons destroyed six facilities near railway stations Zdolbunov, Zhmerinka, Berdichev, Kovel and Korosten through which foreign weapons and military equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are supplied.
1. Political statements by the leadership of the Russian Federation and friendly countries
President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin during the meeting with the Attorney General said that Russia over recent years have found issues under the unprecedented sanctions pressure of the Western countries. This pressure increased after Russia launched the special military operation to support the Donbass people’s republics. The Government and regions are taking large-scale measures to support the citizens of Russia and ensure the uninterrupted operation of the social protection mechanisms at all levels. (kremlin.ru)
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Croatia has refused to organize a humanitarian flight for the employees of the Russian embassy in Zagreb, adding that Moscow will respond accordingly.
"In its 'militant Russophobia', official Zagreb has reached the point that in a non-diplomatic form, violating the decency and standards of international communication, it refused to carry out a humanitarian flight in order to evacuate a large group of employees of the Russian Embassy in Croatia with families, including young children. Moreover, we are talking about people who themselves were unreasonably ordered by the Croatian authorities to leave the country," Zakharova said in a statement, as quoted by the ministry.
The spokeswoman added that "inhumane, mocking" attitude towards Russian citizens will not be left without a proper response. (mid.ru)
2. The course of special military operation. Briefings by Russian Defense Ministry
25.04.2022 (10:47)
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation in Ukraine.
High-precision sea- and air-based long-range weapons destroyed fuel production facilities of an oil refinery in the northern outskirts of Kremenchuk, as well as storage facilities for oil products to supply military equipment of Ukrainian troops. 6 enemy assets were hit by high-precision air-based missiles. Among them: 3 strong points and 3 ammunition depots in Barvenkovo and Novaya Dmitrovka in Kharkov Region.
Air Force and Army Aviation hit 56 military assets of Ukraine. Among them: 2 command posts and 53 strong points, 1 fuel storage facility near Novaya Dmitrovka. Up to 160 nationalists, more than 23 armoured vehicles, artillery mounts and cars, were destroyed.
At night 19 missile strikes destroyed 4 command posts of the nationalists, including the 81-st Airborne Assault Brigade and the 110-th Territorial Defence Brigade and three ammunition depots. 21 strong points of Ukrainian army were hit. Up to 240 nationalists were killed, more than 28 armoured vehicles, artillery mounts and cars were destroyed.
967 artillery strikes destroyed 33 command posts, 929 strong points, 5 missile and artillery weapons and ammunition depots.
Russian Air Defence systems shot down 13 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Mezhurino, Balakleya, Borodoyarkoe, Nevskoe in Kharkov Region and Vysokoe and Chernobaevka in Kherson Region.
In addition, anti-aircraft missile system "Pantsir-S" shot down 1 Ukrainian missile "Tochka-U" and 18 rockets of the multiple-launch rocket system over Chernobaeka.
In total, 141 aircraft and 110 helicopters, 566 unmanned aerial vehicles, 265 anti-aircraft missile systems, 2,526 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 283 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,096 field artillery and mortars, as well as 2,362 units of special military vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed during the operation. (mil.ru)
25.04.2022 (20:00)
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue a special military operation in Ukraine.
Long-range high-precision weapons destroyed six facilities near railway stations Zdolbunov, Zhmerinka, Berdichev, Kovel and Korosten through which foreign weapons and military equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are supplied.
High-precision air-launched missiles destroyed four command posts, an ammunition depot in the Slavyansk region, the headquarter of the terrorist group "Right Sector" in Novogrodovka, as well as 16 strong holds of Ukrainian nationalists.
Air Forces and Army Aviation of the Russian Armed Forces hit 82 military facilities of Ukraine including 4 command posts, 76 strong points, as well as two fuel depots.
15 missile strikes destroyed the starting position of the tactical missile system "Tochka-U", three command posts, an artillery battery and 10 missile and artillery weapons and ammunition depots. 40 Ukrainian nationalists were killed and 17 armored vehicles were destroyed. Russian Air Defense systems shot down four Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Izyum, Donetsk and Kharkiv.
In total, 141 aircraft, 110 helicopters, 570 unmanned aerial vehicles, 265 anti-aircraft missile systems, 2554 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 283 multiple rocket launchers, 1104 field artillery and mortar guns, as well as 2380 units of special military vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed during the operation. (mil.ru)
Emergency statement of the Joint Coordination Headquarters of the Russian Federation for Humanitarian Response
25.04.2022 (12:48)
The leadership of the Russian Federation once again confirms humanitarian corridor operating from March 21 from the Azovstal metallurgical plant for the evacuation of civilians (workers, women and children), whose alleged presence in the underground structures of the plant is publicly announced by the Kiev authorities.
At the same time, the Armed Forces of Russia and the Donetsk People's Republic from 14:00 on April 25 unilaterally cease any hostilities. Units are withdrawn to a safe distance and to provide the evacuation of citizens in any directions they choose.
The actual readiness of the Ukrainian side to launch a humanitarian operation is indicated by raising white flags around the perimeter or in certain directions of Azovstal.
The Russian Federation publicly and officially declares that there are no obstacles to the exit of civilians from Azovstal, except for the principled decision of the Kiev authorities themselves and the commanders of nationalist formations to continue to hold civilians as a "human shield".
If civilians are still at the metallurgical plant then we categorically demand that the Kiev authorities immediately give the appropriate order to the commanders of nationalist formations for their release.
This statement will be continuously brought to the Ukrainian formations at Azovstal via radio channels at intervals of every 30 minutes.
Through operational communication channels, this statement is immediately brought to the Ukrainian side through the Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Ukraine Vereshchuk Irina. (mil.ru)
3. Crimes of the Ukrainian Nazis and the armed forces of Ukraine
The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation has begun the investigation of the shelling of the checkpoint in the Kursk region. It was reported that the checkpoint in the Glushkovsky district was subjected to mortar fire from Ukraine. There were no injured or dead. (redstar.ru)
According to the representative office of the Joint Center for Control and Coordination of the Ceasefire regime, as a result of the shelling by the Armed Forces of Ukraine 70 people in Donetsk People's Republic were injured for a week.
The Russian Armed Forces dislodged Ukrainian nationalists from the residential sector of the settlements, destroying the fortified area of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Ukrainian units and nationalist battalions didn't only abandone weapons but also left dozens of bodies of fallen fellow soldiers. (mil.ru)
Air Forces and Army Aviation of the Russian Armed Forces hit 82 military facilities of Ukraine including 4 command posts, 76 strong points, as well as two fuel depots.
15 missile strikes destroyed the starting position of the tactical missile system "Tochka-U", three command posts, an artillery battery and 10 missile and artillery weapons and ammunition depots. 40 Ukrainian nationalists were killed and 17 armored vehicles were destroyed. Russian Air Defense systems shot down four Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Izyum, Donetsk and Kharkiv.
In total, 141 aircraft, 110 helicopters, 570 unmanned aerial vehicles, 265 anti-aircraft missile systems, 2554 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 283 multiple rocket launchers, 1104 field artillery and mortar guns, as well as 2380 units of special military vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed during the operation. (mil.ru)
Emergency statement of the Joint Coordination Headquarters of the Russian Federation for Humanitarian Response
25.04.2022 (12:48)
The leadership of the Russian Federation once again confirms humanitarian corridor operating from March 21 from the Azovstal metallurgical plant for the evacuation of civilians (workers, women and children), whose alleged presence in the underground structures of the plant is publicly announced by the Kiev authorities.
At the same time, the Armed Forces of Russia and the Donetsk People's Republic from 14:00 on April 25 unilaterally cease any hostilities. Units are withdrawn to a safe distance and to provide the evacuation of citizens in any directions they choose.
The actual readiness of the Ukrainian side to launch a humanitarian operation is indicated by raising white flags around the perimeter or in certain directions of Azovstal.
The Russian Federation publicly and officially declares that there are no obstacles to the exit of civilians from Azovstal, except for the principled decision of the Kiev authorities themselves and the commanders of nationalist formations to continue to hold civilians as a "human shield".
If civilians are still at the metallurgical plant then we categorically demand that the Kiev authorities immediately give the appropriate order to the commanders of nationalist formations for their release.
This statement will be continuously brought to the Ukrainian formations at Azovstal via radio channels at intervals of every 30 minutes.
Through operational communication channels, this statement is immediately brought to the Ukrainian side through the Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Ukraine Vereshchuk Irina. (mil.ru)
3. Crimes of the Ukrainian Nazis and the armed forces of Ukraine
The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation has begun the investigation of the shelling of the checkpoint in the Kursk region. It was reported that the checkpoint in the Glushkovsky district was subjected to mortar fire from Ukraine. There were no injured or dead. (redstar.ru)
According to the representative office of the Joint Center for Control and Coordination of the Ceasefire regime, as a result of the shelling by the Armed Forces of Ukraine 70 people in Donetsk People's Republic were injured for a week.
The Russian Armed Forces dislodged Ukrainian nationalists from the residential sector of the settlements, destroying the fortified area of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Ukrainian units and nationalist battalions didn't only abandone weapons but also left dozens of bodies of fallen fellow soldiers. (mil.ru)
Ukrainian group of ‘neo-Nazis’ planned to kill one of Russia’s most famous journalists Vladimir Soloviev on orders from Ukrainian security services. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) foiled the activities of a terrorist group that planned the attack. The detained men were Russian nationals who were found with fake Ukrainian passports, illegal drugs and nationalist literature. The Russian Investigative Committee later announced that the six men had allegedly conspired to blow up Solovyov’s car. (sledcom.ru)
4. Exposure of disinformation
Fake:
Ukrainian telegram channels wrote that Russian troops attacked a residential building in Odessa.
As a matter of fact:
The video shows the consequences of the fire in Biysk, which happened in August 2019. Major Ukrainian channels published this footage under the guise of a fire in an apartment in Odessa. The total coverage of the publication amounted to 469 thousand people. The total audience of the channels is more than 2.3 million subscribers. (войнасфейками.рф)
Fake:
Nationalists from Azov showed an "underground city" under the plant "Azovstal". The video is circulating on tik tok.
As a matter of fact:
The video was actually filmed in an abandoned Royal Navy bunker from World War II. The authors of the fake used a cut from the forty-minute film "Exploring Within". Frames are completely duplicated. Earlier it was reported that there is no labyrinth of shelters under the plant "Azovstal" which connected by a chain of tunnels and having a depth of six floors. (войнасфейками.рф) #Russia #Ukraine #Donbass
4. Exposure of disinformation
Fake:
Ukrainian telegram channels wrote that Russian troops attacked a residential building in Odessa.
As a matter of fact:
The video shows the consequences of the fire in Biysk, which happened in August 2019. Major Ukrainian channels published this footage under the guise of a fire in an apartment in Odessa. The total coverage of the publication amounted to 469 thousand people. The total audience of the channels is more than 2.3 million subscribers. (войнасфейками.рф)
Fake:
Nationalists from Azov showed an "underground city" under the plant "Azovstal". The video is circulating on tik tok.
As a matter of fact:
The video was actually filmed in an abandoned Royal Navy bunker from World War II. The authors of the fake used a cut from the forty-minute film "Exploring Within". Frames are completely duplicated. Earlier it was reported that there is no labyrinth of shelters under the plant "Azovstal" which connected by a chain of tunnels and having a depth of six floors. (войнасфейками.рф) #Russia #Ukraine #Donbass
❗️Disclaimer
▪️This video was made using open source data, including high-quality material by The Guardian newspaper and Time Magazine.
▪️The authors and distributors of this video do not share the views presented in it.
▪️This video is not promoting any form of racial/ethnic hatred, xenophobia or terrorist ideology, and is provided for information purposes only.
https://youtu.be/GPFPevLPiJ4
▪️This video was made using open source data, including high-quality material by The Guardian newspaper and Time Magazine.
▪️The authors and distributors of this video do not share the views presented in it.
▪️This video is not promoting any form of racial/ethnic hatred, xenophobia or terrorist ideology, and is provided for information purposes only.
https://youtu.be/GPFPevLPiJ4
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview with Channel One’s The Great Game political talk show, Moscow, April 25, 2022
Question: Thank you for finding the time in your busy schedule to talk to us.
Sergey Lavrov: Thank you for inviting me. This is a big game, so I have to play it.
Question: Indeed, the stakes are high. I am confident that much of what is being said in Washington is at odds with how you view the actual developments. However, I think you will probably agree with what President Joe Biden said about the importance of avoiding World War III. We need to keep in mind that this threat does exist.
Graham Allison, whom you know well – he is a prominent political scientist at Harvard and former Assistant Secretary of Defence – said that today’s situation is as explosive as it was during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. In fact, it could be even more dangerous, since there is less clarity about the rules of the game and more mutual distrust. What do you think about the extent of the crisis we are all facing today? How real is it? What can and will Russia do about it?
Sergey Lavrov: Russia is already doing a lot. For many years, as far back as during the Donald Trump presidency, we called for Moscow and Washington to reaffirm at the highest level the 1987 statement by Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan, who said that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.
We tried to convince Donald Trump’s team to reaffirm this statement, considering its importance for our nations and for the entire world. Unfortunately, we failed to persuade our colleagues that this step was needed. However, we reached common ground with the Joe Biden administration quite quickly, and our presidents issued the statement in June 2021 during their Geneva summit.
In January 2022, we fulfilled another initiative to this effect. The five permanent members of the UN Security Council adopted a statement along the same lines, which was supposed to coincide with the opening of the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. All five leaders put their signatures under the statement that a nuclear war must never happen. This is our position of principle, and we are committed to it. The risks are quite high today. I would not like to see them blown out of proportion, but many would love to do it. This threat is serious and real. It must not be underestimated.
During the Cuban Missile Crisis, there were not many written rules, but the rules of conduct were quite clear. Moscow understood how Washington was acting, while Washington understood Moscow’s behaviour.
Today, few rules remain. We have the New START – the Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms. Joe Biden made a good and wise step by supporting Russia’s proposal to extend the treaty for five years without any conditions as his first foreign policy decision. The Trump administration refused to proceed with this formula.
At the same time, the other arms control and non-proliferation instruments have been destroyed. The ABM Treaty limiting missile defence systems and the INF Treaty – the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, no longer exist. The US has turned down our proposal to introduce a mutual moratorium, even though we proposed agreeing on verification mechanisms as part of this proposal. The main objection the West has is that they do not “trust” us that the Iskander systems in Kaliningrad do not violate the terms of the INF Treaty. Guided by the principle of reciprocity, we offered them to visit Kaliningrad, while we would visit US missile defence bases in Poland and Romania. This was an honest proposal, but they have been refusing it ever since. The Open Skies Treaty has also run its course. It does not exist anymore.
The New START is the only remaining arms control treaty. We were ready to discuss what will happen in five years (now we have only four years left), and we started this conversation with the Americans, since we all proceed from the premise that this
Question: Thank you for finding the time in your busy schedule to talk to us.
Sergey Lavrov: Thank you for inviting me. This is a big game, so I have to play it.
Question: Indeed, the stakes are high. I am confident that much of what is being said in Washington is at odds with how you view the actual developments. However, I think you will probably agree with what President Joe Biden said about the importance of avoiding World War III. We need to keep in mind that this threat does exist.
Graham Allison, whom you know well – he is a prominent political scientist at Harvard and former Assistant Secretary of Defence – said that today’s situation is as explosive as it was during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. In fact, it could be even more dangerous, since there is less clarity about the rules of the game and more mutual distrust. What do you think about the extent of the crisis we are all facing today? How real is it? What can and will Russia do about it?
Sergey Lavrov: Russia is already doing a lot. For many years, as far back as during the Donald Trump presidency, we called for Moscow and Washington to reaffirm at the highest level the 1987 statement by Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan, who said that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.
We tried to convince Donald Trump’s team to reaffirm this statement, considering its importance for our nations and for the entire world. Unfortunately, we failed to persuade our colleagues that this step was needed. However, we reached common ground with the Joe Biden administration quite quickly, and our presidents issued the statement in June 2021 during their Geneva summit.
In January 2022, we fulfilled another initiative to this effect. The five permanent members of the UN Security Council adopted a statement along the same lines, which was supposed to coincide with the opening of the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. All five leaders put their signatures under the statement that a nuclear war must never happen. This is our position of principle, and we are committed to it. The risks are quite high today. I would not like to see them blown out of proportion, but many would love to do it. This threat is serious and real. It must not be underestimated.
During the Cuban Missile Crisis, there were not many written rules, but the rules of conduct were quite clear. Moscow understood how Washington was acting, while Washington understood Moscow’s behaviour.
Today, few rules remain. We have the New START – the Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms. Joe Biden made a good and wise step by supporting Russia’s proposal to extend the treaty for five years without any conditions as his first foreign policy decision. The Trump administration refused to proceed with this formula.
At the same time, the other arms control and non-proliferation instruments have been destroyed. The ABM Treaty limiting missile defence systems and the INF Treaty – the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, no longer exist. The US has turned down our proposal to introduce a mutual moratorium, even though we proposed agreeing on verification mechanisms as part of this proposal. The main objection the West has is that they do not “trust” us that the Iskander systems in Kaliningrad do not violate the terms of the INF Treaty. Guided by the principle of reciprocity, we offered them to visit Kaliningrad, while we would visit US missile defence bases in Poland and Romania. This was an honest proposal, but they have been refusing it ever since. The Open Skies Treaty has also run its course. It does not exist anymore.
The New START is the only remaining arms control treaty. We were ready to discuss what will happen in five years (now we have only four years left), and we started this conversation with the Americans, since we all proceed from the premise that this
was the last extension. We had two useful rounds of talks in July and September 2021. After that, we held working contacts. They demonstrated that we have serious differences, which were clear to us and to the Americans. We agreed on setting up two working groups and tasked them with defining the subject matter of the treaty and specific threats to be reviewed during future talks.
The United States cancelled almost all contacts due to the fact that we were forced to stand up for the Russians in Ukraine. Those people lived under constant shelling for eight years without any response from the West. On the contrary, all the West did was encourage Russophobic and neo-Nazi actions by the Kiev regime. Ukraine passed laws banning the Russian language from all areas of life: education, the media, and everyday communication, while encouraging neo-Nazi theories and practices.
To follow up on rules, it’s a buzzword the United States and its allies use when they tell everyone to behave. They now insist on compliance with the rules-based order rather than international law. No denoscription of these rules is available.
They say the rules are not many. For us, they don't exist at all. There is international law. We respect it and the UN Charter. The sovereign equality of states is its key provision and the core principle. The US is flagrantly violating its obligations under the UN Charter when it promotes its rules and wants the whole world to blindly follow in its step and do as its already compliant allies (primarily in Europe and some Asian countries) are doing. It does not fulfil the obligation to respect the sovereign equality of states. In fact, it is blatantly trampling upon this equality and is forcing everyone to follow its rules.
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen gave a particularly fitting definition of these rules. She was speaking about something else, but that does not affect the meaning of what she said. She was talking about the idea of reforming the Bretton Woods institutions. Not being bound by any foreign policy conventionalities, she made clear that this reform should by no means lead to the formation of a bipolar world, and the United States should actively work with China in order for Beijing to absorb this message. She couldn’t have been clearer about it. They need a unipolar world as they see it now, and every reform should be carried out exclusively within the unipolar world philosophy.
Even when President Trump was in office, the United States spoke in favour of reforming the WTO. As it turned out, China has beat them and continues to beat them on the platforms created by the Americans as part of globalisation and the WTO rules that it created. It is not accidental that Washington blocked the WTO dispute resolution body, to which China submitted scores of complaints. The Americans are taking advantage of procedural tricks to block appointments to fill vacancies in that body so it does not have a quorum and remains non-operational.
When it came to the WTO reform, Washington stated that it should be carried out by the United States and Europe, whereas China should be “kept out” of it. Acting unprofessionally and giving out its plans is a hallmark of our Western colleagues, who feel free to do anything they want. They openly state that they will be in charge and that NATO is ennoscriptd to do as it pleases. They can say that NATO is a defensive alliance, so there’s “no need to be afraid” and “this organisation does not threaten anyone's security.” Next thing you know Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is saying that NATO bears global responsibility for security, including in the Indo-Pacific region.
By the same token, once the Warsaw Pact and the Soviet Union were gone, they moved the “line of defence” (since they are a defensive alliance) eastward, closer to our borders on five occasions and told us not “to fret,” since it is inconsequential for our security. Rather impolitely, they made it clear that we are not the ones to decide on our security needs.
Now, they are going to move the “defence li
The United States cancelled almost all contacts due to the fact that we were forced to stand up for the Russians in Ukraine. Those people lived under constant shelling for eight years without any response from the West. On the contrary, all the West did was encourage Russophobic and neo-Nazi actions by the Kiev regime. Ukraine passed laws banning the Russian language from all areas of life: education, the media, and everyday communication, while encouraging neo-Nazi theories and practices.
To follow up on rules, it’s a buzzword the United States and its allies use when they tell everyone to behave. They now insist on compliance with the rules-based order rather than international law. No denoscription of these rules is available.
They say the rules are not many. For us, they don't exist at all. There is international law. We respect it and the UN Charter. The sovereign equality of states is its key provision and the core principle. The US is flagrantly violating its obligations under the UN Charter when it promotes its rules and wants the whole world to blindly follow in its step and do as its already compliant allies (primarily in Europe and some Asian countries) are doing. It does not fulfil the obligation to respect the sovereign equality of states. In fact, it is blatantly trampling upon this equality and is forcing everyone to follow its rules.
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen gave a particularly fitting definition of these rules. She was speaking about something else, but that does not affect the meaning of what she said. She was talking about the idea of reforming the Bretton Woods institutions. Not being bound by any foreign policy conventionalities, she made clear that this reform should by no means lead to the formation of a bipolar world, and the United States should actively work with China in order for Beijing to absorb this message. She couldn’t have been clearer about it. They need a unipolar world as they see it now, and every reform should be carried out exclusively within the unipolar world philosophy.
Even when President Trump was in office, the United States spoke in favour of reforming the WTO. As it turned out, China has beat them and continues to beat them on the platforms created by the Americans as part of globalisation and the WTO rules that it created. It is not accidental that Washington blocked the WTO dispute resolution body, to which China submitted scores of complaints. The Americans are taking advantage of procedural tricks to block appointments to fill vacancies in that body so it does not have a quorum and remains non-operational.
When it came to the WTO reform, Washington stated that it should be carried out by the United States and Europe, whereas China should be “kept out” of it. Acting unprofessionally and giving out its plans is a hallmark of our Western colleagues, who feel free to do anything they want. They openly state that they will be in charge and that NATO is ennoscriptd to do as it pleases. They can say that NATO is a defensive alliance, so there’s “no need to be afraid” and “this organisation does not threaten anyone's security.” Next thing you know Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is saying that NATO bears global responsibility for security, including in the Indo-Pacific region.
By the same token, once the Warsaw Pact and the Soviet Union were gone, they moved the “line of defence” (since they are a defensive alliance) eastward, closer to our borders on five occasions and told us not “to fret,” since it is inconsequential for our security. Rather impolitely, they made it clear that we are not the ones to decide on our security needs.
Now, they are going to move the “defence li
ne” of their “defensive” alliance to the South China Sea, which goes hand-in-hand with creating AUKUS and QUAD, and dragging Japan, Korea and half of the ASEAN countries into AUKUS. They are trying to tear down the architecture that has been taking shape over the span of many decades and relied on consensus and the participation of all major players, including the United States, Russia, India, Japan, China and Australia. This is now also subject to change in line with unipolarity, which they are trying to save by hook or by crook.
Everyone’s mantra is that a third world war must be staved off at all costs. President Zelensky of Ukraine and his team’s unending provocations should beconsidered in this context. They almost go as far as requesting NATO to send its troops in to protect the Ukrainian government. However, everyone keeps saying that they will provide Kiev with weapons, which adds fuel to the fire. They want to use these arms deliveries to make the Ukrainians fight against Russia to the last soldier in order to make this conflict last longer, so that Russia, as they hope, suffers more from it.
As they keep supplying weapons and promoting their efforts in this area, all leaders (except Poland) state that sending NATO troops in is out of the question. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki came up with the idea of a kind of “peacekeeping operation” in Ukraine, clearly interested in sending Polish troops to Ukraine under peacekeeping flags. Next, we can imagine how the historical memory of the Poles, who will find themselves in their former territory – western Ukraine – will work.
How are we supposed to behave? Can this be compared to the Cuban Missile Crisis? In those years, there was a channel of communication that both leaders trusted. Now there is no such channel. Nobody is trying to create it. A few timid attempts made at an early stage have not produced any notable result. We have been desperate to reach NATO all these years. Contrary to their promises, the alliance continued to expand; contrary to our warnings, they have been pumping weapons into Ukraine and in every possible way encouraging its Russophobic tendency (the regime established under Petro Poroshenko and strengthened under Vladimir Zelensky). We repeatedly warned them against drawing Ukraine into NATO. As a last resort or a goodwill gesture, we proposed that the Americans and NATO members sign appropriate security agreements that would ensure the security of all states in the Euro-Atlantic area, including Ukraine. Everyone understood that Ukraine was an apple of discord, which revealed a far bigger problem and became a trigger in these processes. We proposed signing an agreement with the United States and NATO on providing guarantees for all countries jointly, collectively, without expanding any military-political blocs.
They listened politely. And then they said that they could not restrict NATO’s expansion because it would be contrary to their “open-door policy.” We reviewed the Charter of the North Atlantic Alliance and found that Article 10 did not mention any “open doors.” It says NATO can invite new members by consensus if they meet the criteria (apparently, democratic control) and, most importantly, if the new members contribute to the security of NATO member countries. No “open doors” or anything. They took in Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Albania. How can those countries contribute to NATO security if it is a “defensive” alliance? This shows that NATO’s expansion has nothing to do with its statutory goals. This is an expansion of territories under American command, and an attempt at strengthening and perpetuating that same old unipolar world. We’ve had talks between the delegations from Russia and the United States. I met with Antony Blinken. Our team went to the North Atlantic Alliance to present the proposed agreement in the Russia-NATO context. The talks showed there was no inclination among any members of the other party to consider our legitimate security interests.
We told them, friends, you’re on our borders.
Everyone’s mantra is that a third world war must be staved off at all costs. President Zelensky of Ukraine and his team’s unending provocations should beconsidered in this context. They almost go as far as requesting NATO to send its troops in to protect the Ukrainian government. However, everyone keeps saying that they will provide Kiev with weapons, which adds fuel to the fire. They want to use these arms deliveries to make the Ukrainians fight against Russia to the last soldier in order to make this conflict last longer, so that Russia, as they hope, suffers more from it.
As they keep supplying weapons and promoting their efforts in this area, all leaders (except Poland) state that sending NATO troops in is out of the question. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki came up with the idea of a kind of “peacekeeping operation” in Ukraine, clearly interested in sending Polish troops to Ukraine under peacekeeping flags. Next, we can imagine how the historical memory of the Poles, who will find themselves in their former territory – western Ukraine – will work.
How are we supposed to behave? Can this be compared to the Cuban Missile Crisis? In those years, there was a channel of communication that both leaders trusted. Now there is no such channel. Nobody is trying to create it. A few timid attempts made at an early stage have not produced any notable result. We have been desperate to reach NATO all these years. Contrary to their promises, the alliance continued to expand; contrary to our warnings, they have been pumping weapons into Ukraine and in every possible way encouraging its Russophobic tendency (the regime established under Petro Poroshenko and strengthened under Vladimir Zelensky). We repeatedly warned them against drawing Ukraine into NATO. As a last resort or a goodwill gesture, we proposed that the Americans and NATO members sign appropriate security agreements that would ensure the security of all states in the Euro-Atlantic area, including Ukraine. Everyone understood that Ukraine was an apple of discord, which revealed a far bigger problem and became a trigger in these processes. We proposed signing an agreement with the United States and NATO on providing guarantees for all countries jointly, collectively, without expanding any military-political blocs.
They listened politely. And then they said that they could not restrict NATO’s expansion because it would be contrary to their “open-door policy.” We reviewed the Charter of the North Atlantic Alliance and found that Article 10 did not mention any “open doors.” It says NATO can invite new members by consensus if they meet the criteria (apparently, democratic control) and, most importantly, if the new members contribute to the security of NATO member countries. No “open doors” or anything. They took in Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Albania. How can those countries contribute to NATO security if it is a “defensive” alliance? This shows that NATO’s expansion has nothing to do with its statutory goals. This is an expansion of territories under American command, and an attempt at strengthening and perpetuating that same old unipolar world. We’ve had talks between the delegations from Russia and the United States. I met with Antony Blinken. Our team went to the North Atlantic Alliance to present the proposed agreement in the Russia-NATO context. The talks showed there was no inclination among any members of the other party to consider our legitimate security interests.
We told them, friends, you’re on our borders.
President Vladimir Putin repeatedly and publicly pointed out that they had reached our doorstep despite all our requests, statements, and warnings. They just kept advancing and were not going to change anything. They say their actions are not aimed against us, and they are not threatening our security. What are we supposed to make of this? Now they are cosying up to India, trying to involve that country in their formats in every possible way. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson travelled to India, and before that, American representatives did, too. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman publicly (all this is done blatantly) stated: the United States must “help” India understand what it needs to ensure its security. It is not some tiny island country they are referring to, but a great civilisation. They are saying similar things about China, too, they say they will “explain” what punishment will follow if Beijing supports Russia.
At the same time, when the United States suddenly decides something more than 10,000 kilometres away is threatening their interests – the former Yugoslavia, or Iraq, or somewhere else in the Middle East – they send troops, bomb civilian targets without hesitation, without any legal scruples or attempts to read up international law or the UN Charter. This is what happened in Belgrade: bridges, passenger trains, the television centre… Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said it was not a television centre, but an outlet of aggressive Serbian propaganda. In much the same way, President of France Emmanuel Macron has denied RT television channel and Sputnik accreditation for the Elysee Palace, calling them “propaganda tools” rather than media outlets.
These mannerisms, habits and attitudes are deep-rooted. They razed Iraqi Mosul and Syrian Raqqa to the ground. Dead bodies lay there for weeks. That, all the way across the ocean – a threat to the security of the United States of America. In Kosovo, they established the largest military base in the Balkans (maybe not only in the Balkans). No one is going to withdraw it. The “reason” for doing that was the “instability” that Slobodan Milosevic was allegedly generating in that region, oppressing the Kosovo Albanians. Let me emphasise once again: they seem to believe they’re ennoscriptd to uphold their own security wherever they please, while we are denied the right to defend our own borders and territories where Russians live, who have been oppressed there for many years, subjected to bombing, abuse, infringements on their rights to their language, culture, and traditions.
This is the problem – they have an incorrigible confidence in their own rightness and exceptionality. They have this term, “exceptional nation,” which both Democrats and Republicans use the same way. This sense of superiority brings back some memories, especially now that Russophobia and real racism with regard to things Russian is being cultivated at the highest level. Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau recently announced that Vladimir Putin and all those who support him must be punished, adding that not only Russia, but all Russians will pay for this.
Question: I believe that Washington would not refute what you have said here. But they would formulate it differently. They would ask: Mr Minister, do you insist that authoritarian states should have the same rights as democratic countries?
Sergey Lavrov: Yes, I do.
Question: Since you do, and they see this as unacceptable, this is one of the main conceptual differences between Moscow and Washington. They say that NATO is a defensive alliance and Russia has nothing to fear from it. But they mean – after all, you are not silly or naïve – that this is only true if you “behave.”
Sergey Lavrov: I am fully aware of this.
Question: If the “alliance of democracies” called NATO believes that a country “misbehaves,” that country is faced with unpleasant consequences, depending on what it has done. I believe that NATO does not even make a secret of this.
What should be done about the crisis around Ukraine in the cont
At the same time, when the United States suddenly decides something more than 10,000 kilometres away is threatening their interests – the former Yugoslavia, or Iraq, or somewhere else in the Middle East – they send troops, bomb civilian targets without hesitation, without any legal scruples or attempts to read up international law or the UN Charter. This is what happened in Belgrade: bridges, passenger trains, the television centre… Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said it was not a television centre, but an outlet of aggressive Serbian propaganda. In much the same way, President of France Emmanuel Macron has denied RT television channel and Sputnik accreditation for the Elysee Palace, calling them “propaganda tools” rather than media outlets.
These mannerisms, habits and attitudes are deep-rooted. They razed Iraqi Mosul and Syrian Raqqa to the ground. Dead bodies lay there for weeks. That, all the way across the ocean – a threat to the security of the United States of America. In Kosovo, they established the largest military base in the Balkans (maybe not only in the Balkans). No one is going to withdraw it. The “reason” for doing that was the “instability” that Slobodan Milosevic was allegedly generating in that region, oppressing the Kosovo Albanians. Let me emphasise once again: they seem to believe they’re ennoscriptd to uphold their own security wherever they please, while we are denied the right to defend our own borders and territories where Russians live, who have been oppressed there for many years, subjected to bombing, abuse, infringements on their rights to their language, culture, and traditions.
This is the problem – they have an incorrigible confidence in their own rightness and exceptionality. They have this term, “exceptional nation,” which both Democrats and Republicans use the same way. This sense of superiority brings back some memories, especially now that Russophobia and real racism with regard to things Russian is being cultivated at the highest level. Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau recently announced that Vladimir Putin and all those who support him must be punished, adding that not only Russia, but all Russians will pay for this.
Question: I believe that Washington would not refute what you have said here. But they would formulate it differently. They would ask: Mr Minister, do you insist that authoritarian states should have the same rights as democratic countries?
Sergey Lavrov: Yes, I do.
Question: Since you do, and they see this as unacceptable, this is one of the main conceptual differences between Moscow and Washington. They say that NATO is a defensive alliance and Russia has nothing to fear from it. But they mean – after all, you are not silly or naïve – that this is only true if you “behave.”
Sergey Lavrov: I am fully aware of this.
Question: If the “alliance of democracies” called NATO believes that a country “misbehaves,” that country is faced with unpleasant consequences, depending on what it has done. I believe that NATO does not even make a secret of this.
What should be done about the crisis around Ukraine in the cont