❗️ While professing its commitment to "freedom and democracy", the UK government has aligned itself with supporting fascist elements in Europe, represented by the neo-Nazi Ukrainian regime that came to power following a coup in 2014.

London is providing political, economic, and military support to Kiev. British instructors are involved in training Ukrainian militants, British mercenaries are deployed to Ukraine, and British-made weapons are used in attacks that result in the deaths of Russian civilians and the destruction of civilian infrastructure.

Even the Ukrainian fascist slogan "Slava Ukraini" ("Glory to Ukraine!") has been frequently echoed by members of the British political elite as a demonstration of their support for Kiev.

In May 2024, three fighters of Ukraine's neo-Nazi Azov Brigade visited London, where they were warmly received by a group of British MPs and former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Photos of the meeting show Ukrainians in military uniforms prominently displaying the Azov insignia with Nazi symbols. Yet, this detail does not seem to concern British lawmakers.

The British mainstream media regularly whitewash and rehabilitate Ukrainian neo-Nazis, including members of the Azov Brigade, portraying them as defenders and patriots of Ukraine.

Notably, there are a number of monuments in Britain dedicated to Ukrainian Nazi collaborators.

• In Bradford, England, a plaque commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Anti-Bolshevik Bloc of Nations, an organisation comprising former Nazis and their collaborators who fled to the West following the defeat of Hitler's Germany in the Second World War.

• In Derby, England, two plaques honour the 14th SS Grenadier Division, also known as SS Galichina. These are located at the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church of St Michael the Archangel. One plaque marks the 60th anniversary of the division, while the other pays tribute to Ukrainian SS members who perished during the Battle of Brody in 1944, where most Hitlerites were decimated by the Red Army.

• In Lockerbie, Scotland, a memorial to the same SS division stands near an improvised chapel, erected on the site of a former prisoner-of-war camp that once held SS Galichina soldiers.

❌ Tellingly, in 2022-2024, the UK delegation voted against the resolution "Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance" proposed annually by Russia and other co-authors at the UN General Assembly.

Do you find this hard to believe?

Read Russia's MFA report on glorification of Nazism and the spread of neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in various countries, including the UK.

🎙 Excerpt from Russian MFA Spox Maria Zakharova's weekly briefing on topical foreign policy issues (11 December 2024)

Britain’s accusations against Russia regarding alleged hostile activities in the ICT sector

💬 We have observed yet another iteration of the anti-Russia campaign in the United Kingdom.

This time, it stems from accusations made in the National Cyber Security Centre’s annual review, under the British Government Communications Headquarters, alleging "hostile" activities of our country in the field of information and communication technologies.

It is worth noting that the document fails to present any concrete or significant evidence to substantiate the allegations it puts forward. Furthermore, an analysis of the report reveals that the purported threats attributed to Russia are not even a primary focus. Nevertheless, for the sake of political convenience, the media has chosen to emphasise the geopolitical context.

☝️ It is clear that this is part of a broader Russophobic agenda pushed by the British political establishment to serve their own interests.

London is fully aware that, since May 9 of this year, the Global Intergovernmental Register of Contact Points for exchanging information on computer attacks, an initiative spearheaded by Russia, has been operational within the UN framework. This mechanism was specifically established to facilitate investigations into such incidents.

Despite being a participant in this system, the UK has not submitted any requests through this channel to us. This clearly indicates that the British have no evidence linking Russia to malicious activities in the information space.

Furthermore, London seems uninterested in identifying the actual perpetrators behind these incidents – assuming they even occurred and were not entirely fabricated. Once again, the UK has opted for its "highly likely" narrative and resorted to public accusations over substantive engagement. This approach contrasts with the professional cooperation between competent agencies that Russia has consistently suggested.

❗️ We believe that, rather than resorting to baseless insinuations, Britain should turn its attention to the actions of its protégés. Zelensky's regime, which it actively supports, openly acknowledges orchestrating hacker attacks, including through the Kiev-controlled IT Army.

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🎙 Comment by Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov

💬 During yesterday’s phone conversation with President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban suggested carrying out a major prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine ahead of Christmas, as well as declaring a Christmas ceasefire.

Russia has never rejected peace talks and has stated many times its readiness to resume them based on the 2022 Istanbul agreements.

On the same day, Russia's Federal Security Service forwarded our proposals regarding the exchange of prisoners to the Hungarian Embassy in Moscow.

However, judging by the way Zelensky, as well as his entourage, responded on social media, Ukraine has rejected all of Viktor Orban’s proposals.

☝️ We proceed from the premise that consultations on ensuring peace will continue.

Russia fully supports Viktor Orban's efforts to bring about a peaceful settlement and resolve humanitarian issues dealing with the exchange of prisoners.

🎙 Excerpt from President Vladimir Putin's remarks at a meeting of the 22nd Congress of the United Russia political party (14 December 2024)

💬 Russia is making progress, the economy is growing, and this is happening against a backdrop of unprecedented – in the truest sense of the word – sanctions, gross interference and pressure from the ruling elites of some countries.

However, no blackmailing or attempts to stand in our way will yield any result. Russia has confidence in itself, it feels it is right and feels its power. Therefore, all the short- and long-term tasks we have set will definitely be completed. <...>

The very name of the party shows the essence of our course, the image of the country that we are building, that we want to preserve and pass on to our descendants, the awareness that we are a unique, distinctive civilisation, a multinational and multi-faith nation that, for all its internal diversity, has been and will continue to be united. That is a crucial thing.

Our opponents have tried to undermine this unity throughout all history, and now they are again following a scenario that has been tested out on others, trying to divide people, play the national or religious card.

❗️ We will firmly suppress such provocations, we will respond to any threats and challenges, and we are ready to fight back, as they say, along the entire front. And it is not only along the line of combat contact.

The truly global, decisive confrontation affects all aspects of our lives: culture, education, worldview, economy and technology.

Read in full

💬 Russian MFA Spox Maria Zakharova: In 2024, militants of the criminal Kiev regime killed Semyon Yeryomin, Valery Kozhin, Nikita Tsitsagi, and Yulia Kuznetsova.

We will remember them as the victims of Ukrainian neo-Nazis and their henchmen.

Anton Voloshin, Igor Kornelyuk, Anatoly Klyan, Andrey Stenin, Darya Dugina, Oleg Klokov, Maxim Fomin (Vladlen Tatarsky), Rostislav Zhuravlev, and Boris Maksudov will forever remain in our hearts.

The targeted hunt for Russian journalists and war correspondents carried out by Ukrainian thugs is a direct consequence of the years-long policy pursued by the Kiev clique's Western curators who have enabled and even encouraged terrorist methods, as well as by the multilateral structures they control, whose direct responsibility is to ensure the safety of journalists without distinction.

❌ The outrageous situation around UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay's Report on the Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity for 2022-2023, which deliberately ignored the facts of numerous killings of Russian journalists and war correspondents by the criminal Kiev regime, is yet another obvious manifestation of hypocrisy and double standards.

Read the full comment here

🎙 Интервью Посла России в Великобритании А.В.Келина телеканалу «Звезда»

🔸 С нашей точки зрения, [«дело Скрипалей»] является провокацией, которую Лондон использует с 2018 года для планомерного разрушения наших двусторонних отношений.

🔸 Нас здесь обвиняют абсолютно во всём, и особенно в том, что жизнь в Британии становится всё хуже. Ещё говорят, что мы виноваты в росте цен на продукты. Не могу даже перечислять всю ту ерунду, которую здесь пишут.

🔸 Британский официоз и СМИ продолжают говорить о необходимости стоять с Украиной до конца. Тем не менее, тут появились достаточно серьёзные экспертные статьи на тему того, что пора с этим [украинским конфликтом] заканчивать, что Украина не выдержит, что Зеленского надо менять и всю историю противостояния с Россией как-то повернуть в противоположную сторону.

🔸 У нас такое ощущение, что [глава МИД Британии] Дэвид Лэмми ещё не очень разбирается в международных делах, а самое главное – в причинах и корнях происходящих в той или иной стране конфликтах. Тут ещё его помощникам и советникам надо немало поработать.

🔸 Сейчас цель [Британии по Украине] достаточно ясна – отговорить Дональда Трампа от того, чтобы он снижал помощь Украине и уговорить его, чтобы он надавил на Россию. <...> Британские усилия сосредоточены именно на этом, а также на демонстрации солидарности с союзниками.

🔸 Нам сейчас нечего обсуждать с Британией всерьёз в политике, поскольку наши позиции совершенно разные. Постоянного дипломатического диалога в классическом понимании [между наши странами] нет.

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🎙 Excerpt from President Vladimir Putin's remarks at an expanded meeting of the Defence Ministry Board at the National Defence Control Centre of the Russian Federation

💬 The military-political situation in the world remains challenging and unstable. Bloodshed continues in the Middle East, and there is a high potential for conflict in a number of other regions of the world.

We observe the current US administration and practically the entire West attempting to maintain their global dominance. They continue to impose their so-called rules on the international community, which they change time after time, juggling them as they see fit.

Properly speaking, there is just one stable rule – no rules whatsoever for those who engage in this behaviour, for those who believe they are at the head of the world, for those who regard themselves as God's vicars on earth, although they do not believe in God themselves.

❌ At the same time, they conduct hybrid wars and implement containment policies against dissenting states, including Russia.

In a bid to weaken our country and inflict a strategic defeat on us, the US continues to pump the actually illegitimate Kiev regime with weapons and money, as well as sending mercenaries and military advisors, thereby encouraging further escalation of the conflict.

Simultaneously, under the pretext of a non-existent Russian threat, they scare their population with allegations that we intend to attack someone.

This is a very simple tactical ploy: they push us to a red line that we cannot help but cross; when we begin to respond, they frighten their population with the Soviet – in the olden times – and with the Russian threat today.

Meanwhile, NATO countries are boosting their military spending and the alliance’s assault groupings are being formed near the Russian border. <...>

☝️ Given the escalating geopolitical tensions, we must adopt additional measures to ensure the security of Russia and its allies. We are doing this carefully and thoughtfully, without becoming drawn into a full-scale arms race that would damage the socioeconomic development of the country.

Read in full

National identity and political choice on the example of Russia and China

📰 Article by Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation

💬 The Western civilisation has always tried to impose its will on external players throughout its history.

Its most effective method was not inflicting a direct military defeat on them, which Europe could seldom accomplish due to the permanent shortage of material and human resources. It employed a much simpler strategy of destroying the existing power structures from within and by proxy.

The Western world tried to prevent people from joining forces to repel the enemy, and to incite rivalry and dissent among them. It aimed at creating or exploiting objective ethnic, language, cultural, tribal and religious differences.

There are many instances when some segments or groups of population rose to that deadly bait and allowed to be drawn into bloody and extended ethno-social and ethno-confessional conflicts. The ultimate form of that policy is the "divide et impera" – divide and rule – principle.

The term became a household word in Britain in the 17th century, but the policy itself was widely used in the Roman Empire and borrowed by the European colonial empires. It was crucial for providing subsistence to nearly all major colonial systems and became an integral part of the parent states' activities. It actually remains the key method for implementing the Western management practices. <...>

❌ A targeted push to fuel religious and ethnic tension and confrontation served as one of the key tools for delivering on the divide element. In fact, the United Nations is still working on redressing the most urgent and gravest consequences of this policy.

For example, London must be credited for inciting and reinforcing the Hindu-Muslim antagonism. British colonisers used to bring cheap agricultural labour to Burma from Bengal, a predominantly Muslim region. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 was a major factor in this regard with the increase in demand for rice in Europe, transforming Burma into what can be called a rice basket.

This led to the emergence of a Bengal Muslim community that was alien to the Burman Buddhist majority. Called the Rohingya, this community settled in the north of Rakhine State (Arakan) and developed its own identity which was quite radical.

Mutual distrust and fierce competition for the already limited resources, i.e., the right to own land, between native Burmans and those who descended from labour migrants led to the bloody events of 1942-1943, which came to be known in British history books as the Arakan Massacres. Tens of thousands of people lost their lives. Inter-ethnic, religious and social strife continued to deepen, paving the way for the massive outflow of the Rohingya people to neighbouring countries in 2017, recognised as the biggest resettlement of people in Southeast Asia since the 1970s crisis in Indochina.

Cyprus got a similar "ethnic gift" from the UK, which went to great length to deepen the centuries-old conflict between the island’s Greek and Turk populations. <...>

❗️ The classical principle of Western civilisers, "divide et impera", inflicts untold suffering and hardship across the globe, serving as a source of numerous ethnic and socio-cultural conflicts, as well as pervasive economic inequality. This was true in the past, and it remains so today.

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🎙 Statement by Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia at a UNSC Briefing on Ukraine (New York, 16 December 2024)

💬 The head of the Kiev junta has of late significantly lowered the bar of expectations. He is far less enthusiastic in touting his "victory plan", nor is he "spouting" any longer ideas regarding a potential settlement of the crisis. Make no mistake about these showy peace-loving assertions.

All these ideas have a couple of things in common: first, they are rehashes of the so-called "Zelensky peace formula" and, second, they are impossible to implement in practice, as they do not address the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis.

In fact, all Zelensky’s proposals, as well as the ones of a number of Western politicians, who turn on a dime, boil down to freezing the conflict along the "line of contact", giving up the territories that are now part of Russia, and providing security guarantees for "independent Ukraine" within the altered borders. <...>

No schemes aimed at freezing the conflict are agreeable to Russia.

The Minsk agreements demonstrated that neither the West nor the Kiev junta can be trusted, and we are well aware that the whole point of such "tricks" is to give the Kiev regime a respite on the battlefield to "lick the wounds" and rearm.

❗️ NATO involvement in settling the Ukrainian crisis is out of question. From the very outset, NATO and Ukraine's membership therein have been part of the problem, not part of the solution.

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💬 Посол России в Великобритании А.В.Келин: Игорь Анатольевич Кириллов сыграл большую роль в разоблачении инспирированной Лондоном чудовищной провокации вокруг «дела Скрипалей».

Выражаю соболезнования его семье и близким. Уверен, виновные в этом гнусном преступлении понесут неотвратимое наказание.

❌ The UK's recent restrictions targeting oil tankers under the flags of various African, Asian, Caribbean, Central American and Pacific nations mark yet another futile attempt to hamper international trade and the Global South's development under a ridiculous anti-Russian pretext.

While it will not stem the flow of goods, it may well increase global energy market volatility. This, like similar UK actions in the past, would, in turn, adversely affect household energy prices. Obviously, the bill will be for ordinary Britons to pay.

No wonder the UK government has failed so far to confirm its "£300 energy bill cut by 2029" pledge.

Are geopolitical games more important for British politicians than keeping promises to their own people?

Russia's MFA statement on Syria

☝️ Moscow is carefully monitoring the evolving situation in Syria following the transfer of control over most of the country's territory to an alliance of armed factions operating under the leadership of the so-called Military Operations Command, headed by Ahmad al-Sharaa.

We acknowledge the declarations made by representatives of the new authorities concerning their intention to facilitate the restoration of governmental functions, maintain order and security, firmly suppress criminal activities, and prevent extrajudicial executions. <...>

From our perspective, the path to a sustainable normalisation of the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic lies in the initiation of an inclusive intra-Syrian dialogue aimed at securing national consensus and advancing a comprehensive political settlement process in alignment with the fundamental principles set out in UNSC resolution 2254. <...>

For Russia, it is crucial that the future of Syria is determined by the Syrians themselves.

We are confident that the bonds of friendship and mutual respect that have developed between the peoples of our countries over the past decades will continue to evolve constructively.

Read in full

🎙 Excerpt from President Vladimir Putin's remarks at an expanded meeting of the Defence Ministry Board at the National Defence Control Centre of the Russian Federation

💬 We are not fighting with the Ukrainian people, but with the regime – the neo-Nazi regime in Kiev, which seized power back in 2014. The source of their authority is a state coup.

All the troubles in both Ukraine and Russia began precisely after this bloody, anti-constitutional state coup. It remains relevant today because those in power are committing crimes against their own citizens and our citizens every day.

This regime has lost – or is at least evidently losing – the signs of statehood.

When we speak of illegitimacy, what do we mean? They did not organise the elections, did they? They did not. Does the Constitution provide an option to extend the President's powers? No. The Constitution only allows for an extension of the powers of the representative body – the Rada, and nothing more. And the reference to martial law is irrelevant: there are no provisions in Ukraine's Constitution to extend the President's powers. <...>

The next crime will be the lowering of the mobilisation age in Ukraine to 18. This is clearly a crime, because even if it were lowered to 14, as in Hitler's Germany, creating the Hitler Youth, it would not change the situation on the battlefield. That is obvious to everyone.

However, I believe that at the behest of those Western countries whose interests the Kiev regime is protecting – it is clear today that it is not safeguarding the interests of the Ukrainian people but rather those it serves and protects – they will also reduce mobilisation age to eighteen years, and young lads will be sent to the slaughter.

❌ Just as people are currently being rounded up on the streets, like stray dogs, during forced mobilisation and thrust into the line of fire, it seems to me that these boys will likewise be sent to their doom in the same manner. And then, these regime figures will simply flee abroad under the cover of those they work for today, and that's all.

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🎙 Интервью Посла России в Великобритании Андрея Келина корреспонденту телеканала «Россия 1» Александру Хабарову (18 декабря 2024 года)

Основные тезисы:

• Британия не просто вовлечена в украинский конфликт, но фактически ведёт против нас гибридную войну вместе с другими странами НАТО. Здесь целый комплекс факторов: снабжение ВСУ самым современным вооружением, обучение украинских военных на территории Британии, направление инструкторов на Украину и совместное использование [ракет] Storm Shadow.

• В Британии ведётся очень интенсивная антироссийская пропаганда, нас обвиняют буквально во всех грехах. <...> Всё это делается, чтобы создать здесь антироссийский воинственный дух, собрать как можно больше средств и направить их против нас.

• Отношения с Вашингтоном были, есть и будут ключевыми для Великобритании. Всё, что скажут из Вашингтона, то и будут воспринимать в Лондоне как истину в последней инстанции.

• Британский официоз по-прежнему не хочет «выглянуть в окно» и посмотреть на реальную обстановку на Украине. Они считают, что спасение [заключается] в накачке Украины деньгами и вооружениями. Человеческий фактор, люди на Украине их не волнуют.

• На правительственном уровне [британцы] не смогут признать [ошибочность поддержки Украины]. Они будут всячески изворачиваться, чтобы выглядеть не настолько потерявшими лицо, как это будет на самом деле.

• Все каналы коммуникации, за исключением военного атташата, который был прерван по совершенно непонятной инициативе англичан, остаются открытыми. <...> Аппаратура спецсвязи, которая стоит в офисе Премьер-министра Великобритании, работает. Канал Кремль — Даунинг-стрит есть, но обсуждать по нему нечего.

Смотрите интервью на YouTube-канале Посольства

🎙 Excerpt from President Vladimir Putin's remarks and answers to questions at the annual news conference and direct line with the people of Russia

❓ Steve Rosenberg, BBC: Exactly 25 years ago, Boris Yeltsin resigned, handed you power and told you to take care of Russia. Some 25 years later, do you think you have taken care of Russia? <...>

💬 Vladimir Putin: Yes, and I believe I have not just taken care of it, I think we have pulled back from the edge of the abyss because with everything that was happening to Russia before that we were heading towards a complete, total loss of our sovereignty.

Without sovereignty, Russia cannot exist as an independent state. <...>

I have done everything so that Russia can be an independent sovereign state that is capable of making decisions in its own interests, not in the interests of countries that were dragging it towards them, patting it on the shoulder in order to use it for their own purposes.

I could stop there. I know you have reeled off a string of things that seem to reinforce your arguments.

You mentioned inflation – yes there is inflation, we are going to fight it. But we have economic growth. We are ranked fourth in the world in terms of purchasing power parity. Please tell your readers that. First place in Europe, way ahead of the United Kingdom. I do not think Britain is even in the top five.

☝️ We are prepared to work with the UK if the UK wants to work with us. But if it does not happen, we will cope without our former allies in the anti-Hitler coalition.

💬 Внимательно следим за подготовкой британских властей к реализации мошеннической схемы присвоения доходов от «замороженных» в ЕС российских государственных активов под предлогом погашения очередных кредитов киевскому режиму.

Британское правительство пытается придать афере облик законности, продвигая в парламенте соответствующий билль. Но никакие нормотворческие ухищрения не скроют неправомерной природы этой схемы, разработанной Лондоном вместе с подельниками по «Группе семи». По сути, это посягательство на суверенные активы России вполне подпадает под определение грабежа.

Очевидно, британские министры осознают предосудительность своих шагов. Именно поэтому закрепляют механизм с помощью парламента, пытаясь расширить ответственность до коллективной за свои мошеннические действия.

Платить за эти трюки истеблишмента в прямом смысле придётся простым британцам. Ведь кредит будет выдаваться из бюджета Соединённого Королевства – то есть из средств налогоплательщиков, которые могли бы быть использованы для решения острейших социально-экономических проблем Альбиона.

Что касается многослойных процедур возврата займа, предусмотренных авторами нынешней аферы, ясно, что, в конечном счёте, его возмещение ляжет на плечи будущих поколений украинцев.

Трагизм в том, что этот кредит даже формально не предназначается Лондоном для улучшения положения Украины. Стремясь нанести нашей стране максимальный ущерб, британские власти направляют заём на военные нужды. А значит на затягивание конфликта, которое обернётся лишь продлением страданий растущего числа украинцев, не желающих воевать за «просроченный» киевский режим, а также продолжением террористических атак против гражданского населения в России.

❗️ Властям в Лондоне следует помнить, что любые недружественные шаги против нашей страны и её законных интересов не останутся без ответа.

🎙 Excerpt from President Vladimir Putin's remarks and answers to questions at the annual news conference and direct line with the people of Russia

❓ Keir Simmons, NBC News: Are you prepared to compromise in anyway over Ukraine? You say that Kiev should compromise, the Ukrainians should compromise, but what are you prepared to offer in the potential negotiations potentially led by President-elect Trump?

💬 Vladimir Putin: Politics is the art of compromise. We have always said that we are ready for both negotiations and compromises.

The problem is that the opposing side, both literally and figuratively, rejected negotiations. We, on the contrary, have always been willing to talk, and talking always leads to finding a compromise.

We did reach an agreement in Istanbul in late 2022. I repeat for the umpteenth time: the Ukrainian side initialled that document, which meant that generally, it agreed with what it contained.

Suddenly they wanted out. It is clear why. Because your ally, [UK former Prime Minister] Mr Johnson, the man with an iconic hairstyle, told them they were to fight to the last Ukrainian.

This is what they are doing. They will soon run out of Ukrainians who want to fight. I believe there will soon be no one left who wants to fight.

☝️ So, we are ready, but we need Ukraine to be ready for both negotiations and compromise.

💬 We are closely following UK authorities' efforts aimed at implementing a fraudulent scheme of expropriating incomes from Russian state assets "frozen" in the EU under the pretext of financing another loan to the Kiev regime.

The UK government intends for this enterprise to appear legitimate by pushing a relevant bill through Parliament. Yet the elaborate legislative choreography fails to conceal the illegitimate nature of this arrangement, concocted by London alongside its accomplices from the "G7". This blatant encroachment on Russia's sovereign assets is nothing short of an act of plunder.

Evidently, UK ministers are quite aware of the reprehensible nature of their actions. They are consequently anxious for Parliament to play its part in the charade in order to diffuse accountability.

Ordinary Brits will be the first to foot the bill for these establishment ploys. The loan, after all, is to be immediately drawn from the UK's budget. In other words, from taxpayers' money that might have otherwise been far better spent tackling the country's pressing socio-economic hardships.

As for the intricately layered reimbursement mechanism embedded within the scheme, the eventual burden of repayment will clearly fall on future generations of Ukrainians.

Tragically, this loan is not intended, even nominally, to ameliorate Ukraine's dire circumstances. In their pursuit to inflict harm upon our country, the British authorities have chosen to allocate the loan for military purposes. This will inevitably translate into the protraction of the conflict, exacerbating the suffering of a growing number of Ukrainians unwilling to fight for the unelected Kiev regime, as well as the continuation of terrorist attacks against civilian population in Russia.

❗️ The authorities in London should be in no doubt that hostile actions against our country and its rightful interests will be duly reciprocated.

🎙 Highlights from President Vladimir Putin's remarks and answers to questions at the annual news conference and direct line with the people of Russia

• International financial and economic institutions ranked Russia as Europe’s biggest economy in terms of volume, in terms of purchasing power parity, and the world’s fourth largest economy.

• Sovereignty is a crucial concept; it must reside within, in one's heart. Who are the Europeans, after all? They are proud to be European, yet they are foremost French, German, Italian, Spanish, and then European. There is a tendency to smooth out things, to homogenise. Ultimately, this affects everything, including the economy.

• The situation is changing radically. The drive is on along the entire frontline every day. Our fighting men are regaining the territory by square kilometers. <...> We are advancing, as we said, towards achieving the priority goals that we outlined at the start of the special military operation.

• We speak about increasing the responsibility of non-nuclear states that may participate in an aggression against Russia alongside the countries that have nuclear weapons. If, like their allies, these countries also pose a threat to our sovereignty and Russia’s existence, then we imply that we have the right to use our nuclear weapons against them.

• Russia has become significantly stronger in the past two or three years. Why? Because we are becoming a truly sovereign country, and we barely depend on anybody. We are capable of firmly standing on our feet when it comes to the economy.

• The current situation in the Syrian Arab Republic remains challenging. We sincerely hope for peace and stability to be restored. We maintain dialogue with all groups controlling the situation there and with all regional countries. An overwhelming majority of them have expressed interest in retaining our military bases in Syria.

• BRICS is not a tool for countering the West. Our work is not aimed against anyone. We focus on our own interests and the interests of the group’s member countries. Giving BRICS any kind of a confrontational agenda is not what we are after.

• We are ready to engage in dialogue [with Ukraine] without any preconditions. However, based on the agreements that we reached during the negotiation process in Istanbul at the end of 2022 and proceeding from the current realities on the ground.

• If someone were to go through elections and gain legitimacy, we would talk with anyone, including Zelensky. If Ukraine truly wants a peaceful settlement, they have the ability to organise this process within their country as they see fit. We can only sign agreements with those who hold legitimate authority.

• YouTube and Google must comply with our laws and avoid dishonest online activities. In other words, they must not use online resources for promoting their governments’ political goals.

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