Moscow: New Sanctions Against Russia Undermine Interests of EU States

Imposing new sanctions on Russia is the choice of the European Union, but these measures undermine the interests of the member states as well, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told Sputnik on Friday.

💬"They [EU states] are abandoning market principles — in energy, finance, and in many other areas. This is their choice. But this choice, when implemented in concrete actions, undermines international economic relations in the form, in which they have been formed in recent years, and undermines the economic interests of these countries," Grushko said.

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❗️Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev has outlined legitimate military targets for Russia:

▪️ Any troops of the enemy country.

▪️ Any military and auxiliary equipment of the enemy country.

▪️ Any objects of military infrastructure of the enemy country and some objects of the civilian infrastructure of the enemy country: bridges, transport stations, roads, energy facilities, factories and workshops that fulfill military orders.

▪️ Military-political leadership of the enemy country.

▪️ Armed forces of other countries that are allies of the enemy country.

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⚡️Drones used for attacks on Crimea and on other Russian regions were manufactured by the US Spektreworks company; the drones were tested in Arizona and later on the territory of Poland, authorities told Sputnik

❗️The accession of the breakaway Republic of Kosovo to the European Union will be a lengthy and complex process, given that five member states have not yet recognized its sovereignty, a EU source told Sputnik.

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❗️Russian MoD’s briefing on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine:

▪️Russian Forces eliminated up to 20 Ukrainian troops, as well as destroyed two Ukrainian armored vehicles and three pick-up trucks near Kupyansk (Kharkov region);

▪️Russian troops eliminated more than 50 Ukrainian servicemen, as well as destroyed two Ukrainian infantry combat vehicles and three pick-up trucks near Krasny Liman (DPR). In addition, three Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups were eliminated by Russian Forces in the DPR and in the LPR;

▪️The Russian Army eliminated and wounded more than 40 Ukrainian troops, as well as destroyed three Ukrainian armored combat vehicles and two other vehicles near Donetsk;

▪️Russian servicemen eliminated up to 50 Ukrainian troops, as well as destroyed three other vehicles near Sladkoe settlement (DPR);

▪️Russian Forces hit 64 Ukrainian artillery units at their firing positions;

▪️The Russian Army destroyed a Ukrainian ammunition depot in Kharkov;

▪️Russian troops destroyed the radar station of a S-300 rocket system in the DPR;

▪️Russian air defense destroyed four Ukrainian UAVs, as well as intercepted two HIMARS rockets.

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😱 "Be careful what you wish for, because I may show up," Biden warned those African leaders who showed hospitality by inviting him to their home countries.

The US president reminded potential hosts that rich relatives "never show up," but poor relatives do, who eat off the hosts and stay longer than necessary.

Do you think the ice cream could be in danger? Will Biden stay in Africa for long? Share your opinion with us 😝

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Catch our show Fault Lines, where we provide updates on all the most vital stories! Here's our line-up for Friday:

🔺 First, we look at the results of the US-Africa summit
🔺 Next, we discuss Pete Buttigieg vacationing in Portugal while the rail strike was looming, but pretending to be in the States
🔺 Finally, we talk about new weapons being sent to Ukraine

Don’t miss this one! Tune in to Radio Sputnik at 7am EST|4am PST|1pm CET via our website or app!

📻 Also in the United States at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM

UN General Assembly Adopts Russian Resolution on Combating Glorification of Nazism

The document, ennoscriptd "Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fueling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance" was adopted in a 120-50 vote, with 10 abstentions.

The United States, Ukraine, Japan and EU member states including Austria, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, and others voted against. Israel, India, China and Serbia were among those countries that supported the Russian-drafted resolution. Turkey, South Korea, Switzerland and Afghanistan abstained.

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❗️⚽️ Western media: FIFA rejected Zelensky's request to show his video message at the stadium before the World Cup match in Qatar; Zelensky's office was surprised by the refusal

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⚡️EU Council adopts 9th package of sanctions against Russia

▪️EU slaps full transaction ban on Russian regional development bank;

▪️EU extends ban on investment in Russia's mining sector, except for activities related to critical raw materials;

▪️EU Will Freeze Assets of 2 Russian Banks Under 9th Sanctions Package;

▪️EU bans direct exports of drone engines to Russia;

▪️EU Council initiates process of suspension of the EU broadcasting licenses of NTV/NTV MIR, Rossiya 1, Ren TV and Channel One.

⚽️ Cristiano Ronaldo is using Real Madrid's facilities to train alone and stay in shape while he searches for a new team to continue his career, reports have suggested.

▪️A photo, circulating in the press shows the 37-year-old star all alone at Valdebebas base.

▪️Ronaldo previously denied rumors of a transfer to Saudi club Al Nassr, saying that they were not true, but did not elaborate on his plans.

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Tribunal in Hague Sentences Ex-Kosovo Guerrilla Commander Mustafa to 26 Years for War Crimes

The Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague on Friday convicted former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander Salih Mustafa of war crimes and sentenced him to 26 years in prison.
This is the Kosovo tribunal's first verdict in a war crime case.
"The trial panel found Mr. Mustafa guilty of the war crimes of arbitrary detention, torture and murder and sentenced him to a prison sentence of 26 years," the court said.

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India to Get Potent Nuclear & Biological Capable Warship

🇮🇳🚢 The Mormugao, a P15B stealth-guided missile destroyer, measures 163 by 17 meters in length and breadth, respectively, with a displacement of 7,400 tonnes. It is also equipped to fight under Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) warfare conditions, the Indian Defense Ministry stated on Friday.

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EU Ready to Relax Sanctions Against Key Russian Fertilizer Producers, Reports Suggest

The European Union may lift some of the sanctions on Russian fertilizer companies to ensure stable food exports, especially to Africa, local media reported on Friday.

According to the reports, EU countries are considering unfreezing money from Russian chemical and fertilizer companies to finance shipments of those products to Africa in a deal reached in the bloc on Thursday. This comes after a group of EU countries including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Portugal argued that the current sanctions create huge difficulties for the export of fertilizers to third countries.

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Fault Lines discussed western assistance to Ukraine with Eva Bartlett - an independent writer and journalist.

💬 "They talk about sending these air defense systems or whatever, but the average Ukrainian soldiers aren't trained up on that, so they're not going to be able to deal with it. So then you have like, well, it's going to be NATO's soldiers going in there. But anyway, the point being, regardless if it's like NATO's soldiers or whomever, from what I can tell from all these different, very informed and knowledgeable analysts, they're screwed. They can't stand Russia. When Russia does begin to actual offensive to take out Ukrainian positions in Avdeevka, for example, one of the areas not far from Donetsk, when that actually starts they will take them out. "

🎧 Listen to more of Eva Barlett's analysis on our podcast: White House Makes a Case Against Yemen Resolution While Sen. Bernie Sanders Pulls Back

🎥 How scouts are trained at Belarusian training grounds (video courtesy of Russian MoD)

Thanks to comprehensive training, each fighter, without exaggeration, can be considered a universal warrior. The requirements for reconnaissance are special, so they work at the firing line for hours, honing their shooting skills from all types of standard weapons to the ideal. In addition, all military personnel are trained as snipers and work with drones.

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Assange's Wife Says Concerned About Conditions of His Detention in UK Prison

Julian Assange's wife Stella Moris spoke about her husband's condition. She explained that she is concerned about her husband's state of health and conditions of his detention in a UK prison.

"A third of prisoners in his wing are charged with manslaughter or premeditated murder. He shares a space with very dangerous people. Some of them are mentally ill. So I am very concerned about his well-being as a well-known person," Moris said.

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