Deputy Chairman of the Security Council, and former president of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, took to his Telegram channel to weigh in on Russia's lower house nixing the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe.

He said, "the State Duma has denounced the CFE Treaty. Good riddance. This document ceased to be relevant for us back in 2007. But now, even in terms of previously suspended international obligations, nothing prevents us from placing our weapons wherever we want to protect our national interests. Including in our Russian part of Europe."

Medvedev further added that "of course, we will maximize the production of weapons, military and special equipment, and means of destruction."

The deputy chairman of the Security Council concluded by taking a swipe at the French president, saying, "P. S. By the way, greetings to Macron. According to his logic, this is also a geopolitical loss for Russia..."

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🇺🇸🇿🇦 US sought to sway South Africa’s independent foreign policy by accusing it of sending weapons to Russia, says Moscow

The Russian Embassy in South Africa has pointed out that Washington “seems to have lost its ability to interact with partners on equal basis long ago”, noting that “one’s friendship with the US is only possible under US rules”, while responding to the claims made by US Ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety against Pretoria that the latter had allegedly loaded arms and ammunition onto the Russian vessel Lady R docked in SA last December.

❗️ “Appointing guilty parties at own discretion and resorting to ‘megaphone diplomacy’ have become typical characteristics of US foreign policy. In this context, the words of the US’ official cannot be perceived otherwise than as an attempt to sway the independent sovereign state’s foreign policy,” the embassy stated.

Highlighting that the Russian vessel’s docking is being used as a pretext for a pressure campaign against Pretoria, which “obviously coordinated with Western mainstream media”, the embassy argued that the reason behind this was South Africa’s “non-aligned position with regard to the Ukraine conflict, which proves unsatisfactory for the United States”.

🗣 “Docking of Lady R in Simonstown is being used as a pretext – totally fabricated and as false as the notorious tube presented by US’ State Secretary Colin Powell at the United Nations Security Council, which was followed by a full-scale invasion of Iraq and cost the lives of 1 million Iraqis (we hope it won’t come to that now),” the embassy’s statement read.

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

🔸 Sputnik Africa | TikTok | Odysee | Twitter 🔸

📹 "A hunt has been declared for us, but we will also hunt for them" - a crew commander told Sputnik about the advantages of the Terminator combat vehicle.

The Terminator combat vehicle is designed to provide support to tanks, it amplifies their strength while effectively neutralizing threats on the battlefield. This vehicle possesses the capability to engage targets at long ranges, including moving objects, helicopters, and even enemy tanks. It has a large arsenal of arms including grenade launchers, thirty-caliber armor-piercing cartridges, and high-explosive shells.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

'Entire investigative team' removed from Hunter Biden tax probe

The US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has removed the investigative team from the ongoing tax fraud probe of Hunter Biden. The move appears to be in retaliation against a whistleblower who raised concerns about the case. The whistleblower's lawyers argue that the IRS's actions are retaliatory and may obstruct a congressional inquiry.

Meanwhile, US District Attorney of Delaware David Weiss is nearing a decision on whether to charge Hunter Biden with tax and gun-related offenses. The investigation, which began in 2018, reportedly involves suspicious foreign transactions, including money exchanges with China and other countries.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

‼️Shoigu Rejects Claims of Downed Russian Hypersonic Missiles

Kiev's words about allegedly shooting down six Russian Kinzhal hypersonic missiles by their air defense system are not true, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told Sputnik on Tuesday.

"I have already said it before and I will repeat it again. We have not launched as many Kinzhal missiles as they allegedly shoot down in their statements every time," Shoigu said in an exclusive interview.

"Moreover, the number of these 'Ukrainian interceptions,' and who really controls the US complexes is still a big question — exceeds our launches by three times. And they mistake the type of missiles all the time. That is why they miss."

🗣️"A lot of this military hardware the United States has dumped into Ukraine hasn't really helped the Ukrainians out very much. It looks like there's kind of a bonanza for the military-industrial complex to sell all kinds of weapons here. But in terms of actual battlefield strength, it's not really giving Ukraine the upper hand": Journalist and political analyst Caleb Maupin on Ukraine's counter-offensive that seems to be falling apart

🎧Listen to more of Maupin’s analysis in our podcast The Critical Hour

🎥 Russia’s Giatsint-B 152-mm artillery guns in action (video courtesy of Russian MoD)

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🔺No more military assistance? US funding to Kiev could dry up by midsummer
🔺South Africa is under "extraordinary pressure" to pick sides in Ukraine conflict
🔺China wants to make the yuan the global currency. Should America worry?

The Critical Hour will cover these and more stories! Tune in to Radio Sputnik at 6pm EST|3pm PST|12am CET via the website or app

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

France promises to train Ukrainian pilots in bid to curry favor with US

French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed openness to training Ukrainian fighter jet pilots in France, aligning with US policy on Russia. Macron stated that the training programs could commence immediately, although the supply of warplanes was not discussed during his recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris. This move is seen as a solidarity gesture with London and Berlin in their goal to counter Moscow's military operation in Ukraine, where Kiev acts as a proxy for the West.

However, Russian military expert Vasily Dandykin suggests that Macron's offer may be a way to appease Zelensky without committing fully. Even if France approves the supply of warplanes, the training process for Ukrainian pilots is expected to take at least two years, leaving the question of whether Zelensky's regime will still require the jets by then.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Kremlin castigates CIA scheme to recruit Russian 'spies' on social media

The CIA recently opened a Telegram channel, "Securely Contacting CIA," to gather information on the Russian economy and leaders. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov criticized the move, highlighting ongoing recruitment efforts by foreign intelligence services. The CIA's video message on the Telegram channel calls on Russians, including military officers, diplomats, and scientists, to engage in contact.

However, sociological research shows strong public support for President Putin, casting doubt on the effectiveness of the recruitment attempt. Russian law enforcement agencies are likely to take notice, as state treason carries severe penalties. The CIA's messaging, which tries to appeal to patriotism and Russian culture, is viewed as disrespectful for using renowned authors to encourage betrayal.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🗣️"All of the cry and the concern, and it's like if you disagree with the USA sending weapons to Ukraine, you're a bad person because ‘evil Putin is killing these people.’ It's all just a bunch of hollow bombast because at the end of the day, the US is prolonging this war": Journalist, and political analyst Caleb Maupin on Western propaganda to support the military supply to Ukraine

🎧Listen to more of Maupin’s analysis in our podcast The Critical Hour

IEA suggests Russia's April oil exports hit record highs since February 2022

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), Russia's oil exports in April reached a record high since February 2022, with a month-on-month increase of 50,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 8.3 million bpd. The IEA has also revised its forecast for Russia's oil production in 2023, now expecting a decrease of 350,000 bpd instead of the previously projected 530,000 barrels per day to reach 10.7 million bpd.

The IEA attributed the resilience of Russian oil supply to the re-routing of crude exports to new markets, driven by attractive price discounts that entice traders and refiners. The agency's report highlights a 180 kbpd upward revision in Russian output for this year, leading to the revised estimate of average oil production at 10.7 mbpd in 2023, representing a decrease of 350 kbpd year-on-year.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🗣️”Russia has been trying to figure out how to stop the world food crisis and export its grain and fertilizer. And the United States has not really cooperated with them. They haven't lifted the sanctions on certain banks. They haven't enabled certain ports and ships to get the shipments they need”: Caleb Maupin, journalist, and political analyst, on the sabotage of the grain deal

🎧Listen to more of Maupin’s analysis in our podcast The Critical Hour

The Chinese Embassy in London opposed the visit of former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss to Taiwan and called it a "political show"

The embassy said that "the greatest threat to peace across the Taiwan Strait now is 'Taiwan independence' activities and foreign forces’ connivance at and support for them."

"By playing the 'Taiwan card' and engaging in political shows, Truss and the like are colluding with the 'Taiwan independence' secessionist forces to provoke confrontation and escalate tensions across the Taiwan Strait. What they did has fully revealed their sinister intentions," the embassy added.

Earlier, the Taiwanese media reported Truss arrived at Taoyuan International Airport and was welcomed by Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu. She is expected to give a speech early Wednesday in Taipei dubbed "Taiwan: On the Frontline of Freedom and Democracy."

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

The US military trains mercenaries and terrorists for CIA-run destabilisation and coup operations around the world

Former US Army psychological warfare officer Scott Bennett told Sputnik that there was nothing new about Washington's use of surrogate forces to destabilise those nations in its sights.

"The CIA intentionally cultivates and targets the most barbaric ferocious, sociopathic, bloodthirsty, rapists, murderers, torturers, monsters, criminals, drug addicts, and child killers to be mercenaries in the various US irregular warfare operations and government revolutions," Bennett charged, because "Only the worst people in society are sufficient to exercise the pain, suffering, trauma, and evil upon the rest of society to create the chaos the US needs to overthrow governments" and pillage those countries' resources.

That was most apparent in Ukraine, he said, where "never before has so much brainwashing occurred to the point where the Ukrainian people are completely lobotomized and hypnotized by the racial, religious, and ethnic bigotry and prejudice against Russians."

He lamented that US institutions which claimed to champion democracy had been "the Frankenstein doctors that have created this monstrosity."

Earlier, a major US daily newspaper reported on newly-released Department of Defense (DoD) documents that revealed the Pentagon was not screening militants recruited for its proxy force training programs for previous human rights abuses.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

China could beat the United States to a manned landing at the South Pole of the Moon

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson admitted that Beijing could claim possession of the territory at the South Pole of the Moon, where crucial water resources are believed to be available while keeping US astronauts out.

The history of China’s attitude towards claiming disputed territories in the South China Sea, especially the Spratly Islands, proved that they had established a pattern of claiming full territorial control when they could establish primacy of occupation, Nelson alleged.

The NASA administrator said US leaders must realize the country is in a space race with China and how serious the race of getting on the Moon is.

Currently the US Artemis program plans to return astronauts to the surface of the Moon in 2025.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Russia's exports of oil and oil products in April reached their highest point since February 2022

Exports increased by 50,000 barrels per day month-on-month to 8.3 million, according to a report published by the International Energy Agency.

The International Energy Agency has once again upgraded its forecast for oil and condensate production in Russia for 2023 and now it expects a decrease in oil production by 350,000 barrels per day instead of the previously expected 530,000 barrels per day to 10.7 million barrels per day.

The agency cited the resilience of Russian oil supply amid economic turmoil. The report mentioned that crude exports are "re-routed to new markets as deep price discounts attract traders as well as refiners willing to risk handling the barrels.

The report also mentioned the fact that OPEC+ countries that have obligations under the agreement on limiting oil production decreased output by 400,000 barrels per day in April, increasing their effective spare capacity to 4.1 million barrels per day.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

A group of countries led by Poland secretly calls on Zelensky to end the conflict, even at the cost of his resignation

Investigative journalist Seymour Hersh made such a statement, pointing out the fact that Ukrainian president’s refusal to achieve peace has decreased the support of neighbouring countries.

Kiev is critically dependent on the supply of Western weapons and the deterioration of relations with European countries over calls for peace could seriously affect the state of affairs at the front.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt