Lockheed Martin says ready to train Ukrainians to pilot F-16s once NATO reaches agreement

Pentagon contractor Lockheed Martin is ready to train Ukrainians to fly and maintain F-16s, if NATO allies agree to send the jets to Kiev, Frank St. John, the defense manufacturer's chief operations officer, said on Monday.

"We are standing by, ready to not only backfill need as it arises with new F-16 builds but also any modifications to F-16s as well as training, equipment and systems," St. John was quoted by the British newspaper as saying ahead of the Paris Air Show, adding that a decision on this would be made only after discussions between Ukraine, the US and its NATO allies.

Lockheed Martin may also consider establishing a base in Ukraine or near its territory after conflict is over, the company official said.

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🔺Blinken in China: What came out of his visit to Beijing?
🔺Inflation followed by recession. Will the US get out of its economic crisis?
🔺Putin at SPIEF: Western sanctions intended to strangle Russia’s economy, have instead accelerated the process of decentering the West.

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🇫🇮🚫🌍 Finland considers withdrawing financial assistance from African countries that support Russia, new minister says

The new government of Finland, which is expected to begin work on Tuesday, intends to send the main streams of support to Ukraine, according to the future Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio.

"Countries that support Russian military aggression against Ukraine may be deprived of assistance [...] Some African countries have expressed their support for Russia. We will monitor them," he said

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📹 Destruction of Ukrainian armored personnel carrier in DPR (video by Russian MoD)

The crew of the Ka-52 reconnaissance attack helicopter detected the advance of a Ukrainian armored personnel carrier and destroyed the object with a precise strike of the guided missile.

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Liberal pundits admit US 'very divided' after poll shows Biden tied with Trump

Former President Donald Trump is currently facing criminal trials in multiple states while maintaining strong support among voters, potentially positioning himself for a comeback in the 2024 election.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden faces criticism over his leadership, with a recent poll showing a narrow lead over Trump, highlighting the nation's deep divisions and the need to move forward from the contentious 2020 election.

A Quinnipiac poll revealed a statistical tie between Biden and Trump, raising concerns about Biden's standing as president.

Former Democratic National Committee chairwoman Donna Brazile attributed this close race to the country's current state of division and the desire to move beyond the events of 2020. Despite some recent gaffes, Biden still holds a compelling story, according to Brazile.

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US sanctions against Russia hastening dollar's decline as dominant currency

According to economist Dr. Jack Rasmus, the decline of the US dollar as the world's reserve and trade currency has been expedited by Washington's aggressive policies, including sanctions against Russia. The process of de-dollarization has been further accelerated by the Biden administration's actions.

This trend is not limited to Africa but is also gaining traction in Asia, with more countries seeking alternative international payment systems and showing interest in joining the BRICS group.

Rasmus predicts that the US' dominant position in the global economic trading empire is facing significant challenges and this trend is likely to continue and intensify.

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NATO Chief says allies not discussing Ukraine's accession

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reiterated on Monday that allies were not talking about sending a formal invitation to Ukraine to join the 31-nation bloc ahead of the Vilnius summit in July.

"At the Vilnius summit and in the preparations for the summit we are not discussing the issue of formal invitation. What we are discussing is how to move Ukraine closer to NATO," Stoltenberg told a news conference in Germany.

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US refusal to compromise is biggest obstacle to mending China ties

Geopolitical commentator Thomas W. Pauken II warns that if US leaders fail to show willingness to compromise with China, it could lead to Beijing refusing to take calls from the White House.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's recent visit to Beijing aims to salvage the deteriorating Sino-American relations, which have reached their lowest point since the establishment of diplomatic ties.

Pauken believes that both sides share responsibility for the current situation, but Washington's refusal to compromise has caused more problems.

While Pauken sees the meeting between Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping as a positive step, he emphasizes the need for the US to show a spirit of compromise and consensus to make progress in relations with China. Otherwise, Beijing may choose to ignore calls from the White House and the Secretary of State.

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Macron’s ‘NATO plot’: France pushes UK to 'stay out of Western European affairs’

According to analyst Paolo Raffone, Macron opposes Wallace's appointment as NATO chief due to Brexit and aims for European military independence. He seeks leadership in Western Europe and expresses dissatisfaction with US and EU policies on China and BRICS.

Former British MP Gordon-Banks believes Macron suggests an EU successor but isn't directly blocking Wallace. Macron prioritizes French interests, aligns policies with security forces, acknowledges Germany's difficulties, and hopes to form a core group with Italy and Spain to shape the EU and defend national interests, especially with potential US leadership change.

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Western countries deliberately pushed the topic of Kiev's offensive in the media to justify the supply of weapons and ensure unity among NATO member states, Russian Foreign Intelligence Service Director Sergei Naryshkin said on Monday.

"It was important for the Westerners to promote the topic of the upcoming Ukrainian counteroffensive in the global information space. The obviously overestimated importance attached to it is an element of mental attack before the battle. In addition, the constant exaggeration of this topic allowed the Euro-Atlantic totalitarian liberal elite to justify the supply of weapons to Kiev and ensure the unity of NATO countries, many of which are already pretty tired of Ukraine and its president," Naryshkin said.

Naryshkin added that many Western military analysts expressed doubts about the success of the Ukrainian offensive and assessed the tasks announced by Kiev as "unachievable."

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📹 One of the Russian Su-25 attack aircraft during the special operation has already made more than 230 sorties to defeat the enemy. The footage was published by Russia's Ministry of Defense.

There are 23 white stars on board the aircraft, each representing 10 sorties.

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🇺🇸 President Joe Biden praised his own experience in foreign policy on Monday, asserting it was equal to anyone's, including veteran diplomat Henry Kissinger.

Biden stated at a fundraiser in Atherton, California, that he believed he knew as much about American foreign policy as anybody living, including Dr. Kissinger.

He added a joke about his age, mentioning that's what he had dedicated his whole life to for the last 207 years. Biden, at 80 years old, is the oldest US president in history.

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China, India & Turkiye have replaced EU in Russia's foreign trade

China, India, Turkiye and Azerbaijan replaced the European Union in Russia's foreign trade, while trade with China could reach $200 billion this year, acting head of Russia's Federal Customs Service Ruslan Davydov said in an interview with Sputnik on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

"China's growth is very serious," Davydov said. "I think the task set by our countries' leaders in terms of trade at $200 billion, if there are no cataclysms, is achievable this year."

He said trade with India, Turkiye and Azerbaijan is also growing.

"These countries have already replaced our trade with Europe: the southern and eastern directions are developing very actively," Davydov said.

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📹 A Russian reconnaissance group filmed destroyed Ukrainian armored vehicles manufactured by NATO countries near Avdeevka.

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Economist Richard Wolff suggests that the rise of the BRICS group is linked to the decline of the US dollar's global dominance

The US empire, which relied on economic arrangements and political alliances rather than colonies, is experiencing a decline due to setbacks in wars and conflicts, as well as tensions with Russia.

As the BRICS bloc surpasses the G7 in total output, the shift towards de-dollarization and the emergence of an alternative currency, potentially the Chinese yuan or a composite currency, becomes increasingly apparent.

Wolff emphasizes that the decline of the dollar as a global currency is already underway, as evidenced by Saudi Arabia accepting non-dollar currencies for oil payments, including the Chinese yuan. This aligns with the growing economic influence of the BRICS bloc. Europe now faces a choice between aligning with the declining G7 and the US or embracing the rising power of the BRICS bloc.

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British MPs back Partygate report that found Johnson deliberately misled UK parliament

The British Parliament voted in favor of a report stating that Boris Johnson had intentionally misled MPs about lockdown parties at Downing Street during 2020. The report received approval from 354 MPs, with 7 voting against it; while 286 abstained.

Johnson's Conservative Party saw mixed voting patterns. If he had not resigned earlier, Johnson would have faced a 90-day suspension and will lose special access to Parliament based on the report's recommendations.

The investigation, led by the Privileges Committee of Parliament, found that Johnson knowingly deceived the legislature by attending parties that violated COVID-19 restrictions.

While admitting to misleading Parliament, Johnson argued it was done in good faith and criticized the probe as biased.

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Kiev reportedly can’t account for ‘hundreds of millions’ in weapons

According to a major Western newspaper, the Zelensky Administration in Ukraine has reportedly spent "hundreds of millions" on weapons that have not been delivered, revealing serious issues within the country's military supply chain.

Documents show that the Ukrainian government paid over $800 million to arms suppliers for contracts that were either completely or partially unfulfilled.

The quality of the weapons that do arrive is also a source of frustration, as evidenced by a recent video showing engine problems and coolant leaks in self-propelled howitzers donated by Italy.

Italy's Defense Ministry claimed that the vehicles were decommissioned and were meant to be overhauled before use, but the repair efforts faced setbacks.

Furthermore, a US company accused of defrauding the Ukrainian government of millions of dollars denies the allegations, stating that the weapons were in working condition upon delivery.

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📹💥 A Russian kamikaze tank exploding in front of Ukrainian positions was caught on video

The Russian troops stuffed a captured Ukrainian tank with 6 tons of explosives and sent it towards Ukrainian troops without a driver, according to Russian military blogger Romanov. The footage was allegedly made near Maryinka, a village near Donetsk

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❗️ The leadership of the Ukrainian Armed Forces plans to strike at the territory of Russia, including Crimea, with HIMARS and Storm Shadow missiles, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said

▪️ The use of these missiles outside the special operation zone will mean the full involvement of the United States and Britain in the conflict and will entail immediate strikes on decision-making centers in Ukraine, the minister warned.

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