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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Since June 4, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have made 263 attacks on Russian positions, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said

▪️ Thanks to the competent and selfless actions of Russian units, all attacks were repulsed, the enemy did not reach their targets, the minister added.

▪️ Kiev has used a large number of Western weapons and elite formations, whose personnel were trained by NATO specialists during the counter-offensive, Shoigu relayed.

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EU reportedly ready to propose $55 bln in new aid package for Ukraine

EU member states have provided over $55 billion in direct support to Ukraine, including military aid, since Russia's military operation began in the country.

The European Commission is expected to propose a financial aid package of around $55 billion to assist Ukraine in its counteroffensive against Russian forces. The package will be financed through contributions from EU member states rather than borrowing from the markets and aims to fund the Ukrainian government's current expenses and urgent reconstruction priorities.

The announcement of the aid package is anticipated ahead of the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London, where donors will discuss financial support for Ukraine.

However, Germany's Finance Minister has expressed concerns about pouring more money into the EU's budget, citing necessary cuts in Germany's own national budget.

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US bombers debut on Swedish soil in historic drill

Two US B-1B strategic bombers made a historic landing in northern Sweden for joint drills with the country's military. The bombers are part of the Bomber Task Force, aimed at developing operational capabilities in unfamiliar locations and strengthening partnerships.

Accompanied by Swedish fighter jets and a US cargo plane, this marked the first time US bombers have been present on Swedish soil in modern times.

Sweden's Deputy Air Force Chief, Brigadier General Tommy Petersson, emphasized the importance of strong partnerships and described the event as a significant step for Sweden while it awaits NATO membership.

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📹 Russian tank crews destroyed a stronghold of Ukrainian troops near Krasny Liman

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

▪️ The Ukrainian Armed Forces continued unsuccessful attempts to advance in the DPR and the Zaporozhye region;

▪️ The losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the south of the DPR and in the Zaporozhye region have amounted to 260 troops;

▪️ The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 100 soldiers near the Krasny Liman;

▪️ The Russian Armed Forces successfully repelled 10 attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the area of the settlements of Krasnogorovka, Avdeevka and Maryinka in the DPR in a day;

▪️ The Russian army eliminates up to 220 Ukrainian troops in the DPR per day;

▪️ Russian troops destroyed eight warehouses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces with ammunition in a day;

▪️ The Russian Armed Forces stopped the actions of four Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups;

▪️ The Russian Armed Forces destroyed up to 25 military units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the M777 artillery system in the Kherson region;

▪️ Russian air defense systems intercepted seven HIMARS MLRS shells and shot down 13 UAVs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in a day.

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❗️Russia believes that grain deal will end on July 18 - Foreign Ministry

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German Leopard tanks are being wiped out by Russian troops and should soon be included on the list of endangered species

German Leopard tanks, used by Ukrainian forces during their counteroffensive operation against Russia, are being wiped out by Russian troops and should soon be included on the 'Red List', Russian Envoy to International Organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, said on Tuesday, referring to Russia's list of endangered species.

"I hope that their trick with the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant and offensive operations in Kherson and Zaporozhye will fail. It will soon be proposed to include German Leopards in the Red Data Book, since they are being destroyed by Russians," Mikhail Ulyanov, Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna, told a Russian broadcaster.

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China welcomes more countries joining BRICS

"China is committed to advancing the expansion process. We welcome as many like-minded partners as possible to join the BRICS family as soon as possible," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a briefing, commenting on Bangladesh's application.

She said that the expansion of the bloc is a political consensus of the five BRICS countries.

"The BRICS countries are an important platform for cooperation between emerging and developing countries. They have always been committed to defending multipolarity, actively promoting global governance reform, and strengthening the representation and voice of emerging and developing countries," Ning added.

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⚡ Hunter Biden agrees to plead guilty to 2 federal charges - court document