🇺🇸 Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder has expressed doubt about support for Ukraine according to its needs on the battlefield, as the US needs to make decisions about its own readiness

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💰 Other countries’ debt to Russia has grown to the highest level since 1999, according to Sputnik's analysis of World Bank data. Last year, Russia’s loans to other countries increased to $28.86 billion; the debt grew most strongly in Bangladesh and Egypt, while Belarus remains the biggest debtor. In 1999, other countries' debt to Russia stood at $32.8 billion.

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🇭🇺 Hungary will have the opportunity to prevent Ukraine from joining the EU 75 more times, and the final decision will be made by parliaments, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said

❗️"A year ago Zelensky was a hero in the USA, now Republican Senators openly treat him with contempt."

There was a time when the Ukrainians had so much power in Washington that they could fire high-ranking White House officials. Not anymore.

📹 WATCH: Full breakdown of Putin’s big press conference with Simeon Boikov (@AussieCossack) and Sputnik’s Dimitri Simes junior.

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🇮🇱🇵🇸 Latest updates on Palestinian-Israeli conflict:

▪️ The United States is discussing with Israel a reduction in the intensity of hostilities in the Gaza Strip and a transition to more targeted operations, a source in the White House said.

▪️ Representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organization are ready to immediately hold a meeting with Hamas members in Cairo, a member of the executive committee said.

▪️ Mahmoud Abbas has instructed previously interrupted contacts with Hamas to be reestablished, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization said.

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🇻🇪🇬🇾 Venezuela and Guyana have agreed not to threaten or use force in any circumstances to settle the dispute over the Essequibo territory and resolve any controversies within international law, including the 1966 Geneva Agreement, the countries' joint statement, published by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro showed.

The sides also agreed to meet in Brazil within the next three months to "consider any matter with implications for the territory in dispute" and immediately establish a joint commission on the level of foreign minister and technical persons to address the dispute.

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📹 Russian paratroopers destroyed Ukrainian infantry using drones

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A unit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, abandoned during the counteroffensive near the village of Rabotino in Zaporozhye, suffered 43 out of 48 soldiers killed in one day, Ukrainian POW Ivan Matvienko, who was trained at a NATO base in the UK, told Sputnik.

He added that they had undergone a month’s training before the attack, and were thrown into battle without reconnaissance.

"We were sent to the attack on October 28 - two groups, there were only 40 of our company left by the time, maybe less," the POW said.

He added that during the three months of fighting between August and October, no more than 10 of the 200 men in his company, which had been trained in Britain, were left alive.

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WATCH LIVE: Lavrov talks to media following negotiations with Belarusian counterpart

👉 Follow the live here or on Sputnik's website

Russia’s Rosatom nuclear energy corporation has rejected media reports of a possible preventive ban on uranium deliveries to the United States, adding that it always meets its contractual obligations.

Earlier, US media reported that Rosatom's subsidiary had warned US customers that Russia would cease uranium exports to the US after the House of Representatives passed a ban on imports of the fuel from Russia starting from 2028.

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🇷🇺 Russian tankers' luxury dugout

Welcome to One Central Street (the humorous "address" of a Russian tankers' dugout): a tank commander with the callsign "Adam" shows how his crew lives in the special military operation zone.

Everything is prepared for the onset of winter, as the dugout is heat insulated, has a kerosene stove, and even has a gaming console inside.

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A councilman in western Ukraine blew up three grenades at a session of the village council, Ukrainian media reported.

According to the latest information, 26 people were injured, six of them in serious condition. It has been clarified that the attacker is still alive.

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💊 Medical costs in the US are so high that Biden himself could be in debt

The 81-year-old American leader, standing in front of shelves of drugs at the National Institutes of Health, admitted that he has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on hospital care and could have got into debt if his insurance policy had not covered his expenses.

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📢🇺🇸 US 2024 Defense Bill: Major Highlights

🚀 Total Budget: An eye-opening $886 billion approved by Congress for 2024! Awaiting President Biden's signature.

🔍 Key Points to Note:

Pacific Strategy: A substantial $14.7 billion dedicated to the 'Pacific Deterrence Initiative' against China.

Supporting Allies: Enhanced training for Taiwan and a significant $300 million annual aid to Ukraine until 2026, with added oversight.

Under Wraps: $11.5 billion earmarked for mysterious "defense-related activities."

Marine Corps Boost: $1 billion allocated for a new amphibious transport dock.

Air Force's Tech Leap: $100 million for unmanned F-16 jets and related innovative programs.

F-22 Raptor's Lifeline: Retirement plans shelved; older aircraft may face cuts instead.

Nuclear Capabilities: Navy's Sea-Launched Cruise missile nuclear program receives funding.

Arming Up: Expanded munitions procurement and arms supply to include Israel and Taiwan.

AUKUS Pact in Action: Virginia-class submarines to be transferred to Australia.

NATO Commitment: US troop withdrawal from NATO countries remains subject to Congress approval.

Surveillance Laws Extended: Warrantless foreign surveillance continues.

Saluting the Troops: A 5.2% pay raise for military personnel.

Controversial Decisions: Abortion and gender surgery provisions dropped; diversity roles frozen; Covid vaccine refusers reinstated.

Distinct from Biden's Security Package: Not to be confused with the separate $105 billion proposal, including aid for Ukraine and Israel.