While Kiev and its Eastern European allies want to see a formal NATO invite for Ukraine as soon as the upcoming 75th summit in July, the US and Germany do not believe it is a proper time, the Foreign Policy magazine reported citing current and formal officials in the know.

Poland and the Baltic states are facing a significant pushback from Washington and Berlin which believe it is too soon for Ukraine to become a full member of NATO while it is still engaged in a conflict with Russia, the report said.

Officials in both countries think that instead of discussing Ukraine's imminent NATO membership it makes more sense to focus on supplying the country with what it needs to fight against Russia, the report added.

One of the arguments is the fear that with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, joining the alliance could provoke a full-fledged NATO clash with Russia, given the nuclear risk.

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Three major agricultural trade unions in Spain will join the farmers' protests taking place in many European countries due to the crisis in the industry, said Spanish Young Farmers’ Association (ASAJA).

"The major professional agricultural unions, the ASAJA, the COAG [Coordinator of Farmers and Livestock Breeders] and the UPA [Union of Small Farmers and Cattle Ranchers], agreed this morning to resume scheduled manifestations to demand an ambitious emergency plan that includes measures at both the EU level and the level of the government of Spain and the autonomous communities," the statement read.

The agricultural industry in Spain, as well as the entire Europe, is "mired in growing frustration and unrest" due to the difficult economic conditions and the "suffocating bureaucracy" generated by regulations of the EU, the ASAJA said.

Farmers struggle in the face of a deregulated market that imports agricultural products from third countries at low prices that adversely impact the sales of food products produced in the EU and Spain, the association added.

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❗️ An F-16 fighter jet of the US Forces in South Korea (USFK) crashed on Wednesday morning, the Yonhap news agency reported, citing sources.

The incident reportedly occurred at around 8.40 am near the city of Gunsan in Jeonbuk province. The pilot was rescued, according to some of the agency's sources.

"The fighter jet crashed into the water and the rescued pilot is safe," a source was quoted as saying by the news agency.

Alexander Syrsky, commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, has also turned down an offer to take the post of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' commander-in-chief instead of Zaluzhny, the British Times has quoted its sources as saying.

The newspaper also reveals some details of the meeting between Zaluzhny and Zelensky on 29 January.

The sources told the newspaper that Zaluzhny and Zelensky had a meeting on 29 January. The Times also claims that after Zaluzhny refused, Zelensky told him that he would sign the resignation decree himself, after which Zaluzhny returned to his office and told his subordinates “I’m packing my things.”

The decision allegedly raised concerns in the US and UK, and Zelensky "was forced to reverse his decision after pressure from senior military commanders and international partners."

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The United States Air Force 8th Fighter Wing confirmed on Wednesday recent media reports that an American F-16 fighter jet fell into the sea near the western South Korean city of Gunsan, adding that the pilot successfully ejected and survived.

"An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 8th Fighter Wing here experienced an in-flight emergency … The pilot ejected safely … He is conscious and was transported to a medical facility for assessment," a statement, published on the website of Kunsan Air Base, read.

The commander of the 8th Fighter Wing, Col. Matthew Gaetke, said that the US is "very thankful to the Republic of Korea rescue forces and all of our teammates who made the swift recovery of our pilot possible." He added that the next task for the US military in South Korea is to find the wreckage of the aircraft.

"Information on the cause of the in-flight emergency will not be made available until the conclusion of thorough safety and accident investigations," the statement said.

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Key statements by Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu during an inspection of Uraltransmash Plant in Yekaterinburg, where production of the new Koalitsiya-SV howitzers has begun:

▪️ Shoigu inspected the fulfilment of the state defence order for the production and repair of artillery systems;

▪️ The first batch of the Koalitsiya-SV self-propelled howitzers is at the final stage of production;

▪️ The Russian Army will receive the first six Koalitsiya-SV howitzers in February;

▪️ The Ministry of Defence will sign a long-term contract for the newest Koalitsiya-SV howitzers.

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The US economy is not the American economy. It is the economy centered around big banks, the corporations, ultra monopolies, trust cartels and syndicates based here in the West, argued Caleb Maupin, author, journalist and political analyst.

“But really, the US government and the US monopolies are the big corporations at the top of our economy [that] are propping up a global system. They're not really concerned about the domestic economy of the United States.”

This, he said, has led the US to push its geopolitical rivals to the brink of a third World War in an attempt to hold onto its disintegrating global hegemony.

“The Biden administration is trying to escalate every one of these international confrontations as quickly as they can,” Maupin said, pointing to the conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East and rising tensions with China as evidence. “They're almost, you know, hoping that they can play a game of bluff, and that they can push as close to the edge of that cliff of a straight up World War Three confrontation as they can get.”

Russia and China do not want a third World War, Maupin said. But he warned that if a World War does start, “everyone knows” that “Russia and China are going to win,” adding that the aggressive policies of the US are “not strategic for America at all.”

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📹 Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu inspects the implementation of the state defense order at Uraltransmash Plant

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💬 "Border wall construction is ongoing along the Texas-Mexico border.

We will continue to use every tool and strategy available to defend our southern border," Texas Gov. Greg Abbott wrote on X.

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▪️ An F-16 fighter jet of the US Forces crashes in South Korea

▪️ What keeps the US from striking Iran?

▪️ Poor combat experience might be the reason for deadly mix-up at US Middle East base

▪️ Why does the US economy not benefitting Americans?

▪️ Watch footage of anti-tractor hedgehogs installed on the square in front of the European Parliament

▪️ Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has inspected implementation of a state defense order

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⚡️ 🇵🇰 Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi sentenced to 14 years in Toshakhana reference

The verdict comes eight days before the 8 February general election, which the PTI is contesting amid a state crackdown and without an election symbol.

⚖️ It also comes a day after a special court set up under the Official Secrets Act sentenced Imran and his foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi to 10 years in prison for violating state secrets.

Both were also disqualified from holding public office for 10 years and fined Rs787 million each.

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WATCH LIVE: Lavrov takes part in BRICS sherpas, sous-sherpas meeting

👉 Follow the live here or on Sputnik's website

❗️ The West is trying to maintain a privileged position and impose it on the world majority, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

❗️ It is already obvious to everyone that the dollar has become either an active or potential weapon for solving foreign policy problems, Lavrov said.

The Western minority’s line provokes serious crises in international relations and increases conflicts, he added.

❗️ Zelensky’s peace formula amounts to nothing more than the Ukrainian leader foisting his conditions on Russia, Lavrov said.

The United States does not care about the fate of Ukrainians, they are “collateral damage,” as the saying goes there, he added.

❗️ The BRICS countries are pursuing a strategically independent foreign policy, which makes them different from Western countries, Lavrov said.

Not only political, but also trade and investment activity is shifting from the Euro-Atlantic to Asia and the Asia-Pacific region, he added.

❗️ Western assistance to Kiev has exceeded $200 billion, while humanitarian supplies to African countries can be counted in much smaller numbers and carry a lot of conditions, Lavrov said

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❗️ The combined GDP of the BRICS countries already amounts to about a third of the corresponding global value and exceeds the indicators of the G7 countries, Lavrov said

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❗️The Houthis in Yemen announced a missile attack on the US Navy destroyer USS GRAVELY in the Red Sea

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