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.”

Read more in the full article

📹 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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❗️ Today, the US is thrusting Zelensky’s peace formula upon everyone, calling on countries, including those from the Global South represented here, to participate in its initiatives, Sergey Lavrov said.

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