🇯🇵 “The Japanese government supports the continuation of the war”
A protest event was held in Tokyo to coincide with the Japanese-Ukrainian reconstruction conference
A Sputnik correspondent attended a protest that took place near the building of the Federation of Economic Organizations of Japan (Keidanren), where consultations are taking place within the framework of the Japanese-Ukrainian reconstruction conference, in which Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is participating.
The organizers were opponents of financial assistance to Ukraine from Japan.
The protesters raised anti-war slogans and called the conference on the restoration of Ukraine a “war sponsorship conference,” demanding a resolution to the conflict, believing that such events only lead to its greater escalation.
At the end of the procession, the participants were met by a police cordon. It came to a bit of a stampede. As a Sputnik correspondent reported from the scene, the police could not disperse the protesters for about an hour.
The Sputnik correspondent also managed to talk with the organizer of the march, lawyer Takayama Shunkichi, who shared his opinion on why Japan should not restore Ukraine.
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A protest event was held in Tokyo to coincide with the Japanese-Ukrainian reconstruction conference
A Sputnik correspondent attended a protest that took place near the building of the Federation of Economic Organizations of Japan (Keidanren), where consultations are taking place within the framework of the Japanese-Ukrainian reconstruction conference, in which Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is participating.
The organizers were opponents of financial assistance to Ukraine from Japan.
The protesters raised anti-war slogans and called the conference on the restoration of Ukraine a “war sponsorship conference,” demanding a resolution to the conflict, believing that such events only lead to its greater escalation.
At the end of the procession, the participants were met by a police cordon. It came to a bit of a stampede. As a Sputnik correspondent reported from the scene, the police could not disperse the protesters for about an hour.
The Sputnik correspondent also managed to talk with the organizer of the march, lawyer Takayama Shunkichi, who shared his opinion on why Japan should not restore Ukraine.
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The Ukrainian troops' defeat in Avdeyevka "is a pivotal moment" for the Ukrainian conflict, CNN stated.
Altogether with the suspension of US aid, failed counteroffensive, "reshuffle of Ukraine’s top brass", enormous losses of manpower and equipment the current "Russian advances" might mean that the worst times have come for the Ukrainian authorities, CNN concluded.
Altogether with the suspension of US aid, failed counteroffensive, "reshuffle of Ukraine’s top brass", enormous losses of manpower and equipment the current "Russian advances" might mean that the worst times have come for the Ukrainian authorities, CNN concluded.
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Eurobonds to arm Ukraine will strip EU members of sovereignty
"What’s left of national sovereignty in Europe will die if the EU Commission continues getting these special bond issuances, €100 billion ($107.8 billion) at a time," Tom Luongo, financial and geopolitical analyst, told Sputnik.
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has proposed issuing €100 billion ($107.8 billion) in Eurobonds to boost Europe's defense industries in order to arm Ukraine, with the support of France and European Council President Charles Michel.
Luongo suspects that the EU’s support for the war in Ukraine was mostly driven by the desire to centralize power in Brussels. The first phase of the plan was issuing SURE bonds after the COVID-19 pandemic erupted, according to him. The joint borrowing at the time totaled €98.4 billion ($106 billion).
But the expert believes that Brussels' push would have the opposite result: "The more these people push for total integration of military, regulatory, political and economic cohesion, the more they will alienate the people they are trying to subjugate," he said.
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"What’s left of national sovereignty in Europe will die if the EU Commission continues getting these special bond issuances, €100 billion ($107.8 billion) at a time," Tom Luongo, financial and geopolitical analyst, told Sputnik.
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has proposed issuing €100 billion ($107.8 billion) in Eurobonds to boost Europe's defense industries in order to arm Ukraine, with the support of France and European Council President Charles Michel.
Luongo suspects that the EU’s support for the war in Ukraine was mostly driven by the desire to centralize power in Brussels. The first phase of the plan was issuing SURE bonds after the COVID-19 pandemic erupted, according to him. The joint borrowing at the time totaled €98.4 billion ($106 billion).
"Europe embarked on a very dangerous path by purposefully gutting their domestic economies through COVID lockdowns to get the first round of Eurobonds agreed to. Now they are using the phantom threat of a Russian invasion to get the second round issued," Luongo warned.
But the expert believes that Brussels' push would have the opposite result: "The more these people push for total integration of military, regulatory, political and economic cohesion, the more they will alienate the people they are trying to subjugate," he said.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin presented North Korean leader Kim Jong-un with a Russian-made car, Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
The agency didn't specify the brand and model, but when Kim Jong-un visited Russia in September, 2023, Putin showed him Russian brand Aurus.
The gift for Kim Jong-un was received on February 18 by his sister, Kim Yo-jong, vice department director of the Workers' Party of Korea's (WPK) Central Committee, and Pak Jong-cheon, secretary of the WPK Central Committee, KCNA noted.
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The agency didn't specify the brand and model, but when Kim Jong-un visited Russia in September, 2023, Putin showed him Russian brand Aurus.
The gift for Kim Jong-un was received on February 18 by his sister, Kim Yo-jong, vice department director of the Workers' Party of Korea's (WPK) Central Committee, and Pak Jong-cheon, secretary of the WPK Central Committee, KCNA noted.
Kim Yo-jong said the gift "serves as a clear demonstration of the special personal relations between the top leaders of the DPRK and Russia and as the best one".
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Russia handed over 11 children to Ukraine for reunification with their families
The transfer of children took place through the mediation of Qatar. The Commissioner for Children's Rights under the President of the Russian Federation, Maria Lvova-Belova, said that this is the largest group of children who were returned to Ukraine to be reunited with their families. Among the transferred children, two are with disabilities.
Children found themselves separated from their families for various reasons. Some of them were placed in a boarding school by their parents, while others were sent to a children's health camp, but could not be brought back due to changes in borders.
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The transfer of children took place through the mediation of Qatar. The Commissioner for Children's Rights under the President of the Russian Federation, Maria Lvova-Belova, said that this is the largest group of children who were returned to Ukraine to be reunited with their families. Among the transferred children, two are with disabilities.
Children found themselves separated from their families for various reasons. Some of them were placed in a boarding school by their parents, while others were sent to a children's health camp, but could not be brought back due to changes in borders.
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❗️ The Russian air defenses destroyed a Ukrainian drone in the Bryansk Region, governor Alexander Bogomaz wrote on his Telegram channel.
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"There were no casualties or damage. Operational and emergency services are working on the spot. We thank our defenders!," Bogomaz added.
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📹 Footage of abandoned Ukrainian military equipment in the suburbs of Avdeyevka after the uncontrolled escape of the Ukrainian forces
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Israeli war cabinet and Knesset member Benny Gantz seemingly set Ramadan as the deadline for Israel’s invasion of the southern Gazan city of Rafah.
On Monday, Al-Jazeera reported that it viewed a draft UN Security Resolution by the United States that, for the first time, called for a ceasefire and the pause of the Rafah invasion.
More than 1.4 million of the 2.3 million Palestinians living in Gaza have sheltered in the southern city of Rafah.
The resolution does not call for an immediate ceasefire, so it may not be accepted by other Security Council members. The US has already vetoed ceasefire resolutions twice. It is expected to veto a third resolution put forth by Algeria soon.
It is not known when or if the US resolution will be brought to a vote.
Read more in the full article
“The world must know — and Hamas leaders must know — that if by Ramadan the hostages are not home, then the fighting will continue, including in Rafah,” Gantz said at the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations over the weekend. Ramadan begins on March 10.
On Monday, Al-Jazeera reported that it viewed a draft UN Security Resolution by the United States that, for the first time, called for a ceasefire and the pause of the Rafah invasion.
More than 1.4 million of the 2.3 million Palestinians living in Gaza have sheltered in the southern city of Rafah.
The resolution does not call for an immediate ceasefire, so it may not be accepted by other Security Council members. The US has already vetoed ceasefire resolutions twice. It is expected to veto a third resolution put forth by Algeria soon.
It is not known when or if the US resolution will be brought to a vote.
Read more in the full article
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Report on leak of NATO sub secrets near Nord Stream meant ‘to confuse public opinion’
Germany’s Federal Prosecutor General is reportedly investigating whether employees of the Stralsund Mining Authority deliberately disclosed state secrets relating to the operating areas of NATO submarines near the Nord Stream natural gas pipeline network.
“To be honest, it is a rather strange case,” German journalist and political analyst Dr. Gregor Spitzen, told Sputnik. “Why is the disclosure of these documents only now being widely reported? I suppose it is an element of the targeted media strategy to confuse public opinion and distract it from the real perpetrator who bears responsibility for this act of terror,” he suggested.
US-born German journalist, author and political analyst Victor Grossman says that notwithstanding the legal trouble now threatening Stralsund Mining Authority employees, he can’t help but be “somewhat amused” by the mental gymnastics Western officials and media put themselves through to try to throw their respective publics off the scent of US responsibility for the Nord Stream attack.
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Germany’s Federal Prosecutor General is reportedly investigating whether employees of the Stralsund Mining Authority deliberately disclosed state secrets relating to the operating areas of NATO submarines near the Nord Stream natural gas pipeline network.
“To be honest, it is a rather strange case,” German journalist and political analyst Dr. Gregor Spitzen, told Sputnik. “Why is the disclosure of these documents only now being widely reported? I suppose it is an element of the targeted media strategy to confuse public opinion and distract it from the real perpetrator who bears responsibility for this act of terror,” he suggested.
US-born German journalist, author and political analyst Victor Grossman says that notwithstanding the legal trouble now threatening Stralsund Mining Authority employees, he can’t help but be “somewhat amused” by the mental gymnastics Western officials and media put themselves through to try to throw their respective publics off the scent of US responsibility for the Nord Stream attack.
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At night, a Grad MLRS unit of the Southern Group of Russian army successfully hit an Ukrainian forces' stronghold with 122-mm rockets.
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EU mission in Red Sea will be led by Italy, France, Greece
The EU naval mission to secure navigation in the Red Sea from Yemen's Houthi movement will be led by Italy, France and Greece, Hungarian FM Peter Szijjarto said.
Earlier on Monday, Italian FM Antonio Tajani said that the European Union approved the launch of the Aspides military operation, with Italy set to take over the command of the forces.
The Houthi movement, which controls large parts of northern and western Yemen, vowed in November 2023 to attack any ships associated with Israel until it halts military actions in the Gaza Strip. This led US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to announce the creation of a multinational operation in the Red Sea.
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The EU naval mission to secure navigation in the Red Sea from Yemen's Houthi movement will be led by Italy, France and Greece, Hungarian FM Peter Szijjarto said.
Earlier on Monday, Italian FM Antonio Tajani said that the European Union approved the launch of the Aspides military operation, with Italy set to take over the command of the forces.
"Today it was decided that we are launching an EU maritime mission … This will be a mission led by Greece, Italy and France, called Aspides; its budget for the first year is limited to 8 million euros [$8.6 million]," Szijjarto told Hungarian reporters.
The Houthi movement, which controls large parts of northern and western Yemen, vowed in November 2023 to attack any ships associated with Israel until it halts military actions in the Gaza Strip. This led US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to announce the creation of a multinational operation in the Red Sea.
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❗️ Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has arrived on a visit to Venezuela, a Sputnik correspondent reports.
Lavrov arrived in Venezuela after visiting Cuba, where his Latin American tour began. In the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, he is scheduled to hold talks with Foreign Minister Ivan Gil, President Nicolas Maduro and Vice President Delcy Rodriguez.
Ahead of the visit, the Russian Foreign Ministry noted that the development of strategic partnership, political dialog and joint projects in trade, investment and cultural areas are on the agenda. It is not excluded that one of the topics of the talks may be to negotiate the date of President Maduro's visit to Russia: he recently announced that he was going to come to St. Petersburg soon.
Jesus Rafael Salazar Velasquez, Venezuela's ambassador to Russia, noted that President Maduro's trip to Russia is planned for this year.
After Venezuela, Lavrov will go to Brazil for a meeting of G20 foreign ministers.
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Lavrov arrived in Venezuela after visiting Cuba, where his Latin American tour began. In the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, he is scheduled to hold talks with Foreign Minister Ivan Gil, President Nicolas Maduro and Vice President Delcy Rodriguez.
Ahead of the visit, the Russian Foreign Ministry noted that the development of strategic partnership, political dialog and joint projects in trade, investment and cultural areas are on the agenda. It is not excluded that one of the topics of the talks may be to negotiate the date of President Maduro's visit to Russia: he recently announced that he was going to come to St. Petersburg soon.
Jesus Rafael Salazar Velasquez, Venezuela's ambassador to Russia, noted that President Maduro's trip to Russia is planned for this year.
After Venezuela, Lavrov will go to Brazil for a meeting of G20 foreign ministers.
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Sputnik International
Chinese authorities called Navalny's death an internal Russian matter, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, declining to comment to the French news agency France-Presse. Subscribe to @SputnikInt
NATO countries should stop interfering in the internal affairs of other countries and “stop its tricks,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said when asked about NATO leaders’ criticisms of China’s response to Alexey Navalny’s death.
On Friday, the Chinese government called Navalny’s death an internal Russian affair, which prompted criticism from NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Asked about that on Monday, Mao responded that “First and foremost, different from NATO, China never interferes in other countries’ internal affairs,” while adding that China favors peace talks in Ukraine.
Last year, China released a 12-point document noscriptd “China's Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis” which included the end of hostilities and the resumption of peace talks.
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On Friday, the Chinese government called Navalny’s death an internal Russian affair, which prompted criticism from NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Asked about that on Monday, Mao responded that “First and foremost, different from NATO, China never interferes in other countries’ internal affairs,” while adding that China favors peace talks in Ukraine.
“NATO should stop its tricks of hyping up tensions and interfering in other countries’ internal affairs to expand its sphere of influence and stop smearing China and stoking antagonism and confrontation,” Mao asserted, adding “NATO should earnestly take concrete action for the peace and stability in Europe.”
Last year, China released a 12-point document noscriptd “China's Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis” which included the end of hostilities and the resumption of peace talks.
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🎙 Check out AfroVerdict's latest episode featuring ECOWAS Commission President and Uganda's FM in conversation about SWIFT alternatives, Russia-Africa cooperation, conflicts in Africa and more.
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🌍 The 37th AU Summit saw its conclusion on 18 February, with multiple global issues addressed by heads of states and regional organization representatives. #AfroVerdict features key regional figures to discuss SWIFT alternatives, the crisis in ECOWAS, regional…
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Sputnik International
Russian President Vladimir Putin presented North Korean leader Kim Jong-un with a Russian-made car, Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. The agency didn't specify the brand and model, but when Kim Jong-un visited Russia in September, 2023, Putin showed…
🇷🇺🇰🇵 Kim Jong-un was presented with a Russian-made Aurus car, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Sputnik
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A number of Ukrainian servicemen are in hiding under the Avdeyevka coking plant, similarly to the situation that unfolded in Mariupol's Azovstal, an aide to the head of the DPR, Yan Gagin, told Sputnik.
He also said that the Ukrainian military, in its chaotic retreat from Avdeyevka, left behind NATO-made equipment, which is now being examined by specialists. In the city itself, a significant number of buildings have been damaged or mined by the enemy. In Gagin's estimation, "complete demining of the city, in order to start somehow restoring it, may take several months."
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"We cannot yet say how many of them there are, because this is a Soviet-style enterprise and there are quite a lot of underground communications there," he said.
He also said that the Ukrainian military, in its chaotic retreat from Avdeyevka, left behind NATO-made equipment, which is now being examined by specialists. In the city itself, a significant number of buildings have been damaged or mined by the enemy. In Gagin's estimation, "complete demining of the city, in order to start somehow restoring it, may take several months."
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▪️ Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived on a visit to Venezuela
▪️ Ukraine planning to use poisonous chemicals to hinder Russia's advance, Sputnik expert explains
▪️ What present did Russian President Putin gift to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un?
▪️ Israel seemingly set Ramadan as the deadline for Hamas to return hostages
More stories to cover:
▪️ What does the report on leak of NATO sub secrets near Nord Stream mean?
▪️ EU members will be stripped of their sovereignty with eurobonds to arm Ukraine
▪️ Watch Russian Rostec testing a prototype of a vertical take-off drone
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▪️ Ukraine planning to use poisonous chemicals to hinder Russia's advance, Sputnik expert explains
▪️ What present did Russian President Putin gift to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un?
▪️ Israel seemingly set Ramadan as the deadline for Hamas to return hostages
More stories to cover:
▪️ What does the report on leak of NATO sub secrets near Nord Stream mean?
▪️ EU members will be stripped of their sovereignty with eurobonds to arm Ukraine
▪️ Watch Russian Rostec testing a prototype of a vertical take-off drone
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
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⚡️ President Putin to deliver annual address to Federal Assembly (Russian parliament) on 29 February, Kremlin announced
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Ukraine deteriorated and actually collapsed after Maidan coup – Former PM Azarov (Part 1)
Former Ukrainian Prime Minister, Nikolai Azarov, stated in an interview with Sputnik that, a decade after the 2014 Maidan coup, it has become evident that as far as Ukraine is concerned, the EU has failed to become a viable substitute for the Russian market.
▪️ Ukraine’s real gross domestic product (GDP) currently does not exceed $60 billion (as compared to $175 billion in 2013).
Former Ukrainian Prime Minister, Nikolai Azarov, stated in an interview with Sputnik that, a decade after the 2014 Maidan coup, it has become evident that as far as Ukraine is concerned, the EU has failed to become a viable substitute for the Russian market.
“Over these ten years, we can say that the country has degraded and, in fact, collapsed. If we talk about the standard of living, it cannot even be compared with 2013, because food prices have skyrocketed: from five to thirty times and higher,” Azarov stressed.
▪️ Ukraine’s real gross domestic product (GDP) currently does not exceed $60 billion (as compared to $175 billion in 2013).
“The Kiev regime distorts all official data and blatantly lies. Here they show that, for example, GDP is $175 billion, nearly the same as it was in 2013. So does that mean that GDP doesn’t depend on anything? The trick here is very simple, they include all grants and substantial assistance received as part of their GDP calculation,” he explained.
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Sputnik International
Ukraine deteriorated and actually collapsed after Maidan coup – Former PM Azarov (Part 1) Former Ukrainian Prime Minister, Nikolai Azarov, stated in an interview with Sputnik that, a decade after the 2014 Maidan coup, it has become evident that as far as…
Ukraine deteriorated and actually collapsed after Maidan coup – Former PM Azarov (Part 2)
▪️ The European Commission’s plans to make Ukraine’s army and its military-industrial complex part of the EU’s military capabilities are an absolutely unrealistic scenario.
▪️ Volodymyr Zelensky postponed Ukraine’s presidential elections for fear of losing his job.
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▪️ The European Commission’s plans to make Ukraine’s army and its military-industrial complex part of the EU’s military capabilities are an absolutely unrealistic scenario.
“The military-industrial complex of Ukraine was once powerful... but it has now been destroyed… This is an absolutely unrealistic scenario [to make Ukraine’s military industrial complex part of the EU], and this Ursula von der Leyen would be better off minding her own business. She has strictly defined functions, as the President of the European Commission, and these functions do not include the creation of any industry in Ukraine or other similar issues,” Azarov highlighted.
▪️ Volodymyr Zelensky postponed Ukraine’s presidential elections for fear of losing his job.
“His decision [to postpone the elections] is illegal, and on May 21, 2024, he becomes a nobody. Because his term of office as president expires, the Constitution of Ukraine does not provide for any term extension. If the constitution does not provide for it, then you become a nobody. You can invoke anything: martial law, war. By the way, he did not declare war. Formally, officially, there is no war. So why was the election postponed? Only because of one thing - the fear of losing this election,” the former Ukrainian PM concluded.
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Ukraine's position is getting weaker every day, it should have concluded a peace agreement a year ago, says Elon Musk
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