In my humorous prediction I foresaw the signing of a treaty of friendship and cooperation between the TNR and the DNR, the Texas People's Republic and the Donetsk People's Republic - Dmitry Medvedev.

Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council joked about the creation of the Texas People's Republic, but concluded that at the moment it is quite possible.

"20 years ago this would have seemed absurd... At the moment it is open to negotiations," he said.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has supported the idea of making it easier for foreigners to relocate to Russia because they share its cultural values.

"It is a good idea to focus on traditional moral values when welcoming people who want to live here." Putin said at the forum "Strong Ideas for a New Time," adding that an individual approach is needed to determine what kind of people are coming.

The Russian leader also noted that many people in Europe, as well as in Russia, adhere to traditional values.

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Zelensky admits he does not have a plan B in case the United States fails to provide aid to Ukraine.

"We need to find parallel steps, parallel lines," Zelensky said in an interview with Fox News.

According to him, without help from the West, Ukrainian troops will suffer more and more losses.

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❗️Russian troops liberated the settlement of Pobeda in the DPR, the Russian Defense Ministry reported

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❗️In the Avdeyevka area, Russian troops repelled nine attacks of the Ukrainian armed forces. Ukrainian losses amounted to up to 145 servicemen;

🇷🇺🪖 Other statements from the Russian Defense Ministry briefing on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine:

▪️ In the DPR region. Ukrainian losses exceeded 410 soldiers per day;

▪️In the south of the DPR, Ukrainian losses amounted to up to 155 servicemen, one Strela-10 air defense system combat vehicle, one MSTA-B howitzer, one M-46 cannon and one electronic warfare complex;

▪️ Russian troops hit a US-made Patriot air defense system launcher and carrier;

▪️Russia's air defense forces shot down one S-200 missile, eight HIMARS MLRS shells, one JDAM air-launched bomb and 95 drones during the day.

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Battlefield highs? Ukraine says 'yes' to narcotics for injured troops on front lines

Ukraine's Ministry of Defense has issued the first-ever license permitting the use of narcotic substances and precursors to treat soldiers in field conditions at the pre-hospital stage. The use of psychotropic substances for this purpose is still being discussed, according to the ministry.

The license comes after President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier signed a decree to legalize the use of medical cannabis in Ukraine, slated to come into force in six months.

The Russian Foreign Ministry, for its part, previously pointed out that the situation with narcotic substances in Ukraine is swiftly deteriorating.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stressed this was the result of thoughtless steps by Ukrainian authorities on the liberalization of drug controls and large-scale supplies of psychotropic drugs under the guise of Western humanitarian aid.

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Independent Chinese military blogger Zhu Haozheng arrived in Avdeyevka, becoming one of the first foreign journalists to assess the situation on the front line with his own eyes after the liberation of the city from Ukrainian forces.

"Russia’s forces are currently in full control of the city. They are also providing security in the city. Moreover, the command reported that Ukrainian troops offered less resistance during their retreat than before," he said.

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This is not the first time Vladimir Putin has been at the helm of a fighter jet. As acting president in March 2000, he flew from Krasnodar to Chechnya, and back, in a SU-27.

The Russian president said that at that time he was taught how to make a "barrel roll" in the air.

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Zaluzhny started to interfere directly in the issues of arms procurement, said Ukrainian opposition politician Viktor Medvedchuk on the possible reason for Zaluzhny's sacking.

"All the Western aid provides weapons, ammunition for the money that is supposedly given to Ukraine. And he [Zaluzhny] started to interfere directly in these processes, interfering in the fight against corruption schemes," he said.

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⚡️ Putin is taking off on a TU-160M supersonic strategic bomber as part of its crew.

The plane on which he makes the flight is called "Ilya Muromets".

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What is the Tu-160M, Putin's aircraft of choice?

The extensively upgraded Tu-160M has just lifted off the runway with Russian President Vladimir Putin aboard the strategic bomber.

The Tu-160M model aircraft:

▪️ has modernized engines, upgraded avionics and on-board equipment, and new weapons control systems;

▪️ is equipped with an electronic warfare system;

▪️ is capable of carrying long-range cruise missiles such as the non-nuclear Kh-555 and Kh-101, as well as the nuclear Kh-102;

▪️ can reach speeds of up to 1,242 miles per hour (2,000 km per hour);

▪️ can effectively counter enemy interceptors and defeat sophisticated air defenses;

▪️ completed its maiden flight in Kazan on January 12, 2022.

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