Key statements from Russian FM Sergey Lavrov at the press conference after the meeting of G20 foreign ministers:

▪️Western countries categorically do not want serious dialogue on Ukraine;

▪️There were no serious proposals from the United States to begin contacts with the Russian Federation on strategic stability; trust cannot be restored now while Russia is declared an enemy;

▪️There were no contacts on the sidelines of the G20 with either Blinken or the British Foreign Secretary;

▪️ The Russian Federation will respond to new Western sanctions with practical actions that relate to the self-sufficient development of the Russian economy;

▪️If Europe tries to restore ties with the Russian Federation, making it dependent on their whims, then such contacts are not needed.

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Pentagon plan to increase satellite constellations poses threat to Russia

"They [the US] are greatly strengthening the power of their armed forces [by boosting their satellite capabilities – Sputnik]," Ivan Moiseev, the head of the Russian Institute of Space Policy, told Sputnik. "Since the US is a country 'unfriendly' to Russia, it is therefore a threat. In addition, there are opportunities that are not announced in any way, but they exist."

Soon after the US press published groundless claims of Russia's space-based nuclear program, the Pentagon sent a missile-tracking system into orbit – part of the Department of Defense's new plan, dubbed Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, that aims to fill the low-Earth orbit with myriads of small and cheap satellites. Kathleen H. Hicks, the deputy defense secretary, bragged at a US Space Command gathering on January 10 that the Pentagon will be able to launch those small cost-effective satellites "almost weekly."

"The composition of these [satellite] groups is growing, and literally within five years, [Elon] Musk alone is expected to increase the number of [Starlink] satellites to more than 10,000. Does this create any additional problems [for Russia]? Of course it does," Dr. Natan Eismont of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Space Research Institute told Sputnik. However, he resolutely rubbished the possibility of Russia using space-based nuclear weapons: "There will be no winners in this case, only losers."

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▪️Putin: Ukraine was ‘reduced to the level of colony with a puppet regime’

▪️Why Western traditionalists are increasingly moving to Russia

▪️Putin history lesson: The Origins of Russia and Ukraine

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

▪️Israel exported $12.5 billion worth of weapons in 2022

▪️Vladimir Putin reacts to Biden's insults

▪️'Swingers and criminals': Russian hackers release information on Ukrainian military recruiters

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NATO troops are already fighting in Ukraine. Here’s how:

Earlier this week, the Russian Defense Ministry revealed that NATO servicemen are involved in Ukrainian combat operations under the guise of mercenaries. Sputnik’s Russell Bentley (@TXDPR) explains that this has been going on for a long time.

“Obviously, any foreign soldier fighting on the Ukrainian side is not going to openly admit they are active duty NATO soldiers, but it does not matter whether they call themselves ‘mercenaries’ or anything else, the effect of what they do is all that counts.

There can be little doubt that complex systems like the US HIMARS system (with a minimum cost of $100,000 per rocket) are operated by US soldiers, not by poorly trained Ukrainian recruits. The same goes for other foreign weapons systems. You don't really think Ukrainian pilots will be flying the F-16s that will soon be in Ukraine, do you?

There are two tiers of foreign mercenaries fighting on the side of Ukraine - the criminals, adventurers and poseurs who are little more than expendable infantry ‘grunts’ and P.R.props, and the real expert soldiers who have had years of training and combat experience, who are highly paid and highly valued, and well protected. These professional killers may be retired from active NATO military service, but they continue to serve the same masters, and commit the same war crimes the did when they were officially in NATO armies.”

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Has US already chosen NATO secretary general by itself?

US convinced Dutch PM Rutte would make an "excellent secretary general" of NATO, has informed allies, White House says

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The US will soon impose new sanctions on Iran for its cooperation with Russia, John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, said.

The United States has no confirmation of Iran's supply of ballistic missiles to Russia, but is ready to bring the issue to the UN Security Council.

Check out #AfroVerdict's latest podcast to explore the possible benefits of Nigeria joining BRICS!

https://news.1rj.ru/str/sputnik_africa/13931

❗️ Russian President Vladimir Putin's key statements from a message on Defender of the Fatherland Day:

▪️ We will always remember that it was the Soviet people who defended the freedom of our country, the whole Europe and the world;

▪️ Taking into account the combat experience, we will continue to strengthen the Russian armed forces in every possible way and ensure their constant re-equipment and modernization;

▪️ High combat readiness of the army and navy is a guarantee of Russia's security and its free sovereign development;

▪️ Four Tu-160m missile carriers were recently handed over to the Russian armed forces in Kazan

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❗️ Armenia is "suspending" its membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said

Russia will support foreign companies placed under state management

Russia's Finance Ministry will address the issue of granting the right to state support to foreign companies that are placed under the management of the Federal Agency for State Property Management (Rosimushchestvo), Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said during a meeting convened by President Vladimir Putin.

At the meeting that took place in Russia's Chuvash Republic, the region's leader, Oleg Nikolaev, brought up Baltika, one of the largest Russian beer producers, saying it could not receive state support, as the company remains a foreign company, although it has been placed under Rosimushchestvo's management.

"I get it, absolutely right. Because the companies are managed by the Russian Federation. In fact, Rosimushchestvo manages and hired managers, so it is fair to raise the question. Of course, we will make the necessary decisions in this part so that such companies, which are managed by Russia, can receive support on a par with Russian enterprises," Siluanov said.

Putin agreed, saying, "For sure, they [the companies] should be given support."

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US Pentagon has interest in free speech online no more

The US security state was the staunchest supporter of free speech online while they fomented discontent around the globe, but the mood changed once it turned against them, syndicated columnist and political cartoonist Ted Rall told Radio Sputnik.

“There are outfits like Freedom House that were co-founded by the CIA, these sort-of NGOs [Non-Government Organizations] that have helped precipitate color revolutions, among other things, overseas, always in the interests of the US empire, and they promoted this kind of [free speech online] ideology a lot,” Rall explained.

Rall compared it to the US support of the Mujahideen in Afghanistan in the 1980s “some of which became radical Islamist groups like Al-Qaeda*.”

The censorship of Hunter Biden’s infamous “laptop from hell” also showed how media outlets assist the government in their censorship campaigns.

“I would be very interested in knowing what percentage of American voters still believe that the laptop isn't real,” Rall said of the FBI disinformation campaign against the laptop. “There's been no evidence whatsoever that it's even been modified or edited in any way. But these narratives, they catch on and they stick.”

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*Al-Qaeda is a terrorist organization banned in Russia and other states.

The roots of Western hysteria about alleged Russian space weapon lies in Western media

The story exploded because “the media” will print anything it is told about Russia, Mark Sleboa, a foreign relations and security expert told Sputnik’s Fault Lines.

“Russia's the gift that keeps on giving, propaganda-wise. Because you can accuse Russia of anything, no matter what you said about them [before], about shovels, and microchips or washing machines. And, generally, people will believe it. Or at least the media will print it,” he explained, referring to previous Western propaganda claims that Russian soldiers were fighting armed only with shovels and that their missiles used microchips from stolen Ukrainian washing machines.

Last week US Rep. and House Intelligence Committee Chair Mike Turner (R-OH) released a document cryptic warning that called on US President Joe Biden to declassify information on a “serious national security threat.”

US media outlets began reporting that the mysterious threat was a Russian program to put nuclear weapons in space, an accusation vehemently denied by Russia.

“The details aren’t important as much as the scaremongering factor,” Sleboda continued. “It’s the same thing with this continual octogenarian fantasy about linking Trump and Russia… all the powers of the US investigative bodies were unable to prove any connection… but that doesn’t stop an enormous number of the American people from believing in it because they want to.”

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Czech Republic will contribute to EU mission in Red Sea with 2 soldiers

The Czech armed forces said on Thursday it would send two military personnel to take part in the EU's naval mission to secure shipping in the Red Sea amid ongoing attacks by Yemen's Houthis on civilian vessels.

"In early March, we will send two of our military personnel to participate in the EU Aspides naval mission," the Czech army said in a statement on Telegram.

The army added that its delegates would work at the headquarters of the operation in the Greek city of Larissa.

Sweden said earlier that it would send four servicemen to participate in the operation, while Denmark said it would send only one. Participants in the mission will not strike Houthi positions in Yemen, as the operation will be purely defensive, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said earlier in February.

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Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu hands state awards to military personnel at Joint Group of Forces

“Russian Defense Minister, General of the Army Sergei Shoigu, at the headquarters of the Joint Group of Forces, handed state awards to military personnel who distinguished themselves in performing combat missions,” the ministry said.

The Russian Armed Forces have to work hard to achieve victory, Shoigu said while handing awards.

“Dear friends and colleagues! I sincerely congratulate you on these awards. I am sure the awards will not be the last ones. We have a lot of work ahead. You fight with dignity, and for this you were awarded state decorations. The country has duly appreciated your... military service. Only forward, only to victory!” Shoigu stated.

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Russian soldiers dodge Ukrainian drone

A group of Russian fighters on a buggy noticed a kamikaze drone flying towards them. The driver sped up and maneuvered. Then an explosion was heard next to the car, and thanks to the driver's skill, the fighters escaped with only a slight concussion.

Soon two more drones were shot down with small arms fire nearby. After the flight of the Ukrainian forces, Ukrainian drones began to appear frequently in Avdeyevka, said a Russian soldier with the code name "Vesna".

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