Why Poland is seeking to strip Ukraine of EU trade benefits
Polish farmers have been protesting against the import of products from Ukraine since late January. They are also demanding that the EU's climate policies be reverted. Thousands of Polish farmers have been seen blockading the border with Ukraine, throwing away Ukrainian grain and even carrying slogans urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to "put things in order" in Brussels and Warsaw.
In response, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has proposed stripping Ukraine of EU trade benefits and modulating Brussels' climate policies.
The chances of Brussels okaying Warsaw's ideas are very low, according to Josep-Maria Arauzo-Carod, professor of economics at the Rovira i Virgili University (URV) in Spain. Kolchin argued that Brussels may only lend a sympathetic ear to Tusk's ideas given that farmer protests have engulfed the whole EU.
The experts agreed that Warsaw's protectionist measures could create a precedent for the rest of the EU. If Ukraine's trade benefits are canceled, that could deal a heavy blow to the Kiev regime.
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"The fact that Poland has changed its attitude to [Ukraine's] agricultural benefits at a state level is an indicator of the effectiveness of the farmer protests," Peter Kolchin, a political analyst, told Sputnik.
Polish farmers have been protesting against the import of products from Ukraine since late January. They are also demanding that the EU's climate policies be reverted. Thousands of Polish farmers have been seen blockading the border with Ukraine, throwing away Ukrainian grain and even carrying slogans urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to "put things in order" in Brussels and Warsaw.
In response, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has proposed stripping Ukraine of EU trade benefits and modulating Brussels' climate policies.
The chances of Brussels okaying Warsaw's ideas are very low, according to Josep-Maria Arauzo-Carod, professor of economics at the Rovira i Virgili University (URV) in Spain. Kolchin argued that Brussels may only lend a sympathetic ear to Tusk's ideas given that farmer protests have engulfed the whole EU.
The experts agreed that Warsaw's protectionist measures could create a precedent for the rest of the EU. If Ukraine's trade benefits are canceled, that could deal a heavy blow to the Kiev regime.
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Forwarded from Sputnik Africa
🇨🇮 🛢 Major oil field discovered in the waters of the Gulf of Guinea offshore Cote d'Ivoire
The field's reserves are estimated at 1.5-2 billion barrels of oil and up to 2.4 trillion cubic feet (about 67 billion cubic meters) of natural gas, according to the Ecofin business news agency.
The oil was discovered in a 7 km deep well. The exploration was carried out by the Italian energy company Eni together with the Ivorian company Petroci.
In 2021, these companies discovered the first major oil and gas field, Baleine, off the coast of Côte d'Ivoire. Its first phase came on stream last year and is now producing 22,000 barrels of oil per day.
Baleine's reserves are estimated at 2.5 billion barrels of oil and 3.3 trillion cubic feet (about 93 billion cubic meters) of gas. It required an investment of $10 billion.
Experts estimate that by 2027, Ivory Coast will be one of the top ten oil producers in Africa.
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The field's reserves are estimated at 1.5-2 billion barrels of oil and up to 2.4 trillion cubic feet (about 67 billion cubic meters) of natural gas, according to the Ecofin business news agency.
The oil was discovered in a 7 km deep well. The exploration was carried out by the Italian energy company Eni together with the Ivorian company Petroci.
In 2021, these companies discovered the first major oil and gas field, Baleine, off the coast of Côte d'Ivoire. Its first phase came on stream last year and is now producing 22,000 barrels of oil per day.
Baleine's reserves are estimated at 2.5 billion barrels of oil and 3.3 trillion cubic feet (about 93 billion cubic meters) of gas. It required an investment of $10 billion.
Experts estimate that by 2027, Ivory Coast will be one of the top ten oil producers in Africa.
Subscribe to @sputnik_africa
🔸 TikTok | Sputnik Africa | Boost us on Telegram 🔸
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What does the US have to do to end the Ukraine conflict? Stop supporting Kiev
At least that's what former adviser to the head of the Pentagon, Colonel Douglas McGregor, wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
McGregor said that to stop the fighting, the United States must stop supplying Ukraine with any aid. Also, according to him, Washington must inform Moscow of its desire to resolve the conflict as quickly as possible and notify its allies about this. He argued that negotiations between Moscow and Kiev will bring an end to the conflict.
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At least that's what former adviser to the head of the Pentagon, Colonel Douglas McGregor, wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
McGregor said that to stop the fighting, the United States must stop supplying Ukraine with any aid. Also, according to him, Washington must inform Moscow of its desire to resolve the conflict as quickly as possible and notify its allies about this. He argued that negotiations between Moscow and Kiev will bring an end to the conflict.
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▪️British foreign secretary ready to persuade Germany to supply Ukraine with Taurus missiles
▪️France holds large-scale drills amid backlash from Macron’s hint at Western troops in Ukraine
▪️Why Poland is seeking to strip Ukraine of EU trade benefits
▪️Two decades of diplomacy: Sergey Lavrov's gentlemanly approach to global affairs
▪️75 years of NATO expansion in one pic
▪️‘Cut a deal’: US billionaire investor urges America to seek detente with Russia to avert WWIII
▪️Military presence for money? US gains access to three Pacific nations in exchange for $7.1 billion funding
▪️Exactly 90 years ago, the first man in space Yuri Gagarin was born
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▪️France holds large-scale drills amid backlash from Macron’s hint at Western troops in Ukraine
▪️Why Poland is seeking to strip Ukraine of EU trade benefits
▪️Two decades of diplomacy: Sergey Lavrov's gentlemanly approach to global affairs
▪️75 years of NATO expansion in one pic
▪️‘Cut a deal’: US billionaire investor urges America to seek detente with Russia to avert WWIII
▪️Military presence for money? US gains access to three Pacific nations in exchange for $7.1 billion funding
▪️Exactly 90 years ago, the first man in space Yuri Gagarin was born
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🥴 Missouri state legislature has passed a law banning transvestites from performing in front of children.
But one person did not agree, coming to the House of Representatives and challenging the decision as homophobic.
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But one person did not agree, coming to the House of Representatives and challenging the decision as homophobic.
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Russian air defenses at about 22:00 Moscow time (19:00 GMT) destroyed a Ukrainian drone over the Belgorod region, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
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Plans to hand over Taurus cruise missiles to Kiev entail a serious risk of NATO-Russia escalation
If German Taurus missiles were to be provided to Kiev without first introducing “some type of technical limitation” that would likely result in these weapons being used to “hit inside of Russia,” thus paving the way for the escalation of the Ukrainian conflict, says Earl Rasmussen, an international consultant and retired US Army lieutenant colonel.
Commenting on UK Foreign Minister David Cameron’s assurances that supplying Taurus missiles to Ukraine will not cause an escalation, Rasmussen wonders aloud what Cameron’s definition of escalation might be.
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If German Taurus missiles were to be provided to Kiev without first introducing “some type of technical limitation” that would likely result in these weapons being used to “hit inside of Russia,” thus paving the way for the escalation of the Ukrainian conflict, says Earl Rasmussen, an international consultant and retired US Army lieutenant colonel.
Commenting on UK Foreign Minister David Cameron’s assurances that supplying Taurus missiles to Ukraine will not cause an escalation, Rasmussen wonders aloud what Cameron’s definition of escalation might be.
“Maybe in his view escalation is tactical nuclear missiles. Who knows? But I would hope that that's not his definition,” he says.
“If the British become more directly involved, you really run the risk of expanding the war effort. If they're using their own launch vehicles, if they're firing from NATO ground, that then opens up NATO countries to be targets, which is definitely an escalation,” Rasmussen warns.
“A lot of our Western leaders seem to be somewhat delusional. So they have, some type of a fantasy picture in their mind,” he adds.
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Israel's mounted police in Tel Aviv are dispersing anti-government protesters, who have succeeded in partially blocking the city's central highway, a Sputnik correspondent reported.
Hundreds rallied in Tel Aviv on Sunday in front of the defense ministry against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies. The police were deployed at the site.
About an hour past the assembly the demonstrators marched toward the Ayalon Highway and partially blocked it. Dozens are lined up along the road, waving flags and yelling slogans calling for snap elections. The mounted police are trying to force them away from the traffic area.
A parallel authorized demonstration is taking place a few blocks away in support of the hostages continuing to remain in Hamas custody for over 150 days now. This is a recurring demonstration where people gather weekly to urge the government to achieve a deal and free the hostages at any cost.
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Hundreds rallied in Tel Aviv on Sunday in front of the defense ministry against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies. The police were deployed at the site.
About an hour past the assembly the demonstrators marched toward the Ayalon Highway and partially blocked it. Dozens are lined up along the road, waving flags and yelling slogans calling for snap elections. The mounted police are trying to force them away from the traffic area.
A parallel authorized demonstration is taking place a few blocks away in support of the hostages continuing to remain in Hamas custody for over 150 days now. This is a recurring demonstration where people gather weekly to urge the government to achieve a deal and free the hostages at any cost.
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France is forming a coalition of nations that are willing to consider the possibility of deploying Western forces to Ukraine, Politico reports.
On Friday, French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné travelled to Lithuania to hold a meeting with his Baltic and Ukrainian counterparts to promote the idea that foreign forces might assist Ukraine in tasks such as de-mining.
Séjourné repeatedly mentioned mine clearance operations as a potential area of assistance, stating it "might mean having some personnel, [but] not to fight."
The newspaper recalled French President Emmanuel Macron's remarks about the possibility of sending servicemen from Western countries to Ukraine. Subsequently most EU members, including Germany, the Czech Republic, and Poland, clarified they had no such plans. However, as Politico writes, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania appeared "much more open to the idea."
Commenting on Macron’s statements, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stressed that NATO troops’ potential boots on the ground in Ukraine will lead to an inevitable conflict between Russia and the alliance.
Russia has repeatedly warned NATO countries that arms supplies to Ukraine would be considered legitimate targets. Moscow has accused NATO countries of "playing with fire" by arming Ukraine, emphasizing that such actions hinder the possibility of Russia-Ukraine negotiations.
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On Friday, French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné travelled to Lithuania to hold a meeting with his Baltic and Ukrainian counterparts to promote the idea that foreign forces might assist Ukraine in tasks such as de-mining.
Séjourné repeatedly mentioned mine clearance operations as a potential area of assistance, stating it "might mean having some personnel, [but] not to fight."
"It is not for Russia to tell us how we should help Ukraine in the coming months or years," Séjourné said at a meeting chaired by Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis and attended by his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba.
The newspaper recalled French President Emmanuel Macron's remarks about the possibility of sending servicemen from Western countries to Ukraine. Subsequently most EU members, including Germany, the Czech Republic, and Poland, clarified they had no such plans. However, as Politico writes, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania appeared "much more open to the idea."
Commenting on Macron’s statements, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stressed that NATO troops’ potential boots on the ground in Ukraine will lead to an inevitable conflict between Russia and the alliance.
Russia has repeatedly warned NATO countries that arms supplies to Ukraine would be considered legitimate targets. Moscow has accused NATO countries of "playing with fire" by arming Ukraine, emphasizing that such actions hinder the possibility of Russia-Ukraine negotiations.
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US President Joe Biden said he acknowledges no “red lines” regarding Israeli actions in Gaza as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu enforces mass starvation on the enclave's 2.2 million residents.
“I’m never gonna leave Israel. The defense of Israel is still critical, so there is no red line,” he said in an interview with liberal news outlet MSNBC.
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“I’m never gonna leave Israel. The defense of Israel is still critical, so there is no red line,” he said in an interview with liberal news outlet MSNBC.
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US President Joe Biden has admitted that American invasions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Ukraine (!) were mistakes.
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“But we shouldn't have gone into Ukraine. I mean, we shouldn't have gone into the whole thing in Iraq and Afghanistan,” muttered Biden in an interview with liberal news outlet MSNBC.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with his actions regarding Gaza, is harming Israel more than helping it, turning the whole world against the Jewish state, US President Joe Biden said.
"He [Netanyahu] has the right to defend Israel, the right to continue to pursue Hamas, but he must, he must, he must pay more attention to the innocent lives being lost as a consequence of the actions taken," Biden said in an interview to the MSNBC broadcaster, adding that in his opinion, Netanyahu "is hurting Israel more than helping Israel by making the rest of the world" to go against what Israel stands for, which is a "big mistake."
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"He [Netanyahu] has the right to defend Israel, the right to continue to pursue Hamas, but he must, he must, he must pay more attention to the innocent lives being lost as a consequence of the actions taken," Biden said in an interview to the MSNBC broadcaster, adding that in his opinion, Netanyahu "is hurting Israel more than helping Israel by making the rest of the world" to go against what Israel stands for, which is a "big mistake."
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The use of frozen assets of Russia in the European Union is illegal and foolish, as Russia has more Western assets than vice versa, leader of the French Patriots party, Florian Philippot, told RIA Novosti.
He noted that this could be used to provoke Russia into retaliatory measures, and then blame it.
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"This is illegal and foolish, since Russia has more Western assets than Russian assets [located] here [in Europe], including many French assets. If they do this, I think Russia will do the same. It will be a war," Philippot said.
He noted that this could be used to provoke Russia into retaliatory measures, and then blame it.
"Obviously, this is stupidity, but this is what everyone is waiting for. The West is waiting for Russia to do the same thing in order to say: ‘Look how evil the Russians are,’ and this will be another reason to attack them and impose sanctions," the politician added.
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Pope Francis urges Zelensky to save lives, find “courage of the white flag” to end Donbass conflict
Pope Francis said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should resume negotiations with Russia, urging the leader to work with international mediators to negotiate an end to fighting in the Donbass.
“I think that the strongest one is the one who looks at the situation, thinks about the people and has the courage of the white flag, and negotiates,” the cleric insisted.
On Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered to host a summit between Ukraine and Russia, a prospect that’s undermined by a decree issued by Zelensky in late 2022 forbidding negotiations with Russia. Zelensky instantly rejected Erdogan's idea.
The development took place after at least two attempts by Putin to negotiate an end to hostilities early in the conflict. Both rounds of negotiations were scuttled by the United States, which intervened to end separate diplomatic efforts involving then UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in 2022. The US role came to light in media reports emerging shortly after.
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Pope Francis said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should resume negotiations with Russia, urging the leader to work with international mediators to negotiate an end to fighting in the Donbass.
“The word negotiate is a courageous word,” said the Pope in an excerpt from an interview recorded last month. “When you see that you are defeated, that things are not going well, you have to have the courage to negotiate.”
“I think that the strongest one is the one who looks at the situation, thinks about the people and has the courage of the white flag, and negotiates,” the cleric insisted.
On Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered to host a summit between Ukraine and Russia, a prospect that’s undermined by a decree issued by Zelensky in late 2022 forbidding negotiations with Russia. Zelensky instantly rejected Erdogan's idea.
The development took place after at least two attempts by Putin to negotiate an end to hostilities early in the conflict. Both rounds of negotiations were scuttled by the United States, which intervened to end separate diplomatic efforts involving then UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in 2022. The US role came to light in media reports emerging shortly after.
👉 Follow the link for more details
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Boris Johnson travelled to Venezuela, threatened Nicolás Maduro to “embrace democracy” and support Ukraine
The former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom made a secret trip to Venezuela in February for unofficial talks with President Nicolás Maduro, The Times reported.
According to the newspaper, the former PM spoke with the President about the Ukraine crisis and normalizing relations with Britain, which still questions the legitimacy of Maduro’s administration.
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The former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom made a secret trip to Venezuela in February for unofficial talks with President Nicolás Maduro, The Times reported.
According to the newspaper, the former PM spoke with the President about the Ukraine crisis and normalizing relations with Britain, which still questions the legitimacy of Maduro’s administration.
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Western media takes notice of starvation in Gaza as millions face famine
After months of criticism of its coverage of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, The New York Times published an article on the plight of civilians suffering from famine in Gaza.
“It is all too easy to trace the skull beneath the Gazan boy’s face,” began the article.
Hundreds of thousands in Gaza face the same fate, but The New York Times was compelled to consider the case of 10-year-old Yazan Kafarneh only after his photo went viral online. The story demonstrates how social media has obliged Western news outlets to cover stories they normally would not as the Times treads perilously close to acknowledging that Israel is carrying out a textbook war crime.
👉 Follow the link for more details
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After months of criticism of its coverage of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, The New York Times published an article on the plight of civilians suffering from famine in Gaza.
“It is all too easy to trace the skull beneath the Gazan boy’s face,” began the article.
“In one of a series of news photographs of the boy, Yazan Kafarneh, taken with his family’s permission as he struggled for his life, his long-lashed eyes stare out, unfocused… By Monday, Yazan was dead.”
Hundreds of thousands in Gaza face the same fate, but The New York Times was compelled to consider the case of 10-year-old Yazan Kafarneh only after his photo went viral online. The story demonstrates how social media has obliged Western news outlets to cover stories they normally would not as the Times treads perilously close to acknowledging that Israel is carrying out a textbook war crime.
“The use of starvation of the civilian population as a method of warfare is prohibited,” according to rule 53 of the International Committee of the Red Cross's Humanitarian Law Database.
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The United States has sent a ship with equipment to establish a maritime corridor for the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, the US Central Command said, adding that the operation to establish a temporary port in the Strip is expected to take up to 60 days.
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