'Big Brother is arming you': is Poland's militarization part of US war plan?
Poland is seeking to build "the largest land force in Europe": it doubled the strength of the Polish armed forces to 300,000 personnel in 2021; raised its military budget to over 3% of GDP (well above NATO's 2% threshold) in 2022; and has stepped up purchases of US arms. The modernization plans were outlined in 2018, well before Russia's special military op in Ukraine.
🟥 The US government on March 12 approved a sale of AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) to Poland for around $1.69 billion on top of Warsaw's earlier arms purchases.
🟥 Warsaw signed $6 billion in two deals (July 2022 and January 2023) to buy 350 US-made M1 Abrams tanks.
🟥 The US in June 2023 approved the $15 billion sale of an air defense complex including 48 Patriot launch batteries, 644 Patriot missiles, and related equipment to Poland.
🟥 Poland was cleared in August 2023 to buy $12 billion worth of US-made weapons, including 96 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters armed with Hellfire anti-tank missiles, Stinger air-to-air missiles, Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles, and other arms.
🟥 Warsaw in September 2023 announced it would buy 486 launchers for M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) worth $10 billion.
🟥 In April 2023, a $360 million NATO-funded weapons depot was opened in Powidz, Poland, to provide allies with thousands of pieces of US-made military equipment ranging from tanks to Bradley infantry fighting vehicles.
🟥 In March 2023, the US opened its first permanent garrison in Poland. Around 10,000 US troops are now stationed in the country.
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Poland is seeking to build "the largest land force in Europe": it doubled the strength of the Polish armed forces to 300,000 personnel in 2021; raised its military budget to over 3% of GDP (well above NATO's 2% threshold) in 2022; and has stepped up purchases of US arms. The modernization plans were outlined in 2018, well before Russia's special military op in Ukraine.
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🇳🇱 The leader of the Dutch right, Geert Wilders, is ready to give up the premiership, the Dutch Broadcasting Corporation reported, citing sources.
It is noted that Wilders, together with the leaders of the three parties negotiating the formation of a new cabinet, agrees to remain in parliament.
Nevertheless, his popularity is growing. His party's support rose to 32% by February, up from 24% three months ago, according to a Politico poll. And a survey conducted by the website Peil.nl on February 3 showed that if elections were held in the Netherlands now, the nationalist right would immediately win 50 seats in parliament, that is, 13 more than in the last vote.
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It is noted that Wilders, together with the leaders of the three parties negotiating the formation of a new cabinet, agrees to remain in parliament.
Nevertheless, his popularity is growing. His party's support rose to 32% by February, up from 24% three months ago, according to a Politico poll. And a survey conducted by the website Peil.nl on February 3 showed that if elections were held in the Netherlands now, the nationalist right would immediately win 50 seats in parliament, that is, 13 more than in the last vote.
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🔺Full video of Vladimir Putin's exclusive interview with Dmitry Kiselev, General Director of Rossiya Segodnya Media Group, Sputnik's parent company
🔺Scott Ritter: Putin’s message is warmongers will ‘get more than they asked for’ in fight with Russia
🔺Here’s why Putin reminded NATO about Russia’s nuclear capability
🔺US goes ballistic over Putin nuke test comments – but keeps Nevada Bomb Site open
🔺 What is the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle Putin says has ‘nullified’ America’s missile defenses?
Check out other stories:
🔺Do your duty, come what may: why do Russian women take up arms and go to front line?
🔺'Big Brother is arming you': is Poland's militarization part of US war plan?
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🔺Scott Ritter: Putin’s message is warmongers will ‘get more than they asked for’ in fight with Russia
🔺Here’s why Putin reminded NATO about Russia’s nuclear capability
🔺US goes ballistic over Putin nuke test comments – but keeps Nevada Bomb Site open
🔺 What is the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle Putin says has ‘nullified’ America’s missile defenses?
Check out other stories:
🔺Do your duty, come what may: why do Russian women take up arms and go to front line?
🔺'Big Brother is arming you': is Poland's militarization part of US war plan?
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Biden's 2025 budget shows his government is sleepwalking into crisis
The professor is sure Biden's "plan" will make things worse, as it does not take into account skyrocketing US national debt and inflation, Washington's failure to win its proxy war in Ukraine and, on top of that, the American public's growing irritation with unrestricted illegal migration.
The Biden budget shows that the US elite still underestimates the scale of the emerging crisis and is "simply doubling down on present policies in the hope that the troubles will go away," he said.
According to the professor, the Ukraine conflict and the border crisis are two points of acute vulnerability for the Biden administration.
The US mainstream media concedes that most of Biden's $7.3 trillion budget proposals stand almost zero chance of making it through Congress, and calls the document a declaration of Biden's policy platform as he seeks re-election.
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"American politics is becoming increasingly bizarre not least because of extreme wokeism and social disorder. The political elite is unable to face reality," Rodney Shakespeare, visiting professor of binary economics at Trisakti University in Jakarta, Indonesia, and co-founder of the Global Justice Movement, told Sputnik.
The professor is sure Biden's "plan" will make things worse, as it does not take into account skyrocketing US national debt and inflation, Washington's failure to win its proxy war in Ukraine and, on top of that, the American public's growing irritation with unrestricted illegal migration.
The Biden budget shows that the US elite still underestimates the scale of the emerging crisis and is "simply doubling down on present policies in the hope that the troubles will go away," he said.
According to the professor, the Ukraine conflict and the border crisis are two points of acute vulnerability for the Biden administration.
The US mainstream media concedes that most of Biden's $7.3 trillion budget proposals stand almost zero chance of making it through Congress, and calls the document a declaration of Biden's policy platform as he seeks re-election.
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Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas refused to give a straight answer to a question from members of the Estonian parliament about whether her government is going to send Estonian servicemen to Ukraine, the ERR state radio portal reported.
Earlier, President Putin emphasized in an interview with Dmitry Kiselev that although the deployment of NATO troops to Ukraine would not change the situation directly on the battlefield, it could lead to serious geopolitical consequences.
Earlier, President Putin emphasized in an interview with Dmitry Kiselev that although the deployment of NATO troops to Ukraine would not change the situation directly on the battlefield, it could lead to serious geopolitical consequences.
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Scott Ritter: Putin’s message is warmongers will ‘get more than they asked for’ in fight with Russia
The main takeaway from President Putin’s conversation with Rossiya Segodnya chief Dmitry Kiselev is that those “looking for a contrite Russia, a weak Russia…
The main takeaway from President Putin’s conversation with Rossiya Segodnya chief Dmitry Kiselev is that those “looking for a contrite Russia, a weak Russia…
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Why theft of frozen Russian assets may end up in crisis
While US policy-makers are seeking to grab Russia's frozen sovereign assets, EU officials are planning to seize the profits generated by the them. Of the roughly $282 billion sequestred in Japan and the West, around $207 billion (€191 billion) are held at Euroclear, a financial clearing-house in Belgium.
Frozen Russian assets in the EU could generate up to 20 billion euros in after-tax profits until 2027.
• An EU official told Reuters that only part of these profits could be transferred to Ukraine, while the rest would have to stay in the West as a buffer against Russia's retaliatory measures.
• Euroclear could face legal claims from the Russian Central Bank in retaliation to the "theft" — and even lose its 33 billion euros stored in securities in Moscow. Russia could also take legal action to seize Euroclear assets stored in Hong Kong and Dubai. Euroclear may also be sued by Western banks which lost their money invested in Russia. As a result, the clearing house could be bankrupted, lose its license and trigger an economic crisis, the EU official warned.
• Euroclear is already facing between 50 and 100 lawsuits in the Russian courts over the frozen assets.
• Euroclear CEO Lieve Mostrey warned against seizing Russia's frozen assets or using them as a backstop to issue loans to Ukraine in February.
• Any manipulations of Russian assets will receive a symmetrical response, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov told Sputnik, stressing that a similar quantity of foreign assets have been frozen in Russia.
While US policy-makers are seeking to grab Russia's frozen sovereign assets, EU officials are planning to seize the profits generated by the them. Of the roughly $282 billion sequestred in Japan and the West, around $207 billion (€191 billion) are held at Euroclear, a financial clearing-house in Belgium.
Frozen Russian assets in the EU could generate up to 20 billion euros in after-tax profits until 2027.
• An EU official told Reuters that only part of these profits could be transferred to Ukraine, while the rest would have to stay in the West as a buffer against Russia's retaliatory measures.
• Euroclear could face legal claims from the Russian Central Bank in retaliation to the "theft" — and even lose its 33 billion euros stored in securities in Moscow. Russia could also take legal action to seize Euroclear assets stored in Hong Kong and Dubai. Euroclear may also be sued by Western banks which lost their money invested in Russia. As a result, the clearing house could be bankrupted, lose its license and trigger an economic crisis, the EU official warned.
• Euroclear is already facing between 50 and 100 lawsuits in the Russian courts over the frozen assets.
• Euroclear CEO Lieve Mostrey warned against seizing Russia's frozen assets or using them as a backstop to issue loans to Ukraine in February.
• Any manipulations of Russian assets will receive a symmetrical response, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov told Sputnik, stressing that a similar quantity of foreign assets have been frozen in Russia.
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Russian TOS-1A Solntsepek crews destroy Ukrainian strongholds near Bakhmut
Soldiers have to work at night more often than during the day. This is safer and creates an additional surprise effect for the enemy.
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Soldiers have to work at night more often than during the day. This is safer and creates an additional surprise effect for the enemy.
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Iran's arms exports grow 5-fold in past 2 years
Iran has increased its arms exports by 300% to 400% in the past two years and has grown more self-sufficient in the defense sector, state-run news agency IRNA reported, citing Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani.
Iran is now autonomous in drone engine production and is working on manufacturing heavy engines, the minister said.
Iranian officials held meetings with representatives from several regional countries, including Armenia and Qatar, to discuss "what can be done to form the basis of expanding cooperation" in defense, Ashtiani said, adding that Tehran took a similar approach to Russia and Turkiye.
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Iran has increased its arms exports by 300% to 400% in the past two years and has grown more self-sufficient in the defense sector, state-run news agency IRNA reported, citing Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani.
"Due to the innovations and the kind of weapons that are being manufactured, this amount will further increase in the future," he was quoted as saying after a cabinet meeting in Tehran.
Iran is now autonomous in drone engine production and is working on manufacturing heavy engines, the minister said.
Iranian officials held meetings with representatives from several regional countries, including Armenia and Qatar, to discuss "what can be done to form the basis of expanding cooperation" in defense, Ashtiani said, adding that Tehran took a similar approach to Russia and Turkiye.
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The Russian people is the only source of power in Russia, this is enshrined in the country's Constitution, Vladimir Putin said in an address to Russians shortly before the presidential elections, shown on Channel One.
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“I would like to stress that the people is the only source of power in our country. This key legal provision is enshrined in the Constitution. Its main point is that only you, citizens of Russia, determine the fate of the Fatherland,” Putin said.
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💥 Fagot ATGM crew of the Zapad Battlegroup wipes out Ukrainian command and observation post near Kupyansk
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Ex-DoD official: US to be isolated with Israel
The US risks becoming isolated in the world along with Israel as it continues to support Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip, former senior security analyst at the US Office of the Secretary of Defense, Michael Maloof told Sputnik’s Fault Lines.
“[Israel is] following the old Talmudic notion that everyone else is beneath them, that [everyone else] are animals to serve them, and that’s how they’re treating people today,” Maloof argued. “They want ethnic cleansing, they want the Palestinians out, they want to expand and extend their Jewish state concept.”
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The US risks becoming isolated in the world along with Israel as it continues to support Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip, former senior security analyst at the US Office of the Secretary of Defense, Michael Maloof told Sputnik’s Fault Lines.
“What’s unfortunate is that [the United States] is going to get dragged into it. So that the United States and Israel ultimately could become isolated,” Maloof explained. “We’re hypocrites in that regard as long as we continue to support this action, we are going to be labeled and isolated in the world right along with Israel and we will have only ourselves to blame.”
“[Israel is] following the old Talmudic notion that everyone else is beneath them, that [everyone else] are animals to serve them, and that’s how they’re treating people today,” Maloof argued. “They want ethnic cleansing, they want the Palestinians out, they want to expand and extend their Jewish state concept.”
Maloof said he fears that even after Israel halts its campaign in Gaza, Israel will expand its operations to nearby countries. “Even if they have a conclusion [in] Gaza, they’re going to go into Lebanon and they’re already showing it,” Maloof explained.
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The Russian people is the only source of power in Russia, this is enshrined in the country's Constitution, Vladimir Putin said in an address to Russians shortly before the presidential elections, shown on Channel One. “I would like to stress that the people…
Vladimir Putin: Russia has own view of future, critically important not to stray from this path
The Russian president added that citizens have already proven they can stand together to defend freedom, sovereignty and security.
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"We have our own view on how and what kind of country to build, what plans to implement. And it is critically important today not to stray from this path and to achieve the outlined large-scale goals. Thus, a lot depends on each of you in the coming days," Putin said in a video address to Russians ahead of the upcoming presidential election, aired by the Russia Channel One broadcaster.
The Russian president added that citizens have already proven they can stand together to defend freedom, sovereignty and security.
"We have already proven that we know how to be together, defending Russia's freedom, sovereignty and security, defending our values, traditions, history and culture, acting according to conscience and truth, according to justice," Putin said.
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Yemen's Houthis test-fired hypersonic missile, says military source
Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, has carried out a test flight of a hypersonic missile with high destructive capability and is preparing to add these missiles to its military arsenal, a military source close to the movement has told Sputnik.
At the same time as the hypersonic missile test, the armed forces in northern Yemen upgraded their missiles and drones, having modified the explosive warheads to double their destructive power, after a test that lasted three months, the source added.
Last Thursday, Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi spoke about the movement's efforts to produce hypersonic missiles, saying that "our enemies, friends and our people will see a level of achievement of strategic importance that will place our country in terms of its capabilities among the few countries in this world."
He then said that Yemen's forces have used new weapons in recent operations in the Red and Arabian Seas, which "surprised the US and the UK." He added that the movement attacked 61 vessels and a military ship since the Palestinian movement Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.
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Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, has carried out a test flight of a hypersonic missile with high destructive capability and is preparing to add these missiles to its military arsenal, a military source close to the movement has told Sputnik.
"Missile forces of the movement have successfully tested a missile that can reach speeds of up to Mach 8 [10,000 kilometers per hour or 6,200 miles per hour] and is powered by solid fuel. Yemen plans to begin manufacturing it for use in attacks in the Red and Arabian Seas and the Gulf of Aden, as well as against targets in Israel," the source said.
At the same time as the hypersonic missile test, the armed forces in northern Yemen upgraded their missiles and drones, having modified the explosive warheads to double their destructive power, after a test that lasted three months, the source added.
Last Thursday, Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi spoke about the movement's efforts to produce hypersonic missiles, saying that "our enemies, friends and our people will see a level of achievement of strategic importance that will place our country in terms of its capabilities among the few countries in this world."
He then said that Yemen's forces have used new weapons in recent operations in the Red and Arabian Seas, which "surprised the US and the UK." He added that the movement attacked 61 vessels and a military ship since the Palestinian movement Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.
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🛥 The International naval drill 'Sea Security Belt-2024' enters active phase in the Gulf of Oman
The exercise involves over 20 ships, including support and warships from the Russian Navy, Iranian Navy, and PLA Navy. Its primary purpose is to practice safety in maritime economic activities.
The final phase of the exercise will occur on March 14 on the shores of the Iranian city of Chehbehar, where a debriefing will also take place.
The Sea Security Belt-2024 International Naval Exercise is being held for the sixth time. This year, representatives from Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Oman, India, and South Africa will participate as observers for the first time.
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The exercise involves over 20 ships, including support and warships from the Russian Navy, Iranian Navy, and PLA Navy. Its primary purpose is to practice safety in maritime economic activities.
The final phase of the exercise will occur on March 14 on the shores of the Iranian city of Chehbehar, where a debriefing will also take place.
The Sea Security Belt-2024 International Naval Exercise is being held for the sixth time. This year, representatives from Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Oman, India, and South Africa will participate as observers for the first time.
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Kim Jong Un test-drives North Korea's new-type main battle tank
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has personally test-driven a new-type battle tank of North Korea during a training match between the country's tank units, North Korean state-run news agency KCNA reported.
He expressed "great satisfaction" with the demonstration of the new-type tank, its striking power and maneuverability, KCNA reported.
The report added that the training match was aimed at inspecting tank crews' combat capabilities and familiarizing them with combat action methods on different tactical missions.
The leader expressed "great satisfaction" with the combat readiness of tank crews participating in the match, saying that none of the other exercises "satisfied him more than the tankmen's preparedness displayed at the match" and that "he would never worry about preparing for war" if all army unites were as prepared.
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has personally test-driven a new-type battle tank of North Korea during a training match between the country's tank units, North Korean state-run news agency KCNA reported.
After reviewing tank crews, the North Korean leader "mounted a new-type main battle tank, seized the control lever and drove the tank himself," the report said.
He expressed "great satisfaction" with the demonstration of the new-type tank, its striking power and maneuverability, KCNA reported.
The report added that the training match was aimed at inspecting tank crews' combat capabilities and familiarizing them with combat action methods on different tactical missions.
The leader expressed "great satisfaction" with the combat readiness of tank crews participating in the match, saying that none of the other exercises "satisfied him more than the tankmen's preparedness displayed at the match" and that "he would never worry about preparing for war" if all army unites were as prepared.
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Moldova not seeking NATO membership due to low public support, Moldova's Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi said
Moldova's neutrality means it cannot join any military alliances, but does not prevent it from cooperating at the political level even in the security sphere, the minister said.
Most of Moldovans have a negative perception of NATO, so the issue should be brought to a broad discussion, Popsoi said.
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"As for cooperation with NATO or some kind of NATO membership, it is out of the question at the moment because there is not enough public support for it," Popsoi said in an interview with the RTVI broadcaster.
Moldova's neutrality means it cannot join any military alliances, but does not prevent it from cooperating at the political level even in the security sphere, the minister said.
Most of Moldovans have a negative perception of NATO, so the issue should be brought to a broad discussion, Popsoi said.
"We need to have a open public debate about the pros and cons and decide through this democratic process. But it will be a more long-term prospect. At the moment, there are no discussions about joining [NATO] or any closer cooperation other than what we have had so far," the minister said.
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Ted Rall: ‘no appetite’ for French deployment, even within military
Political analyst and cartoonist Ted Rall told Sputnik’s Fault Lines that he suspects the recent internal French documents leak was motivated by a lack of appetite for sending troops to France.
There is no “appetite for sending French troops [to Ukraine], and that includes within the French military,” Rall said.
“I don’t know why [Macron] would say that a French [operation], or even a French [operation] as part of a European project in Ukraine would be likely to go any better than these other disasters,” Rall added.
Read more in the full article
Political analyst and cartoonist Ted Rall told Sputnik’s Fault Lines that he suspects the recent internal French documents leak was motivated by a lack of appetite for sending troops to France.
There is no “appetite for sending French troops [to Ukraine], and that includes within the French military,” Rall said.
“There are at least some factions inside the French military who think this would be a truly idiotic idea, and they’re not into it. So, they’re like ‘Alright, we’ll leak this and once the public gets wind, they’ll blow it up,’” Rall theorized.
“I don’t know why [Macron] would say that a French [operation], or even a French [operation] as part of a European project in Ukraine would be likely to go any better than these other disasters,” Rall added.
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Ukraine's military planning takeover of Ukrainian parliament in Kiev by force
The Ukrainian military, dissatisfied with the policy of the country's leadership, is planning the takeover of the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament, in Kiev and attracting other Ukrainian armed forces' military personnel to their side, a correspondence on a closed resource obtained by Russian specialists has shown.
"When the staff is recruited, fighters are trained, the mass will be ready," another chat participant said.
"Especially when the people see that the military is at the helm and the rest of the military is following them - they automatically take the right side," another chat participant added.
Earlier this week, a source in the Russian law enforcement agencies told Sputnik that Russian specialists had gained access to a classified Telegram channel noscriptd "ParaBelum," where commanders and fighters of elite units of the Ukrainian armed forces are "seriously discussing options for overthrowing the current authorities and the command of the Ukrainian armed forces."
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The Ukrainian military, dissatisfied with the policy of the country's leadership, is planning the takeover of the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament, in Kiev and attracting other Ukrainian armed forces' military personnel to their side, a correspondence on a closed resource obtained by Russian specialists has shown.
"The most important action that we will need to pull off lightning fast is the takeover of the VR [Verkhovna Rada] at a certain point," one of the chat participants wrote.
"When the staff is recruited, fighters are trained, the mass will be ready," another chat participant said.
"There must be support from the military. Without it, nothing will work. The main driving force. [They] will say from the trenches that [they are] with us, and people will follow," one more chat participant said.
"Especially when the people see that the military is at the helm and the rest of the military is following them - they automatically take the right side," another chat participant added.
Earlier this week, a source in the Russian law enforcement agencies told Sputnik that Russian specialists had gained access to a classified Telegram channel noscriptd "ParaBelum," where commanders and fighters of elite units of the Ukrainian armed forces are "seriously discussing options for overthrowing the current authorities and the command of the Ukrainian armed forces."
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Biden’s $1T military budget to fund ‘boutique, expensive, fragile’ equipment
US President Joe Biden’s request for over $1 trillion in military spending is the result of military contractors who are incentivized “to sell expensive items, not necessarily the most useful and effective items,” Independent journalist Jim Kavanagh told Sputnik’s The Critical Hour.
The issue cannot be solved by voting for Biden’s most prominent opponent in the upcoming presidential election, Former US President Donald Trump, Kavanagh explained, because he is also “focused on getting all the money to the military-industrial-complex.”
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US President Joe Biden’s request for over $1 trillion in military spending is the result of military contractors who are incentivized “to sell expensive items, not necessarily the most useful and effective items,” Independent journalist Jim Kavanagh told Sputnik’s The Critical Hour.
We have seen in Ukraine “with the destruction of the Abrams tanks and the HIMARS missiles, that the American equipment is boutique,” Kavanagh said. “[Military contractors] send expensive, boutique, very complicated, fragile equipment,” which inflates the military budget. Kavanagh contrasted that with the simpler Russian equipment, “that’s cheaper to build and is suited for hard condition warfare.”
The issue cannot be solved by voting for Biden’s most prominent opponent in the upcoming presidential election, Former US President Donald Trump, Kavanagh explained, because he is also “focused on getting all the money to the military-industrial-complex.”
“This is the best you’re going to get from either party. Perpetual warfare, nothing to do for your healthcare, nothing to do for housing and rental, nothing to do for jobs… But $1 trillion for military plus supplemental appropriations, this is what the US is in for if we don’t have a change and that is not going to come from either the Democrats or the Republicans.”
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Ukrainian 'radicals' repeatedly threatened Hungary's parl't faction's members
Laszlo Toroczkai, the leader of Hungary's right-wing Our Homeland Movement party, has told Ria Novosti that he and members of his faction received threats from Ukrainian "radicals".
Toroczkai said that the faction's lawmakers on February 13 received emails from Ukrainian ultras threatening "severe punishment for plans to occupy Transcarpathia." He added that members of the radical organization threatened to "set the office on fire, blow up a car, kill" the lawmakers.
The second threat came to the emails of Hungarian lawmakers on February 28: members of the Fan at War organization recorded a video in which they demanded "an official apology to the Ukrainian people for calling for the annexation of Transcarpathia."
He recalled that the party's program includes recognition of the legitimacy of the 1991 referendum in Ukraine's Transcarpathia, which proclaimed granting autonomy to Transcarpathia and Hungarian territorial autonomy to the Berehove district within Ukraine.
The Hungarian lawmakers added that the reason for the threats is not their position on Transcarpathia but the position of Hungarian authorities on Ukraine's accession to the EU and the financing of Ukraine at the expense of European taxpayers.
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Laszlo Toroczkai, the leader of Hungary's right-wing Our Homeland Movement party, has told Ria Novosti that he and members of his faction received threats from Ukrainian "radicals".
"Ukrainian terrorists are threatening an entire parliamentary faction in Hungary and me personally - I am also a member of the [Parliamentary Assembly] of the Council of Europe - because of our position on the war in Ukraine," Toroczkai said.
Toroczkai said that the faction's lawmakers on February 13 received emails from Ukrainian ultras threatening "severe punishment for plans to occupy Transcarpathia." He added that members of the radical organization threatened to "set the office on fire, blow up a car, kill" the lawmakers.
The second threat came to the emails of Hungarian lawmakers on February 28: members of the Fan at War organization recorded a video in which they demanded "an official apology to the Ukrainian people for calling for the annexation of Transcarpathia."
"I will not apologize to the Ukrainian people because I have nothing to apologize for. Because you guys have completely misunderstood us. Hungary does not want to occupy Transcarpathia, we do not want war, we want peace. We did not and do not threaten the Ukrainian people, Hungary has accepted tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees," the official said.
He recalled that the party's program includes recognition of the legitimacy of the 1991 referendum in Ukraine's Transcarpathia, which proclaimed granting autonomy to Transcarpathia and Hungarian territorial autonomy to the Berehove district within Ukraine.
"This legitimate referendum is illegally ignored by the government in Kiev," he said.
The Hungarian lawmakers added that the reason for the threats is not their position on Transcarpathia but the position of Hungarian authorities on Ukraine's accession to the EU and the financing of Ukraine at the expense of European taxpayers.
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Russia earns $56 billion from redirected hydrocarbon exports
Since 2022, the European Union has been slapping sanctions on energy supplies from Russia. Before the barrage of sanctions was imposed, the 27 countries of the EU purchased an average of $102.5 billion worth of hydrocarbons from Russia annually, but this figure plummeted to $31.6 billion last year.
Despite this, the increase in exports to friendly nations has more than made up for it. In total, exports to just six countries – Turkiye, China, India, Brazil, Indonesia, and Malaysia – reached $186.7 billion last year, compared to an average of $59.9 billion between 2019 and 2021.
Thus, Russia earned an additional $126.8 billion from these destinations, which is $56 billion more than from its deliveries to the European Union.
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Since 2022, the European Union has been slapping sanctions on energy supplies from Russia. Before the barrage of sanctions was imposed, the 27 countries of the EU purchased an average of $102.5 billion worth of hydrocarbons from Russia annually, but this figure plummeted to $31.6 billion last year.
Despite this, the increase in exports to friendly nations has more than made up for it. In total, exports to just six countries – Turkiye, China, India, Brazil, Indonesia, and Malaysia – reached $186.7 billion last year, compared to an average of $59.9 billion between 2019 and 2021.
Thus, Russia earned an additional $126.8 billion from these destinations, which is $56 billion more than from its deliveries to the European Union.
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