How Andrei Belousov may create problems for Russia's adversaries as Defense Minister
Andrei Belousov’s appointment as Russia’s newest minister of defense may help take Russia’s military-industrial complex and the entire weapon procurement system to a whole new level, argues Russian political analyst Sergei Poletaev.
According to him, a de facto grassroots “technological revolution” has happened in Russia over the past two years when groups of enthusiasts supplied the armed forces with repurposed civilian drones worth no more than $300 apiece that could be used to take out enemy military hardware worth millions of dollars.
Being a talented economist, Belousov can combine the pros of the two approaches in weapon procurement – the “planned, government” method and the “spontaneous grassroots” method – and weed out their cons, Poletayev suggests.
Many Russian soldiers in the field come up with technological and tactical solutions that could become a boon for the Russian Armed Forces, but there is no streamlined way for them to share their ideas with the higher-ups, he notes.
He also points out that Russia’s military spending has been steadily growing in recent months, and while the situation is far from critical, it would be prudent for Moscow to ensure that this money does not go to waste.
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Andrei Belousov’s appointment as Russia’s newest minister of defense may help take Russia’s military-industrial complex and the entire weapon procurement system to a whole new level, argues Russian political analyst Sergei Poletaev.
According to him, a de facto grassroots “technological revolution” has happened in Russia over the past two years when groups of enthusiasts supplied the armed forces with repurposed civilian drones worth no more than $300 apiece that could be used to take out enemy military hardware worth millions of dollars.
Being a talented economist, Belousov can combine the pros of the two approaches in weapon procurement – the “planned, government” method and the “spontaneous grassroots” method – and weed out their cons, Poletayev suggests.
Many Russian soldiers in the field come up with technological and tactical solutions that could become a boon for the Russian Armed Forces, but there is no streamlined way for them to share their ideas with the higher-ups, he notes.
“If Belousov can create a system, a platform to convert this experience into orders that could then be sent to weapon manufacturers who would thus be allowed to better understand what is required and to better react to this input, and then to mass produce the most successful solutions – that would generate a tremendous impulse,” Poletaev muses.
He also points out that Russia’s military spending has been steadily growing in recent months, and while the situation is far from critical, it would be prudent for Moscow to ensure that this money does not go to waste.
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The large national debt and excessive spending policies of the US government could lead to a fiscal "train wreck" as soon as 2025, former World Bank President David Malpass has said.
Malpass noted that the explosion of US government debt is draining and concentrating global resources into a narrow set of US government priorities and beneficiaries.
The key problems of the American economy are the lack of new investment amid a huge growth in public spending, resulting in an unprecedented debt-to-GDP ratio as well as short-term financing crowding out small businesses, the post said.
According to the International Monetary Fund, the US public debt will exceed 123% of GDP in 2024 and reach nearly 134% in 2029.
The US debt currently exceeds $34.7 trillion.
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"All signs point to a fiscal train wreck in 2025 when the debt limit is triggered, spending surges, and tax rates jump," Malpass said in a post on LinkedIn.
Malpass noted that the explosion of US government debt is draining and concentrating global resources into a narrow set of US government priorities and beneficiaries.
The key problems of the American economy are the lack of new investment amid a huge growth in public spending, resulting in an unprecedented debt-to-GDP ratio as well as short-term financing crowding out small businesses, the post said.
According to the International Monetary Fund, the US public debt will exceed 123% of GDP in 2024 and reach nearly 134% in 2029.
The US debt currently exceeds $34.7 trillion.
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Are NATO members testing waters for a no-fly zone over Ukraine?
The discussion surrounding the potential establishment of a no-fly zone over Ukraine amid the Kiev army's retreat suggests that Western leaders are exploring options for potential engagement in the conflict, according to Russian political analyst Sergey Poletaev.
Members of Germany’s ruling coalition, including the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Greens, proposed creating a no-fly zone extending up to 70 kilometers into Ukrainian territory by using air defense systems deployed in Poland and Romania.
The states were picked apparently because the lawmakers thought Russia would not attack NATO members, the expert presumes, adding that no one bothered to ask Warsaw and Bucharest's opinion with regard to the proposal.
German politicians' reference to NATO shooting down Iranian missiles and drones targeting Israel as a precedent for creating a no-fly zone over Western Ukraine doesn't hold water, Poletaev continues.
"In the case of Israel, it is a completely different story, because Iran is not Russia," adding that in the case of nuclear-armed Russia the stakes are much higher.
Meanwhile, the German government spokesperson stated on May 13 that NATO would not enforce a no-fly zone over Ukraine, citing the alliance's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg's decision from March 2022.
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The discussion surrounding the potential establishment of a no-fly zone over Ukraine amid the Kiev army's retreat suggests that Western leaders are exploring options for potential engagement in the conflict, according to Russian political analyst Sergey Poletaev.
"On the one hand, they are making efforts to keep it that way, because it is in the interests of everyone [in the West]," Poletaev tells Sputnik. "On the other hand, they are using all tools in their possession to inflict maximum damage [to Russia] while trying to navigate a delicate balance to avoid escalating tensions further."
Members of Germany’s ruling coalition, including the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Greens, proposed creating a no-fly zone extending up to 70 kilometers into Ukrainian territory by using air defense systems deployed in Poland and Romania.
The states were picked apparently because the lawmakers thought Russia would not attack NATO members, the expert presumes, adding that no one bothered to ask Warsaw and Bucharest's opinion with regard to the proposal.
German politicians' reference to NATO shooting down Iranian missiles and drones targeting Israel as a precedent for creating a no-fly zone over Western Ukraine doesn't hold water, Poletaev continues.
"In the case of Israel, it is a completely different story, because Iran is not Russia," adding that in the case of nuclear-armed Russia the stakes are much higher.
Meanwhile, the German government spokesperson stated on May 13 that NATO would not enforce a no-fly zone over Ukraine, citing the alliance's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg's decision from March 2022.
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There will be no point in reconstructing Ukraine if it is defeated, NATO's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said.
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"The first thing I will say is that first of all, you need to ensure that Ukraine prevails. Because unless Ukraine prevails, there's nothing to reconstruct in the free and independent Ukraine. <...> And the second, reconstruction will be very expensive. But prevention is cheaper," he said.
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▪️How Andrei Belousov may create problems for Russia's adversaries as Defense Minister
▪️Russia's new pick for defense chief supports traditional values
▪️How Putin's new pick for Russian defense minister predicted the 2008 economic meltdown
▪️Are NATO members testing waters for a no-fly zone over Ukraine?
▪️Pepe Escobar: BRICS+ decentralized monetary system will spur de-dollarization
▪️Ex-Defense Minister Shoigu transferred to Russia's Defense Council: What is it and what does it do?
▪️Delve into Russia’s Black Sea fleet by exploring its goals and weaponry
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▪️Russia's new pick for defense chief supports traditional values
▪️How Putin's new pick for Russian defense minister predicted the 2008 economic meltdown
▪️Are NATO members testing waters for a no-fly zone over Ukraine?
▪️Pepe Escobar: BRICS+ decentralized monetary system will spur de-dollarization
▪️Ex-Defense Minister Shoigu transferred to Russia's Defense Council: What is it and what does it do?
▪️Delve into Russia’s Black Sea fleet by exploring its goals and weaponry
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Why US’ B-2 'wonder-bomber' is nothing but an attractive museum piece
The US Air Force has announced its second costly B-2 Spirit aircraft is beyond repair, reducing its fleet of secretive stealth bombers to 19.
Between 1988 and 1997, aerospace manufacturer Northrop Grumman built 21 B-2s instead of the initially planned 200 due to the warplane's gargantuan price tag. According to some estimates, its cost ranges from $1.4 to $4 billion.
Despite being impressively costly, the plane has never been cost-effective, as per Sputnik's interlocutor.
The B-2 has been rarely used and became infamous for bombing the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade 25 years ago. According to Kwiatkowski, the B-2 program is a "classic example of experience and sunk cost biases" with the warplane now being both aging and conceptually outdated.
When asked about the B-2 future, the expert ironically says: "It is an attractive museum piece as well, and the US will keep several B-2s in the famous Arizona 'boneyard'."
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"The airframe was designed in the 1980s and first deployed in 1997, and the B-2 was scheduled to 'retire' in 2030. It could be as simple as a mechanical and software degradation," retired US Air Force Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski, a former analyst for the US Department of Defense, tells Sputnik, commenting on the B-2 Spirit stealth bombers' failures.
The US Air Force has announced its second costly B-2 Spirit aircraft is beyond repair, reducing its fleet of secretive stealth bombers to 19.
Between 1988 and 1997, aerospace manufacturer Northrop Grumman built 21 B-2s instead of the initially planned 200 due to the warplane's gargantuan price tag. According to some estimates, its cost ranges from $1.4 to $4 billion.
Despite being impressively costly, the plane has never been cost-effective, as per Sputnik's interlocutor.
The B-2 has been rarely used and became infamous for bombing the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade 25 years ago. According to Kwiatkowski, the B-2 program is a "classic example of experience and sunk cost biases" with the warplane now being both aging and conceptually outdated.
"The follow-on to the B-2, the B-21 Raider, recently prototyped, is the strategic bomber corollary to the most expensive aircraft we have, the F-35, which again has proven itself to be less than durable, easily overcome by weather and counter-measures, and heavily dependent on software updates," she notes.
When asked about the B-2 future, the expert ironically says: "It is an attractive museum piece as well, and the US will keep several B-2s in the famous Arizona 'boneyard'."
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No genocide happening in Gaza, US National Security Advisor, Jacob Sullivan, says
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Ukraine later this week, Politico reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The report said that although it's unclear when Blinken will arrive in Ukraine, one source noted that several roads in Kiev will be blocked off on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The State Department did not immediately respond to Sputnik's request for comment on this matter.
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The report said that although it's unclear when Blinken will arrive in Ukraine, one source noted that several roads in Kiev will be blocked off on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The State Department did not immediately respond to Sputnik's request for comment on this matter.
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Scott Ritter: By bringing in Andrei Belousov Putin is creating tempered steel
"[Belousov] is exactly the kind of person Russia needs to come in and manage the growth and the sustainability of Russian defense industry at a time when the Russian industry itself is expanding and growing, to make sure that there are no imbalances, to make sure that supply chains are managed appropriately, that costs are kept reasonable", Ritter added.
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"There are a lot of people in the West who are confused by this switch. They think that it's a sign of weakness on the part of Russia. It's anything but... By bringing in Andrei Belousov what we're talking about is Putin creating tempered steel. This is making the Russian Ministry of Defense and the Russian Federation far stronger than anything the West could ever anticipate," stated Ritter.
"[Belousov] is exactly the kind of person Russia needs to come in and manage the growth and the sustainability of Russian defense industry at a time when the Russian industry itself is expanding and growing, to make sure that there are no imbalances, to make sure that supply chains are managed appropriately, that costs are kept reasonable", Ritter added.
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Scott Ritter: The Russians advance and Ukrainians can't stop them
He also added that Ukrainians "are now in a panic, pulling forces off of other parts of the front lines," noting Ukrainian army has "no choice", but to send troops to Kharkov even at a price of losing other sites.
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"As the Russians advance, they're finding out that there's very little effective resistance on the part of the Ukrainians. Indeed, the Ukrainians seem to have been taken by surprise by this Russian offensive effort," said Ritter.
He also added that Ukrainians "are now in a panic, pulling forces off of other parts of the front lines," noting Ukrainian army has "no choice", but to send troops to Kharkov even at a price of losing other sites.
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❗️ President Joe Biden has signed a bill that prohibits US imports of Russian uranium, the White House said in a press release.
The US Congress recently passed the Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act, sending it to Biden's desk to be signed into law. The legislation bans US imports of unirradiated low-enriched uranium that is produced in Russia or by a Russian entity, and it includes measures to close loopholes.
However, the legislation allows waivers should the United States determine that no alternative viable source of low-enriched uranium is available to sustain the continued operation of a US nuclear reactor or nuclear energy company, or if it also determines the importation of uranium is in the national interest.
Any waiver issued by the US Energy Department must terminate by January 1, 2028, while the ban itself expires on December 31, 2040.
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"On Monday, May 13, 2024, the President signed into law...the 'Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act,' which prohibits the importation of unirradiated, low-enriched uranium that is produced in the Russian Federation or by a Russian entity," the release said.
The US Congress recently passed the Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act, sending it to Biden's desk to be signed into law. The legislation bans US imports of unirradiated low-enriched uranium that is produced in Russia or by a Russian entity, and it includes measures to close loopholes.
However, the legislation allows waivers should the United States determine that no alternative viable source of low-enriched uranium is available to sustain the continued operation of a US nuclear reactor or nuclear energy company, or if it also determines the importation of uranium is in the national interest.
Any waiver issued by the US Energy Department must terminate by January 1, 2028, while the ban itself expires on December 31, 2040.
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Russian uranium ban has given US nuclear industry the shivers
"Presently, Russian uranium accounts for 20 to 25 percent of the American nuclear fuel market. It is virtually impossible to suddenly abandon such a supplier. That would mean halting a quarter…
"Presently, Russian uranium accounts for 20 to 25 percent of the American nuclear fuel market. It is virtually impossible to suddenly abandon such a supplier. That would mean halting a quarter…
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A US Pentagon official declined to comment on Ukraine's strikes on Belgorod
The White House National Security Council did not respond to Sputnik's requests for comment on this matter.
The death toll from the collapse of a multi-story residential building in Russia's Belgorod due to Ukrainian shelling has risen to 19.
Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Russian air defense systems destroyed 12 Vilkha rockets and 12 drones over the Belgorod region, eight drones over the Kursk region, four air-launched Storm Shadow cruise missiles and seven drones over Crimea, while four more drones were intercepted over Lipetsk region.
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"We will leave it to Ukrainian officials to comment on recent strikes they’ve conducted," the official told
Sputnik.
The White House National Security Council did not respond to Sputnik's requests for comment on this matter.
The death toll from the collapse of a multi-story residential building in Russia's Belgorod due to Ukrainian shelling has risen to 19.
Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Russian air defense systems destroyed 12 Vilkha rockets and 12 drones over the Belgorod region, eight drones over the Kursk region, four air-launched Storm Shadow cruise missiles and seven drones over Crimea, while four more drones were intercepted over Lipetsk region.
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Israel has completely stopped all aid shipments going into Gaza, Lebanon-based journalist and geopolitical analyst Leila Hatoum told Sputnik’s Fault Lines.
“Nothing has entered Gaza, not even water, flour, medicine, children’s needs, baby formula, hygienic products. Nothing. Nothing whatsoever,” she emphasized.
On Monday, videos emerged on social media showing Israeli citizens destroying aid intended for Gaza on trucks waiting to cross the Tarqumiya checkpoint. There doesn’t appear to be any police presence attempting to stop the looters in the videos.
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“They control the whole area and… they have shut down all border crossings. Nothing has entered Rafah or Gaza for the past eight days. Israelis have shut down all borders,” Hatoum explained, citing her sources on the ground in Gaza.
“Nothing has entered Gaza, not even water, flour, medicine, children’s needs, baby formula, hygienic products. Nothing. Nothing whatsoever,” she emphasized.
On Monday, videos emerged on social media showing Israeli citizens destroying aid intended for Gaza on trucks waiting to cross the Tarqumiya checkpoint. There doesn’t appear to be any police presence attempting to stop the looters in the videos.
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Biden prohibits China-linked companies from buying property near air force base
President Joe Biden issued an order prohibiting the purchase of real estate property in the vicinity of a US Air Force base in the state of Wyoming by four companies, including MineOne Partners Limited, owned by Chinese nationals.
The Biden administration concluded that MineOne Partners Limited; British Virginia Islands-based MineOne Cloud Computing Investment LLP; Delaware-based MineOne Data Center LLC; and MineOne Wyoming Data Center LLC intended to use the real estate they acquired in June 2022 to conduct cryptocurrency mining within one mile of the Warren Air Force Base without obtaining special permission from the US government, according to the order.
The order prescribes the purchasers of the property to divest from it no later than 120 days after the date of the order.
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President Joe Biden issued an order prohibiting the purchase of real estate property in the vicinity of a US Air Force base in the state of Wyoming by four companies, including MineOne Partners Limited, owned by Chinese nationals.
The Biden administration concluded that MineOne Partners Limited; British Virginia Islands-based MineOne Cloud Computing Investment LLP; Delaware-based MineOne Data Center LLC; and MineOne Wyoming Data Center LLC intended to use the real estate they acquired in June 2022 to conduct cryptocurrency mining within one mile of the Warren Air Force Base without obtaining special permission from the US government, according to the order.
"The proximity of the foreign-owned Real Estate to a strategic missile base and key element of America's nuclear triad, and the presence of specialized and foreign-sourced equipment potentially capable of facilitating surveillance and espionage activities, presents a national security risk to the United States," the order said. "The Transaction is hereby prohibited."
The order prescribes the purchasers of the property to divest from it no later than 120 days after the date of the order.
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Sputnik International
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Ukraine later this week, Politico reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. The report said that although it's unclear when Blinken will arrive in Ukraine, one source noted that several roads in…
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Ukraine where he will hold a number of meetings, including with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, to discuss the course of the armed conflict with Russia, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.
The visit comes amid the successes of the Russian armed forces in their offensive in the Kharkov area.
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"Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken arrived in Ukraine today to meet with senior Ukrainian officials and highlight the United States’ enduring support for Ukraine. While in Ukraine, Secretary Blinken will meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky, Prime Minister Denys Shmygal, and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to discuss battlefield updates, the impact of new U.S. security and economic assistance," Miller said in a statement.
The visit comes amid the successes of the Russian armed forces in their offensive in the Kharkov area.
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Scott Ritter: The Russians advance and Ukrainians can't stop them
"As the Russians advance, they're finding out that there's very little effective resistance on the part of the Ukrainians. Indeed, the Ukrainians seem to have been taken by surprise by this…
"As the Russians advance, they're finding out that there's very little effective resistance on the part of the Ukrainians. Indeed, the Ukrainians seem to have been taken by surprise by this…
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Fighters of the Battlegroup Tsentr have destroyed a car with British number plates during the assault on the village of Tonenkoye in the Donetsk People's Republic and Ukrainian militants who were travelling in it have been wounded, an informed source told Sputnik.
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The Russian military struck an area in Kharkov where, according to the local resistance movement, police units were being transformed into military battalions and sent to the eastern front, coordinator of the Nikolayev underground Sergey Lebedev told Sputnik, citing his colleagues.
The Russian military also struck an airfield and factory where military equipment was being repaired in Uman, Cherkasy region, Lebedev added.
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The Russian military also struck an airfield and factory where military equipment was being repaired in Uman, Cherkasy region, Lebedev added.
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Russian FM spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's claims about “nuclear escalation” and gas supplies desperate.
Earlier, Sunak alleged that Putin's “recklessness” had brought the world closer to nuclear escalation. The British prime minister also alleged that when Russia cut off gas supplies, it threatened Britain's energy security.
Speaking about the “dangerous nuclear escalation,” Zakharova noted that it is Ukraine shelling the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant. The Foreign Ministry spokeswoman also emphasized that Russia had not stopped gas supplies, and that this is an “irrefutable fact.”
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Earlier, Sunak alleged that Putin's “recklessness” had brought the world closer to nuclear escalation. The British prime minister also alleged that when Russia cut off gas supplies, it threatened Britain's energy security.
“Sunak's lies are so desperate that I even feel sorry for him. What if it's just stupidity?” Zakharova wrote on her Telegram channel.
Speaking about the “dangerous nuclear escalation,” Zakharova noted that it is Ukraine shelling the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant. The Foreign Ministry spokeswoman also emphasized that Russia had not stopped gas supplies, and that this is an “irrefutable fact.”
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