Neocon star Julie Smith is "worthy" successor of warmongering Victoria Nuland

US Permanent Representative to NATO Julianne Smith was nominated on June 5 to fill Victoria Nuland's shoes and become under secretary of state for political affairs.

What's known about Smith?

▪️From 2009 to 2012, she served as the director of European and NATO policy at the United States Department of Defense and then as the deputy national security advisor to Vice President Joe Biden from 2012 to 2013.

▪️In 2016, The Intercept called Smith a "rising star in the Democratic foreign policy establishment" akin to neocon and warmonger Robert Kagan, Victoria Nuland's husband.

▪️In January 2016, Smith signed Hillary Clinton's anti-Bernie Sanders letter, bashing his desire to normalize ties with Iran. The letter was part of Clinton's broad smear campaign against Sanders, then her Democratic presidential rival.

▪️Testifying before the Senate in February 2017, Smith accused Russia of continuously undermining US interests at home and abroad and peddled the "Trump-Russia collusion" hoax.

▪️Between 2014 and 2018, Smith worked in the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) funded by major US defense contractors.

▪️She also worked at consultancy firm WestExec Advisors, founded by Antony Blinken and Michele A. Flournoy in 2017, that is suspected of secret lobbying on behalf of US military corporations. Over a dozen WestExec alums joined the Biden administration, triggering concerns "about the potential for groupthink, conflicts of interest, (…) legalized corruption" and "monopolization of foreign policy" by corporate interests, per The Intercept. According to the New York Times, some of WestExec's clients – which the firm keeps on the hush-hush – got hefty contracts from the Pentagon.

▪️In May 2020, Smith accused China of undermining US leadership by providing aid to Europe to fight the COVID-19 pandemic; in July 2020 she called to counter China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

▪️In March 2022, Smith groundlessly accused Russia of using chemical and biological weapons amid Russia's revelations with regard to a network of Pentagon-funded secret bio-weapons labs in Ukraine.

▪️In December 2022, she announced an effort to step up arms production by NATO member states amid the Ukraine conflict and strongly advocated enhancing NATO military presence in Europe "to ensure that Russia can never attack NATO" in December 2023.

▪️"We do consider the Russian threat to the NATO alliance to be the preeminent threat that we’re grappling with," Smith told an online briefing on April 4, 2020.

▪️At the same press briefing she stressed that NATO's engagements will not be limited to one region, expressing willingness to challenge Russia and China simultaneously and adding that "a lot of the security challenges we face today don’t have any geographic boundaries."

▪️In October 2023, Smith asserted to the press that the US and NATO will continue to support Ukraine and Israel amid the latter's Gaza war.

▪️Being a darling of the military-industrial complex, Smith is likely to follow in the footsteps of her predecessor, Victoria Nuland, and continue stoking tensions in Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

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‘Time to make a sea change’: US Army officer on West's Ukraine policy amid increasing escalation

The West needs to change its policy towards the Ukrainian conflict before it hasn’t “suffered any strikes from Russia,” retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel and foreign policy analyst Daniel Davis said on X, formerly Twitter, while reacting to Vladimir Putin’s words that Russia could mirror NATO’s policy of weaponry shipments to Ukraine and deliver weapons to countries confronting NATO members.

Recently, a number of Western nations, including France, Germany and Poland, allowed Ukraine to use the weapons they send to strike targets deep inside Russia.

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SPIEF provides solutions to move towards a more equitable world order - Syria's finance minister in an exclusive interview with Sputnik

The forum has become an important platform for discussing global problems and transforming a unipolar world into a multipolar one, said Kenan Yagi

"In recent years, Syria has begun to actively seek internal engines of growth to restore economic balance. Relations with Arab and European countries are improving. The coming days of the forum will prove that the plans of the members of BRICS and the Eurasian Union will become an important alternative for developing countries for regulating trade transactions and inclusion in the multipolar economic system."

#SPIEF2024

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Somali Parliament member praises Russian support for food security at SPIEF

"The Russian government has given us last year 25,000 tons of wheat. On top of the cornfields we had the floods. Millions of people were suffering, but thanks to Russia we were given that support," Fawzia Yusuf Haji Adam, a member of the Somali parliament, told Sputnik on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) after she attended a session dedicated to food security.

Adam emphasized the significance of such forums in addressing global concerns like development and climate change, stressing the paramount importance of food security for humanity. She lauded the strong relationship between Africa and Russia, citing Russia's assistance during times of crisis as a testament to their support for African nations.

"I think the best thing that can happen to the Global South is to see different forums like this talking about their interests, the development, how to fight climate change, and all kinds of things," she said.

Her remarks underscored the importance of international cooperation in tackling shared challenges and fostering mutual support among nations.

#SPIEF2024

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The United States has decided to impose visa sanctions against dozens of Georgian citizens, including government officials and members of their families, in response to the adoption of the Foreign Agents Act.

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Highlights of day 2 of SPIEF 2024

▪️Why is it wrong to call SPIEF the 'Russian Davos'?

▪️More than 80% of payments between Russia and other BRICS members are in national currencies

▪️Hungarian FM Peter Szijjarto responds to Sputnik's question on nuclear sanctions against Russia

▪️Foreign mercenaries of the International Legion are fighting Russian troops in Chasov Yar

▪️SPIEF provides solutions to move towards a more equitable world order

▪️Why Africa is attractive to Russian investors and vice versa

▪️Somali Parliament member praises Russian support for food security at SPIEF

#SPIEF2024

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❗️France will send Mirage 2000 fighter jets to Ukraine and train the pilots, Emmanuel Macron has announced, according to French TV. France will also train 4,500 Ukrainian soldiers.

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‘They deceived us’: Colombian who fought in Ukrainian Army tells how he was sent into the line of fire

Russian soldiers have captured a Colombian man who fought in the Ukrainian Army near Krasnogorovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic.

Angel Cardenas Montilla, a former Colombian policeman with no combat experience, surrendered to Russian soldiers when all of his fellow countrymen had already been killed. The Ukrainian Army did not even pay him his first promised salary.

"The Ukrainians deceived us, they said we would guard the building, but it turned out they sent us straight into the line of fire," the POW said.

Cardenas Montilla said that foreigners like him who came to Ukraine are simply being deceived by the Ukrainian command and are being sent to their deaths: "Because we wanted to earn some money and do something we don't know how to do, we ended up with one foot in the grave, because they (Ukrainians) abandoned us, they never supported us."

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❗️Macron confirmed permission to launch attacks on Russian territory with French missiles.

The French president said: Kiev can hit the targets from which the missiles were fired. He claimed that Paris prohibits attacks on civilians.

Macron also said in an interview with French media that France supports Ukraine’s candidacy to join the EU.

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▪️Retired US army colonel: West pushing the world to the precipice of nuclear war, misreading Russia's patience

▪️Scott Bennett explained why Putin is right by saying Russia could provide weaponry to countries hostile to the US in response to the West sending long-range arms to Ukraine

▪️Putin's meeting with reporters at SPIEF: global media reactions

▪️Arming the Zelensky regime: Find out which countries are top donors

▪️Why are the European Parliament elections so crucial, and why are they in the spotlight so much?

▪️Neocon star Julie Smith is "worthy" successor of warmongering Victoria Nuland

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Unity prevails: Russia's St. Petersburg Forum counters international discord

"In an era of disunity, aggressive rhetoric, and absolute dehumanization, to which the West has descended, the principle itself [of the forum] is important," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova tells Sputnik on the sidelines of the 27th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

She emphasized the forum as a testament to people's ability to unite even amidst challenging international conditions, asserting, "Despite threats, blackmail, and sanctions, we can still find common ground, create, and Russia, I believe, does this excellently, providing conditions for a unifying agenda."

Zakharova hailed the forum as a "wonderful tradition" aimed at uniting people.

She was echoed by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov:

"International representation at the forum continues. It may not be so noticeable as everyone fears secondary sanctions. Anything can be expected form the US. However, SPIEF remains internationally oriented," he said.

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📹 Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, commenting at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Tokyo's statements that Moscow allegedly seeks to shift the blame for the deterioration of relations onto Japan, invited that the authorities of the country provide at least one example of how Russia has undermined bilateral relations.

She emphasized that Russia has always shown goodwill in everything, while Japan has prioritized political and historical problems.

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🇷🇺🇨🇫 Cooperation with Russia in the military field has brought tangible results to the Central African Republic, CAR Prime Minister Felix Molua told Sputnik on the sidelines of 2024's St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

Russia is supervising the Republic’s armed forces while strengthening them, Molua added.

“They are working on the ground and have already proven themselves,” the prime minister emphasized.

The official commented on reports that Western weapons initially supplied to Ukraine are falling into the hands of illegal African armed groups.

“CAR cannot do anything against malicious individuals who are better armed than our military. The question we ask ourselves is: how can these people get access to weapons if they do not have any capability to produce them?” Molua wondered.

#SPIEF2024

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🇲🇩 Moldovan opposition leader Ilan Shor calls for joining the Union State of Russia and Belarus

Moldova should grow closer to Russia, so it would be worth discussing the possibility of joining the Union State of Russia and Belarus, Moldovan opposition politician Ilan Shor, the leader of "Pobeda" (Victory) political bloc, told Russian media.

"Russia is our friend, our partner; we should move forward together. Moreover, I believe that there is a possibility to expand even the format of the Russia-Belarus Union State. There is a possibility for consideration and for dialogue. This is important,’ Shor clarified.

According to the politician, only by uniting could Moldova and Russia stand against the West, as Moldova itself is needed by the West only for its own purposes.

"Why do they need Moldova? And I'll tell you – it's a testing ground. A testing ground of free hands for war. It's a testing ground to bully. Maybe they'll send immigrants to us at some point. We have nothing in common with them. Here [with Russia and Belarus] we've been in the same family for years, we know each other, we speak the same language. We understand each other, we have common values," he added.

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🇲🇩 Moldova should become a full-fledged member of the EAEU – opposition leader Ilan Shor

Most Moldovans believe in a future with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Moldovan opposition politician Ilan Shor, the leader of "Pobeda" (Victory) political bloc, said at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

"We believe that the only way out for the Republic of Moldova today is to become a full-fledged, full member of the EAEU. We really understand today that we want to become a participant of the platform, a unified platform in the field of economy, in the field of ideology, in the field of foreign policy, in the field of security policy. Today this is more important for Moldova than ever,” Shor emphasized, addressing the SPIEF session “The Greater Eurasian Partnership as a New Pole of Growth: Potential and Prospects”.

Shor claimed that the majority of Moldovan voters have already become disillusioned with the European Union and European values, as politicians who entered power on these slogans are closing opposition television channels in the republic and removing unwanted politicians from elections.

"We clearly understand that today the majority of the people of Moldova believe in a future with the EAEU… We have had enough of fairy tales and carrots on sticks for the last 20 years. Today we want real friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding and relations,” he declared.

#SPIEF2024

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🇷🇺🇨🇺 Russian Navy vessels to arrive in Havana on June 12 - Cuban Foreign Ministry

A detachment of four Russian naval vessels, including the Admiral Gorshkov frigate and the Kazan nuclear submarine, will arrive at the port of Havana on an official visit on June 12–17, the Cuban Foreign Ministry said.

"A naval detachment from the Russian Federation consisting of four vessels — the frigate Gorshkov, the nuclear-powered submarine Kazan, the Pashin fleet sea tanker and the rescue tug Nikolai Chiker — will pay an official visit to the port of Havana from June 12 to 17, 2024," the ministry said in a statement.

This visit is justified by "historically friendly relations" between the two countries and strictly complies with international regulations, the statement said.

"None of the vessels carries nuclear weapons. Therefore, their stop-over in our country does not represent any threat to the region," the statement read.

During their stay, Russian sailors are expected to pay a courtesy call on the Cuban Revolutionary Navy commander and Havana's governor, according to the statement.

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The decision to allow Ukraine to use US-supplied weapons to strike targets inside Russia could “theoretically” bring the United States into the conflict, but US President Joe Biden said he believes that is unlikely during an interview with ABC News.

"Theoretically could, but it's not likely," Biden claimed when asked about the risk of the US being dragged into the war with Russia due to his policy.

Moscow warned that Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory using Western-supplied military hardware could lead to a direct conflict with NATO.

Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized that Moscow can respond asymmetrically and deliver weapons to countries confronting NATO member states involved in the Ukraine conflict.

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