Romanian president abandons NATO leadership race, securing spot for Dutch leader

Klaus Iohannis, the president of Romania, has decided to step back from the competition for the position of the upcoming NATO secretary general, the Guardian reports.

It raises the chances of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who has been seen as the top contender for the role, the outlet says.

On Tuesday, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated that Budapest is ready to support Rutte for the post.

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US decided to prioritize the supply of NASAMS and Patriot systems to Ukraine, ignoring allies' interests — White House

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❗️ Putin — there is no novelty in the agreement between Russia and North Korea

"We changed almost nothing since the previous agreement," the Russian leader said.

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🎥🎥 Vladimir Putin holds a press conference following his state visit to Vietnam

Watch the livestream here or on Sputnik's website

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❗️Putin — there is no need to use soldiers from North Korea in the Ukrainian conflict

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⚡️ Russia is thinking about possible changes in its nuclear doctrine — Putin

🔹 Russia may amend its nuclear doctrine amid discussions on the possibility of lowering the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons, the president stressed.

🔹 Russia's strategic forces are in full combat readiness, he added.

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❗️Putin — Where any negotiations on Ukraine could exactly take place does not matter, Russia's proposals are on the table

🔹 The West's reaction to the peace initiatives was expected, but sensible politicians will think about them if they want to end the conflict;

🔹 The negotiations could take place tomorrow, but Russia will base them on the current situation, the president stressed;

🔹 The Kiev regime is interested in continued fire because it doesn't want to hold elections;

🔹 The West will pin all unpopular decisions on Zelensky and replace him in the first half of next year;

🔹 The most important task for Russia is to repel attacks with long-range weapons on its territory;

🔹 Kiev will try to present the new counterattack as a strategic success.

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❗️Putin — the enemy will be destroyed

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❗️Russia does not need opportunity to launch a preemptive nuclear strike yet, the Russian president says

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❗️Russia reserves the right to supply weapons to other regions, possibly to North Korea - Putin

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❗️ South Korea has nothing to worry about, Russia will assist N Korea only in case of aggression — Putin

South Korea's supply of lethal weapons to the conflict zone in Ukraine would be a mistake, the Russian leader stressed.

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📹 Putin about Russia's nuclear doctrine changes

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❗️If Ukraine links holding talks with Russia with the withdrawal of Russian troops, this will never happen — Putin

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Putin compared international sanctions against North Korea to the blockade of Leningrad

The president emphasized that the DPRK can be treated any way it wants, but it is inhumane to impose sanctions for political reasons.

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❗️ For Russia, a strategic defeat would mean the end of its statehood, which means there is nothing to be afraid of - it is necessary to go to the end, Putin said

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Putin's key statements from the press conference following his trip to North Korea and Vietnam

🔸 Russia is thinking about possible changes in its nuclear doctrine - this is due to the work of the enemy to lower the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons.

🔸 The agreement with North Korea provides for mutual assistance in case of military aggression. South Korea has nothing to fear in this regard if it does not plan to attack Pyongyang.

🔸 There is no novelty in the agreement with the DPRK, the parties have changed almost nothing compared to the agreement concluded in the 60s, which expired.

🔸 Sanctions against North Korea are inhumane and restrictions cannot be imposed for political reasons.

🔸 For Russia, a strategic defeat will mean the termination of its statehood, which means there is no need to be afraid, we must go to the end.

🔸 The West will pin all unpopular decisions on Zelensky and remove him in the first half of 2025.

🔸 If Ukraine links negotiations with Moscow with the withdrawal of Russian troops, then this will never happen.

🔸 Russia does not ask anyone for help in conducting its special operation.

🔸 The West’s reaction to peace initiatives was expected, but sensible politicians will think about the initiatives if they want to end the conflict.

🔸 The supply of weapons by South Korea to Ukraine will be a mistake, Russia may take responsive measures that are unlikely to please the leadership of South Korea.

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Putin recalls how USSR helped Vietnam beat US during his visit to the Asian nation

During the meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on June 20, Russian President Vladimir Putin called Vietnam one of Russia's most reliable partners.

The president also recalled the help the USSR gave Vietnam in the fight against the French and American invaders.

🔸 How exactly did the USSR foster Vietnam’s win over the US?

The Soviet Union provided Northern Vietnam with military trainers and equipment and helped to operate it, a senior lieutenant in reserve and the Vietnam war veteran, Nikolay Kolesnik, told Sputnik

The US was scared off after Vietnam shot its first jets with the help of Soviet airment, Kolesnik recalled.

"Then two [Vietnamese] divisions came out and shot down three American jets. That shocked the Americans. They stopped flying over North Vietnam for two weeks," Kolesnik said.

🔸 How did the Vietnamese perceive Soviet assistance?

"We had an understandable, very friendly relationship, they treated us like students treat their teachers." Kolesnik noted. "They said, 'You teach us how to fight, and we will learn from you how to win'."

🔸 How significant was the USSR's assistance to Vietnam during the war?

The military component provided to Vietnam served a highly important role, the veteran believes. 

"It was effective both materially and militarily. There was the necessary amount of modern equipment that gave the Americans a kick in the teeth," he stressed.

In the end, Vietnam inflicted the most crushing defeat on the US since Pearl Harbor, which became a collective trauma known as the Vietnam syndrome.

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Putin’s Vietnam visit could further boost ‘highly successful’ Moscow-Hanoi energy & security cooperation

“Both Vietnam and Russia acknowledge their highly successful cooperation in the oil and gas sector, namely through the Vietsovpetro and Rusvietpetro joint ventures. President Putin’s visit may further extend these cooperation programs, given their ongoing success and significant revenue generation for both nations,” Pham Vu Thieu Quang, editor and geopolitical research specialist at VietNamNet Newspaper, tells Sputnik.

“We saw this with the announcement of [Russian oil and gas firm] Zarubezhneft [in drilling] for Block 11-2 offshore development today,” Quang notes.

On top of that, bilateral relationship can focus on reinforcing the two’s interests in maintaining regional stability and security, according to the VietNamNet Newspaper editor.

Moscow and Hanoi face “emerging threats in new areas such as cybersecurity, so future cooperation can leverage Russia’s extensive experience in this field to support Vietnam,” the expert says.

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