❗️📹 WATCH PUTIN’S STATEMENT ON HISTORIC LIBERATION OF KURSK REGION

Praising the troops and commanders involved in the operation, the Russian president emphasized that the reckless undertaking by the Ukraine's regime had “FAILED COMPLETELY,” and that enemy forces suffered “HUGE LOSSES,” including among their best trained, Western-equipped troops.

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❓Sanctions relief in sight? Syria plays nice with US demands

Syria claims it has met most conditions laid out by the US, although some require "mutual understanding," according to a copy of a letter cited by Reuters.

It pledges to:

◻️ not tolerate any threats to US or Western interests in Syria, with "appropriate legal measures" set in place

◻️ "monitor the activities of Palestinian factions," while banning any armed factions outside state control

◻️ not allow Syria to “become a source of threat to any party, including Israel"

◻️ set up a liaison office at the foreign ministry to find missing US journalist Austin Tice

◻️ work to tackle chemical weapons stockpiles with closer ties with a global arms watchdog

On other US demands:

🔸 removing foreign fighters from any official roles "requires a broader consultative session"

🔸 US request for coordination on counterterrorism, including strikes on terror targets, “requires mutual understandings."

In its letter, Syria voiced hope its "guarantees" would lead to detailed talks on reopening embassies and lifting sanctions.

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🔥 Arms of Victory: KV-1 heavy tank

Sputnik showcases the heavy weapons employed by the Red Army in the Great Patriotic War to defeat Hitler’s Third Reich.

Dubbed the "Ghost" by the enemy, the KV-1 was a formidable force on the battlefield. German anti-tank guns were unable to pierce its thick armor.

For a time, German tank crews were left defenseless against the KV-1, a surprising and powerful weapon that eventually paved the way for even more fearsome tanks like the KV-2 and IS-2.

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🇮🇳🇵🇰 India vs Pakistan: military power in numbers

Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated after the so-called ‘Resistance Front’, which India believes is linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba Salafi jihadist group, claimed responsibility for the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 people.

Amid rising tensions, India holds a MAJOR advantage over Pakistan in key areas: troop numbers, fighter aircraft, naval ships, aircraft carriers, submarines and tanks. With a strong reserve force backing its active strength, India also benefits from significant strategic depth.

📊 Check out the full comparison in #Sputnikinfographic

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❗️The number of casualties from the explosion at the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas has risen to 516, Iranian media report.

At least 4 people were killed in an explosion at the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, according to the head of the Iranian rescue service.

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✅Ukrainian peace plan hints at CONCESSIONS – report

A counterproposal drafted by Ukraine in response to the plan previously outlined by the Trump administration DOES NOT mention Ukraine fully regaining all the territory that is under control of the Russian forces, the NYT reported, citing the text of the plan it had obtained.

🚫Neither does the draft peace proposal insist on Ukraine joining NATO, the report added.

🪖In return, Ukraine wants no restrictions on the size of its military, as well as “a European security contingent” backed by the US to be deployed on Ukrainian territory to guarantee security, according to the report.

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❗️Vladimir Putin, holding talks with Witkoff, confirmed Russia's readiness to negotiate with Ukraine without preconditions - Kremlin

Ukraine has previously stated that it will not engage in peace talks unless a ceasefire first takes effect.

"We are ready for dialogue in any format, with anyone <...> anytime. But only after a real signal that Russia is ready to end the war. Such a signal is a complete and unconditional ceasefire," Zelensky said at a press conference.

However, Zelensky has yet to remove a presidential decree issued in 2022 prohibiting peace talks with Russia.

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🇷🇺Kursk region's total liberation has huge STRATEGIC and SYMBOLIC significance

From the liberation of Sudzha in March to Saturday’s announcement of the total expulsion of enemy forces from the Kursk region, the Ukrainian army’s Kursk gamble has proven an unprecedented defeat, and one that could ultimately help lead to peace, Russian military observer Sergey Poletaev told Sputnik.

💬 “The sudden and rapid liberation of Sudzha was a very serious defeat for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and a defeat of a new kind. Their front has never collapsed on such a scale, not counting February 2022, when there was no front as such. This will have far-reaching consequences,” Poletaev explained.

Saturday’s announcement and “the fact that we have reached the border, and not a single Ukrainian soldier remains on our old territories, carries more of a symbolic meaning,” marking the formal and complete failure of Ukraine’s incursion.

✅Security buffer zone

Now that the Kursk region has been freed, Russia will have the opportunity to create a security zone “on the other side of the border” through gradual advances into Sumy. Operations in the Kharkov region, where Russia has advanced 10-12 km into areas with road infrastructure to prevent large Ukrainian formations from approaching the border, could serve as a preview of the military’s next steps in Sumy.

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✅Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev made a working trip to the Kapustin Yar testing ground in the Astrakhan region, where tests of new, enhanced jam-resistant rocket shells were conducted.

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🇷🇺🇳🇬Gateway to Africa: new Russia-Nigeria trade route set to SHAKE UP global trade

Russia’s trade mission in Nigeria has announced the launch of a new logistical route that will connect Russia, Africa, and even North and South America, and cut container shipping delivery costs by up to half.

🌍 Here’s how the new route can seriously reshape the regional economic and strategic balance.

🟠The roughly 5,350 nautical mile (9890 km) route originates in the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, running south and west through the Mediterranean, past Gibraltar and around and down the west coast of Africa.
🟠The first sea voyage from Novorossiysk to Lagos is scheduled for May 15.
🟠The previously existing rate for container delivery of 8-9 thousand dollars will be reduced by almost half.

🚢 Logistical management

🟠The new route is managed by A7 African Cargo Line, a Russian freight transport specialist.
🟠In the first stage, the route will operate two chartered 700-TEU container ships (freight capacity: 700 standard 20-foot containers).
🟠The route will facilitate exports of Russian foodstuffs, machinery and transportation equipment to Nigeria, and imports of cotton from Mali, a top regional producer.
🟠In the future, it’s expected to extend to Senegal’s strategic Dakar port.

🤝 Strategic significance

🟠The route will strengthen Russia’s economic and strategic cooperation with West Africa.
🟠Nigeria is now a BRICS partner, while the Alliance of Sahel States (Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso) has sought closer ties with Russia after kicking out the French.

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🇮🇷🇺🇸 A new round of negotiations between Iran and the United States will take place on Saturday next week, according to the Foreign Minister of Oman.

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🪖 Ukraine’s expulsion from Kursk region ROBS Zelensky of key bargaining chip for negotiations

Kursk’s liberation “is a powerful blow to the image of the Kiev regime and, in general, attitudes of the Ukrainian population and military toward Zelensky and his orders,” veteran military and political observer Evgeny Mikhailov tells Sputnik.

The Kursk gambit “was a political decision with the supposed aim of holding onto territory in order to somehow negotiate with Russia,” Mikhailov recalled. Now, Ukraine has not only lost this key bargaining chip, but faces Russian forces freed up for other fronts.

💬 “We’ve liberated our territory and will now direct all efforts to the creation of a buffer zone. What it will look like and how wide it will be is the big question, because the longer the Kiev regime continues to oppose peace talks, the more territory Russia will take, thereby becoming stronger in the negotiations process and weakening the capabilities of Ukraine’s Western partners in negotiations,” the observer said.

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❗️The car bomb which led to the death of Lieutenant General Moskalik was detonated remotely from Ukraine as the military officer exited his building, according to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).

The FSB has detained Ukrainian intelligence agent Ignat Kuzin, who planted the explosives that killed Lieutenant General Moskalik in the blast.

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🪖 From CIA Bloodlines to the trenches: death of top CIA official’s son in Ukraine

Born into America's spy royalty, Michael Gloss died in Russian combat boots. What led the 21-year-old American to fight in Ukraine?

◻️ Michael Gloss was a son of CIA official Juliane Gallina and Navy vet Larry Gloss, NBC said citing CIA spokesperson.

◻️ Disillusioned with US policy, he embraced Russia’s vision of a multipolar world free from Western dominance, the Important Stories (Istories) outlet reported.

◻️ Eager to go to Russia’s Crimea, Gloss said he wanted to learn the language, pursue citizenship, and launch an environmental project.

◻️ “Y’all, I’m in Russia,” Gloss messaged a chat on August 13, 2023, and posted selfies from Vladikavkaz after supposedly crossing from Georgia, Istories-analyzed border data shows. His posts on social media showed him in Moscow’s Red Square.

Joining the ranks of Russian forces

🔹 Gloss’ name appeared in Russia’s unified military registration system on September 5, 2023, claimed the outlet.

🔹 After signing a contract, he reportedly underwent two weeks of training before being assigned to active service.

🔹 A Russian who completed his mandatory military service in the 137th Airborne Regiment in Ryazan claimed he last saw Michael in December 2023, after which Gloss was sent to an "assault unit" at the front in Donbas. One photo showed him on a bunk bed.

Killed in action

🔸 Gloss died on April 4, 2024. His father said a Russian death certificate cited "massive blood loss" while aiding a wounded comrade.

🔸 His obituary only said he was "tragically killed in Eastern Europe," without mentioning Ukraine.

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❗️The DPRK’s aid in the liberation of the Kursk region is a manifestation of a high, essentially allied level of relations, stated the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Other statements from the ministry:

🔸 The official reaction in Pyongyang to Russia's high assessment of the actions of the DPRK armed forces in the Kursk region is uncertain yet, but it will undoubtedly be positive.

🔸 The DPRK’s troops fought in the Kursk region and made a significant contribution to the liberation of the territory.

🔸 After Kursk, all territories of Russian regions currently under the control of the Kiev regime will inevitably be liberated.

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🗣Loser does not get to dictate the terms’: US Army vet on Ukraine’s ‘delusional’ peace talk terms

Ukraine’s European-backed peace terms smell of “sabotage,” and are seemingly geared “towards continuing the conflict for the foreseeable future,” retired US Lt. Col. Earl Rasmussen and veteran international consultant told Sputnik.

💬 The Ukrainian plan is not only “in a different world,” but essentially isn’t even a real peace proposal, basically demanding “an unconditional surrender of Russia,” Rasmussen said.

Ukraine’s terms include demands on the return of all of its lost territories, including Crimea, unlimited development of its military-industrial complex, potentially NATO membership, and US security guarantees.

💬

“That is completely unrealistic. Russia shouldn’t even entertain it whatsoever. Usually the loser does not get to dictate the peace terms, and that’s essentially what is happening here,” Rasmussen emphasized. “It’s a waste of time even to discuss that proposal.”

By contrast, the Kremlin has announced that Russia is willing to hold peace talks with Ukraine without any preconditions.

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🗣 Russia’s unconditional talks offer exposes Zelensky’s diplomatic machinations — former Pentagon analyst

💬 “The unconditional nature offered by Russia is smart, and it places the onus on Zelensky to come forward similarly — but because Zelensky cannot do this and remain in power, he increasingly appears weak and not interested in peace.  If this continues, US aid to Ukraine will dry up completely, including intelligence support — and Zelensky understands this, but politically he is in a vise.  Because not to engage directly in the face of an unconditional peace talk is to sabotage the chance of peace for Ukraine” Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski, retired US Air Force, told Sputnik.

Zelensky has previously stated that Ukraine will not engage in peace talks unless a ceasefire deal is first reached.
 

💬 “The Ukrainian conditions are unrealistic given the balance of power between Russia and the NATO alliance over the case of Ukraine.  But to save face among the remaining few Ukrainians who trust Zelensky and Zelensky’s own government backers who are driven by emotion rather than reality, to talk peace unconditionally is in fact very similar to an unconditional surrender,” Kwiatkowski added.

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❓What happens when the tariff pause expires? Trump has a plan

President Trump has announced that he is “unlikely” to grant another 90-day pause on his global tariff war once the current one expires in July.

Ahead of the deadline, US officials are planning phased negotiations under a common framework developed by the US Trade Representative’s office, individuals familiar with the plans have told WSJ.

The framework:

◻️ Divides negotiations into categories, including tariffs & quotas, non-tariff barriers (such as regulations), product origin criteria, digital trade issues, and economic security concerns

◻️ Will allow US officials to outline custom-tailored demands for different nations

◻️ Focuses on trade with about 18 major US partners, with talks broken down weekly, six at a time, and continued on a rolling basis until Trump’s July 8 deadline

◻️ Doesn’t apply to Mexico, Canada or China, which may face a different negotiating track

If no deal is reached, US tariffs go back on.

Tariff wars, round two

💬 “Current concessions are the result of internal and global backlash. The tariffs were not well conceptualized. Consumers and small businesses are rejecting them en masse. So, this is an adjustment by Trump,” said digital economy specialist Ashraf Patel, commenting on the new framework.

💬 “There is some scope for negotiating” under the new approach, Patel, a research associate at the Pretoria, South Africa-based Institute for Global Dialogue, said. The question is whether the plan is well-developed.

💬 “Geopolitics and multilateralism are fractured. The WTO is not functioning well. So there have to be bilateral deals,” the expert emphasized.

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