❗️ In a recent interview, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov outlined Moscow’s stance during the upcoming talks with Ukraine.

Here are some key takeaways, according to the minister:

🔹 The goal of the operation in Ukraine is to identify specific types of strike weapons that will never be deployed there;

🔹 Russia is doing everything it can to prevent serious casualties among civilians during the special op;

🔹 Zelensky’s statement about the desire to receive security guarantees is a “positive step”;

🔹 If the West decides to set up a new “iron curtain”, Russia will find an opportunity to develop;

🔹 Moscow won’t allow Ukraine to create nuclear weapons;

🔹 Ukraine must undergo denazification, like Germany did in past;

🔹 Moscow will not discuss Crimea;

🔹 On the possibility of nuclear war: Better ask Joe Biden.

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❗️ Biden admin is likely to announce later today restrictive measures on Belarus, Russian defence sector, Bloomberg reports citing sources

❗️ Check out the highlights of the latest briefing of the Russian MoD on the special op in Ukraine:

🔸 498 Russian servicemen killed, 1,597 wounded;

🔸 reports about "countless" losses among Russian servicemen are fake;

🔸 more than 2,870 of Ukrainian nationalists and servicemen killed and 3,700 wounded;

🔸 nationalist battalions are preparing provocations using civilians as human shields;

🔸 connoscripts and cadets at educational institutions of the Defence Ministry are NOT participating in the operation;

🔸 Russian servicemen have created a security corridor in the southwest of Kharkov in the direction of Lyubotin;

🔸 the cities of Lyman, Kreminna, the villages of Tors'ke, Varvarovka, Boroven'ky are under the control of Russian forces now.

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⚡️⚡️ Washington's refusal to negotiate leaves Moscow no option but to expel US diplomat from Russia - Russian Foreign Ministry

⚡️ US in coordination with allies imposing additional economic costs on Russia and Belarus - White House

⚡️ US imposing full blocking sanctions on 22 Russian defense-related entities - White House

⚡️ Roman Abramovich says he decided to sell Chelsea football club

https://twitter.com/ChelseaFC/status/1499085708820160514

📸: Official statement from Abramovich on Chelsea’s website

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❗️ The Russian MoD says that it is necessary to immediately provide humanitarian corridors to safe places for Ukrainian citizens.

The ministry also stated that nationalists were preventing civilians in Kiev, Kharkov and Mariupol from escaping those cities.

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⚡️ Joe Biden may ban Russian ships from entering US ports - Wall Street Journal

❗ New US sanctions on Belarus include measures against the country’s defense ministry, encompassing all sorts of the national armed services and intelligence organizations amid the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine, the Commerce Department said on Wednesday.

"[New export rule] adds two entities, including the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus (this listing encompasses the national armed services, including the army, navy, marine, air force, or coast guard; national guard and police; and government intelligence or reconnaissance organizations of Belarus)," the Commerce Department said in a press release.

❗ Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called Wednesday Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s willingness to receive security guarantees a positive step, and said that Moscow is ready to discuss it at talks.

"The fact that President Zelenskyy declared his readiness, or rather, his desire to receive security guarantees, I believe that this is a positive step. Our negotiators are ready for the second round of discussing these guarantees with Ukrainian representatives. But the Ukrainian representatives again, as at the first meeting, have not yet confirmed holding of the second round. They will drag it on. I think that the Americans do not allow them either. Now, no one believes in Kiev’s independence at all," Lavrov said in an interview with the Al Jazeera broadcaster.

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🚫 Lavrov on Sanctions Against Russia: West Returned to Bandit-Style Wild Capitalism

With its sanctions against Russia, the West returned to the bandit-style wild capitalism, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the Al Jazeera broadcaster.

"They did not care about all their principles, which they implanted in the international arena, including when they began to seize the assets of both the Central Bank of Russia and our private companies. It is just theft. They have abandoned all those rules that have been introduced into international life for more than 70 years. They have now simply crossed out these rules and returned to the bandit-style wild capitalism of the times of the ‘gold rush'," he said.

Lavrov said that Moscow could not predict that these sanctions, caused by impotent anger, would cover the sports movement, cultural exchange, and would affect contacts between people.

"Do you remember that in previous years, when announcing sanctions against Arab, Latin American countries, the West constantly repeated, at least in the Security Council, that the sanctions were not aimed at ordinary people, the sanctions were to make the state leadership feel the pressure of the global community and change the behavior. Now, no one talks about it at all," he said.

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📺 The UK Ofcom media regulator said Wednesday that it launched 12 more investigations into impartiality of the RT news channel and considers if the broadcaster should keep its UK license.

"Ofcom has today opened a further 12 investigations into the due impartiality of programmes on the RT news channel. This takes the total number of RT programmes under investigation to 27. We are very concerned by the volume of programmes on RT that are raising potential issues under the Broadcasting Code, and as we progress our investigations we are considering whether RT should retain a UK licence," the regulator said in a statement.

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‼️Pentagon postpones test launch of Minuteman III missile to ensure actions are not misunderstood amid heightened tensions in Russia-Ukraine crisis

🗣️"Last weekend, Putin directed special alert of Russian nuclear forces. We saw this as dangerous and irresponsible. Such provocative rhetoric is unacceptable. The US has not taken any similar steps. In an effort to demonstrate that we have no intention to engage in actions that could be misunderstood, our Minutemen III test launch will be postponed from this weekend," Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said during a Wednesday briefing.

Kirby further noted that the postponement will not affect the US' nuclear posture or deterrence, detailing that the decision was not prompted by a 'specific action or inaction' by the Russian president.

🔋 Fitbit issued a recall of one million Ionic smartwatches because they pose a burn hazard to consumers, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a notice.

"The lithium-ion battery in the Ionic smartwatch can overheat, posing a burn hazard," the recall notice issued on Wednesday said. "Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Ionic smartwatches and contact Fitbit to receive pre-paid packaging to return the device."

When customers return the watch, the release added, they will get a $299 refund. In addition, Fitbit said it will also give customers a discount code that takes 40 percent off certain devices, according to the release.

Fitbit, the release added, received at least 115 reports in the United States and 59 internationally of the battery in the watch overheating. It also saw 78 reports of burn injuries in the US and another 40 internationally.

This recall was conducted voluntarily by the company, the agency said.

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🏛 The US House passes resolution conveying support for Ukraine, calling for end to conflict

The House passed the "Supporting People of Ukraine" resolution on Wednesday with a 426-3 vote.

The measure backs US support for Ukraine, including calling for an immediate ceasefire and full withdrawal of Russian forces from the country.

Moreover, the measure urges the Biden administration to deliver additional security assistance to Ukraine immediately.

In addition, the resolution pledges to support working with Europe and international partners to bolster Europe’s energy security and reduce its dependence on Russian energy imports. The measure also emphasizes maintaining US energy independence.

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