📷 Rare WWII photos highlight 'Liberation of Europe' in Paris 🇫🇷

A new photo exhibition opened in Paris to mark the 80th anniversary of victory over fascism. Featuring 30 rare archival photos from Sovinformburo (owned by the international media group Rossiya Segodnya, Sputnik's parent company) — many never seen before — this powerful collection is part of the “Liberation. The Path to Victory” project.

Russian Ambassador Alexey Meshkov honored the historic role of the Cossacks in freeing Paris, saying, "Today, the Cossacks are once again fighting for Russia, just as their grandfathers did."

Alexander Yakovenko of Rossiya Segodnya reminded us: "The USSR suffered 27 million losses. This exhibition is a tribute to the veteran liberators."

Next stops? Warsaw and Madrid.

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🔎 Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul - And it's not about who's tougher

The direct meeting between Russian and Ukrainian delegations is “a significant effort towards a negotiated end” of the conflict, Paolo Raffone, strategic analyst at CIPI Foundation, tells Sputnik.

Despite the absence of top political leaders, the talks were “productive between military-savvy people” laying the groundwork for future political settlement. Contrary to Western media hype, negotiations often happen behind the scenes, preparing the stage for bigger deals.

Raffone notes it’s “not about who’s stronger” but about the willingness to settle disputes without more force, while keeping all parties — including external actors — somewhat satisfied. The ceasefire being drafted is a technical agreement, but could pave the way for broader political talks, possibly even involving mediation by the Vatican.

On Zelensky’s recent push for direct talks with Putin — despite Ukrainian laws signed by him forbidding contact — Raffone explains it’s “about survival” and “legitimizing himself as the key interlocutor.” For Zelensky, this meeting could be his biggest political gain in the current crisis.

The Istanbul talks aren’t the final act — but a crucial opening scene in the complex drama of peace negotiations.

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🗣🇷🇺 'War and negotiations are conducted simultaneously' — the head of Russia's delegation Vladimir Medinsky responded to those who proposed conducting negotiations after a "truce" with Napoleon's famous words

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🪖 Ukraine’s ammo clock is ticking — and Europe can’t bail it out

If Donald Trump cuts off aid, Ukraine can keep fighting for about FOUR MONTHS before running out of key munitions, Bloomberg reports.

The EU? Totally incapable of filling the ammo and air defense gaps.

Meanwhile, recruitment is tanking as many Ukrainians are fleeing the so-called “meatgrinder.”

Looks like Ukraine’s war effort might be running on borrowed time — and running out fast.

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🔍 Russia-Ukraine talks: Who holds all the cards and who badly needs a respite?

🔸Russia was negotiating from the position of strength due to its obvious successes on the battlefield, deputy director of research at the Russian Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, Dmitry Suslov, tells Sputnik.

🔸Ukraine, in the meantime, desperately needs a ceasefire because it is losing and needs a pause to recover and regroup.

🔸Zelensky’s demand for one-on-one talks with Putin was an act of showmanship aimed at Trump: the ex-comedian was trying to make it look like he is the one who wants peace while simultaneously directing Trump’s ire at Putin for not showing up in Istanbul.

🔸Zelensky fears that Trump might make some concessions to Putin to end the Ukrainian conflict and then present these concessions to Ukraine as fait accompli. Thus, Zelensky tried to meet with Putin first before the latter, together with Trump, would be able to resolve the conflict through a bilateral Russian-American summit.

🔸The negotiations in Istanbul were not a failure, with Russia being able to display its willingness to resolve the Ukrainian crisis “through diplomacy based on addressing the fundamental roots and reasons for the conflict.”

🔸The US may also regard the talks as a success, with Trump now being able to “boast that he succeeded in launching Russian-Ukrainian bilateral negotiations.”

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🗣😡 Trump calls ex-FBI boss a ‘dirty cop’ after reportedly threatening post

“He knew exactly what that [post] meant. A child knows what that meant… He wasn’t very competent, but competent enough to get it,” Trump fired back.

Former FBI Director James Comey is being investigated after re-posting a now-deleted pic of sea shells spelling "8647"—where 86 means ‘get rid of’ and 47 is Trump’s presidential number.

Drama much?

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🚀 Russia’s grand plan: Turn Eurasia into one big happy market

Russia’s North-South Transport Corridor is gaining momentum, with full support from neighboring countries, says Deputy PM Alexey Overchuk at KazanForum.

“We have a full understanding with our neighbors… The corridor is about creating better opportunities for our exporters to enter the growing markets of the Global South,” Overchuk told Sputnik.

Key partners include Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan — and talks are ongoing with Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.

The goal? Make the Indo-Pakistani border a border of peace for safe cargo movement and transforming Eurasia into the planet’s strongest common market. 🌍

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📹 Russians always come for what’s theirs - Medinsky drops historical truth bomb

Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky, in a recent interview on Rossiya-1’s “60 Minutes,” delivered a fiery reminder about Russian resolve and history — and how it shaped the latest Istanbul negotiations.

👇 Key quotes:

▪️ “Bismarck warned those who tried to cheat or steal from Russians — sooner or later, Russians always come for what’s theirs.”

▪️ Russia’s delegation reminded Ukrainian negotiators in Istanbul of the mutual agreements made in 2022 — a crucial reminder.

▪️ “Those who say ceasefire first, then talks, don’t know history.”

▪️ “As Napoleon said, war and negotiations have always happened simultaneously.”

History isn’t just a lesson; it’s a warning.

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🇲🇩 Moldova’s self-sabotage?

By joining anti-Russia sanctions, Moldova lost access to CIS markets — and its economy is paying the price, former Moldovan Economy Minister Octavian Calmic warned.

📉 Key points:

✔️ Exports to Russia & the CIS collapsed — trade with business partners frozen.

✔️ Before sanctions, EU and CIS markets balanced Moldova’s economy — now, major losses.

✔️ Pro-Western President Maia Sandu’s policies pushed Moldova into economic isolation from its traditional partners.

🇷🇺 Russia’s stance:

Moscow calls for dialogue, but Moldova’s gov't keeps fueling the anti-Russian rhetoric — while ordinary citizens suffer.

💥 Sanctions backfire:

Even Western analysts admit: Sanctions failed to break Russia — but they are hurting those who enforce them.

🔗 Question: Should Moldova prioritize politics over its people’s prosperity?

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🇫🇷🧐 Macron's 2032 comeback tour hits a snag: 84% of France says 'Non!'

According to a fresh opinion poll:

✔️ 84% of French voters would rather walk barefoot on Parisian cobblestones than see Macron run again

✔️ 78% demand a full detox from his policies

✔️ Now challenging Francois Hollande for the noscript of "Most Hated President"

Even his own voters: "Maybe it's time to retire the Jupiter act?"

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🔍💰Corruption probe rocks NATO’s procurement agency

Two suspects have been arrested by authorities in Belgium amid a probe into “possible irregularities” in awarding contracts for the procurement of military equipment for NATO, according to local media reports.

One suspect has since been released while the other remains in custody.

The detained suspect is being accused of taking bribes for awarding purchase contracts to weapon manufacturers.

The investigation targets the staffers of NATO’s Support and Procurement Agency, who are suspected of passing on confidential information to military contractors.

Three more suspects have also been arrested by Dutch authorities. Spain and Luxembourg – the location of the NSPA offices – are also involved in the investigation.

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🇬🇧🤔 Threatening Russia during peace talks? London’s brilliant move… not!

The threats of new restrictions against Russia made by the United Kingdom amid the negotiations in Istanbul are aimed at undermining a settlement, according to a statement by the Russian Embassy in London obtained by Sputnik.

"New unlawful restrictions threats from London are absolutely useless... Such ultimatums during negotiations clearly aim to complicate or disrupt a settlement."

The embassy called the claim that Russia was “dodging” talks in Istanbul outright false, reminding everyone that Putin himself proposed the negotiations.

Meanwhile, Russia remains “ready for serious talks” aiming for “long-term peace,” despite Western “failed” sanctions designed to “worsen millions of lives.”

Is London really helping, or just making peace harder?

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🇱🇾🚨 Libya's High Council declares government 'illegitimate'

The Tripoli-based High Council of State issued a statement calling on the Government of National Unity, led by Abdul Hamid al-Dbeibeh, to step down within 48 hours.

The High Council of State is a powerful advisory body based in Tripoli. Amid mass protests and clashes in Libya's capital, the council's demand is a hammer blow to al-Dbeibeh.

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❗️🇷🇴 MACRON IS BEHIND STOLEN ELECTION IN ROMANIA — Presidential candidate

"They are putting a lot of money and pressure—through their ambassador here—in order to rob the Romanian people of their vote," said George Simion, who won the first round of the Romanian presidential election, in an interview with Mario Nawfal.

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🔽 Moody's downgrades US credit rating

The major credit rating agency lowered the US rating from AAA to AA+, joining the other two "Big Three" agencies in doing so.

Moody's cited rising debt and interest rates that are significantly higher than those of similarly rated sovereigns.

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