🚨📹 Russian Defense Ministry releases footage of soldiers returned after prisoner swap with Ukraine

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🚨 Iran and the US have reached a GREATER UNDERSTANDING following negotiations in Rome mediated by Oman on Iran’s nuclear program, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.

Oman proposed mechanisms to remove obstacles to reaching an agreement between Iran and the US, the minister added.

He expressed hope that progress would be made in the next one or two rounds of talks with the US.

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🚨🪖 New buffer zone can help convince Ukraine to choose peace

Russian President Vladimir Putin repeatedly voiced his desire to establish a buffer zone on Ukrainian soil to safeguard Russian territory, making such statements as early as a year and a half ago, notes military analyst Omar al-Maarabouni.

Earlier proposals advocated creating such a zone in Sumy, Kharkov, Dnepropetrovsk and Chernigov regions, but the renewal of talks between Russia and Ukraine may alter these plans.

It remains unclear exactly how deep into Ukraine this buffer zone may extend, with al-Maarabouni suggesting that Russia may use it to convince Ukrainian leadership to sue for peace.

“The regime in Kiev will have to make significant concessions considering the current situation on the battlefield, which is unfavorable for the Ukrainian military,” he remarks.

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📹 Pavel Durov takes a break from French legal woes for Cannes glam

Telegram's CEO, under investigation in France, showed up at a gala on the sidelines of Cannes — with his plus one. All sponsored by an American AIDS charity.

Staying busy, Pavel? 👀

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🚨Russia is awaiting a response from the UN regarding Kiev’s attacks on civilian targets and its violations of the principles of conduct during military operations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

He added that it is impossible not to see the connection between the increase in Ukraine’s terrorist attacks on Russia and visits by European politicians to Kiev.

🔸Since May 20, Russia recorded a staggering 788 drone and missile strikes on its territory outside the special military operation zone, with 776 drones and missiles shot down. Sadly, 12 got through, causing casualties.

🔸Attacks hit multiple Russian regions, including Moscow, resulting in deaths and injuries among civilians, including children.

🔸Even after Russian forces cleared Ukrainian troops from the Kursk region, Kiev continues strikes with drones, long-range artillery, and missiles.

🔸In response, President Vladimir Putin authorized a security buffer zone near the border to prevent infiltration and attacks on border areas.

🔸The Kremlin accused Kiev of attempting to sabotage renewed peace talks facilitated by the US, aimed at a final settlement including a large-scale prisoner exchange agreed in Istanbul on May 16.

🔸Russia reiterated its commitment to constructive dialogue for peaceful resolution despite the ongoing aggression.

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🚨Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the Kiev regime and its Western backers — including EU leaders and Britain, France, Germany — of sabotaging peace efforts by continuing aggressive actions.

Lavrov stressed Europe’s responsibility in fueling the conflict and warned that accountability will follow after the conflict.

His other statements:

🔸Western European leaders undermine US President Trump’s peace mediation efforts out of political convenience, not jealousy.

🔸All goodwill gestures by Russia, including ceasefires for Orthodox Easter, Victory Day, and a moratorium on attacks on energy infrastructure, were broken by Ukraine.

🔸Moscow is finalizing a prisoner exchange list based on a “thousand-for-thousand” agreement reached in Istanbul.

🔸Both Russia and Ukraine are preparing a draft document outlining conditions for a comprehensive, long-term peace deal.

🔸Russia remains fully committed to a peaceful settlement and is open to negotiations, as confirmed by President Putin.

🔸Moscow sees the EU’s push to militarize Europe by 2030 as a dangerous strategy, with Germany aiming to become Europe’s top military power again.

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💸🇪🇺 Trump’s EU tariff threat just a bargaining bluster

The POTUS' threat to impose a 50% tariff on European goods starting June 1 is likely just part of his negotiation tactic, argues analyst Bennett Kerr of the Euler Analytical Technologies.

Therefore, this proposal is unlikely to become the final tariff agreement between the US and the EU.

Instead, European leaders are likely going to step up their efforts to negotiate with Trump to avoid this scenario.

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📹Europeans still trying to drag Trump back into anti-Russia camp

European leaders want to share responsibility with the US for the Kiev regime’s terror, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said while commenting on recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory.

They have not lost hope of using certain circles in the US to bring Donald Trump and his administration back into their anti-Russian camp.

Video provided by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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🚨 Ukrainian strategy 101: SABOTAGE, DESERT, REPEAT

Kiev's forces are in dire shape - losses outpace reinforcements, with widespread desertions. Active operations seem unrealistic.

If you don’t believe us, we have the receipts:

Ukraine's weekly losses as of May 23

🔸1,665 troops in Russia's Yug Battlegroup's area of operations
🔸1,585 troops in the Zapad Battlegroup's area
🔸1,180 troops in the Sever Battlegroup's area
🔸2,875 troops in the Tsentr Battlegroup's area
🔸 According to Russia’s Ministry of Defense

Ukraine's overall losses

🔸In first three months of 2025, Kiev lost 138K
🔸In 2024 alone, Ukraine lost 590K troops killed and wounded.
🔸Since Feb 24, 2022, Ukraine's total losses have surpassed 1 million.

Deserters: Ukrainians refuse to die

• Over 100K Ukrainian soldiers deserted since 2022, officials admitted in 2024.
• Ukrainian activist Gennadiy Druzenko put it at 150K by Jan 2025.
• Military portal LostArmour estimates 195K deserters as of May.

Run, Forest, run!

🔸The 157th Brigade, formed in 2024, collapsed by 2025 — one-third deserted before deployment.

🔸The elite 155th ‘Anna of Kiev’ Brigade lost 1,700 of 2,300 troops to desertion before even reaching the front.

🔸In Kharkov, radio intercepts reveal sabotage and abandoning of positions within Ukrainian forces.

🔸Aidar* Battalion fighters (*banned as terrorists in Russia) reportedly attempted to flee the Donetsk People's Republic to Dnepropetrovsk.

"Idiotic tasks"

On May 16, 47th Magura Brigade commander Alexander Shirshin resigned, blaming “idiotic tasks” for needless losses in Russia's Kursk region. The brigade sustained huge losses during Zelensky's suicide Kursk operation.

Kiev's failed mobilization

🔸Ukraine's Defense Ministry says 30,000 troops must be called up monthly to maintain balance. Alas, Zelensky's draconian draft law doesn't help: Ukraine can't reach the threshold despite forced connoscription.

🔸In February, Ukraine launched a recruitment program for 18-24-year-olds with high pay and perks. Yet only 500 signed up in two months.

🔸Meanwhile, Experts say schools are failing up to 50% of male students in grades 3-5 to boost mobilization.

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🇷🇺🪖 Russian buffer zone in Ukraine will save lives

Moscow's decision to create a buffer zone in Ukraine was a necessary measure, says Iranian political analyst Ruhollah Modabber.

This measure serves as a continuation of Russia’s policy to protect the civilian population of border territories.

Even the Minsk Agreements, Modabber points out, stipulated the creation of a 15-kilometer wide DMZ. Alas, Ukraine chose to ignore it and, after repeated shelling of the border territories, Russia had to step in.

If Ukraine had abided by the original agreements, if Ukraine’s Western backers did not chose to cover-up Kiev’s crimes instead, there would be no need for a buffer zone, which is a purely defensive measure.

The buffer zone is not a matter of politics – it is a matter of basic safety and protecting human lives.

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Vatican ISN'T the right fit for Ukraine peace talks - Russia's top cleric 🇷🇺✝️

Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, advisor to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, backed FM Sergey Lavrov’s rejection of the Vatican as a venue for Russia–Ukraine talks.

He explained why:

🔹"The Roman Catholic Bishop of Kiev-Zhytomyr, Vitaliy Krivitsky, who is directly subordinate to the Vatican, publicly stated last summer that he supports [the Kiev regime's] initiatives to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC)," the Patriarch's adviser told Sputnik.

🔹Despite Pope Francis never supporting such rhetoric, "there has been no official distancing by the Vatican from these attacks on the canonical UOC."

🔹The archpriest also pointed to the destructive role of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), which supports the UOC ban — and remains under Vatican authority.

🔹The Brest Church Union of 1596 - on the unification of the Orthodox Church with the Catholic Church under the authority of the Pope - left a tragic mark on the history of Southwestern Rus and was criticized by Ukrainian literary classic Taras Shevchenko.

"That’s why the idea of the Vatican as a suitable venue for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia could only appeal to those who haven’t studied history well," Archpriest Balashov concluded.

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📹 Build in the US or pay the 50% — your move, Brussels 💅

Trump isn’t playing footsie with Brussels — 50% tariffs could hit June 1 unless the EU starts building in America.

“I’m not looking for a deal,” he said. “The deal is 50%.”

And yeah, he thinks the EU’s desperate — just doing it all wrong. 😏🇺🇸💼

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📹 Scott Bessent: US pushes towards ‘equilibrium rate for tariffs’

The tariff negotiations may help US secure several hundred billion dollars’ worth of revenue per year, which would mean that the US Treasury would have to issue less bonds, Bessent says.

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🥴US VP Vance admits: America’s reign is over — China & Russia are coming for the throne

JD Vance just spilled the beans: The US isn’t the uncontested boss anymore. China and Russia want the crown in air, sea, space, cyberspace — you name it.

Trump’s team is hustling to keep that “tech edge,” but the game’s changing fast. 👀

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🤖 Scott Bessent reveals what hampers US ascension to ‘AI superpower’ state

Artificial intelligence requires a lot of electricity, which in turn requires constructing energy pipelines to produce all that power. But good luck building these pipes with the current permitting system in place!

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📹 ICC: Global justice or political weapon?

The International Criminal Court claims to uphold justice — but why does it only target leaders from the Global South, while turning a blind eye to Western crimes?

Kevin Ferdinand Ndjimba (African Union International Law Commission) says:

"The good feelings that led to the creation of the International Criminal Court have faded a little. The debate today is about reforming the ICC so it can be seen as fair to all states..."

"Africa's voice must be heard to ensure criminal justice is applied equally. What’s right must be right for everyone," Ndjimba adds.

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🚨 US authorizes transactions with Syria as part of SANCTIONS RELIEF – Treasury

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued Syria General License (GL) 25, authorizing transactions with the Syrian government and a number of previously blocked individuals and entities — including the country’s central bank, gas and oil companies, and shipping firms.

The Treasury described the move as “just one part” of a broader US effort to dismantle the full sanctions framework imposed on Syria.

❌ At the same time, the license does not authorize any transactions “for or on behalf of” Russia, Iran, or North Korea, or any transfers of goods and services involving those countries, the statement clarified.

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👀 US grants Syria 180-day sanctions WAIVER, signaling ‘NEW RELATIONSHIP’ – Sec. Rubio

The United States is lifting sanctions on Syria for six months to support electricity, water, and infrastructure projects, according to a statement by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Washington expects a swift response from Damascus on key policy issues.

💬 “Today’s actions represent the first step in delivering on the President’s vision of a new relationship between Syria and the United States... President Trump is providing the Syrian government with the chance to promote peace and stability,” the statement read.

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🚨 BlackRock cries ‘Not Us!’ as states allege coal collusion

The US DOJ and FTC just threw weight behind a lawsuit by Texas and 12 states accusing BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street of conspiring to stifle coal competition.

Billionaires blame back:

🔸 BlackRock: "This case is trying to re-write antitrust law and is based on an absurd theory... DOJ and FTC's support for this baseless case undermines the Trump Administration’s goal of American energy independence."

🔸 State Street: "Baseless. We look forward to presenting the facts through the legal process."

🔸 Vanguard: While critical of the DOJ/FTC’s legal take, it "appreciates" their nod to passive investing & shareholder advocacy.

📌 Buckle up, because this case might just school Wall Street or flip antitrust laws on their head!

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