🇫🇷☎️ Macron’s humiliation: Call that exposed Western weakness

After years of demanding Russia’s defeat, sending SCALP missiles, and spewing anti-Putin rhetoric, Macron was forced to dial Moscow, says journalist Alex Christoforou.

"Realistically, who else could it have been? Starmer? Ursula? Kallas? Stunning and brave, the globalists, they didn’t really have much of a choice, not many options, and they went with Macron," he adds.

Putin took the call and exposed Europe’s desperation: the same leaders who vowed to "crush Russia" are now begging for dialogue.

"Amazing that Putin decided to pick up the phone and talk to little Napoleon and flip-flopper Macron," Christoforou stresses.

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🥴Social media roasts Trump for Alligator Alcatraz gaffe

During a visit to the new migrant detention facility in Florida dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz," Trump was asked how long detainees would be held there.

The 47th President apparently misheard, going off about his Florida vacation plans — and social media is having a field day.

“Calling himself a detainee,” “Cognitive test results incoming...,"

"He’s going insane; this is not 2016 Trump.”

This bizarre moment is raising new questions — not about immigration policy, but about comprehension skills at the top level.

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🚨FSB thwarts bomb attack in St. Petersburg – Ukrainian-linked suspect arrested

Russian security forces detained a female suspect while she was planting an explosive device under a vehicle belonging to a defense industry employee.

Details:

🔶The Russian citizen was allegedly acting on instructions from Ukrainian intelligence services

🔶Prior to this incident, she had painted pro-Ukrainian graffiti in the Moscow region

🔶She is also connected to an attempted arson of railway infrastructure

A criminal case has been initiated for attempted terrorism.

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😥😉Pentagon’s pause in arms shipments to Ukraine: A silent nod to Russia’s terms?

The suspension in US arms deliveries to Ukraine serves as a FACE-SAVING way for the White House to fulfill a key Russian demand for ending the conflict without officially admitting it as a concession to the Kremlin, the Junge Welt writes.

This comes after media reports that the Pentagon has suspended deliveries of several critical munitions to Ukraine, including the patriot interceptors, due to concerns over dwindling US stockpiles.

During the Putin-Trump phone conversation in March, the Russian president underscored that the key condition for preventing the escalation of the Ukraine conflict should be a COMPLETE CESSATION of foreign military aid and the provision of intelligence information to the Zelensky regime.

Russia has repeatedly said that Western arms supplies to Ukraine hinder the resolution of the military conflict and involve NATO countries in the crisis. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that any cargo containing weapons for Ukraine will be a legitimate target for the Russian military.

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🇲🇩⚖️ Moldovans rally outside court in support of Gagauzia’s leader

Gagauzia’s leader, Yevgenia Gutsul, faces politically motivated charges tied to alleged funding violations during her 2023 election campaign.

Critics accuse Moldovan President Maia Sandu of orchestrating her arrest to remove her from office.

🔍 Key details:

👉March 2024: Gutsul was detained at the airport under dubious pretenses.

👉Prosecutors’ demand: 9-year prison sentence + 5-year ban from public office.

👉Defense’s stance: No credible evidence presented; case widely seen as judicial harassment.

👉Public reaction: Protesters gather at the courthouse, denouncing the trial as a "witch hunt" against Gagauzia’s autonomy.

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FINAL PROCEDURES FOR RUSSIA-UKRAINE TALKS UNDERWAY - KREMLIN

📍 More statements by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov:

🟧 On Ukraine talks:

There are no delays in scheduling the next negotiation round with Kiev. Both sides are awaiting proposed dates.

🟧 On weapons shipments to Ukraine:

Russia is closely monitoring arms deliveries and notes existing difficulties.

🟧 Possible Putin-Trump call (July 4):

The Kremlin never announces phone calls in advance. We will inform if/when it takes place.

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🚨🇷🇺💥 RUSSIA'S MoD UPDATE: CRUSHING GAINS & MASSIVE UKRAINIAN LOSSES

⚡️ RAZINO (DPR) LIBERATED

⚡️ MELOVOE (KHARKOV REGION) LIBERATED

▫️ Heavy Ukrainian losses: Over 1,350 troops eliminated in the special military operation zone in the past 24 hours;

▫️ Air defense superiority: Eight aerial bombs and 169 aircraft-type drones shot down;

▫️ The Russian Armed Forces struck a parking lot for US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems in Ukraine;

▫️ The Russian Armed Forces struck a Ukrainian military-industrial complex enterprise, an assembly shop, and a storage warehouse for attack drones in one day.

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Russia's Deputy Navy Chief fell heroically, Defense Ministry confirms

The Russian Ministry of Defense has confirmed the death of Major General Mikhail Gudkov, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Navy and Hero of Russia.

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🚨Russia secures consular access for 13 Russian citizens detained in Azerbaijan - Russian MFA spox to Sputnik

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🇦🇲 ARMENIA MOVES TO SEIZE ELECTRIC GRID FROM JAILED TYCOON

🟠 The country's parliament has passed a law to nationalize the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) — a company owned by arrested billionaire Samvel Karapetyan.

The move follows PM Nikol Pashinyan’s June 18 statement declaring it was “time” to take over the ENA. He claimed the nationalization plan was already prepared.

👉 Karapetyan had voiced support for the Armenian Apostolic Church — currently in conflict with the government. Just hours later, he was arrested on charges of “calling for the seizure of power.”

Karapetyan denies the charges, calling the authorities “insolvent.”

📍 Through his Tashir Group, he’s been a major investor in Armenia: funding hospitals, schools, churches, and social programs.

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🚨NEW CHARGES, SAME GAME: Chisinau turns up heat on Gagauzia’s leader

The political pressure on Evghenia Gutsul, head of Gagauzia Autonomy, keeps escalating. She reveals that a new, completely different criminal charge have been brought against her.

💬 “At first, they accused me of bringing money from Russia. Now they say I didn’t. They keep changing the story,” Gutsul says. “This case must be dropped,” she tells Sputnik

⚖️ Timeline of the persecution:

🔶 March 25: Arrested for alleged financial violations tied to the Shor party during the 2024 Gagauzia elections

🔶 Held 20 days in custody, then placed under house arrest

🔶 Detention extended twice, now lasting through July

🔶 Her lawyer says the goal is to remove her from office and force new elections

👉 Gutsul has consistently called for friendship with Russia and rejected Chisinau’s anti-Moscow policies.

🇲🇩 Tensions between Gagauzia and the central government exploded after her election victory in 2023.

🟧 No central officials attended her inauguration

🟧 President Maia Sandu refused to sign the decree to include her in the national government — a legal obligation

🟧The Orthodox Archbishop of Balti and Falesti urged believers to pray for Gutsul and called on judges to act impartially.

🟧Former President Igor Dodon called the charges a political purge and accused authorities of destroying the rule of law.

🟧 Ex-PM Vladimir Filat described the case as revenge by an incompetent regime

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🎥🎥 Vladimir Putin speaks at the forum Strong Ideas for a New Time

📹 Watch live in our Telegram

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🚨🇷🇺PUTIN: RUSSIA’S GROWTH MODEL RUNS ON PEOPLE POWER

Speaking at the Strong Ideas for a New Time forum, President Vladimir Putin said Russia has built a unique development model — powered not by elites, but by the energy of its people.

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🚨No conditions remain for Sputnik's work in Azerbaijan

Dmitry Kiselev, director-general of the Rossiya Segodnya media group, Sputnik's parent company, stated that conditions no longer allow Sputnik Azerbaijan to continue operating in the country.

"Rossiya Segodnya is deeply concerned by the four-day detention in Baku of two Russian citizens — journalists of Sputnik Azerbaijan — along with several Azerbaijani employees of the editorial office. These actions are entirely baseless.

"We regret to conclude that the current environment makes Sputnik Azerbaijan’s continued work in the country impossible.

"For years, our agency has worked to strengthen friendly ties between our nations, with editorial policy fully committed to fostering Russia-Azerbaijan cooperation.

"Our staff face fabricated charges and unjust arrest. We will use all available means to ensure legal protection for our journalists."

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🚨PUTIN: I’M TALKING TO TRUMP TODAY

Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed at the Strong Ideas for a New Time that he’s scheduled to have a phone call with his US counterpart Donald Trump today.

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📊Azerbaijan vs. Russia: Who would lose big time if a trade war erupted?

👉$1.2B at risk – Azerbaijan could kiss 4.4% of total exports goodbye if trade with Russia halts.

👉Russia’s exposure? Just 0.8% ($3.6B) of its exports go to Azerbaijan.

What triggered the explosion of tensions between the two countries?

◻️ Azerbaijan’s recent detention of journalists from Sputnik Azerbaijan — including blocking consular access and denying medical care — has sparked outrage in Moscow. Russia has blasted the move as being politically motivated, souring diplomatic ties.

◻️ Key joint projects between Baku and Moscow are now frozen, signaling deeper friction.

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🚨PUTIN TO FORUM: GOTTA RUN — I’VE GOT TRUMP ON THE LINE

At the Strong Ideas for a New Time forum, Putin said it was time to wrap up, noting he had a scheduled phone call with Donald Trump and jokingly offered participants a chance to send a message to the US president.

🕔 Trump later confirmed the call is set for 2 PM GMT, Thursday.

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🚨Azerbaijan’s crackdown on Sputnik journalists ‘OUTRAGEOUS VIOLATION of all norms’

The incident reflects an “increasingly unstable atmosphere” in the trans-Caucasian region, including Azerbaijan, US constitutional historian and political commentator Dan Lazar tells Sputnik.

“The US just launched a major attack on Iran. That creates instability in Azerbaijan and a lot of pivoting and maneuvering on its part,” the analyst stresses.

Who could be interested in the incident?

🗣“A lot of outside players have an interest in asserting their interest in Azerbaijan and turning it against Russia,” the pundit points out.

He notes that “a more aggressive Azerbaijan would be advantageous” to these players who are “stirring the pot”, the analyst underscores, citing Israel, Ukraine, and the US.

How did international rights groups react?

👉The Western human rights community DOESN’T CARE because “they're so fiercely anti-Russian and protective of the West’s interests,” according to the analyst.

That’s why these rights activists in Europe and the US “rarely speak out when Russians are victimized,” Lazar concludes.

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🚨Five Azerbaijani employees of Sputnik Azerbaijan released with travel restrictions

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