🇦🇲Pashinyan’s attack on Armenian Church part of Turkiye-backed push to oust Russia from region – ex-MP

PM Nikol Pashinyan is determined to quash all “pockets of resistance” to his strategy of ultimately “pushing Russia out of the South Caucasus,” Ani Samsonyan, member of the 7th Convocation of Armenia’s National Assembly, told Sputnik.

⚔️Armenian society is already fractured into two camps: “pro-European and pro-Russian,” the pundit notes.

Despite public outrage over incidents like the arrest of church defender Samvel Karapetyan, there are certain forces that support Pashinyan’s actions.

“High-ranking clergy are already under arrest. These individuals aren’t just religious figures – their words carry serious influence.”

➕Furthermore, with his approval rating plummeting ahead of the 2026 elections, Pashinyan wants to block the emergence of new parties or leaders that could challenge him.

Hence, he is “trying to engineer a confrontation, win it, and present himself as a strong leader,” Samsonyan says.

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Russia holds the Trump cards in the Ukraine negotiations. Here’s why

With the third round of the Istanbul talks on the horizon, the contrast between the warring sides is stark.

Under escalating pressure from his bosses and facing a grim predicament on the front lines, Zelensky is being pushed to the negotiating table as Western support disintegrates.

Zelensky’s frontline troubles

Ukraine’s military defenses near the strategic city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) are deteriorating under surging Russian pressure.

Moscow’s forces are advancing, severing Ukrainian supply lines and gaining control over key high ground areas.

Consequently, the Ukrainian front is beginning to crumble, with mounting reports of panic and desertions among Ukrainian troops.
 
Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Alexander Syrsky admitted that the situation is “challenging” on four fronts simultaneously: in Pokrovsk, Liman, Novopavlovsk, and North Slobozhanka in the northern Sumy Region.

Russian airstrikes heat up

In recent weeks, Russia has ramped up its aerial and missile strikes on Ukrainian military infrastructure using drones and precision-guided weapons.

The strikes have decimated Patriot systems, S-300 launchers, and crippled Ukraine’s air defense capabilities, in addition to inflicting crushing manpower losses on the enemy.

Exchanging soldiers’ remains

In a striking imbalance of battlefield casualties, Russia earlier this July returned the bodies of 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers, in exchange for only 19 of its own fallen troops.

Similarly, in mid-June, Russia handed over more than 6,000 bodies to Ukraine, while the Zelensky regime returned the remains of just 78 fallen Russian soldiers.

Mixed signals from the West

Unlike the unified backing witnessed during the initial year of the conflict, Western support for Ukraine has become increasingly fragmented.

The US Defense Department decided to cut off some shipments to Ukraine earlier in July after a review found American military stockpiles to be low, highlighting the need "to put America's interests first."

The Pentagon announced a reduction in funding for new weapons intended for Ukraine, with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth citing the Trump administration’s shift toward pursuing a peaceful settlement.

Hopes for both NATO and EU membership that Zelensky covets so much are increasingly being dashed.

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Pashinyan floats new constitution for Armenian Apostolic Church to remove Catholicos

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has called for the adoption of a simplified constitution for the Armenian Apostolic Church, which would allow for the election of a new Catholicos of All Armenians.

In a Facebook post, he reiterated his intention to push for the resignation of Catholicos Garegin II, the head of the church.

The Prime Minister has recently ramped up criticism of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

In late May, Pashinyan shared posts on social media that were offensive to the church, including some with profanity.

Soon after he proposed changing the process for electing the Catholicos, aiming to give the state a deciding role.

Russian entrepreneur and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan, who voiced support for the Armenian Apostolic Church, was arrested in Armenia in mid-June. He was accused of calling for the overthrow the government.

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🚨 The heads of the Russian and Ukrainian peace delegations, Vladimir Medinsky and Rustem Umerov, are holding a one-to-one meeting at the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul, a Sputnik source reported.

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🚁🌊 Drone or Submarine? Meet the Ultimate Hybrid!

Romanian student Andrei Kopaci just built a 3D-printed drone that flies AND swims! 🚀

⚡️ With swiveling propellers, his genius invention was made using just a laptop and a printer.

Even the armed forces are interested! 👀

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🗣A trilateral meeting between Medinsky, Umerov, and Turkish FM Fidan took place in Istanbul before the start of negotiations involving the delegations, a Sputnik source reported.

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⚡️The third round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine involving the delegations has begun in Istanbul, a Sputnik correspondent reports.

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🗣Statements by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at the opening of Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul:

🔸 Fidan thanked Putin, Zelensky, and Trump for their efforts in organizing the talks.

🔸 Ankara is pleased to note that the international community highly values the results of the first two rounds of Russia-Ukraine negotiations.

🔸 The ultimate goal of the Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul is to reach a ceasefire.

🔸 Turkey has the necessary infrastructure to monitor compliance with a potential ceasefire in Ukraine.

The Russia-Ukraine negotiations continued behind closed doors following the opening remarks by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, a Sputnik correspondent reports.

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🇭🇺 Hungary informs UN chief about death of Hungarian during forced mobilization in Ukraine

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that he had informed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres about the death of a Hungarian citizen from physical violence during forced mobilization in Ukraine.

💬 "I informed the Secretary General about the consequences of forced mobilization in Ukraine, about the tragic events, about the manhunt that is taking place in Ukraine. I also informed the Secretary General that a Hungarian has already become a victim of this forced mobilization. I assured him that Hungary would do everything possible to replace war with diplomacy, because we all know that this war has no solution on the battlefield," Szijjarto said on social media.

According to his post, the UN secretary-general "fully" agreed that "it is necessary to achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible, as it creates an opportunity to start talks that can bring peace to Ukraine."

On July 16, Hungary demanded the EU sanction three Ukrainian Defense Ministry officials suspected of playing a role in the killing of Hungarian citizen Jozsef Sebestyen, who was beaten to death by Ukrainian army recruiters. On July 17, Szijjarto said that, pending EU action, Budapest had banned three Ukrainian commanders, including the army chief of staff, from entering Hungary.

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⚡️The third round of Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul has concluded, a source told Sputnik.

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🔸 The third round of Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul has concluded

🔸 Pashinyan floats new constitution for Armenian Apostolic Church to remove Catholicos

🔸 Pashinyan’s attack on Armenian Church part of Turkiye-backed push to oust Russia from region – ex-MP

🔸 Ukraine’s top general bemoans ‘floundering’ mobilization, admits money not fixing crisis

🔸 Russia bans international Satanism movement

🔸 Armenia to hand control of critical Caucasus Zangezur transport corridor to US

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🎥🎥 Press briefing by the Russian delegation following the Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul

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⚡️Medinsky: All humanitarian agreements from the second round of Russia-Ukraine talks have been fulfilled.

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🔊 Statement by the Russian Delegation Following the Russia-Ukraine Negotiations in Istanbul:

🔸 All humanitarian agreements from the second round of talks between Russia and Ukraine have been fulfilled.

🔸 The second unprecedented large-scale prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine has been completed.

🔸 Russia proposed that Ukraine form three working groups to operate online.

🔸 The Ukrainian side has agreed to consider the proposal on establishing working groups.

🔸 Russia suggested that Kiev declare short-term ceasefires (24-48 hours) to evacuate the wounded and retrieve soldiers’ bodies.

🔸 Russia proposed to Ukraine another prisoner exchange involving at least 1,200 military personnel from each side.

🔸 Russia offered Kiev the handover of an additional 3,000 bodies of deceased Ukrainian servicemen.

🔸 Not all residents of Kursk region "evacuated" by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to Ukraine have been returned home; around 30 remain.

🔸 The reason for the continued detention of these civilians in Ukraine remains unclear.

🔸 Indefinite medical exchanges of severely wounded and sick personnel along the frontline with Ukraine will continue.

🔸 Kiev must clarify the status of civilians from the Kursk region detained in Ukraine.

🔸 Russia and Ukraine extensively discussed positions outlined in the memorandums during the talks.

🔸 The positions of Russia and Ukraine on the memorandums remain far apart.

🔸 Russia has completed work on the list of Ukrainian children provided during the previous round of negotiations.

🔸 Ukrainian children in Russia are under state supervision, receiving adequate care and safety in appropriate childcare facilities.

🔸 Russia has demanded that Kiev return Russian children taken to Ukraine.

🔸 Ukraine has been provided with a list of Russian children currently in Ukraine and EU countries.

🔸 Russia expects Ukraine to show the same level of care for Russian children as Russia has demonstrated toward Ukrainian children.

🔸 A meeting between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine should "finalize the matter."

🔸 For such a meeting to take place, the terms of the agreement must be finalized, and the agenda must be clearly defined.

🔸 The meeting between Putin and Zelensky must be properly prepared—a position the Russian delegation has conveyed to Ukraine.

🔸 Ukraine refuses to hand over civilians or children to Russia in exchange but demands their return.

🔸 Russia’s human rights and children’s rights commissioners are verifying the list of Ukrainian children allegedly on Russian territory.

🔸 A significant number of children on Ukraine’s list were never in Russia.

The post to be updated

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📹 Russian servicemen have been returned from territory controlled by Kiev, Russia's Ministry of Defense announced.

In exchange, a group of captured Ukrainian soldiers was handed over.

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💥 'ABSOLUTE DEGRADATION OF MORALS' — Medinsky slams monument desecration in Lvov

Russian Presidential Aide noted that the question of exchanging the exhumed remains of Soviet soldiers, many of whom are Ukrainian, was not considered during this round of Russia-Ukraine talks.

"Even the Ukrainian side is ashamed of their Gauleiter who is doing this exhumation process," he said.

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🔥 HISTORY LESSON FOR RUTTE FROM MEDINSKY

The Russian president's aide emphasizes that a meeting between the leaders of the opposing sides does not guarantee peace.

Addressing "the basic contradictions" is what will bring a settlement closer.

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🔍 Istanbul talks: Russia's constructive stance versus Ukraine's theater

🔶 Russia's proposal demonstrated a constructive approach focused on a real political and diplomatic settlement, deputy director of research at the Russian Council on Foreign and Defense Policy Dmitry Suslov tells Sputnik.

🔶 Ukraine, meanwhile, must address the issue of the illegal detention of Russian civilians taken hostage in the Kursk region.

"These peaceful Russian residents, who were illegally taken to Ukrainian territory or, more precisely, are currently being illegally detained, are in fact being treated as hostages. If this is the case, then the Kiev regime is once again proving its terrorist nature," Suslov noted.

🔶 Ukraine's demands for a leaders' summit and a ceasefire only prove their unwillingness to negotiate. Their goal is to portray Russia as uncooperative to the US president.

"The Ukrainian side has once again shown that its goal is not a political and diplomatic settlement but rather an attempt to portray Russia negatively in the eyes of the West, including Donald Trump," Suslov added.

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