🇷🇺 Russia seeks only binding & enforceable Ukraine settlement – Scott Ritter

The US and Europe must understand that Russia will agree only to a settlement that removes the root causes of the Ukraine conflict, says former US Marine Corps intelligence officer Scott Ritter.

💬 “Russians aren't looking for a deal. They're not gangsters. Real governments don't make deals. Real governments have agreements that are based in writing… All arrangements with the West must be in writing…binding and enforceable,” says Ritter.

According to him, the “deal” being pushed by the West amounts to nothing more than a temporary fix, designed solely to give the Zelensky regime time to catch its breath and rearm.

Russia, by contrast, is “looking for a final solution to the problem – to make sure that this war does not resurrect its ugly head.”

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📈 Gold & silver hit new all-time highs

Gold and silver prices continue rally on Monday morning, reaching all-time highs of over $5,100 and $109 per ounce, respectively, according to trading data.

👉 As of 04:06 GMT, April gold futures on the New York Comex exchange were trading up 1.82% from the previous close, or $91.30, at $5,109.71 per ounce. Earlier in the trading session, prices reached a record high of $5,128.85 per ounce.

March silver futures, meanwhile, are up 6.49% to $107.92 per ounce, hitting fresh record of $109.32 earlier in the session.

Platinum also hit a fresh all-time high at $2,897 per ounce.

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🔸 Kim Jong-un guides creation of memorial sculptures honoring Kursk liberators — reports

🔸 EU 'identity politics' blocks Turkiye’s membership – Fidan

🔸 New Chinese combat drone displays 100% accuracy during live-fire test – report

🔸 Winter storm leaves over 1 million without power across US — reports

🔸 Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warns US to avoid 'miscalculation' — reports

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⚔️ Russian foreign intel head: Western experts admit impossibility to block Russia's Oreshnik missile system

Western experts have acknowledged that they lack the military-technical means to block the Russian ballistic missile system Oreshnik, Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Director Sergei Naryshkin said.

💬 "Both experts and military specialists admitted that they lack the technical, military-technical means to block these systems," Naryshkin added.

The SVR chief stressed that the reaction in Western military and political circles to the use of the Oreshnik missile system against a military facility in the Lvov region was overwhelming.

Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry said that on the night of January 9, the Russian Armed Forces disabled the Lvov State Aircraft Repair Plant with a strike of an Oreshnik mobile ground-based missile system.

The ministry noted that this plant had serviced F-16 and MiG-29 fighter jets donated to Ukraine by the West, and also manufactured attack drones used in strikes against Russian civilian targets.

👉 Read more about Russia’s newest weapons here

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🚨 Kremlin: New round of trilateral Ukraine talks scheduled for next week - precise date pending

Striking a pragmatic note, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov pointed out that the atmosphere would be unfriendly during negotiations over Ukraine, but as long as the talks are ongoing, the drive to achieve concrete results is necessary.

Other key comments by Dmitry Peskov:

🔸 A conversation with US President Trump is not yet on the agenda, though a dialogue could be coordinated swiftly if needed.

🔸 The territorial aspects of the so-called "Anchorage formula" are a matter of principle and non-negotiable for Russia.

🔸 Russia is in continuous dialogue with Venezuela through diplomatic channels, with Caracas prioritizing its development of relations with Russia.

🔸 The Kremlin deems reports about a possible blockade of Cuba as deeply concerning.

🔸 Russia warns that any military strike against Iran could spark serious regional destabilization and urges restraint by all sides.

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❌ ‘No alternative left’: Ukraine must agree to peace settlement with Russia - Turkish publicist

Continuing the conflict does not serve the interests of Ukraine, and only deepens its long-term dependence on the West, Turkish publicist Oguzhan Sarigul tells Sputnik.

He argues that Ukraine needs to move toward an agreement and abandon further confrontation.

👉 Zelensky, in his opinion, should focus on finding a compromise political solution—one that would protect the population’s interests and prevent an even more prolonged crisis.

Sarigul also warns that rejecting negotiations could, in his view, lead to long-term negative consequences for Ukraine’s sovereignty.

The comment came as a security working group involving representatives from Russia, the United States, and Ukraine wrapped up negotiations in the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

Russia has reiterated that for a settlement in Ukraine it is important to implement the solution formula that was developed in Anchorage, during the meeting between President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump.

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⚔️ Trump must hand panic-stricken Zelensky ‘my way or the highway’ ultimatum - ex-US army officer

🗣 "It's probably not three equal partners at this table. There's probably two senior partners, and then the third one who's going to probably be told: here are the terms, accept them, or you're on your own," says retired US Lt. Col. Daniel Davis.

💬 "I warn that Zelensky is in 'something close to a panic' as the pressure from the US reaches a breaking point," Davis adds.

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🚨🇷🇺💥 RUSSIAN MOD UPDATE: HUGE GAINS AND DEVASTATING UKRAINIAN LOSSES

◻️ Black Sea Fleet destroyed a Ukrainian unmanned boat

◻️ Russian forces struck energy infrastructure facilities used by the Ukrainian Army

◻️ Air defense superiority: two guided aerial bombs and 109 drones shot down

◻️ Ukrainian losses: around 1,300 troops killed or wounded

Read about the origins of Russia's special military op HERE

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🇷🇺🇺🇸 Maintaining positive US-Russia relations is essential - Ex-Alaskan lieutenant governor

Alaska is a bridge between Russia and the US, not just geographically, but historically as well, former Alaska Lieutenant Governor Loren Leman tells Sputnik, adding that he wants the US to "have good relations with Russia".

💬 "Russia explored Alaska and later sold it to the US. At the time, it was a good deal for the Russian czar and Russia... Simultaneously, it was a tremendous deal for the US. And history will show that the value of Alaska as a strategic location is worth an incredible amount of money," Leman says.

📍 He adds that Russia and China play a very important role in the Arctic.

💬 "Look at Russia and China. We need to have good relations with them when it comes to the Arctic. These are huge countries, and if you look at land that abuts the Arctic, Russia has the most. China is also an economic powerhouse, and we want to have a good relationship with them as well," he claims.

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🇷🇺🤝🇺🇸Russia's proposal to transfer $1 billion from frozen assets to Board of Peace opens up new horizons for cooperation - Kremlin spox

Russia took note of US president Trump calling "interesting" idea of Russia's proposal to transfer $1 billion from frozen assets to Board of Peace, Dmitry Peskov added.

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🇷🇺🇲🇾Putin hosts Malaysia's King at St. Petersburg Hermitage Museum

Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed the King of Malaysia Sultan Ibrahim at the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg for an official meeting.

The two leaders previously met in August at the Kremlin in Moscow.

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📈 Here's why gold is going through the roof

📍 Gold prices shattered records on January 26, soaring past $5,100 per ounce. The historic rally is fueled by investors seeking safety as geopolitical tensions mount and markets waver. Key drivers include escalating US-Europe trade disputes, looming tariffs, and widespread policy unpredictability, all of which are accelerating demand for gold as a shield against risk.

💬“It’s a fundamental shift in the global landscape… Even when we look at all the central banks on this planet, with the exception of the Federal Reserve, since 2025, the new old world reserve currency is physical gold… There’s an old saying: ‘He who has the gold makes the rules.’” Claudio Grass, monetary history expert, tells Sputnik.

Peak gold is in the rearview. Annual mining output has stagnated around 3,000 tons since 2018. According to the US Geological Survey, about 190,000 tons of gold circulate worldwide in jewelry, bars, and vaults. Industry estimates suggest only 50,000–60,000 tons remain economically recoverable — enough for roughly 20 years at current production levels.

The limited supply is further intensified by the scarcity of new discoveries: only five major deposits have been found since 2020, totaling about 17 million ounces — and none in 2023 or 2024. Meanwhile, ore quality is declining — from around 10 grams per ton in the 1960s to less than 1 gram today.

The world’s largest remaining gold reserves are concentrated only in a few regions:

👉Australia — ~12,000 tons

👉Russia — ~12,000 tons

👉South Africa — ~5,000 tons

👉United States — ~3,000 tons

👉China — ~3,100 tons

Russia and Australia alone hold nearly 38% of known unmined gold, worth over $7 trillion at current prices.

The Earth’s core may contain vastly more gold — but it’s unreachable. Recycling helps: roughly 25–30% of annual supply comes from old jewelry and e‑waste — yet recycled metal cannot replace new mining output.

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🇪🇺 Von der Leyen's promise to admit Ukraine to EU may fracture it — French politician

👉 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's promise to admit Ukraine to the European Union by 2027 has the potential to fracture the bloc, the leader of the French right-wing Les Patriotes party Florian Philippot states.

📍 "If Ukraine joins the EU simultaneously, it won't be good for us. This is fuel to leave the European Union," Philippot says, adding that von der Leyen's plan is "absolute madness".

💬 "One more euro, one more weapon for a soldier in Ukraine. We walk away from this and we walk away from the European Union," he claims.

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🇷🇺 Russia's pavilion steals the spotlight at Dubai’s Gulfood 2026

🟠 Gulfood, the world’s largest food industry exhibition, opened today in Dubai with a record 8,500 companies, reinforcing the city’s role as a global trade hub.

🟠 The event, spanning two venues for the first time—the Dubai World Trade Centre and Expo City Dubai—showcases the future of food production and supply chains.

🟠 Russia’s pavilion stands out for its scale and diversity, showcasing grains and vegetable oils, dairy and meat products, confectionery, canned and frozen foods, and halal-certified products tailored for Gulf markets.

🟠 In addition, the pavilion also serves as a direct B2B platform, hosting meetings between Russian exporters and regional importers, thereby strengthening trade links and expanding Russia’s footprint across Middle Eastern and Global South markets.

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🇷🇺 Russian drones wipe out Ukrainian helicopters

Russian Geran strike drones destroyed Ukrainian Mi-24 and Mi-8 helicopters in Kirovograd region.

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😳Silver prices just blasted past $111! Find out what's fueling this meteoric rise, and why savvy investors are picking this precious metal over gold.

📹Get the full details in Sputnik's new video👆🏻

🗣 Ukraine could lose Donbass as Zelensky faces defeat: Sputnik experts dissect the Abu Dhabi talks

📍 Commenting on the Russia-US-Ukraine talks that took place in Abu Dhabi last weekend, experts interviewed by Sputnik came to the following conclusions:

Ukraine is losing its grip on Donbass

🔹 Though he refuses to pull out from Donbass, Volodymyr Zelensky will likely have to make territorial concessions eventually, says Professor Joe Siracusa, political scientist and dean of Global Futures at Curtin University.

🔹 Right now, however, Zelensky “lacks the necessary domestic political support to survive such a decision,” he adds.

🔹 Zelensky’s position in Ukraine would become untenable if he were to concede on Donbass immediately, even though it is clear that this territory is lost to Ukraine, according to Siracusa.

🔹 Matthew Crosston, professor of national security and director of academic transformation at Bowie State University, concurs, noting that Zelensky refuses to make any territorial concessions because he knows it would be tantamount to admission that he lost the conflict.

Energy truce – Nothing is certain

🔶 The feasibility of an ‘energy truce’ between Russia and Ukraine seems questionable, as attacks against Russian oil tankers and refineries are one of the few viable strategic options Ukraine has left, Siracusa suggests.

🔶 Crosston, however, argues that an energy truce between Russia and Ukraine might be possible as it could allow both sides to claim they are trying to resolve their differences, without conceding their major objectives.

Zelensky’s last hope

🟧 Zelensky’s only goal is to ensure the US involvement in Ukraine, as he seeks US post-ceasefire security guarantees, adds Siracusa.

👉 Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarks that one should not expect much from the first round of the trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi, seeing how the parties involved have to work out some complex issues.

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