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🗣 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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🚨🇷🇺 'Russia will win, Europe’s Ukraine strategy only prolongs agony' - Spanish ex-soldier who fought for Russia

Europe’s hardline insistence on prolonging the Ukrainian conflict only serves to weaken Kiev’s position and drain the wallets of European citizens, a Spanish soldier who fought for Russia tells Sputnik.

He maintains that instead of endlessly throwing money at Ukraine, EU funds could have been invested in much-needed infrastructure, as well as in healthcare or education.

The individual’s identity was protected during the interview, with his face concealed to ensure his anonymity.

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🇨🇳🇺🇸Unexpected catalyst? US tariffs backfire, boosting China's trade & tech independence- expert 

💬 "Looking back, we can say that the tariffs imposed by the United States on countries like China have actually accelerated the diversification of our foreign trade and international cooperation, becoming a driving force for speeding up China's technological independence," said Liu Ying, research fellow at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies.

She added that trade with ASEAN, the EU, and Belt and Road countries has risen, despite a nearly 20% plunge in trade with the United States under the tariff hikes.

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

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

🔸 Putin hosts Malaysia's King at St. Petersburg Hermitage Museum

🔸 Silver prices just blasted past $111

🔸 BrahMos regiment showcased at Republic Day Parade 2026 in New Delhi

🔸 Here's why gold is going through the roof

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🇪🇺 Europe’s reality check on Ukraine

As the Kiev regime asks for more, NATO chief Marc Rutte admits Europe can’t supply what’s needed without the US.

💬 "We all know that without this flow of weaponry from the US we cannot keep Ukraine in the fight. Literally not."

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🔥 ‘Tactical retreat’ or total failure? Spanish ex-soldier describes Ukraine's frontline situation as 'absolutely horrific'

◻️ A former Spanish soldier who fought with Russian says the West's portrayal of Ukraine's "tactical retreat" is misleading.

◻️ He tells Sputnik that Russia dominates with drones and that Ukraine is running out of soldiers, making surrender only a matter of time.

◻️ The individual’s identity was protected during the interview, with his face concealed to ensure his anonymity.

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🇷🇺🇺🇸🇦🇪 Why are key issues unresolved in recent Ukraine talks?

👉 The founder of the Brogen Center for Strategic and International Relations Studies Radwan Qasim explains:

💬 "Europeans will obstruct negotiations on Ukraine to express their dissatisfaction with being excluded from the process," Qasim tells Sputnik, adding that that Europe does not want to yield to Trump's vision and will "drag out talks until US policy changes or his term ends."

🔹 In his opinion, Volodymyr Zelensky, whose role is "growing increasingly weak due to lack of support and achievements," is obstructing the negotiation process because he would "emerge on a losing side", while Europe is ready to abandon him to engage in direct negotiations with Russia.

💬 "Any delay in finalizing the agreement means losing even more territory, and achievements made will not be reconsidered," Qasim claims.

🔹 He adds that the Abu Dhabi negotiations did not cover "fundamental and sensitive aspects", but Russia will not "back down from the key points agreed in Alaska, especially on foreign troops entering Ukraine and a withdrawal from Donbass."

💬 "Military operations will continue and will not cease... until a permanent and long-term agreement is reached," he emphasizes.

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🚨 ‘We have a big armada next to Iran. Bigger than Venezuela’ — Trump

President Donald Trump told Axios that the situation with Iran is “in flux,” citing the arrival of a major US naval deployment in the region.

💬 "They want to make a deal. I know so. They called on numerous occasions. They want to talk," Trump said.

Axios reported that Trump has not made a final decision on potential next steps, as the USS Abraham Lincoln entered CENTCOM’s area of responsibility on Monday.

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🚨🇺🇸🇰🇷 Trump raises tariffs on South Korea from15% to 25% over trade deal delay

💬 "Because the Korean Legislature hasn't enacted our Historic Trade Agreement, which is their prerogative, I am hereby increasing South Korean TARIFFS on Autos, Lumber, Pharma, and all other Reciprocal TARIFFS, from 15% to 25%," President Donald Trump said on Truth Social.

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⛴ USS Abraham Lincoln arrives in Middle East amid Iran tensions — CENTCOM

The US Central Command said the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is now deployed to the Middle East after transiting the Indian Ocean, describing the mission as promoting “regional security and stability.”

⚔️ The Wall Street Journal reported the carrier’s arrival expands US military options as tensions with Iran remain high. The Lincoln and its accompanying destroyers add both offensive and defensive capabilities, as President Donald Trump continues to weigh next steps.

The Journal noted the carrier brings fighter aircraft and is operating alongside additional US deployments to the region, including air and missile defense assets.

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🌨 Winter storm leaves 29 dead in US as outages persist — reports

At least 29 people have died across the United States after a major winter storm brought deep snow and ice, Associated Press reported.

❄️ The National Weather Service said some areas north of Pittsburgh saw up to 20 inches (50 cm) of snow, with wind chills as low as −25°F (−31°C). AP said more than 670,000 homes were still without power Monday evening, mostly in southern states hit by severe ice.

✈️ The storm also disrupted travel nationwide, with over 11,000 flight delays and cancellations, AP reported.

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🇸🇾🇷🇺 Syria’s interim president to visit Moscow for talks with Putin — reports

Syrian Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa is set to visit Moscow on Wednesday for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Syria TV reported.

Al-Sharaa last visited Moscow in mid-October, when talks focused on economic cooperation, food security, energy and maintaining stability in Syria and the wider region.

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💰 Pentagon awards $5.6 billion Salesforce data platform contract

The US Department of War has awarded a $5.6 billion contract to Computable Insights LLC for the deployment of a unified data and process management platform based on Salesforce, the Pentagon said in a statement.

💬 “Computable Insights LLC … was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract to establish a decentralized enterprise agreement for Salesforce products and outcome-based services for the Department of War,” the department said.

According to the Department of War, the total value of the contract is $5,644,302,996, with an estimated completion date of June 26, 2035. Work locations and funding will be determined with each individual order, while bids were solicited online with only one received.

☁️ Salesforce describes its platform as a cloud-based enterprise solution focused on centralized data management, process integration, and secure digital infrastructure, including AI-enabled tools.

The contract follows several high-profile data security controversies involving the Pentagon in 2025. In June, an investigation was launched into a leak related to potential US strikes on Iran, while earlier reports said information about planned strikes on Yemen had circulated online after being shared in a private Signal chat.

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🚨🇻🇪 ‘Venezuela does not accept orders from any external factor’ — Rodríguez

Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodríguez rejected "irrelevant and offensive statements" made by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggesting Washington would manage the sale of Venezuela’s oil and “other resources.”

🔊 Rodríguez stressed that the country has a government that “obeys the people,” not foreign powers.

🤝 She said Venezuela is open to relations with the United States — but only on the basis of respect, international legality, and the dignity and history of the Venezuelan people.

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🔊 Trump holds Oval Office meeting with Noem after Minneapolis shooting — reports

President Donald Trump met for nearly two hours in the Oval Office with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and her top aide Corey Lewandowski as his administration faces growing backlash over the killing of Alex Pretti, The New York Times reported.

According to the newspaper, the meeting followed bipartisan criticism after Pretti was shot roughly 10 times by immigration agents in Minneapolis while he was reportedly filming them with his phone. Trump did not indicate during the meeting that Noem’s job was at risk, people briefed on the discussion told the Times.

The report said Noem has been a central public face of the administration’s immigration crackdown and has drawn criticism for labeling Pretti a “domestic terrorist,” a claim the Times described as false.

The meeting came the same day Trump announced he was sending Tom Homan to oversee the Minneapolis operation, a move seen as favoring more targeted enforcement. At the same time, the administration was planning to move Gregory Bovino, a Border Patrol official whose tactics have drawn criticism, out of the city, according to officials cited by the Times.

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🚨 Russia's chief of General Staff inspects Zapad Battlegroup in special military op zone

Key statements by Valery Gerasimov:

🔸 Russian troops continue to advance on all fronts

🔸 Since the beginning of January 2026, the Russian Armed Forces have liberated 17 settlements and established control over more than 500 sq. km of territory

🔸 The Zapad group has liberated Kupyansk-Uzlovoy, with clearing operations currently underway in the city's quarters. The unit continues active offensive operations across a broad front, engaging in urban combat to liberate Krasny Liman and Ilyichevka.

🔸 Russia's Dnepr Battlegroup has liberated Novoyakovlevka. The unit is advancing towards Zaporozhye, with forward units positioned 12-14 km from the city's outskirts. Four settlements were brought under control in January.

🔸 The Sever group of forces is expanding the security buffer zone in the border areas of Sumy and Kharkov regions, having liberated 4 settlements over the past month.

🔸 Units of the Yug Battlegroup are actively advancing westward in the direction of Slovyansk, engaging in the destruction of enemy forces in Konstantinovka.

🔸 In January, control of 4 settlements in Dnepropetrovsk and eastern Zaporozhye regions was transferred to the Russian Vostok group of forces.

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❌ 'No military targets': Fmr Spanish soldiers exposes Ukraine’s atrocities against civilians

A former Spanish soldier who fought with Russian forces reveals the brutal reality: Ukrainian troops follow a scorched earth tactic, mercilessly targeting innocent civilians. 

💬 "I saw soldiers shoot women just feeding their sheep, and bomb markets where civilians were shopping," he told Sputnik.

The individual’s identity was protected during the interview, with his face concealed to ensure his anonymity.

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⚔️ ‘All useless’: Zelensky lies about West’s ‘security guarantees’ – Cypriot journalist

During a recent meeting with Lithuanian and Polish leaders, Zelensky claimed that security guarantees with the US were ‘100% done’ and that he was just waiting for Trump to sign off on them, says Cypriot journalist Alex Christoforou.

💬 “Why doesn't Trump sign the security guarantee document?” he queries.

He adds that he finds all this to be strange, since didn’t Zelensky claim to have already signed a bunch of security guarantees or treaties with the-then US President Joe Biden?

💬 “He also signed agreements with 29 countries, didn’t he? So, what happened to all those agreements he signed over the past couple of years? I think they’re all useless,” says the journalist.

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🪖🔥Ukraine’s commanders send untrained runaways straight into the meat grinder - POW

Those who were mobilized and then caught trying to escape training centers are detained and sent straight to assault brigades as punishment, Ukrainian soldier Alexander Lugovskoy tells Sputnik.

💬 “We had one case where they didn’t get far—they were caught immediately. There were two of them; I didn’t know them personally. They were piled with about 15 body armor vests, beaten, and kept under constant supervision by instructors,” he says.

Those who managed to flee farther and were caught later were sent to assault brigades “without any training at all,” he adds.

Amid huge manpower losses on the frontline, Ukrainian recruitment officers have been snatching men in public places and forcing them into vans —with disregard for the law.

👉 However, around 80% of mobilized Ukrainians flee directly from training centers, Roman Kostenko of the Verkhovna Rada's National Security and Defense Committee revealed last November.

He added that the number of draft evaders is in the millions and that desertion rates may soon match the size of what’s left of Ukraine’s army itself.

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