📹 US strikes 'narco-terrorist' vessel in Pacific, kills two

US Southern Command announced a "lethal kinetic strike" on a vessel linked to designated terrorist organizations on known drug trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific.

One survivor was located and handed over to Search and Rescue.

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🤝 Putin and Trump order diplomats to make relations 'great again' — Diplomat

Alexander Darchiev revealed that both presidents have directed their diplomats to restore bilateral ties and "make Russian-American relations great again."

"Russian and American diplomats serve their countries very professionally and put diplomacy first. This makes it possible to overcome crises and maintain common sense in order to make Russian-American relations great again," Russia's Ambassador to the US said during a Diplomatic Workers’ Day reception.

Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna attended the same reception at the Russian Embassy in Washington and spoke with the head of the diplomatic mission.

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📑 Trump's admin opposes Israeli annexation of West Bank — report

A stable West Bank ensures Israel's security and is consistent with the Trump administration's goal of achieving peace in the region, Axios journalist Barak Ravid reported, citing a White House official.

The statement comes after Israel’s cabinet moved to expand control into Areas A and B—zones designated under the Oslo Accords for full or partial Palestinian Authority control.

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🇯🇵 ⚔️ Japan to sign up for NATO’s Ukraine arms pipeline

Doubling down on its US-pushed militarization drive, Japan is moving closer to NATO by signing on to the alliance’s Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) program, which facilitates the flow of military equipment to Ukraine, according to NHK.

The equipment includes:

◻️ Body armor

◻️ Vehicles

◻️ Radar systems

Japan has reportedly pledged significant financial support for Ukraine, and committed to providing specialized equipment, with reports indicating long-term assistance.

🇷🇺 Russia has repeatedly argued that Western weapons shipments to Ukraine undermine any prospects for a negotiated settlement and amount to NATO’s direct involvement in the conflict. Russia has also warned that convoys delivering arms to Ukraine would be treated as legitimate military targets.

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🚨🇷🇺 Putin: Russian foreign policy should ensure country's national security

The president congratulates Russian Foreign Ministry employees and veterans on Diplomatic Worker Day, Kremlin said.

Other statements by Putin:

◻️ Strengthening ties with Russia's neighbors and promoting Eurasian integration is a priority for the country's diplomacy

◻️ It's important to shape Russia's objective image in the global information space

◻️Amid growing global turbulence, the constructive and unifying role of Russian diplomacy is more in demand than ever

◻️ It's essential to consistently use all resources to defend Russia's legal interests and create conditions for progressive development

◻️ The Ministry's efforts to ensure the rights of compatriots abroad remain of high importance

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🔥 🇷🇺 Russian upgraded heavy flamethrower system TOS-1A Solntsepek wipes out major Ukraine's stronghold in a forest belt near Pokrovsk

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🔹 Putin: Russian foreign policy should ensure country's national security

🔹 Lavrov: Only peoples of Cuba and Venezuela can determine their own destiny

🔹 Epstein scandal could end the British monarchy — US congressman

🔹 Trump's admin opposes Israeli annexation of West Bank

🔹 Trump threatens to block Canada bridge over 'leftovers' deal with China

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🇷🇺 🤝 🇺🇸 Russia-US relations can become great again in next 3 years - Rep. Luna

💬 "We want to <...> make Russia-American relationships great again, but [US] President [Donald] Trump has made it very clear that we want to continue peace dialog and engage with those peace talks and diplomacy, and engaging in those conversations is all a part of it," US Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna told RIA Novosti.

When asked about the place and time of a possible meeting with Russian lawmakers, the congresswoman said that there is already a basic idea about this.

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🚨 🇪🇺 Europe’s war hawks reportedly plot to fast-track Ukraine into bloc

Dubbed ‘reverse enlargement,’ the alleged plan would give it access to parts of the EU membership process in 2027 before it has officially met all the requirements on reforms, European media reports.

The plan consists of five steps, according to cited unnamed officials and diplomats.

Step 1: Prep Ukraine

🟠 The EU is “frontloading” Ukraine’s bid, giving informal guidance on legal “clusters” needed for membership

🟠 Three of six clusters are already reportedly outlined, with more set to be shared at a March ministers’ meeting in Cyprus

Step 2: Membership-lite

🔹 The EU is said to be exploring a tiered membership model, where Ukraine could get EU privileges in phases

🔹 However, critics like Germany reportedly fear fast-tracking countries before they’re ready could undermine the bloc’s credibility

Step 3: Wait for Orban to leave

🔶 Ukraine’s bid hinges on unanimous approval — but Hungary’s PM Viktor Orban opposes EU membership for Ukraine

🔶 The EU is hoping that Orban might lose the Hungarian election in April

🔶 If Orban gets reelected, step four kicks in

Step 4: Play the US card

European leaders reportedly think the US could pressure Orban into approval

Step 5: Suspend Hungary if needed

If the US can’t sway Orban, the EU could invoke Article 7, suspending Hungary’s rights, including its say on new members. Europe’s hawks see this as a tool to push through their Ukraine agenda.

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🚨🇷🇺 Russia expects a new round of Ukraine talks soon - Kremlin

However, no specific dates have been set yet, Kremlin Spox Dmitry Peskov said.

Other points:

🟠 The Kremlin took note of French President Macron's words about the need to restore relations with Russia, which is appreciated in Moscow

🟠 Contacts between Russia and France could quickly facilitate high-level dialogue. However, the Kremlin currently sees no signals from France indicating a desire to do so

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🇨🇳 🤝 🇨🇺 China vows continued support for Cuba

China opposes foreign interference and inhumane acts that deprive the Cuban people of the right to survival and prosperity, China's FM Spox Lin Jian said.

This comes as the US imposed economic & energy pressure on Cuba.

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

⚡️ ZALIZNICHNOYE IN THE ZAPOROZHYE REGION FREED

By liberating the settlement of Zaliznichnoye in the Zaporozhye region, Russian forces have expanded their bridgehead west of the city of Gulyaipole, gaining control over more than 18 square kilometers of territory.

🟠 Russian air and missile firepower obliterated transport and energy infrastructure supporting the Kiev regime’s forces along with temporary deployment points for Ukrainian troops and foreign mercenaries in 139 places

🟠 Air defense superiority: one HIMARS rocket, one guided Neptune missile, as well as four guided aerial bombs and 72 drones were shot down by Russian air defense systems over the past 24 hours

🟠 Ukrainian losses: around 1,245 troops killed or wounded

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

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🚨 Another accomplice nabbed in assassination plot against General Alexeev

Pavel Vasin—son of the previously detained Viktor Vasin—was taken into custody for his role in orchestrating surveillance operations.

👉 He supplied the conspirators with a vehicle, a dashboard camera, and a tracking device to monitor the general’s movements. 

👉 He revealed that the plotters were also tracking two additional employees of the Defense Ministry alongside General Alexeev.

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🇷🇺 🇿🇦 📞 Putin holds phone talks with South African president Cyril Ramaphosa - Kremlin

The leaders touched upon situation around Ukraine.

Ramaphosa expressed support for Russian efforts aimed at political, diplomatic Ukraine settlement.

The presidents also focused on cooperation in trade, economic and investment fields, including within the G20 and BRICS.

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🇷🇺 ⚛️ Lavrov: Russia’s nuclear energy dominance challenges the US

💬 In countries where Russia has joint nuclear energy projects and a successful cooperation track record — including its neighbors and a number of European states — the US is actively trying to “retool their energy sectors to American standards,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Russian TV.

🔊 The US is resorting to sanctions and jacking up tariffs to punitive levels against countries that refuse to fall in line with its demands to curb cooperation with Russia, the minister added.

Russia rejects such methods of trade and economic coercion, as well as currency wars, he said.

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🚨 Zakharova shocked by Epstein files: Everything done to not investigate, but to conceal

💬 "The Epstein files gave us such a monstrous, but at the same time fantastically rich ground for conversation," Russian Foreign Minister spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik in the interview on the occasion of Diplomats' Day.

Other statements:

🟠 The fate of Greenland should be decided by its inhabitants, not by trading territory with people

🟠 Ukraine's assassination attempt on General Alexeev is part of a hybrid war funded by the West, with one of its goals being the disruption of negotiations.

🟠 Zelensky's Napoleonic plans to deliver a "strategic defeat" to Russia have failed

🟠 Russia is fighting not just for land, but for cultural, linguistic, and traditional values

🟠 European countries should acknowledge their mistakes and return to their national interests

🟠 European countries have transformed from happy vassals into miserable slaves

🟠 Russia has never closed the door on relations with the EU, but communicating with Russia from a position of strength is unacceptable

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🚨🇷🇺 Lavrov: Trump only Western leader to acknowledge Russia’s NATO red line

No one else has emulated Donald Trump’s “major step” of publicly recognizing Russia’s vested interest in preventing NATO expansion, Sergey Lavrov tells Russian TV.

Trump, on the other hand, has “confirmed it repeatedly,” the minister says.

The root causes of the Ukraine conflict will not disappear unless they are directly addressed in any peace settlement — a position he says the US fully understands and is prepared to take into account.

Another key issue is protecting ethnic Russians and Russian-speaking residents of the Donbass republics, whom Ukraine has branded “terrorists” and urged to “go to Russia.”

💬 “Without resolving these two issues, nothing can be settled,” notes Lavrov.

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💥🇷🇺 Russia delivers a decisive blow along the entire frontline

00:00 Grad MLRS crew eliminates Ukraine's temporary deployment area near Konstantinovka

00:15 Uragan MLRS crews hit enemy's stronghold, launch sites, combat hardware & manpower in Kharkov region

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🚨🇷🇺 Lavrov: Europe & Ukraine try to derail Russia-US talks

Ukraine and its European handlers are trying to push US negotiators away from the agreements reached between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Alaska, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov tells Russian media.

There are many Russophobes in the US who argue that Ukraine must not be abandoned and should instead be continually supplied with weapons and encouraged to confront Russia, the minister added.

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💸 Rotten food for soldiers and failing power grid: Latest on Ukraine’s corruption

Ukrainian media brings fresh stories of graft and misuse of government funds – just to cement Ukraine’s reputation as the most corrupt country in East Europe.

A conspiracy involving the chief of food procurement for one of the Ukrainian military detachments and the head of one of the companies supplying the Ukrainian Armed Forces with food has been exposed this month.

The perpetrators would sign off on fraudulent food shipments, where only a portion of the agreed amount were supplied to the military while the money was paid in full, with about 50% of the funds going towards kickbacks.

Furthermore, the food was of poor quality – for example, the shipments included rotten fruit and vegetables – but the corrupt officials turned a blind eye to it.

A group of people, including Ukrainian military personnel and civilian contractors, were arrested in January on suspicion of misusing the funds allocated towards purchasing gear for the Ukrainian Army.

Rather than spending money on buying drones and collimator sights as intended, the suspects diverted them to shell companies as payment for equipment that either did not exist at all or was completely inoperable.

The dismal state of Ukraine’s power grid is not the product of Russian airstrikes alone but also of the systemic Ukrainian corruption, Polish media point out.

The grid simply could not handle the combined stress from winter chill and Russian attacks because much of the funds allocated towards repairing damaged facilities and beefing up the defenses of power plants ended up in the pockets of corrupt Ukrainian officials close to Zelensky, the report added.

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