Alisher Usmanov has taken legal action over unlawful raids on his properties in the country
German authorities have launched a criminal probe targeting two investigators in Frankfurt after Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov filed a complaint over violation of his rights, Bild reported on Wednesday, citing the general prosecutor’s office.
A criminal case was initiated against two public prosecutors on the basis of pleas lodged by two people, according to the office’s spokesman, Dominique Mies, who said that one of the complainants is a “70-year-old businessman from the Russian Federation.”
Usmanov’s representative confirmed his filing the complaint, but refused to provide further comments “while legal proceedings are ongoing,” Russian business daily RBK reported.
The case was launched on suspicion of non-cooperation with public justice and prosecution of the innocent, Bild wrote, adding that Usmanov’s appeal is linked to raids on his properties in Germany carried out in 2022 and declared illegal by a regional court in Frankfurt last May.
The Frankfurt court previously ruled that searches conducted in the city of Rottach-Eggern, on a yacht in Hamburg, and at the apartment of Usmanov’s friends were illegal, pointing to “serious deficiencies” in the warrants requested by Frankfurt’s Public Prosecutor’s Office at the time.
Read more EU court dismisses Russian tycoon’s sanctions appeal
The court also invalidated a search at the offices of the businessman’s lawyers in Munich. Commenting on the ruling, Usmanov’s representative said that it confirmed the “baselessness of accusations” against him.
The Uzbek-born businessman holds a major stake in USM, a Russian investment group with holdings in Metalloinvest, one of the world’s largest iron ore producers, and telecommunications company MegaFon. Usmanov’s net worth totals $14.4 billion, according to Forbes. In 2022, he was added to the US, UK, and EU sanctions lists. Authorities froze some of the billionaire’s assets. Brussels explained its blacklisting of Usmanov by saying he has “particularly close ties” with Russian authorities and actively supports Moscow’s policies in relation to Ukraine.
The tycoon lodged an objection with the European Court of Justice, but his appeal was dismissed. German investigators suspect Usmanov of money laundering and tax evasion. The businessman has denied the allegations.
For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section
A large number of people fear new assaults in the wake of the mass shooting in Russia, a poll has shown
French citizens strongly fear that the country could be hit by a terrorist attack in the coming weeks or months, a poll published on Thursday has shown.
The survey, conducted after a terrorist attack on a packed music venue outside Moscow last week, and a few months before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, has revealed significant alarm over a potential assault, with an average score of 7 out of 10 points on the fear scale among those interviewed. The 0 mark indicates ‘very low fear’ of a terrorist attack, while 10 corresponds to ‘very high fear’.
The survey was carried out by the CSA institute for CNews, Europe 1, and Le Journal du Dimanche on March 26 and 27 among 1,013 people aged 18 and over. It showed a notable gap in the level of vigilance between men and women. The data showed that women are more concerned about a potential terrorist attack threat, giving an average score of 7.3 compared to 6.7 displayed by men.
Analysis by age group revealed that French youth, particularly those under the age of 35, are the most affected by anxiety on the issue. People aged 35 to 49 seem to be less concerned, while fear increases slightly among adults over 50.
READ MORE: France raises terrorism threat level
According to the researchers, the numbers could reflect a variety of factors, including differences in public engagement, exposure to media sources, and sensitivity to public policies.
Reinforced security measures have been in place in France since a wave of terrorist attacks in January 2015, when a group of Islamists killed 17 people in Paris and its suburbs. In November of that year, France saw one of the deadliest Islamist attacks in its history, when suicide bombers and gunmen hit a concert hall, a major stadium, restaurants, and bars in Paris, killing 130 people.
Following the terrorist attack in Russia on Friday, which left 143 people dead, France raised the terrorism alert level across the country to its highest level.
Moscow has introduced tight requirements for companies wishing to divest, ensuring local buyers receive major discounts on businesses that are leaving
Western companies that have left the Russian market amid sanctions have suffered billions in write-downs and lost revenue, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing calculations based on company filings and statements.
The US and its allies have placed unprecedented sanctions on Russia over the past two years in retaliation for Moscow’s military operation against Ukraine. The measures have led to significant problems for Western firms operating in Russia, including with payments and supply chains, while some international companies have also been shamed by Ukraine and its backers into quitting the country.
According to Reuters, exiting Russia has cost foreign companies over $107 billion, a 30% increase since the news outlet’s previous tally in August. The report indicated that the increase in losses largely stems from Moscow’s tight requirements for firms wishing to divest, which include a 50% discount on their assets and a mandatory fee to the Russian budget of at least 10% of the price.
Several divestment deals have been made for a nominal fee of as little as 1 ruble, as in the case of French carmaker Renault. The car giant left Russia in May 2022 and reported a write-down of over $2 billion as a result of the withdrawal from its second-biggest market.
Reports vary on the number of companies that have exited Russia since 2022. The Yale School of Management puts the number at about 1,000 firms, while KSE’s Leave Russia project claims that only 372 have completed their withdrawal. Meanwhile, hundreds of foreign companies continue to operate in the country, including French retailer Auchan, US snack giant Mondelez International, Nestle, and Unilever.
Read more 95% of Western companies stayed in Russia – Austrian foreign minister
Many producers of consumer goods and everyday products have refrained from leaving the Russian market, arguing that ordinary citizens rely on their products. Some also admit that leaving would cost them too much.
Moscow has said it will not stop foreign businesses from leaving, but only on its terms . It also considers the withdrawal of Western firms to be a lucrative opportunity for domestic companies, which can expand their portfolios by acquiring the assets of exiting firms and continuing their operations.
For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section
A chat on the popular app was allegedly used by organizers of the concert hall massacre in Russia to recruit the perpetrators
Telegram should work harder to deny terrorists the use of its platform, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said in the wake of the Crocus City Hall attack.
The alleged perpetrators of the massacre last Friday were reportedly engaged by the organizers though a Telegram group, which was operating in the name of the Afghanistan-based splinter organization of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS).
Peskov was asked on Thursday whether the messenger app faces a ban in Russia because of this. He said this is not the case, but urged the owner, Pavel Durov, to “pay more attention” to the misuse of the platform.
”This unique and technologically phenomenal service, which flourished in our generation, is increasingly becoming a tool for terrorists, used for terrorist purposes,” Peskov told Russian online tabloid Life.
Read more Telegram a national security issue – Ukraine’s top spy
The Dubai-based Russian-born tech entrepreneur and champion of free speech has faced accusations of insufficient moderation on the platform for years. Its ‘renegade’ reputation is at odds with the goal of profitability, as large advertisers tend to shy away from controversy, the Financial Times said earlier this month.
Durov told the British newspaper that he has plans to “deploy AI-related mechanisms to address potential issues,” but as a matter of principle, he believes Telegram should not be “policing people in the way they express themselves” in most cases.
Russia identified four people as the suspects directly involved in the gun and arson attack, which claimed over 140 lives. They were intercepted hours after the rampage in a Russian region that borders Ukraine.
President Vladimir Putin has described them as radical Islamists. He suggested that Islamic State Khorasan, which claimed credit for the attack, may not be the actual mastermind.
READ MORE: Terrorism suspects came to the EU through Ukraine – media
A spokeswoman for the St. Petersburg court system, Darya Lebedeva, reported on Wednesday that a man who was allegedly a member of the same Telegram chat was found to be in violation of Russian migration laws. A judge ordered his deportation, she said.
According to sources in law enforcement cited by Russian media, the group in question was tailored for Tajik audiences and has since been deleted.
Mali and Russia have discussed measures to improve regional stability, where the EU is concerned about declining influence
Russia and Mali will intensify cooperation in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel region, which has endured a decades-long jihadist insurgency, the two nations announced in separate statements on Wednesday.
The agreement was reached during a phone conversation between the West African nation’s interim leader, Assimi Goita, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to the Kremlin.
“The presidents discussed further steps to strengthen Russia-Mali ties in various fields, including the implementation of joint projects in energy, agriculture, and mining sector,” the statement said.
During the call, the Malian military leader strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the Crocus City Hall concert venue, which according to Russian authorities killed over 140 people and injured 200 more.
Goita also wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that he and President Putin “discussed bilateral issues, particularly security and economic areas,” and “agreed to cooperate further in the fight against terrorism.”
The call with Mali’s president came just a day after Putin spoke to Niger’s transitional leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, with both men pledging to coordinate counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel, where some governments in the region have cancelled security deals with Western partners.
Read more African leader holds defense talks with Putin despite US concerns
Mali, Niger, and neighboring Burkina Faso, all under military rule, recently formed an alliance and have strengthened ties with Russia, particularly on security, in order to tackle extremist violence which they said French troops failed to quell.
Moscow’s relations with Bamako, Ouagadougou, and Niamey have stirred discontent in the EU since French troops were booted out by all three. In January, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the bloc faces a dilemma over its remaining presence in the Sahel region, mainly in Mali, where he claims Moscow’s influence has increased.
Last week, the US expressed concern about Nigerien authorities’ growing ties with Russia and Iran after Niamey’s military government canceled an agreement that allowed some 1,000 American troops and civilian contractors to operate in the landlocked country.
Responding to allegations that Russia was inciting anti-French sentiment in Africa earlier this month, President Putin said Moscow only maintains friendly relations on the continent, which should not offend the West.
Mikhail Podoliak has blamed weapons and ammo shortages for Kiev’s inability to mount major operations against Russia
Ukrainian forces have reached a state of “stagnation” on the battlefield because the West is failing to provide Kiev with enough military equipment to make any substantial progress, President Vladimir Zelensky’s top adviser has said.
Speaking to NV Radio on Wednesday, Mikhail Podoliak complained that Kiev does not have enough resources to mount effective offensive actions that would undermine Russia.
“In general, [there is] a slow supply of resources to Ukraine, slow decision-making on appropriate tools, a certain stagnation along the front line,” he said, admitting that Kiev’s forces are completely on the defensive in Russia’s Donetsk, Lugansk and Zaporozhye regions.
This stagnation, Podoliak argued, is due to inadequate Western sanctions, which he said are not strong enough to suffocate Russia’s military industry. The other factor, he added, is insufficient arms supplies from the West. “[We are talking about] drones, munitions… and considerably ramping up investment in ammo production. We see that all this is moving slowly.”
Read more No light at end of Ukrainian tunnel – EU’s Borrell
However, he said “stagnation” does not mean “stalemate,” because that would imply that “Ukraine does not know what to do in this war,” which he said is not the case. Ukraine’s former top general Valery Zaluzhny described the situation as a stalemate in November after Kiev’s much-hyped summer counteroffensive failed to break through Russian lines, despite being reinforced by large quantities of Western equipment.
His “stalemate” remarks reinvigorated debate about whether Ukraine could ever hope to win the conflict, and were widely seen as a sign of a growing rift between Zaluzhny and Zelensky. The Ukrainian president fired the general last month, with his replacement, Aleksandr Syrsky, saying that the frontline situation was “extremely difficult.”
Ukrainian troops have been on the back foot in recent weeks after Russian forces liberated the strategic Donbass city of Avdeevka, and later pushed Kiev out of several nearby settlements.
Officials in Kiev have repeatedly linked the lack of battlefield success to a deficit of Western-supplied munitions. This comes as the US has struggled for months to approve President Joe Biden’s proposed $60 billion supplemental aid package for Ukraine due to Republican opposition in Congress, with GOP representatives demanding more efforts to increase security on the Mexican border.
Brazil is developing its own nuclear-powered submarine based on a French design
French President Emmanuel Macron offered to help Brazil with the development of a nuclear-powered submarine during an official visit to the South American country.
Macron spoke at a ceremony near Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday, hosted by his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, during the launch of the Tonelero (S42), Brazil’s third Riachuelo class diesel-electric submarine, which is based on the French Scorpene class.
“I want us to open the chapter for new submarines,” moving towards nuclear propulsion “while being perfectly respectful of all non-proliferation commitments,” Macron said, adding: “you want it, France will be at your side.”
Brazil’s Submarine Development Program (PROSUB) was laid out in 2008, after a security pact between Lula and then-President Nicolas Sarkozy led to plans to modernize Brazil’s navy. The fifth vessel of the program, the Alvaro Alberto, is planned to be nuclear-powered.
Read more British nuclear submarine test fails
With an enormous coastline, and 95% of its imports and 90% of its national supplies of oil coming from the sea, PROSUB was set up to defend Brazil’s strategic resources, while developing the country’s shipbuilding and providing thousands of jobs.
French defense company Naval Group has provided support in designing modifications to the hull to fit a nuclear reactor – but Paris has been hesitant to provide Brasilia nuclear propulsion technology due to fears of breaking non-proliferation commitments.
Thus far, only the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – Russia, the US, UK, China, and France – and India, possess nuclear-powered submarines. Brazil is a non-nuclear-weapon state party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), but its norms do not technically prohibit it from building its own naval nuclear reactors and enriching its own uranium to fuel it.
Brazil’s peaceful atomic energy program at this time is entirely homegrown, with a full cycle of uranium fuel enrichment and two nuclear power stations. The design of the nuclear boiler for the prospective vessel has also so far been completely Brazilian.
Earlier, China raised fears of the NPT being compromised after the US and UK announced the trilateral AUKUS security pact with Australia in 2021, along with the sale of three US nuclear subs and the transfer of US nuclear technology.
China has warned that the AUKUS pact undermines the NPT, noting that it marks a dangerous precedent of handing over nuclear propulsion reactors and large-amounts of weapons-grade enriched uranium to a non-nuclear weapon state. Beijing expressed concern that there is no guarantee that Australia could not divert the uranium to build nuclear weapons.
US intelligence agencies, however, probably had clues ahead of the shooting at Crocus City Hall, the chancellor has claimed
Germany had no prior information on preparations for the terrorist attack that claimed more than 140 lives at a concert venue just outside Moscow last week, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said.
On Friday, a group of gunmen armed with automatic rifles stormed the Crocus City Hall ahead of a rock concert, indiscriminately shooting civilians and setting the venue on fire. Several suspects, including four directly involved in the assault, were later detained by the Russian security services.
The attack is so far confirmed to have claimed 143 lives and injured nearly 200 people, making it the deadliest in Russia since the early 2000s.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the alleged culprits as “radical Islamists,” saying they were caught fleeing towards Ukraine, where a window to cross the border was being arranged for them.
Read more US trying to cover up ‘something’ related to Moscow terror attack – Kremlin
In an interview with the Markische Allgemeine newspaper on Thursday, Scholz denied having any prior knowledge about plans for the attack.
He suggested, however, that “US [security] services probably had clues,” adding that Washington’s policy is to warn other countries of impending terrorist attacks whenever it receives information.
“They even issued a public warning. It is all the more regrettable that this terrible terrorist attack still took place,” the chancellor added.
Scholz was apparently referring to a security alert issued by the US Embassy in Moscow on March 7, warning that it was “monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts,” and that this could occur within the next 48 hours. The White House also said that it had shared information about a potential attack with Russian authorities.
The head of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), Aleksandr Bortnikov, has confirmed that the US warned Moscow of a potential terrorist attack, but noted that the information was “general” in nature. Russian authorities “had taken appropriate measures,” he added, noting that they had targeted a group of individuals and that “[the] information did not check out at the time.”
Bortnikov has also suggested that along with Ukraine, the US and the UK may have played a role in the Crocus shooting. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has voiced suspicion about Washington’s categorical denial of any involvement by Kiev in the attack, as well as the US willingness to insist on the sole narrative that the shooting was carried out by Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) terrorists.
Almost 80% believe plastic cards are more convenient for everyday use
More than half of Russians, especially young people and those who live in major urban areas, believe cash will not be around for long, a poll conducted by the country’s Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) has found.
The survey published on Wednesday found that 54% of respondents believe no one will use cash for daily operations in 20 years, compared to 37% who are skeptical. Those aged 18 to 24 and people living in cities with populations exceeding 1 million are more likely (60% and 63%, respectively) to believe that cash will disappear.
Nine in ten Russians (89%) already use plastic cards in their daily lives, mostly payroll and other types of debit cards. Around six in ten say they have increasingly relied on cards rather than cash for financial transactions over the past five years.
Read more EU state wants to enshrine ‘right to cash’ in constitution
Almost 80% of the respondents say plastic cards are simply easier and more convenient than cash. A quarter noted the ability to buy goods online, as well as bonuses offered to card holders.
Only around 18% of Russians say they trust cards less than cash for reasons ranging from fear of losing them to general distrust in banking services. Around 11% say they never use cards, including 5% in big cities and 19% in rural areas. Cards are least popular with elderly people – roughly a quarter of them prefer cash, the survey shows.
The survey was conducted by phone on March 16, 2024, and involved 1,600 respondents 18 and older. It found that the most popular banking products in Russia include debit cards (57%), money transfers (38%), credit cards (22%), various loans (15%), mortgages (7%), and foreign currency exchange (4%).
If Ukrainian-operated jets end up in third countries, they will be a legitimate target for Russia
Should the US-made fighter jets make it to Ukraine, Russia will destroy them just as it has other Western equipment so far, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
Several NATO members have promised to donate their F-16s to Kiev and have trained Ukrainian pilots to fly them, but no deliveries have been made as of yet. Russia has repeatedly warned the West that fielding the nuclear-capable jets will be an unacceptable escalation of the Ukraine conflict.
“If they deliver the F-16s, I think you know better than others that this will not change the situation on the battlefield,” the president said. “And we will destroy these planes just as we have destroyed tanks, armored vehicles and other equipment, including multiple launch rocket systems.”
The comments came during Putin’s visit to the Torzhok Air Base in Tver Region, home of the 344th Training Center for Russian combat pilots, including personnel being trained to take part in the Ukraine conflict.
Read more Talk of Russia attacking NATO is ‘nonsense’ – Putin
In case the F-16s flown by Ukrainian pilots end up getting based in third countries, they will be legitimate targets for Russian aviation, Putin added.
Russia is well aware that the 1970s jet can potentially carry nuclear weapons, and this will be taken into account in combat operations, he noted.
Kiev has lost much of its air force over the past two years, including the Soviet-era jets donated by several NATO members as replacements. The Ukrainian government eventually asked the US-led bloc for the F-16s.
READ MORE: NATO states will break F-16 pledge to Ukraine – NYT
The single-engine fighter is a late 1970s design, originally manufactured by General Dynamics before it was acquired by Lockheed Martin. It requires pristine runways, which are in short supply in Ukraine, prompting speculation that Ukrainian-operated jets might be stationed in nearby NATO countries instead.
American certainty about Ukraine’s innocence is strange, Dmitry Peskov has said
Washington’s insistence on a narrative about the Crocus City Hall massacre is odd, since the Russian investigation is still ongoing, President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.
Within hours of Friday’s terrorist attack, which claimed 143 lives at a Moscow concert venue, the US and EU began insisting that Ukraine had absolutely nothing to do with it and that the terrorist group Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K) was the sole culprit.
“It’s strange, to say the least, that the Americans have dared to announce a single narrative,” Peskov told the Russian outlet Izvestiya on Wednesday. “This suggests at the very least that they are trying to shift attention away from something,” he added.
Peskov also noted that these claims came in before Moscow had formulated an official version of events, since Russian law enforcement is still working on the case.
Four men suspected of being the perpetrators were arrested early on Saturday as they attempted to flee into Ukraine, according to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). They were identified as nationals of Tajikistan.
Read more US ‘exposed’ itself over Moscow terror attack – Foreign Ministry
While acknowledging the assessment by security services that the men were “radical Islamists,” Putin noted on Monday that many questions remained unanswered. He also noted that such terrorist attacks fit the pattern of hostile actions against Russia by Ukraine’s foreign sponsors.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has also commented on Washington’s strange insistence on the ISIS-K narrative. The US is obviously biased and trying to “get Ukraine out of harm’s way,” she said during the daily briefing on Wednesday.
Had Kiev truly been blameless, the US would have called for a full investigation, Zakharova argued. Instead, both the White House and the State Department simply announced that “Ukraine has nothing to do with this.”
“Based on what data and what information?” Zakharova wondered. “Only one thing is clear – they began to excuse the Kiev regime in order to excuse themselves. Because everyone understands perfectly well that there is simply no independent [Ukraine] without Western financial and military assistance.”
The US and its allies have sent over $200 billion in weapons, ammunition and equipment – not counting financial aid – since the conflict with Russia escalated in 2022. They have ignored Moscow’s warnings that this could lead to a direct confrontation, insisting that this does not make them a party to the hostilities.
According to US media reports citing American spies, CIA-trained Ukrainian operatives have been responsible for several assassinations of Russian civilians, though Kiev has officially denied this.
Washington was in a difficult position at the UN Security Council over its traditional ally
In a historic move on Monday, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) achieved a breakthrough by passing a binding resolution aimed at securing a “lasting, sustainable ceasefire” in Gaza and advocating the release of all hostages held by Hamas since the October attacks on Israel last year.
This momentous step forward in international diplomacy signals a potential turning point in the protracted Israeli-Palestinian conflict, offering a glimmer of hope for peace in a region long plagued by violence and discord.
The decision by the UNSC comes after several failed attempts to broker a ceasefire. It underscores the growing global consensus on the urgent need to address the root causes of the conflict and pave the way for a peaceful settlement. The resolution, which was passed with overwhelming support from the international community, reflects a shared commitment to upholding international law and promoting stability in the region.
The US, traditionally a staunch ally of Israel, notably abstained from vetoing the resolution this time, signaling a shift in its approach and a willingness to engage constructively in multilateral efforts to end the violence – though it has said that it does not represent a change in policy . This decision reflects a recognition of the need for a balanced approach that takes into account the legitimate concerns and aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians.
Read more The hunger killing Gaza’s children has a clear cause that few are willing to name out loud
With the UNSC resolution now enshrined as international law, all UN member states are bound by its provisions, setting a clear mandate for concerted action to implement its objectives. This presents a unique opportunity for diplomatic initiatives and coordinated efforts to de-escalate tensions, rebuild trust, and create the conditions necessary for lasting peace and stability in the region.
However, despite the optimism surrounding the UNSC resolution, significant challenges remain on the path to peace. The Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has vowed to carry out operations in Rafah, a densely populated area where millions of displaced Palestinians now reside. This escalation threatens to further exacerbate tensions and undermine efforts to achieve a ceasefire and pave the way for meaningful negotiations.
Moreover, Israel’s position as a key strategic ally of the United States poses a dilemma for Washington, which has long maintained unwavering support for Israel’s security and sovereignty. While the US remains committed to its alliance with Israel, the changing geopolitical landscape and evolving strategic priorities have complicated its stance on the conflict.
The Biden administration faces pressure from both domestic and international stakeholders to balance its support for Israel with a commitment to upholding international law and promoting peace in the Middle East. Should the US allow Israel to destroy the last remaining Palestinian holdout in Gaza, Biden will almost certainly lose the 2024 presidential election to Donald Trump. Additionally, relations with Muslim countries would be shattered beyond repair, as well as endangering US military personnel in the region.
The prospect of a full-scale war looms large, with Israel’s military capabilities and the broader implications of its actions raising concerns about the potential for a regional conflict. The possibility of an invasion by neighboring Arab states adds another layer of complexity to an already volatile situation, highlighting the need for concerted diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation and find a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
Read more George Galloway is not a threat to democracy – only to the elite hypocrites running the UK
Further, Israel’s nuclear ambiguity and so-called “ Samson Option, ” its rumored unofficial retaliatory policy, raise serious questions about whether spillover in the conflict, prompted by the state’s potential ground operation in Rafah, could trigger a international thermonuclear war. The situation in the Middle East thus represents a major threat to international security, underscoring why major countries like Russia, China, and Brazil have been adamant about a ceasefire.
Despite these challenges, there are reasons for cautious optimism. The UNSC resolution represents a significant step forward in international efforts to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and provides a framework for meaningful dialogue and engagement. By building on this momentum and redoubling efforts to promote reconciliation and mutual understanding, there is hope for a brighter future for the people of Gaza and the wider Middle East.
While the road to peace remains long and arduous, the UNSC resolution offers a ray of hope in an otherwise bleak landscape. By seizing this opportunity and working together in good faith, the international community can help pave the way for a just and lasting peace in the region. Now is the time for bold leadership, unwavering commitment, and a shared vision of a future defined by cooperation, coexistence, and prosperity for all.
The US-led bloc has been creeping towards Russia, not the other way around
Moscow is not seeking a confrontation with American vassals in eastern Europe, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
Multiple Western officials have tried to drum up support for additional aid to Ukraine by claiming that Moscow would not stop if Kiev is defeated on the battlefield. Putin addressed these claims during a visit to the Torzhok Air Base in Tver Region.
“This is just nonsense,” the Russian president said, noting the disparity in Russian defense spending and the budgets of NATO militaries.
US “satellites” in eastern Europe have no reason to be afraid, Putin added. Talk of a possible Russian attack on Poland, the Czech Republic or the Baltic states is just propaganda by the governments that seek to scare their citizens.
Read more No ‘unfriendly nations’ for Russia, only ‘unfriendly elites’ – Putin
NATO has been expanding towards the borders of Russia, not the other way around, the Russian president noted, adding that the Russian Federation is merely protecting its people.
Torzhok is home to the 344th Training Center for Russian combat pilots, including personnel being trained to take part in the Ukraine conflict.
An American propaganda outlet deemed a suspect accused of mass murdering Russians to be a “happy young man”
A US government-funded news outlet has come to the defense of one of the alleged perpetrators of last week’s concert hall massacre near Moscow. The man, who is accused of taking part in the killing of 140 people, was described in a Radio Free Europe article as “very compassionate.”
Muhammadsobir Fayzov was caught by Russian security forces near the Ukrainian border on Friday and formally arrested at a Moscow court on Sunday. Along with three other Tajik nationals, Fayzov is accused of carrying out a mass shooting at the Crocus City Hall, a concert venue northwest of Moscow, on Friday. As of Wednesday, the attack has claimed at least 143 lives.
Although Fayzov was allegedly responsible for the deadliest terror attack on Russian soil in two decades, he has been portrayed by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Taijik branch as a kind and caring young man.
“He was the best kid in the family. He was very compassionate,” Fayzov’s mother told RFE/RL. “He loved his cousins. He loved his friends’ weddings. He danced with the boys at parties. He was a funny boy, but no one complained at school. He actively participated in school activities.”
“He was afraid of hurting someone, and someone probably set him up,” his mother claimed.
Based on a glance at Fayzov’s social media accounts, RFE/RL determined that the accused murderer “seems to be a happy young man and a good worker.” The news outlet also spoke to Fayzov’s employer, who described him as a skilled worker.
RFE/RL has run similar stories on Fayzov’s accomplices, interviewing relatives who described alleged gunman Faridun Shamsiddin as “very timid,” and Saidakrami Rachabalizod – who pleaded guilty to his role in the attack – as someone who “could not kill a chicken.”
A terrorist group calling itself Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K) claimed responsibility for the massacre. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that while the attack “was carried out by radical Islamists,” further investigation is needed to determine “who ordered it.” Putin and Federal Security Service (FSB) Director Aleksandr Bortnikov have both suggested that Ukrainian agents or officials may have been involved.
The US and EU have insisted that ISIS-K was solely to blame, denying that Ukraine had anything to do with the act of terrorism.
Originally founded as a CIA cut-out after World War 2, RFE/RL – which is funded by the US Congress – spearheaded Washington’s Cold War-era anti-communism propaganda efforts in the Soviet Union and Eastern bloc. RFE/RL has been considered a “foreign agent” by the Russian authorities since 2020. In 2022, it was blocked in the country for spreading “fake news” about the conflict in Ukraine.
Lieutenant General Jaroslaw Gromadzinski was recalled to Warsaw from his post at the head of the Eurocorps force
The Polish Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday that it had recalled the commander of the six-nation Eurocorps military force and opened an investigation into his “personal security clearance.”
In a statement on its website, the ministry said that intelligence officers had opened a probe “regarding the personal security clearance” of Gromadzinski. The probe turned up “new information” about the general, the statement continued, adding that “a decision was made to dismiss Lt. Gen. Gromadzinski from his position as commander of the Eurocorps” and order his immediate return to Poland.
The ministry offered no further details about the investigation. In a statement, Eurocorps described the recall as “an internal decision of Poland.”
Based in the French city of Strasbourg, Eurocorps comprises troops from six EU nations (Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Poland, and Spain), and carries out peacekeeping and training missions for the UN, EU, and NATO.
Read more Polish military halts explosives training after string of deaths
Before taking over Eurocorps’ two-year rotating command last June, Gromadzinski was an adviser to the chief of general staff of the Polish army. In recent months, he worked with US military personnel to train Ukrainian soldiers in Germany.
His recall came a day after the death of Polish Brigadier General Adam Marczak, who until last September had served at Eurocorps headquarters in Strasbourg. According to the Polish military, Marczak died “unexpectedly” of “natural causes” while off duty in Mons, France.
The bloc should instead focus on military and financial assistance to Kiev, according to Latvia
NATO states are not ready for talks about sending ground troops to Ukraine, even after France hinted at such a possibility last month, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina said on Wednesday.
Silina was meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin as part of a working visit to the country.
“With regard to the troops, I do not think that this initiative was very well prepared, because the discussion about this has not yet matured. Speaking about sending troops, I think we in NATO are not ready to do this,” the Latvian prime minister stated at a joint press conference with Scholz.
She pointed out that Kiev has not asked NATO states to send troops and emphasized that “we need to focus on Ukraine’s needs, not on what Ukraine isn’t asking for.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said last month that he “cannot exclude” the possibility of soldiers from NATO countries being sent to Ukraine. His remarks led to a wave of denials from the leaders of other states in the US-led bloc, who insisted that there are no plans to send Western troops to Ukraine.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also refuted the idea shortly after Macron’s initial statement, saying that there were no plans to deploy troops to Ukraine.
READ MORE: ‘Day may come’ for EU troops in Ukraine – Kiev
Moscow has warned that NATO troops in Ukraine would likely make a direct confrontation between Russia and the US-led bloc inevitable. Russia considers the Ukraine conflict to be a proxy war against it, and has repeatedly said that by aiding Kiev NATO members are prolonging the hostilities.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier that claims by Kiev and its foreign backers that Russia will target NATO states are “nonsense.” However, in another interview, the president stressed that Moscow will treat Western troops as “invaders” if they are deployed to Ukraine, and will respond accordingly.
Unlike the West, Moscow will never “cancel” any foreign culture
Russia has no intention of cancelling any country’s culture, President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday during a working trip to Tver Region. Moscow understands the difference between the people and the elites and respects every nation’s culture, and also considers its own to be part of the world’s heritage, he added.
The president was talking to regional artists when the issue of attempts to “cancel” Russian culture by some Western nations was raised. According to Putin, Moscow has no plans to respond in kind.
“We do not have any unfriendly nations, we have unfriendly elites in those nations,” the president said, adding that the Russian government “has never tried to cancel” any foreign artists or cultural performances. “On the contrary, we believe the Russian culture to be a part of the global one and we take pride [in this fact].”
The Russian authorities seek to take the global cultural context into account and “exclude nothing,” he continued. Those seeking to abolish the culture of a nation inhabited by some 190 million people are “not wise,” the president said, referring to the Western actions during the Ukraine conflict.
Read more Canceling Russian culture is a mistake – Italian president
Western nations have repeatedly sought to ban performances by Russian artists and musicians, as well as those deemed supportive of Moscow. Most recently, renowned Italian singer Enzo Ghinazzi, best known as Pupo, had an upcoming performance in Lithuania cancelled over a concert he gave at the Kremlin in March.
Pupo arrived in Russia to “convey the message that peace will return to the world,” he told TASS at the time. He also argued against an “embargo of any people’s culture,” calling such a stance “wrong.” The Lithuanian venue set to host his performance subsequently announced that it was being cancelled, calling it “good news” for those opposed to Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine.
Earlier the same month, South Korea canceled a series of performances by Svetlana Zakharova, a renowned ballerina from Russia’s Bolshoi Theatre, after Ukraine expressed anger over the planned events.
Read more No need to ban Russian artists – Scholz
Many Western cultural institutions have sought to completely remove Russia-linked works from their galleries and theaters ever since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine broke out in February 2022.
The Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra in Wales dropped the music of composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky from a concert, Britain’s Royal Opera House canceled a tour by the Bolshoi Ballet, and New York’s Carnegie Hall and Metropolitan Opera have stopped allowing most Russian musicians and organizations to perform.
The campaign has reached such a fever pitch that it has drawn criticism from some Western leaders. In April 2023, Italian President Sergio Mattarella branded it a “mistaken gesture.” In August of the same year, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz argued against such moves by calling Russian culture a part of “our common European history.”
Banning the app would not be censorship, GUR chief Budanov has said
Ukraine can use Telegram for influence operations but the messaging application still represents a threat, the head of the Ukrainian military intelligence service (GUR), Kirill Budanov, said on Wednesday.
In comments sent to the media by Kiev’s Center for Strategic Communications, Budanov admitted the wide reach of the encrypted instant-messaging platform, calling it both an opportunity and a problem.
“From the viewpoint of national security, Telegram is definitely a problem,” Budanov said. “Anyone can create a channel, start writing whatever he wants, and – when someone tries to do something about it – hides behind freedom of the press.”
“I am absolutely against the suppression of freedom of speech. But this is too much,” Budanov added. “This is not freedom of the media, it is something else.”
Telegram was created as an instant-messaging platform by Russian entrepreneurs Pavel and Nikolay Durov in 2013. What sets it apart from similar applications, such as WhatsApp and Viber, is the ability to create public broadcast channels and discussion groups. It is currently the number one messaging app in Ukraine.
Read more EU state orders suspension of Telegram
“The most interesting thing is that everyone reads Telegram,” Budanov said. While this may have a “destructive effect” inside Ukraine, it also allows Kiev to spread its message in the Russian-controlled territories, he added.
His comments come two days after several Ukrainian lawmakers proposed a bill to “regulate” Telegram. The proposal defines messaging platforms as a separate legal category and creates reporting requirements for “providers of information” using them. If passed, it would require any messaging platforms operating in Ukraine to have a registered office in the country – unless they are headquartered in the EU – and disclose their ownership structure and funding to the government.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has consolidated all media outlets under the state’s umbrella, citing martial law imposed due to the conflict with Russia. Officials in Kiev have repeatedly lamented the fact that Telegram has enabled citizens to bypass government censorship.
Last month, a parliamentary committee agreed that the platform should be banned in Ukraine. This prompted criticism from a National Security and Defense Council official in charge of “countering disinformation,” who argued that Ukraine was using the platform to “strangle the pro-Russian segments of the media field” and that banning it would be “impossible.”
Four more Crocus City Hall victims have succumbed to their injuries over the past day
Three more people injured in last Friday’s terrorist attack on a Moscow concert venue have passed away, Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko announced on Wednesday evening.
The death toll of the Crocus City Hall massacre now stands at 143.
A group of terrorists stormed the venue ahead of a concert, killing people on sight as they moved towards the main hall, eventually setting it on fire. Initial estimates put the number of deaths at around 130, with 200 more injured by bullets, blaze and smoke inhalation.
As of Wednesday morning, 83 survivors were listed by the health officials as undergoing treatment, and 40 have been released. The death toll stood at 139 when Murashko noted that four victims were in “extremely serious” condition. They appear to have succumbed to their injuries since.
The gunmen left the venue after about 15 minutes and rushed towards the Ukrainian border, where they were arrested on Saturday. They were identified as nationals of Tajikistan. Russian President Vladimir Putin has described them as “radical Islamists.”
Multiple officials in Moscow have suggested that the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall may have been organized by Ukrainian special services, who used the Islamists as proxies.
Kiev should be transparent about how it spends US taxpayer money, the billionaire has argued
SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has outlined his position on continued US funding for Ukraine, stating on Tuesday that Kiev should give Washington “proper accounting of how it is used and a plan to resolve the conflict.”
Responding to a claim that he wanted Kiev completely cut off from American aid, Musk wrote on his X platform that he is “not calling for an immediate end to all funding to Ukraine.”
Musk added that “funding should be contingent on proper accounting of how it is used and a plan to resolve the conflict.”
The world’s richest man has shifted his position on Ukraine several times since the conflict began in early 2022. Musk initially supplied Ukraine with free Starlink internet terminals and access to the satellite-based network, but declined to activate the service near Crimea for fear that Ukraine would use it to guide drone attacks on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. If this had happened, he explained last year, SpaceX would have been “complicit in a major act of war and conflict escalation.”
Read more Musk reveals major political flip
Musk has since leased the Starlink network to the Pentagon for military purposes.
Musk has also used his X account to speak extensively about the trajectory of the conflict. More than a year ago, he proposed that Kiev abandon its claim to Crimea, declare neutrality, and allow the four new Russian regions – Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye – to hold fresh referendums on joining the Russian Federation. This proposal is similar to the terms offered by Russia to Kiev and the Western powers before the conflict began, except Moscow initially called only for autonomy in Donetsk and Lugansk.
Musk has accused top US officials – most notably former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland, known for fomenting the 2014 Maidan coup in Kiev – of “pushing this war.” More recently, he argued that sanctions on Russia have harmed the West more than Moscow, and declared that with Ukraine growing “weaker by the day,” a peace deal “should have been done a year ago.”
The US has already spent more than $110 billion in military, economic, and humanitarian aid for Ukraine. With this aid money dried up, the White House is currently pushing Congress to pass a foreign aid bill that includes another $60 billion in military aid for Kiev. However, the bill has been stalled by Republicans in the House of Representatives, who want it tied to increased funding for US border security and a tightening of immigration law.
With Congress currently in recess, the bill will remain in limbo until April at the earliest.