According to overseas media reports, Ukraine hopes to join NATO and fight its long-time enemy Russia.

Ukrainian President Zelensky said that he welcomes Ukraine’s eventual joining of the military alliance, which is a landmark move for Kiev.

Ukraine will hope that joining NATO means they can call on the support of major powers such as the United States and the United Kingdom to defeat Russia’s bullying strategy under Putin.

But Biden warned that Kiev needs to eradicate corruption before it can be officially included in NATO.

After the NATO summit on Monday, the American president said: “In fact, they still need to fight corruption.”

“At the same time, we will make every effort to enable Ukraine to resist Russian aggression… to maintain their personal safety.”

Biden added that Russia’s annexation of Crimea and Moscow’s role in the east of the country does not mean that Kiev will never be accepted.

But Putin said in an interview with Russian state television that if Ukraine joins NATO, Russia will “unacceptable”.

He claimed that Ukraine’s joining the NATO military alliance will enable NATO to obtain missiles that can reach Moscow within seven minutes.

He said in an interview: “At least 50% of Ukrainian residents do not want to join NATO. They are smart people.”

“They understand that they don’t want to be victims on the line of fire, they don’t want to be bargaining chips or cannon fodder.”

Earlier, Zelensky urged NATO to speed up Ukraine’s accession to NATO through a member action plan.

Earlier Monday, he told reporters that he hoped that Biden would give a clear “yes” or “no” answer to Ukraine’s plan.

Earlier this month, Biden reiterated his support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine and invited Zelensky to the White House in July.

But Zelensky said: “It is better to hold this meeting before the summit.”

He added that he did not want Putin and Biden to propose a solution to the conflict in Ukraine at the summit.

“It is impossible to make a decision for Ukraine,” he said. “So there will be no concrete results.”

Zelensky sought support from Washington for the Seven Years War between Ukraine and Russia-backed separatists.

On Friday, the Pentagon announced a new $150 million military aid to Kiev.

The conflict escalated in early 2021. In April of this year, Russia assembled 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border and Crimea, prompting NATO to issue a warning.

Russia subsequently announced its withdrawal, but both Washington and Kiev stated that the withdrawal was limited.

Zelensky estimates that there are more than 90,000 Russian troops stationed on the Ukrainian border, and said that tensions are still likely to escalate.

“Any escalation can lead to conflicts,” he said. “If the number of troops near our border increases, it may lead to a large-scale war.”

The conflict in eastern Ukraine, including the escalation of tensions in the past few months, is expected to be discussed in Geneva.

Zelensky said that his country is ready to join NATO. He explained: “We are fighting a war. This is proof that we are ready to join.”

“We prove every day that we are more willing to join NATO than most NATO countries.”

In April, Zelensky invited Putin to meet in eastern Ukraine, but Putin seemed to have rejected the invitation, saying that Moscow would welcome the Ukrainian leader “at any time.”

Putin also emphasized that Zelensky should directly discuss the conflict in eastern Ukraine with the separatists.

Since Moscow annexed the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, Kiev has been fighting pro-Russian separatists in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions. This war claimed the lives of more than 13,000 people.

Kiev and its Western allies accuse Russia of sending troops and weapons to support the separatists. Moscow denies this.

Biden has been yelling “The United States is back” recently, in an attempt to reshape the leadership of the United States among allies. Therefore, he is embarrassed to ignore the cry of allies or partners. Although the new crown vaccine in the United States cannot be given, other aspects can also soothe Ukraine’s injured heart.

The US Pentagon recently announced that it will provide Ukraine with US$150 million in military aid. In addition, according to Guangming.com, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba revealed in an interview with the media that President Zelensky of the country will visit the United States at the end of July and hold a meeting with U.S. President Biden.

Earlier this month, Biden formally invited Zelensky to visit the United States during a telephone meeting. Kuleba also stated: “Because of the extensive agenda between the United States and Ukraine, Zelensky will lead a large delegation to visit the United States by then.” This is enough to show that Biden has given Zelensky enough face this time.

Obviously, Biden is really different from Trump. He is purely a political veteran. Knowing that Zelensky has been crippled by the United States and Europe one after another, it must be uncomfortable now. Therefore, Biden sent two carrots to Ukraine in succession, hoping to quell the grievances in the hearts of the Ukrainian authorities. After all, people have long been acting as American anti-Russian cannon fodder, and the price they have to bear is heavy enough.

It stands to reason that Biden threw two carrots to the Kiev authorities one after another, and the Kiev authorities should be happy at this time. Who would have thought that after receiving Biden’s “compensation”, instead of being happy about it, the Kiev authorities would cry even more miserably.

On the 11th local time, Vitrenko, chairman of the board of directors of the Ukrainian oil and gas company, said in an interview with Bloomberg that the completion and commissioning of the Beixi-2 project may lead to the outbreak of a full-scale war. He believes that the worst situation caused by the Beixi-2 project is not just to reduce Ukraine’s billions of dollars in revenue each year, but more importantly, it will mean the outbreak of an all-out war in Europe.

The war argument provided by Vitrenko is that the gas supply facility through the Beixi-1 pipeline in Ukraine is a tool to prevent Russia from launching a war against Ukraine. If the Beixi-2 project is completed, Russia will no longer be constrained by Ukraine when it comes to exporting natural gas to Europe. By then, if Russia wants a military invasion, Ukraine will not have the capital to prevent Russia from launching a war.

In fact, Vitrenko is not suffering from fantasy obsessive-compulsive disorder, nor is there any sign of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He is just using the “outbreak of total war” as a gimmick, trying to give the United States a rhythm to stop the Beixi-2 project, hoping to use Biden’s hands to destroy the project. Therefore, Vitrenko added: If the United States abandons its pressure on Beixi-2, it may have a negative impact on many pro-Western countries in Eastern Europe, including Ukraine.

In the final analysis, Vitrenko linked the Beixi-2 project to the outbreak of the full-scale war, positioning it as a major factor that “undermines European security and stability.” Vitrenko’s move. It is putting pressure on Biden in another way to pave the way for Zelensky’s visit to the United States at the end of July to persuade Biden to destroy the Beixi-2 project.

However, Ukraine clearly overestimates its position in the United States. In fact, don’t think that if Biden gave two carrots to Kiev, he can push his nose and give guidance to the United States on the Beixi-2 project and even the issue of US-Russian relations. That is wishful thinking.

In fact, with regard to Ukraine’s interests, it is the United States and Russia that really have the final say. Ukraine is at best a pawn in the game of great powers. In the end, whether it can continue to eat food for it, or prevent it from continuing to survive, is the United States. Russia has the final say, not Zelensky or his successor.

This statement makes what President Zelensky said earlier that NATO supports the path of membership of Kiev, still quite far. “NATO leaders have confirmed that Ukraine will become a member of the alliance and that the Member Action Plan (MAP) is an integral part. Ukraine deserves to be appreciated for its role in ensuring Euro-Atlantic security,” Zelensky wrote on Twitter. US President stressed that it is not possible to confirm Ukraine’s accession to NATO At the summit on June 14, NATO also focused all of its attention on China and climate change. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg only mentioned Ukraine twice in his speech, but both times were unrelated to the issue of the country joining the alliance. In addition to objections on security reasons from Moscow, the fact that Ukraine still has a dispute over the Crimea peninsula with Russia is also what makes it difficult for this country to join NATO. Under Article 5 of the NATO charter, member states will have the right to collective self-defence, so a territorial dispute could drag the military bloc into a potential conflict with Russia.

Specifically, the front of the design hides a map of Ukraine but has the Crimea peninsula, despite the area becoming part of Russia after the 2014 referendum. The Ukrainian team’s uniform is covered in bright yellow tones. Photo: BBC. Then, the president of Ukraine – Volodymyr Zelensky – posted the status line: “On the shirt there are some important symbols, showing the solidarity of Ukrainians, from Lugansk to Uzhhorod, Chernihiv and Sevastopol. The country of Ukraine. we are one and indivisible”. However, Russian President Putin said in a television interview that he did not feel offended by the Ukrainian team’s uniform. “It’s nothing new because we already understand the position of the Ukrainian authorities on Crimea,” he said. The shirt is printed with a map of Ukraine. Photo: The Guardian. Not only Ukraine’s shirt, the Belgian team’s jersey in combination with adidas is also controversial. Take the red background as the main theme with the new logo of the team interwoven with black lines stretching from the shoulder to the hem of the shirt. Many people think that the black line looks like the track left by a wheel running through the shirt, making the overall look confusing with the arrangement of the brand logo and the country’s flag. Belgium national team jersey. Photo: Talk Sports. The Italian team’s uniform also caught the attention of the public. The shirt is called Renaissance, which means renaissance, expressing the Azzurri’s determination to return to glory after many years of failure. The shirt color is covered with moss green and the Puma brand uses yellow on the details to highlight the brand logo. In addition, Italy’s 3rd shirt has just been released with white color, hidden behind the motifs arranged in the form of a letter V – to confirm the victory of the team in the season. Euro 2020. The Spain national team jersey is specially designed by adidas to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Spanish Football Federation. This is the first time that the image of a lion has been chosen as the symbol of this team. Hidden behind the logos is a chessboard-like pattern of different sizes. The impressive point comes from the V-hole sewn close to the wearer’s body. Italy and Spain team jerseys. Photo: BBC.

Illustration According to the RT , a link to a pornographic website was recently discovered in a textbook used to teach Ukrainian to 10th graders since 2018. Ukrainian children start school at the age of six. By the 10th grade, most of the students were 16 years old. “It’s not clear if this is a joke or a hoax. But can you imagine how many children we have raised in the last three years with such a book?”, said Prosecutor General Irina Venediktova angrily, adding that prosecutors are conducting the investigation. investigate the case. According to local media, the person who discovered the error in the textbook was the author Aleksandr Avramenko. This famous education expert took to Facebook to complain about the slowness of the Ukrainian authorities. He said the cybersecurity agency was slow to respond when he called for the blocking of pornographic websites linked to in textbooks. Regarding his error, Avramenko explained that when writing the book, he cited some documents from the website that was once the official portal of a district in the Kirovograd Region of Ukraine. Because of quoting information, Mr. Avramenko must specify the link according to copyright law. When the textbook was published in 2018, the site still belonged to the Novomyrhorod district. But last year, the website domain was transferred to a new owner. The person then started turning the site into a dark web, Avramenko stressed, adding that “this metamorphosis was just discovered.” The author suggested that the dark web scandal could have been a provocation by some unknown opponents who were jealous of his success. “Why is this happening to my book? This year, I submitted four textbooks to different competitions and all of them won first place, far ahead of the competitors. Could this be the reason? Unfortunately, I also have enemies,” Avramenko wrote. However, the author does not rule out the possibility that this is simply a coincidence. Currently, the Ukrainian investigative agency has not confirmed or denied the author’s allegations.

In Vietnam, Dima traveled from North to South, living with indigenous people of many different ethnicities. The beautiful images of destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Can Tho, Quang Binh, Lao Cai… are valuable additions to this Ukrainian photographer’s travel photography collection. Dima concluded, the best way to explore Vietnam is through the locals. In Can Tho, he had the best photos when watching the river life of the people here. Dima is amazed as the locals cook, raise their children and maintain their daily life on the river. “Look at these kids, they grew up in one of the most beautiful places in the world, but most have never been on land. Every day, children bathe in cool water and enjoy life. When communicating. With the local people, I am fascinated by the traditions that are always preserved,” said Dima. Dima spent a few days in the mountain villages of Sapa, where he met many Hmong people. To overcome communication difficulties, Dima revealed that Vietnamese people are usually very open-minded, so he can somewhat understand other people’s attitudes towards him by observing their facial expressions. Despite the language barrier, Dima was warmly received as a family guest. “Here the Black Hmong and the Red Dao live close to each other but have different languages. They lead an idyllic life in the highlands, the women do handicrafts and the men farm. Their villages are picturesque. , with terraced fields and surrounding mountains,” said Dima. Going to Hanoi, Dima still keeps a habit of following the pace of life of the locals. He is surprised that people in the capital get up very early and like to start their day with morning exercise. Outside of Hanoi, Dima has explored Ha Long Bay, which he describes as having “unbelievably beautiful scenery” where visitors can go boating, relax on the beach and enjoy seafood caught by local fishermen. . This photographer also did not forget to visit caves in Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh and Hoi An ancient town in Quang Nam. Dima Gilitukha commented, Vietnam is a convenient place to travel. Even a less experienced traveler on a tight budget can experience the culture and nature of Vietnam. There’s also plenty of affordable accommodations and affordable street food here, too. It is not difficult to navigate in Vietnam, a good transportation system gives visitors access to many cities and tourist attractions. Sleeper cars are also very comfortable vehicles.

Image cut from video Turkish social media in recent days has spread a video that shows a group of two men and six women posing naked on a yacht on the southern coast of the country. Sheet Lider Gazette said the video was shot near the Turkish province of Mugla, across from the famous Greek island of Rhodes. Locals told the media that seeing this sensitive image during the lockdown and during the holy month of Ramadan has angered many. Turkey is a country with a large number of Muslims. Source: RT Sheet Strana reported that several Ukrainian women were detained by local authorities for showing off their bodies in public, and were later released. One woman, believed to be a Ukrainian citizen and involved in the incident, said the video online was secretly filmed by people on a nearby yacht. The group of girls had no idea that they were being filmed remotely. “As you know, in Muslim countries it’s better not to take nude photos,” said the young woman. Last month, a group of models from many countries – including Ukraine – were expelled from the United Arab Emirates after taking part in a group nude photo shoot on the balcony of an apartment building in Dubai.

Ruins of a former children’s play area in Chernobyl. A dust-covered nuclear power plant, nestled among rubble piles and abandoned buildings is not a reminder of UNESCO’s world cultural heritage. But the Ukrainian government has ambitions to win this title for the Chernobyl plant. If successful, Chernobyl will join the ranks of the most iconic monuments to human culture and civilization, such as the ancient city of Petra in Jordan, the great pillars of Stonehenge, the Forbidden City of Beijing and the high-rise Easter Island in Rapa Nui. According to the UNESCO website, in order to be considered for inclusion on the World Heritage List, a site “must have outstanding universal value” and ensures at least one quality that matches the agency’s selection criteria. this. Some of the locations on the list represent spectacular and unique examples of natural grandeur, such as Yosemite and Yellowstone National Parks in the United States; Halong Bay of Vietnam; Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, Pristine Białowieża Forest between Russia and Belarus. Other locations, China’s Great Wall, Mexico’s Chichén Itzá ruins and the city of Venice, Italy, have earned a spot on the list for their importance in human history as well as its rare beauty. them. The sites on the list have certain legal protection and may receive financial support from the World Heritage Fund to help conserve it, according to UNESCO. In order for a site to be eligible for UNESCO listing, it must first be added to the list of historical and cultural heritage in its country of origin. According to the Ukrainian Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko: “We believe that the inclusion of Chernobyl on the UNESCO heritage list is the first and important step towards making this wonderful place a featured tourist destination for all mankind. care. The importance of the Chernobyl region goes far beyond Ukraine’s borders. It is not only about memories, but also about history and human rights ”. In fact, the tourism industry has been booming in the forbidden zone. One of the cities in the region – Pripyat, home to about 49,000 people in 1986 – is today an apocalyptic ghost town; The homes, schools and hospitals are uninhabited and are home to plants and wildlife. The forbidden zone was first opened to visitors in 2010, and Pripyat’s bizarre, overgrown buildings quickly became a popular destination for photographers and travel enthusiasts. disaster site. But the Chernobyl tourism industry really took off after the success of the 2019 thriller series on HBO, “Chernobyl”. Guides in Ukraine reported tour bookings in 2019 were up 30% from the previous year. About 124,000 tourists visited Chernobyl last year and about 100,000 of them came from outside Ukraine. Scientists are also monitoring Chernobyl to track how wildlife in the forbidden area adapts to levels of radiation exposure making the area unsafe for humans – and some findings They are surprisingly positive. For example, recent surveys show that gray wolves (Canis lupus) are thriving near Chernobyl, partly because they have many prey and many territories that have not yet been affected by humans. And a rare Asian wild horse known as the Przewalski (Equus ferus przewalskii) is also thriving in the restricted area.

Integrating the most modern technology, capable of protecting the soldier very well, and equipped with modern weapons, the Ratnik equipment turns ordinary soldiers into scary warriors. The future warrior uniform was developed by the Russian Defense Ministry in the early 2000s to replace the Barmitsa military outfit. Russia for the first time experimented with this uniform in the Syrian battlefield, but in the battlefields of eastern Ukraine, the separatist soldiers also wore military uniforms with almost the same camouflage pattern as Ratnik. The image of Ukraine separatist soldiers wearing military uniforms with the motif of the future Ratnik military outfit. This Ukrainian separatist soldier was also mourned with the armor of the Ratnik armed forces. “Ratnik” includes modules that can be changed according to the operational mission. They consist of about 50 different ingredients and withstand temperatures from -50 to +50 degrees °. However, the separatist soldiers in Ukraine are equipped with only the most basic components including uniforms, armor, bulletproof helmets and leather boots. Modern equipment such as AK-12 assault rifles, A-545, communication systems, electronic communications systems, glasses, knee protection and arm guards and many other components are not allowed. equipping Ukraine’s separatist forces. Equipped with only the most basic of the elements, the Ratnik armament has helped the Ukrainian separatists look modern, and especially has bulletproof armor that will help them survive on the battlefield. The major powers including Russia are racing to research and manufacture a future warrior with requirements such as the best protection for users, integration of modern communication technology as well as goal orientation and excellent combat ability of individual super weapons. The Russian Ratnik futuristic warrior is one of the few best in the world today. Armor on the Ratnik armament makes the Russian soldiers safe from sniper rifles’ armor-piercing bullets. “The latest communication, intelligence, radio and electronic warfare systems, modern guns as well as the Ratnik combat uniform have been tested in action,” said Borisov, Deputy Minister of State. Russian room once said in an interview with the Krasnaya Zvezda (Red Star) newspaper. This uniform can safely shield 90% of the soldier’s body, in addition to the equipment on the uniform also helps increase their survivability in fierce battlefields. Key components include bulletproof helmets, glasses, armor, knee and elbow protectors, durable leather shoes with water resistance, electronic equipment for communication and target positioning together. with the latest assault rifles. Although there are about 50 different components, but this outfit is not too heavy, durable and light materials are used. Most notably, the armor weighs 7.5kg, with the ability to protect soldiers against 7.62mm bullets from the SVD sniper rifle shot at a distance of 10m. The neck and shoulders of this bulletproof armor also added extra pads to protect soldiers against shrapnel. Full set of support tools for soldiers on Ratnik equipment, including flashlights, hand shovels and a set of multi-purpose knives … these items are made with special technology and are functional. good while being quite light in weight. Each Ratnik armament is also equipped with specialized electronic devices such as GPS or GLONASS, a high-frequency radio communication system with a separate encoder to increase the security of the communication channel. be changed from 10-30 seconds each time. One of the interesting components of this outfit is a hand-held water filter with the ability to filter up to 15 liters of dirty water into clean water for soldiers to use when needed. The basic weight of the Ratnik armament is only 12kg and up to 20kg, while with the Barmitsa this figure is up to 36kg. The Russian army chooses two new models of assault rifles that will be equipped with the Ratnik in the future, the AK-12 and A-545. The lifespan of each Ratnik suit is 5 years and each soldier can wear it for up to 48 hours. And depending on the requirements each Ratnik equipment quest can be changed. With this uniform, Russian soldiers will increase their combat power to a new level. Currently Russia is continuing to develop upgraded variants of the Ratnik armed forces to further enhance the combat strength of its troops.

Recently, Ukraine is trying to put Chernobyl on the list of protected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). In the photo: A bedroom of a kindergarten near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Pripyat city, Ukraine. (Source: Reuters) According to Ukraine’s Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko, the proposal to include Chernobyl on the UNESCO heritage list is the first and important step for the site to become a unique destination of interest to all mankind. In the photo: The abandoned city of Pripyat near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. (Source: Reuters) Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko said, before submitting an application to the United Nations, the desired sites protected by UNESCO must be included in the list of national historical and cultural heritages. (Source: Reuters) Hence, the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture recently decided to include a military radar built near the city of Chernobyl in the 1970s on this list and is also discussing a similar plan for the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone – the restricted zone with a radius of 30km from the center is the nuclear reactors. In the photo: The radar system was installed near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. (Source: Reuters) On April 26, 1986, the 4th reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear plant in Pripyat, 108 kilometers north of Kiev, exploded. According to many scientists, the cause of the accident was defects in the reactor’s design, especially the control rods; and non-compliance with the safety rules of nuclear power plant employees. However, some independent experts today believe that none of the above two assumptions are completely correct. (Source: Reuters) About 190 tons of radioactive material was released into the atmosphere; Radioactive dust clouds spread throughout Europe such as the western Soviet Union, Eastern and Western Europe, Scandinavie, England, and East America. In the photo: The view inside a house in the abandoned village of Zalissya, near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. (Source: Reuters) The killing of 31 workers and firefighters left thousands more battling radiation-related illnesses, such as cancer. In the photo: A house in the abandoned village of Poliske near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. (Source: Reuters) Large areas of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia were severely polluted, evacuating and resettled for more than 336,000 people; about 60% of the radioactive cloud fell on Belarusian territory. (Source: Reuters) This is considered the most serious catastrophe in the history of nuclear energy, emitting 400 times more radiation than the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945. (Source: Reuters) To overcome this, thousands of tons of soil were removed from the contaminated area, and contaminated machinery and equipment were buried in a special burial site. A 30km quarantine zone has been created around the plant, and people have been evacuated. (Source: Reuters) An area of ​​more than 4,000 square kilometers around the former location of the power plant was uninhabitable. To date, the total number of people killed and suffered from long-term health effects remains the subject of fierce debate. In the photo: Engineers check the structure and radioactivity at the control room of the No. 4 reactor (Source: Reuters) Much of the area around the nuclear plant is abandoned, with buildings in ruins. All the buildings in Pripyat, a town once inhabited by 50,000 people, mainly working in factories, are in need of repair. In the photo: An abandoned building in the city of Pripyat. (Source: Reuters) Image of a Ukrainian engineer inspecting the inside of the No. 3 reactor, which has been decommissioned for many years. Engineers who come into the reactors to inspect the inside of the reactors must wear impermeable clothing on the outside, wear specialized masks and radiometric equipment. (Source: Reuters) The 1986 calendar remains on the wall of a house in the village of Zalissya. (Source: Reuters) A kindergarten in Pripyat was burned down by the explosion. (Source: Reuters) Remnants left in the village of Poliske abandoned in the Chernobyl region. (Source: Reuters) The third reactor’s control center remains intact. (Source: Reuters) The view inside a house in Zalissya. (Source: Reuters) In 1997, the Chernobyl International Shelter Foundation was formed to design and build a more permanent cover for the concrete “coffin” that covers the unstable and insecure No. 4 reactor. By 2010, a new “coffin” named New Safe Confinement was started to build. Unlike the old structure, New Confinement is designed to safely dismantle a reactor with a remote operating device. In the photo: The abandoned city of Pripyat. (Source: Reutes) This work will be built on the track adjacent to the reactor building 4, completed in 2016. A new metal dome at Chernobyl will cover the demolished reactor to prevent radioactive material from leaking out. out. The dome weighing 36,000 tons and 108 meters high, worth € 1.5 billion ($ 1.7 billion) was paid through a special fund of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Sponsored by 45 countries. The dome is strong enough to withstand storms and has a lifespan of up to 100 years, the EBRD said. In the photo: New Safe Confinement project seen from afar. (Source: Reuters) Life is back in the wilderness. In July 2019, President Volydymyr Zelensky signed a decree in July that designated Chernobyl as an official tourist attraction. In the photo: A moose on a deserted road in the Chernobyl region. (Source: Reuters) In 2019, the HBO drama Chernobyl caused visitors to skyrocket, to 120,000. Accordingly, those wishing to witness the highly radioactive area at the infamous No. 4 Reactor will be provided with protective vests, helmets, and poison masks and can only stay in short time. After they leave, they will have to undergo two x-ray tests to measure exposure. (Source: Reuters) The move is part of an effort by the Government of Ukraine to encourage tourism in the region. (Source: Reuters) On April 26, Ukraine will celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko expects Chernobyl – which has become a popular spot for adventure travelers before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, will start attracting tourists again. In the photo: An abandoned village house in Zalissya. (Source: Reuters) (Reuters)

The video shows Russia withdrawing its troops from Crimea. Video: Russian Ministry of Defense The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the same day video footage of tanks, armored artillery and soldiers boarding the landing craft on the Crimean coast one after another. This is also where Russia has just completed the exercise with the participation of 60 warships, more than 10,000 soldiers, about 200 aircraft and 1,200 ground vehicles. The withdrawal was carried out by Russia after Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu asserted that “the army has proven its ability to ensure the country’s defense”. “I decided to complete inspection activities in the Western and Southern Military Region bordering Ukraine,” Shoigu said on April 22. Russian battleships boarded the amphibious ships to return to their permanent base. Photo: ITN According to Mr. Shoigu, the withdrawal will be completed by May 1. However, Russia still retains the weapons here for the exercises at the end of the year. The aforementioned weapons have been increased by Russia to Crimea and the region near the Russian border since late March, amid Moscow fears that the Ukrainian army has launched a bloody large-scale war against pro-Russian separatists in the East. Ukraine. NATO and Ukraine expressed concern over Russia’s military action and repeatedly urged Moscow to withdraw. Some Western sources even expressed skepticism that Russia had actually withdrawn.

According to CNN, Moscow said it had ended “rapid inspections” of troops in the east and west of the country. Illustration. Source: CNN The process of rallying Russian troops along the border in recent weeks has created tensions in eastern Ukraine. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the country’s army has completed drills near Ukraine and will return to its permanent base before May 1. “I am confident that the exercise objectives are completed. The military has demonstrated its ability to provide a reliable defense force to the country,” Shoigu said at a meeting in Crimea. Shoigu’s announcement came weeks after Moscow initiated the largest military surge near Ukraine’s border since 2014. The European Union estimates that more than 100,000 troops have gathered near the border and in Crimea. However, the announcement does not specify how many troops will remain in the area after Moscow intends to withdraw before May 1. US Department of Defense spokesman Ned Price confirmed that the US would continue to closely monitor the situation along with Ukrainian officials and other allies. “What we are looking for now is action on the Russian side,” said Ned Price. “We have made clear our commitment to the Russian government, reaffirming efforts to curb the escalation and immediately cease all provocations around Ukraine, including military mobilization. Crimea and the Ukrainian border as well as its intention to block ships in the Black Sea, “Pricwe said at a press conference. Russian state news agency TASS said that some weapons from the 41st Army, including tanks and heavy artillery, will be left in preparation for the Russian-Belarus strategic military exercise Zapad 2021 taking place in May. Nine years now. The move is believed to have caused Russia to increase fire tensions on the Ukrainian border more than before. It is too early to reduce escalation Conflict Intelligence (CIT) says it is too early to assess the de-escalation process in this area. “Russian forces staying in the Ukraien border are still in danger of deploying east of Ukraine, while a large-scale invasion of the government-controlled territory will inevitably still have to mobilize more forces to the border. “Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT) said on Twitter. On April 20, the Russian Defense Ministry said more than 20 ships took part in the exercise in the Black Sea – bordering both countries. “A ship unit comprising the Admiral Makarov and Admiral Essen frigates; the small missile ships Grayvoron and Vyshny Volochek with the missile ships; the small anti-submarine and large amphibious ships conducted the exercises. repulsion of the enemy’s aerial attack vehicles. Russian Defense Minister Shoigu said the Russian military was ready to react quickly to any “adverse” developments amid NATO’s ongoing Defender Europe military exercises. NATO’s Defender Europe 2021 exercise is an annual multinational exercise led by the US military to prepare for readiness and interoperability between the United States and the military of NATO partners. The exercise was canceled last year due to the complicated developments of the epidemic. “Each year in Europe, the alliance organizes more than 40 major combat drills with a focus on dealing with Russian challenges. In the spring of this year, NATO’s joint armed forces began the exercises. The biggest ambitious match in 30 years “, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said. The NATO alliance expressed deep concern about Russia’s military deployment near Ukraine. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg last week described the move as part of a provocation from Russia. “Allies fully support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We urge Russia to immediately de-escalate, stop provocative actions and respect international commitments,” said Shoigu. to speak. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier this week invited President Vladimir Putin to a meeting in Donbass, urging his Russian counterpart to restore a ceasefire in the eastern region that put “millions of lives” at stake. “President Putin said he is ready to discuss bilateral relations with President Zelensky in the Russian capital,” TASS reported. Ukraine is calling for increased international support in a state of tension with Moscow while calling on the West to introduce new sanctions to prevent the Kremlin from deploying more military forces.

Earlier on April 22, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the completion of the exercise near Ukraine and ordered the withdrawal of troops back to the base after the mass deployment of troops close to the Ukrainian border. Video: Russian troops withdraw their troops from the border with Ukraine According to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the troops will return to the base by May 1. Mr. Shoigu said that the military must be ready to react quickly in “unfavorable” situations from large-scale drills led by the US, NATO and its allies, called Defender-Europe. It is not clear whether the order to recall troops back to the permanent base includes all the forces involved in the recent move to the Ukrainian border. In a statement made on April 23, Ukraine confirmed that the withdrawal of Russian troops from the two countries’ borders could ease tensions, but this step alone did not prevent escalation or conflict in the Donbass. Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have increased recently after Kiev accused Moscow of sending tens of thousands of troops closer to the border. Ukraine, Western nations and NATO have accused Russia of deploying “provocative” troops on Ukraine’s eastern border and in Crimea. Russia, for its part, insists its troops pose no threat and that its presence is only defensive and that its presence is only defensive. Moscow simultaneously accused the US and NATO of having “provocative activities” in the Black Sea region.

Last week, the administration of US President Joe Biden imposed sanctions on Russia. (Source: Getty) On April 23, White House top international economic aide Daleep Singh said that the US sanctions imposed on Russia last week had achieved “pretty close” results. Washington, amid tensions between the two countries over Ukraine, seems to have eased. “Our intention is to act adequately, to focus on our approach, as well as to signal that we are likely to cause greater losses if Russia continues,” Mr. Daleep Singh stated. To date, the results of the sanctions are quite close to our expectations. ” Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry said it had begun withdrawing military units from the Crimean Peninsula to its permanent bases after deploying tens of thousands of soldiers near the Ukrainian border area, causing concern. afraid of war. Last week, the administration of US President Joe Biden imposed sanctions against Russia for “intimidating” Ukraine, meddling in the US election in 2020, cyber attacks and other actions. . Mr. Biden passed provisions to make it easier for officials to extend sanctions in any sector of the Russian economy in response to future aggression. However, Mr. Biden also stressed that he did not want to escalate tensions with Russia.

Russian soldiers are waiting in line to board the Ilyushin Il-76 transport plane (Image: Reuters) Following the announcement, the currencies of both Russia and Ukraine surged, signaling a sigh of relief from investors just hours after Russia finished its Crimea exercise – the region that has returned to be part of the campaign. Russia in 2014. Since 2014, Russian-backed separatists have been fighting the Ukrainian government in the region. Hence, the confirmation of the Russian withdrawal is likely to be welcomed by Western countries, which have expressed concern over the prospect of Russia intervening more deeply in eastern Ukraine. This month, a spokesman for the President of Ukraine said, Russia has deployed more than 40,000 troops on the eastern border of Ukraine and more than 40,000 in Crimea, of which about 50,000 are new deployments. Moscow does not release specific numbers. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wrote on Twitter that Ukraine “welcomes any move to reduce its military presence and the situation in Donbass (eastern Ukraine)”, at the same time “grateful to international partners. supported them “. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Kyiv did not know whether Moscow would launch an attack, and said that if Russia does, the West must make sure it is on Ukraine’s side. “So now it can go in either direction” – Mr. Kuleba said – “And this is why the homogeneous Western response is so important right now.” State Department spokesman Ned Price said Washington was aware of the Russian announcement and was closely monitoring the situation at the border. “We have heard the words and what we are looking for is action” – Mr. Price said. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said he ordered the soldiers participating in the exercises to return to the base before May 1 after completing what he called a “check” in the border area. “I believe that the quick test has completely achieved its goal. The military has proven its ability to provide a reliable defense for the country,” he said. Military weapons will be gathered at a training ground near the city of Voronezh, about six hours’ drive from Ukraine, so that they can be used again later this year in another scheduled large exercise. Hours earlier, Mr. Shoigu had attended exercises in Crimea, which Moscow says involved 10,000 troops and more than 40 warships. Russia also announced that it had arrested a Ukrainian man as spies in the Crimea. Being stationed near Ukraine is one of the problems that has intensified tensions between Russia and the West. Last week, the US tightened sanctions against Russia for accusing it of cyber-attacks and meddling in the presidential election held last November. Along with that, the Czech Republic also accused Moscow of having a role in the deadly explosion at an arms depot in 2014. Both countries expelled Russian diplomats, angering Moscow to deny the allegations and expelled their diplomats in response. In an important speech on April 21, President Vladimir Putin warned Western countries not to cross the “red line”, though he did not specify what this line is. This week, however, Putin will still attend a climate summit hosted by US President Joe Biden. In Moscow, the Kremlin said Putin had received an invitation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to meet to discuss the crisis. “If the President deems it necessary, he will answer himself. I have nothing to say about that now “- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu affirmed that the country’s military has successfully completed “quick tests”, responded well to “unfavorable” situations and has demonstrated “reliable” defense capabilities. “Of this country. Russian Su-34 fighters at the Morozovsk air base of Russia, near the Ukrainian border on March 27. Satellite photo: Maxar However, Mr. Shoigu still asked to keep the heavy weapons, some 160km from the Ukrainian border, in preparation for another major exercise later this year. On Twitter, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy immediately said it welcomes any steps to reduce Russia’s military presence at its border and alleviate tensions in the Donbass. President Zelensky added that Ukraine is very grateful to the international partners who have supported and sided with this country over the past time. Meanwhile, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said that the country was aware of Russia’s withdrawal announcement, but still had to wait for the actual withdrawal, and affirmed that it would always follow the developments closely. situation. The NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization assesses Russia’s steps as important and timely. And like the United States, NATO will continue to be concerned about the Russian-Ukraine border situation. Another development that is expected to ease the situation is that Russian President Putin declares his readiness for talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Zelensky in Moscow. In response to Mr. Zelensky’s earlier invitation to meet and the venue is Donbass, the Russian President said: “The question is what will be discussed at this meeting? If we talk about discussing Donbass issues, Ukraine leaders should first meet the separatist leader, and then meet a third country like Russia. If we talk about bilateral relations, we would like to invite and receive the President of Ukraine whenever it is convenient for him in Moscow. Although the Russia-Ukraine summit may not take place soon, but those are also the statements that help cool the current situation, after a series of previous hard statements by the two sides, such as Ukraine is ready for 1 The war comes together with Russia, and Russia will not “indifferent” if the situation worsens … /.

Russian military weapons appeared in Crimea. Photo: ITN With the above decision, the Russian troops reinforced to reach the Ukraine border will be withdrawn to a permanent base deep inside Russian territory from today (April 23) to May 1, with ground forces. will return to bases in Vladikavkaz, Novosibirsk and troops from air force units return to bases in Pskov and Ivanovo. However, Shoigu said Russia would still keep military weapons and equipment at the Pogonovo firing range in the Voronezh region, some 160 kilometers east of the Ukrainian border for other Russian military maneuvers by the end. year 2021. Both NATO and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky welcomed the step. “The gradual withdrawal of troops from the border between the two countries will cool down tensions. Ukraine remains vigilant, but very welcome any move to reduce its military presence,” the President of Ukraine wrote on Twitter. Since late March 2021, Russia has deployed about 120,000 troops in Crimea and near the Ukrainian border, the highest level since the conflict in eastern Ukraine broke out in 2014, according to NATO reports. Russia did not confirm the increased number of troops, but confirmed that the recent Crimea drills involved 60 warships, more than 10,000 soldiers, about 200 aircraft and 1,200 ground vehicles.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting in Moscow. Photo: AFP / VNA Speaking at a joint press conference with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Moscow on April 22, Putin said that the Kiev government has taken steps to destroy bilateral relations with Moscow over the past time. Prominent among them was the intention of Ukraine to restrict the Russian language, destroying Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine. “There are many steps to breaking the relationship, which we regret. But if President Zelensky wants to restore relations, we will respond, “Putin said about the prospect of a meeting between the two leaders in Donbass. But according to the Russian President, if it is to discuss the situation in Donbass, the Kyiv government first needs to open meetings with the leaders of the Donetsk Republic and self-proclaimed Lugansk, and then consider direct contact with the party. Tuesday. If it wants to talk about Russia-Ukraine relations, the Russian side is ready to welcome Zelensky in Moscow at any convenient time for the President of Ukraine. Earlier, speaking on April 20, Mr. Zelensky proposed his readiness to meet President Putin in Donbass, amid the outbreak of fighting between Ukrainian soldiers and independence forces in the East.

Mr. Zelensky (left) and Mr. Putin Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky was welcome in Moscow “at any time” but stressed that he should discuss the conflict in eastern Ukraine directly with the separatists. “If we are talking about bilateral relations, by all means, we are ready to welcome the President of Ukraine at any time convenient for him,” the Russian leader said during a meeting with the Belarusian leader. Alexander Lukashenko in Moscow, according to Tass . Putin’s invitation to Zelensky came in response to this week’s request by the President of Ukraine to meet the two leaders in eastern Ukraine, where the fighting intensified between the Kyiv army and the faction. Pro-Moscow separatism has raised concerns about an all-out war. Ukraine, the European Union and the US have recently set off alarm bells about Russian troops gathering troops on the borders of the former Soviet Union country. Moscow said the military was conducting drills in response to NATO exercises and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Thursday ordered the army to return to its permanent base by May 1. “If President Zelensky wants to begin to heal relations, we certainly welcome,” Putin told reporters as he began talks with President Lukashenko. But the Russian leader said that if Mr. Zelensky hoped to solve the problems stemming from the fighting in eastern Ukraine, he should first meet with the leaders of the separatist zones in Donetsk and Lugansk. “And it was only then that these matters were discussed with representatives of third countries, in this case Russia,” Putin said. Kiev has been fighting the separatists in areas east of Donetsk and Lugansk since 2014. The conflict has claimed the lives of more than 13,000 people, and has seen about 30 Ukrainian soldiers perished since the beginning of 2021, compared with the number 50 of the whole 2020. Sponsorship news

In 1969, the Soviet Army received the T-64A variant with the 125 mm cannon instead of the 115 mm one. From 1976 to 1985, the T-64B was produced in Kharkov with an improved fire control system and the ability to launch a guided missile through the barrel. In principle, the manufacturer has managed to get rid of many previously defined problems. Two years later, the T-64 appeared with a version equipped with explosive reactive armor Kontakt-1. It is these means of fighting that are currently the basis of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Ukrainian T-64E main battle tank carrying 23 mm GSh-23L cannon In 2004, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense adopted the T-64BM “Bulat”, which was developed in the Kharkiv design room for mechanical engineering named after AA Morozov. A total of 85 MBTs were ordered but it turned out to be unsuccessful. Its special edition – the T-64E was created by the Kharkov armored repair plant. Engineers suggest using multi-channel viewfinder with gunner thermal camera and captain’s panoramic viewfinder. Firepower is enhanced by the 23 mm GSh-23L double-barrel air cannon with a ammo base of up to 600 rounds, accompanied by a remote controlled 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun. This weapon can be used by any member of the crew, including the driver. Protection has also been increased thanks to the Nozh explosive reactive armor and a high-speed fire suppression system. Meanwhile, the vehicle’s weight increased to 42,500 kg, the engine capacity also increased to 850 horsepower. Despite the announced new possibilities, the Ukrainian Armed Forces Command is not interested in the amendment. Such tanks would be too complicated and expensive. Also, the repair company itself is not capable of mass-producing them. As a result, only one prototype was born and until recently was rusting in the storage.

Ukrainian tennis beauty Angelina Dimova became a famous social media model after not being successful with her favorite sport. She became famous for her sexy image and lack of fashion on the training ground. Contributing in young tournaments in 2012, but did not achieve any remarkable achievements, so three years ago, the beautiful Ukraine turned to modeling. Taking full advantage of owning a hot body and sexy dress, Angelina Dimova has attracted a large number of fans. Her lack of cloth on the training ground burns the eyes of her fans. Before that, an “anonymous” beauty was criticized by netizens for appearing on the “aristocratic playground” in dark pants, but denounced the lack of subtle underwear marks. Not to mention color, just wearing thin pants, revealing things that should have been hidden, is a minus point of beauty. Another “anonymous” girl in China also caught attention on the tennis court with short pants like underwear. The training pants look like protective pants but do not have any protective fabric, revealing the third circle, making the opposite person “blush”. Many beauties prefer revealing outfits on tennis courts such as low-necked shirts and short skirts. Tennis courts are one of the virtual places that young people love. However, the series “breaking” the rules on the field is not appreciated for losing the aristocracy of this high-end sport. One felt that revealing clothing did not match the sporty nature of the sport any more, these were sports that were considered aristocratic. Photo: Internet. Invite readers to watch the video “Destroying warehouses containing nearly 8,000 smuggled fashion products”. Source: CT City.

State news agency Anadolu said both deployments, scheduled for April 14 and 15, were canceled as Ankara has not been informed of any possible plans from the US side.

Last week, Turkey announced that it had been informed through diplomatic channels that two US warships “would head towards the Black Sea” and remained in the area until 4-5.

There was no confirmation from Washington of planned rollouts or cancellations.

Washington was obliged to notify Ankara at least 15 days before passing warships through the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles under the terms of the 1936 Montreux Convention.

The Strait of Bosphorus in the Black Sea – Photo: AFP

The treaty provisions allow foreign warships to stay in the Black Sea for 21 days.

US Navy ships have regularly operated in the region to support Ukraine, which has been fighting against forces in its east since the pro-Moscow leader in Kiev was overthrown in 2014.

Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea at the same time, setting up a confrontation with the West that continues to this day.

Last week, the announcement of the US warship deployment came amid heightened tensions between Moscow and Kiev due to the reinforcement of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border.

These deployments came amid new clashes between Kiev and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

News on April 14 about the cancellation of the deployment of US warships comes a day after US President Joe Biden spoke on the phone with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

During that conversation, Biden proposed a summit with Putin in a neutral country and urged Russia to “reduce tensions,” according to the White House.

RIA quoted Peskov as saying: “On the territory of Ukraine, reducing the escalation of tensions in Donbass can only be achieved if the Ukrainian Armed Forces stop military provocations”.

It is known that on April 13, US President Joe Biden had a phone call to Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the conversation, Mr. Biden especially expressed concern about the Russian military’s increased military presence in Crimea and on the border with Ukraine.

The Kremlin cites conditions for de-escalation of tensions in Donbass. Photo: RIA

President Biden stressed the US’s unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Besides, President Biden has proposed to his Putin counterpart to hold a summit in a third country in the near future.

Concerning developments, in the last weeks of March, parties to the conflict in Ukraine accused each other of violating the ceasefire and transferring military equipment to the communication line.

“The Kremlin is concerned that a civil war will continue in Ukraine. If civil war and large-scale hostilities continue near our borders, it would pose a threat to Russia’s security, ”Peskov said.

Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, when referring to the issue of “pulling troops” to the Ukrainian border, he stressed that Russia is operating on its own territory and that these military measures are necessary, and do not disturb foreign partners.

Specifically, speaking before the meeting of the Defense Sub-Committee of the European Parliament in Brussels – Belgium, Andrii Taran noted that he could not rule out the possibility that Russian forces in Crimea could “take provocative actions. military promotion “in 2021.

Earlier, Mr Taran said “Russian provocations” could exacerbate conflicts in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine bordering Russia. Taran revealed that Russia concentrates 110,000 troops on the Ukrainian border.

Ukrainian tanks during an exercise near Crimea. Photo: Reuters

According to Reuters, any decision by Russia to move nuclear weapons to Crimea will be a bad development in East-West tensions. That gesture would increase tensions for a newly renewed arms control treaty between the US and Russia.

Concerning developments, in a statement from the Ukrainian army, the Ukrainian armed forces have been rehearsing to increase their ability to respond to a tank and infantry attack near the Crimea border on April 14. The drills come the day after US President Joe Biden phoned Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss Russia’s military build-up near eastern Ukraine and in Crimea.

On the Russian side, on April 14, the Russian navy began exercises in the Black Sea with exercises to fire targets on the ground and in the air. This exercise is to test combat readiness, readiness to react to threats from NATO. As planned, the rehearsal would end after 2 weeks.

Specifically, over the past several months, representatives of the US administration led by President Joe Biden have repeatedly threatened Russia that it will pay a “very high price” for the situation in the Donbass.

Moscow responded to Washington on warning of ‘it will cost money for the Donbass’. Illustrative image / Reporter

Before the above developments, Moscow gave an official response. Specifically, according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, Washington’s aforementioned statements are unacceptable. Russia will continue to defend the self-proclaimed republics of the Donbass, as well as the interests of its Russian-speaking residents, and threats from the other hemisphere of the planet will only convince Moscow of the correctness of the planet. my movement.

“They talked about a high price, but they never specified. What they have done so far, first we have done enough research, second we have adapted to this” …

Ryabkov noted with regret that the current Ukrainian authorities and their Western patrons have concluded that the field situation is not helping to become more positive.

In addition, Deputy Minister Ryabkov mentioned the fact that the military alliance of NATO, the United States and a number of other countries are deliberately promoting Kiev to confront the Russian Federation, assisting Ukraine in increasing military pressure. declaration in the East.

In related developments, the NATO Air Force has deployed more fighter jets to countries close to Ukraine as a readiness move for the worst case scenario.

Defense Minister of Ukraine Andrii Taran. Source: Anadolu

Speaking to the defense subcommittee of the European Parliament in Brussels, Minister Taran warned that Moscow could attack Ukraine to secure water supplies for the annexed Crimean peninsula.

Besides, Mr. Tahan said, does not rule out the possibility that Russian forces in Crimea could “carry out major military provocations” in 2021, but he did not provide immediate evidence for this hypothesis.

Regarding developments, on the same day, the SBU national security agency of Ukraine announced that it was conducting a large-scale “anti-terror” exercise in the Kherson region near Crimea. SBU’s announcement said units of the Ukrainian armed forces together with police and border guards participated in the exercise.

The announcement emphasized: “The key strategic targets of key infrastructure in the Kherson region are being tightly controlled … These are seaport areas, power supply facilities, airports, demand and gas production plants “.

Earlier, the Ukrainian military posted a video, on a rock music scene, showing the country’s tanks deployed in formation with soldiers loaded and fired for artillery during a pushback drill. the attack of tanks and infantry infiltrated the defensive area near the Crimea border.

The drill comes a day after US President Joe Biden telephoned Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss Russian troop reinforcement in Crimea and near eastern Ukraine, among other US concerns.

Earlier, President Putin’s foreign policy advisor, Yuri Ushakov, invited US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan to discuss this issue.

Mr. Ushakov stressed to Ambassador Sullivan that Moscow will react seriously if the US takes “unfriendly actions” such as imposing sanctions.

President Joe Biden has proposed holding a summit with Putin

On April 13, US President Joe Biden held a phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, underlining Washington’s commitment to Ukraine’s territorial integrity and expressing concerns about the concentration of the military. of Russia near the Ukraine border. Mr. Joe Biden also proposed a summit between the two leaders in a third country.

In March, Joe Biden still warned Moscow to pay the price for meddling in the US presidential election, but so far, no sanctions have been announced.

American experts warn Russia is a nuclear power capable of killing millions of Americans in the event of a war. In his view, the United States can engage in an open confrontation with Russia only in the event of any “vital” threat to its existence.

But Mr. Lawson stressed that Ukraine is not such a case, and the situation in Donbass does not pose a direct threat to US security.

Analyst Lawson said that the US should prioritize cooperation with Russia instead of confrontation as it is now

In addition, the expert also strongly opposes Ukraine’s membership in NATO, because according to Mr. Lawson, it is Kiev that is the cause of all the problems that have arisen in Europe recently. Ukraine’s accession to the military alliance will exacerbate the situation, taking its conflict with Russia to a new level, something no one wants.

Lawson explained that continuing to confront Russia over Ukraine could be exploited by China, which is dreaming of becoming a superpower and surpassing the US on the world rankings. So Washington needs to turn to other issues, and not to conflict with Russia.

Meanwhile, the US intelligence community has released another annual report on global threats. Traditionally, Russia has been at the forefront of America’s security challenges at all levels.

The above development shows that despite opposition from domestic analysts, the administration of President Joe Biden with a tough stance is almost certain to provide military assistance to Ukraine in the event of a war. In Donbass, if you do not participate in direct combat, you will also provide weapons, weapons, and modern military equipment.

Ukraine’s secret weapon system is a series of missile launchers developed by the State Design Bureau Kyiv Luch in cooperation with other private and public Ukrainian defense companies.

MLRS can destroy infantry, armored and armored vehicle targets in the area where artillery batteries, headquarters and ammunition are concentrated. This system will allow the Ukrainian military to protect its borders, strait and territorial sea as well as naval bases and coastal infrastructure within missile range.

The mass-launch missile system was tested several times in 2018, while recent tests were conducted at a military training facility in Ukraine’s Odesa region in August 2019.

Russian website Rg.ru said that the 9P140 truck belonging to the MLRS series launch missile system of the Ukrainian army had a serious accident on the Odessa – Mariupol highway.

According to the latest information from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the MLRS convoy is on its way to the city of Mariupol on the coast of Azov, to strengthen its defenses against a threat from Russia.

Initial information showed that a vehicle carrying the missile for the MLRS system lost control, crashed into the median side of the road and plunged down a roadside slope causing the vehicle to flip over many times.

The car was severely damaged, the cabin was completely destroyed and the most frightening thing was that 16 rockets fell out but fortunately they did not explode. There is currently no specific information on the casualties of the driver’s vehicle.

The original cause was identified as a technical problem from the driver’s part, and another reason highlighted by the Russian press was that the vehicle’s use status was too long and the lack of spare parts. cure.

The MLRS series launch missile system is mounted on the KrAZ-7634 8 × 8 truck chassis. The driver’s cabin is mounted in the front left part of the chassis. Located behind the driver’s cabin, a systematic launch cabin with launch and fire preparation equipment.

The total weight of the truck is 32 tons, while its load capacity is 18.8 tons. Power comes from the YaMZ-7511.10 turbocharged diesel engine paired with a nine-speed mechanical transmission system. The engine develops a maximum capacity of 420 horsepower and allows a top speed of 100km / h.

The MLRS system is based on the Soviet-era BM-30 Smerch heavy jet artillery system. Each system is controlled by a crew of 4 and is capable of firing rockets in either single or launch mode.

The launch mass of each 300mm missile is 800kg. MLRS is capable of destroying enemy targets at a distance of 130 km. The system can fire 12 missiles in just 45 seconds and hit targets with a ring failure probability (CEP) below 30m.

The MLRS has a new automatic fire control system, which can be operated in either automatic or manual mode. The fire control system allows automatic determination of the bearing angle of the launcher.

The MLRS missile uses a non-GPS navigation system to avoid the risk of signal loss due to interfering with satellite positioning or deceptive attacks. Each missile is powered by a solid engine and can be fitted with different warheads. Photo source: Pinterest.

A close-up of the power of the Smerch jet cannon – with 12 bullets that can destroy all life in an area of ​​67 hectares. Source: QPVN.

Northern flow 2: Germany receives a request for a building permit, President Biden falls into a ‘dilemma’. (Source: The Brussels Times)

The website Tagesspiegel.de recently published an article titled “A guaranteed gas supply even without the Northern Stream 2 project”.

Accordingly, the Northern Flow 2 gas pipeline project not only supplies gas to Germany and the European Union (EU) but also has strategic implications for the transition of energy, the environment and political geography.

Once again, this has become a central issue in the context of Russia increasing its military forces on the Ukrainian border and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin making his first visit to Germany.

The question is, is this piping system really necessary? What would the consequences be if the pipeline didn’t go into service?

The opinions are mixed

Experts have many different opinions. Some people, like Jens Hobohm from Prognos Institute for Economic Research (Germany), believe that Northern Flow 2 from an energy point of view is necessary and meaningful.

In contrast, expert Claudia Kemfert from the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) argues that the answer is “definitely not”.

According to Kemfert, it is not necessary to have any additional infrastructure for the transportation of natural gas from Russia. In addition, the plan to increase natural gas consumption will conflict with the discussed and agreed climate protection goals.

This expert said that there would be no serious problems if the Northern Flow 2 could not be completed and put into operation. If gas from Russia cannot reach Germany through this pipeline system, Germany and Europe will find other energy solutions.

In this regard, new US President Joe Biden has stated that, like his predecessor, Donald Trump, he wants to prevent the completion of the project through the threat of punishing companies involved in the project. .

Still many EU partners believe that, with the assistance of the Northern Flow 2, Germany is acting against the common interests of Europe.

Chairman of the European People’s Party (EPP) group at the European Parliament Manfred Weber said that the Northern Flow 2 project “will definitely not be feasible” if Russian President Vladimir Putin lets the conflict in the region. East Ukraine escalated.

Will the gas supply be at risk then? To answer this question, the forecasts of the amount of gas that Germany and Europe will need in the coming years are central.

From the outset, critics accused the conglomerates that built the pipeline project “inflated” the data on German and European gas demand, making the project indispensable. and completely overwhelmed the opposition.

However, Jens Hobohm believes that this criticism holds true only in previous years, but in recent years, gas consumption in Germany and Europe has increased more than expected due to the need for natural gas. as a bridge for energy transitions.

When countries like Germany give up nuclear power, Poland reduces its dependence on coal, while solar and wind energy are still unable to meet demand, gas is the optimal solution.

According to a study by the Prognos Research Institute, in 2014, the EU consumed 400 billion cubic meters of gas; in 2015, the figure was 419 billion cubic meters and in 2019 it was 470 billion cubic meters.

Consumption figures for 2020 have not been specifically calculated, but according to expert Hobohm, this number is expected to decrease due to the impact of the epidemic of acute respiratory infections Covid-19.

In Germany alone, gas consumption will also increase from 77 billion cubic meters in 2015 to 89 billion cubic meters in 2019, while in 2020 this figure will decrease by about 2.5 percent.

Is that a compelling argument for the construction of the Northern Flow 2 project or would the existing pipes be enough to meet demand?

Is the project really necessary?

If we compare the gas consumption figures for 2019 to 2006, when the first Northern Flow system was planned to be constructed, it can be seen that the consumption volume has never been as high as it was before. Meanwhile, the project construction consortium insists that pipelines are needed as gas consumption will increase continuously. In fact, in 2006, Germany consumed 92 billion cubic meters of gas, while in the EU it was 511 billion cubic meters.

Hobohm adds that Europe’s gas imports from outside Europe depend on how much the continent can produce and to what extent can it meet its own demand?

Currently, the amount of gas produced internally has decreased, partly due to the Netherlands cutting production share faster than planned.

The key point now, experts say, is that the Northern Flow 2 project is still under construction. And Europe has no problems with gas supplies. Whether this project can go into operation or not and never work is an open question.

The later this pipeline is completed, the less necessary it is to be, as the role of natural gas will decline more and more.

Along with that, security policy risks are also very concerned.

First, it is due to the dependence of Europe and Germany on gas from a Russia.

Second, additional risks come from this project because the pipeline runs from Russia through the Baltic Sea and then directly to Germany, not through intermediate states such as Ukraine, Belarus and Poland.

Critics of the project raise two questionable issues.

FirstlyMr. Putin wants free hands to implement his policies with neighboring countries without being afraid to depend on them (when gas exports no longer have to pass through these countries).

Monday, the operation of the Northern Flow 2 system leads to a decrease in the amount of gas flowing through the existing pipes, thereby reducing Ukraine’s income from allowing gas from Russia to transit through its territory. .

The national budget of Kiev will be more than 2 billion euros. Then, the pressure on the EU to increase its aid to Ukraine will grow.

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According to the Russia Today report, after the sudden inspection of Russian forces stationed at the border with Ukraine on April 13, Russian Defense Minister Shoigu stated that the Russian army is ready for the worst scenario, that is is if tensions between Russia and the West escalate to the point of full-scale engagement.

Russian Defense Minister Shoigu. Source: Sina.

According to the report, after that inspection, Minister Shoigu told reporters that the soldiers had met the standards needed to respond to the situation. “The soldiers have shown that they are well prepared and fully competent to complete the task of ensuring the military security of the country,” said Mr. Shoigu.

He also added that this force is conducting an exercise in the border area.

Shoigu said the military deployment was “in response to the joint military operations that threaten Russia”. He also added, “Washington’s troops are moving from the North American continent to Europe across the Atlantic and they are crossing Europe into the Russian border. The main force is concentrated in the Black Sea area. and the Baltic Sea “.

According to the report, Mr. Shoigu also stated that the conflict between Russia and the West is forming a new front line in the Arctic: “To strengthen the defenses of the Russian Federation and protect its national interests in the North Pole. The North Pole, the Department of Defense is working systematically to improve the Northern Fleet’s Combat capabilities. “

Shoigu’s tough statement was made in the context of President Joe Biden and President Vladimir Putin held a telephone call on April 13, the two leaders discussed many regional and global issues, including the situation Ukraine, however, the two sides did not achieve any results on this issue.

The US side continued to emphasize America’s firm commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, expressed concern about Russia’s sudden military increase in Crimea and Ukraine’s borders, and urged Russia to de-escalate. straight.

With that in mind, NATO is planning to dispatch some 40,000 troops and 15,000 different weapons, including strategic aircraft, to gather near the Russian border. NATO also recently launched its biggest 30-year drills exercise called Defender Europe 2021 near Russia. According to Mr. Shoigu, NATO’s actions clearly carry “anti-Russian tendencies”.

In particular, NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg said on April 13 that Russia does not have the right to interfere in Ukraine’s accession to NATO, whether or not Kiev can join is due to the decision of 30 NATO member countries.

Shortly thereafter, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken continued on April 14 to emphasize that Washington would stand side by side with Kiev in tensions with Russia. Blinken also announced that he would discuss Ukraine’s desire to join NATO, despite Moscow’s objections.

On the Ukraine side, Mr. Andriy Yermak, chief of the Ukraine Presidential Office, said in an interview with Time magazine: “Ukraine is against Russia not only for itself but also for Western countries”. Therefore, it is necessary to deploy the US Patriot air defense missile system on the territory of Ukraine.

“Where does the US deploy Patriot missiles? Most recently in Poland. They should be deployed here,” said Andriy Yermak.

According to the report, in December 2014, Ukraine amended its law to give up its non-alignment. In June 2016, Ukraine saw its accession to NATO as a foreign policy goal. In February 2019, the National Assembly of Ukraine approved a constitutional amendment, which clearly defines Ukraine’s policy on joining the European Union and NATO.

These moves show that the tense situation in eastern Ukraine is on the verge of turning into a large-scale conflict between Russia and the US and NATO. Experts say that the US and Russia are playing the “craters of war” game, the party who “goes into the water” first will be the loser.

On April 13, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden held a telegram to discuss the tensions in Ukraine, security issues and the importance of nuclear arms control. . The White House has also proposed holding a formal meeting “in a third country”.

In a statement on April 13, US officials confirmed that the two leaders of Russia and the US had talked about “a series of regional and international issues”.

Presidents Biden and Putin telephoned, but Russia-US relations are still difficult to escape tension. (Photo: RT)

Specifically, President Biden has “voiced concerns about unusual Russian military maneuvers” on the Crimean peninsula and along the Ukrainian border. Mr. Biden called on Moscow to take action “to cool down”.

The exchange between the Russian-US President comes at a time when the danger of conflict between the Ukrainian army and Moscow-backed militants inside the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine shows signs of pushing up into a total war. The move to mobilize large numbers of troops and weapons by the Kiev government has led Russia to also strengthen its military presence along the Ukrainian border.

Some Western countries accuse Moscow of planning to invade Ukraine, but Russian officials have repeatedly denied.

In a move intended to show support for Ukraine, Washington dispatched two warships to the Black Sea.

For its part, the Kremlin says the situation in Donbass is “extremely horrible”, and Russian diplomats have previously expressed concerns with their American counterparts.

But US State Department spokesman Ned Price said that Washington was worried about receiving “credible reports” about the movement of Russian troops near the border between Russia and Ukraine and called for “Russia. restraint to avoid escalating stress ”.

Over the past few months, the US-Russia relationship has deteriorated. Moscow even summoned the Russian ambassador to the country to conduct urgent discussions about the future of relations with Washington.

Specifically, the Russian ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, returned home after in an interview President Biden called Putin a “murderer”. Mr. Biden’s comments have met with strong criticism from many Russian officials.

For his part, Putin used a maxim to disprove Mr. Biden’s claim. According to Mr. Putin, Mr. Biden is “breaking our belly to the stomach”.

“I remember that when we were kids, we played together on the field and used to say ‘belly-up’. It is not a joke or a kid’s sentence, this one has a profound psychological meaning. We always see our own qualities in others and think they really are like us, “Putin said.

According to Putin, the US is “determined” to build relations with Russia, but “only on matters that are beneficial to the US”.

Concluding a phone call between the two presidents on April 13, the US said that Biden’s goal was to build a “predictable and stable relationship with Russia in line with American interests”. In addition, the US also proposed to hold a summit in the next few months, to create an opportunity for the two leaders to “discuss the issues that Russia and the US are facing together”.

In a statement at the end of April 13, the Kremlin said President Biden “expressed a desire to normalize bilateral relations” and sought a consensus on arms control operations, chapter nuclear process, situation in Afghanistan and global climate change problem.

In the past, Russian President Putin met with Biden’s predecessor, former President Donald Trump, in Helsinki in 2018.

For now, Moscow is still skeptical of the White House wanting to hold a constructive dialogue.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “No one allows the US to talk to Russia in a strong position.” Instead, the two countries should treat each other fairly, Mr. Peskov said.

Russia in response?

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was quoted by Russian media on April 13 as saying that Moscow was taking measures in response to a threatening military action by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), in which has combat readiness testing and training.

The Russian Defense Minister stated clearly, NATO is planning to deploy 40,000 troops and 15,000 weapons and military equipment near the Russian border, including the strategic air force. Mr. Shoigu further announced that the US is moving part of its North American garrison to Europe, which is mainly concentrated in the area near the Black Sea and Baltic Sea.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu

Shoigu, the TASS news agency, accused the US of increasing forces in Poland and the Baltic countries, and increasing the frequency of air and sea reconnaissance activities. He asserted that on European territory, NATO annually conducts about 40 large-scale combat training operations against Russia. This spring, NATO launched its largest-scale military exercise in the past 30 years, titled Defender Europe 2021 (Defender Europe 2021).

Mr. Shoigu stressed that Russia is taking measures to respond to NATO’s threatening military activities. The combined Russian large-scale airborne and joint military exercises have demonstrated the ability to be ready to fight to protect the country’s security.

Also on April 13, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg urged Russia to withdraw troops that the alliance thinks Moscow is deploying on a large scale on the border with Ukraine. Speaking at a press conference to Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Mr. Stoltenberg said: “In recent weeks Russia has dispatched thousands of troops ready to operate in Ukraine’s border areas. This is the largest troop surge since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 … Russia must end this military build-up in and around Ukraine, immediately stop provocations and go downstairs. “.

US troops in NATO are deployed to Poland

A day earlier, Mr. Stoltenberg had a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss “Russia’s move to strengthen the army near the Ukrainian border”. According to a statement by the US State Department, Secretary of State Blinken and Secretary General Stoltenberg discussed an urgent request for Russia to stop its military build-up along the border areas of Ukraine and the Crimean peninsula.

President Vladimir Putin has also voiced denunciation of NATO conducting exercises on the Russian border and America’s intention to expand its influence over former Soviet members. In April, up to 5 out of 10 NATO exercises will be held in member states in the East.

NATO says it’s good …

According to Ukraine, Russia has deployed 46 tactical battalions – about 105,000 troops – along the border with Ukraine and in Crimea, and is provided with 19,000 tons of fuel and 355 tons of ammunition. Kiev urges allies not to repeat the 2014 “mistake” with events in Crimea and Donbass.

During a press conference with US and Western officials in Brussels, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said: “Strategically, Russia must understand that Ukraine belongs to the world of democracies, to the Western world, and the West will not let Russia disrupt Ukraine’s democracy and sovereignty.

Ukrainian soldiers

Western analysts say that both Russia and Ukraine may be “trying” the new US President Joe Biden to see how far he is willing to go to protect Washington’s allies and confront Russia. There are also comments that Russia wants to send a message to Ukraine after Kive imposed sanctions on congressman and businessman Viktor Medvedchuk, and banned three TV channels related to Mr. Medvedchuk.

Up to this point, the West still believes that a full-blown Russian strike or a NATO-backed attack against the separatists will not happen at this time. “NATO members will not send any forces to Ukraine,” said expert Bruno Lete, a senior researcher at the German Marshall Fund – a US research agency. the term is in political messaging, military advice and technical assistance. “

Many analysts believe that NATO allies would not be willing to engage their forces in a conflict against Moscow because of the Ukraine issue, but they could strengthen other forms of assistance. On April 14, German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said: “My impression is that the Russian side is trying to do whatever it takes to provoke a response … With Ukraine, we will not be caught up in the process. play this “.

From Crimea to Syria and most recently Nagorny-Karabakh, Russia has demonstrated its determination and unpredictable combat capabilities.

Most observers believe that the current situation will not necessarily lead to an immediate attack, but Russia’s intentions are still unclear, according to politico.eu. very worrying. The West believes that Russian President Putin wants to remain unpredictable, so there is little risk of a completely unexpected war, but there is always a risk of miscalculation or overreaction.

On the Russian side, some analysts in this country said that the outbreak was “a direct result of the internal political situation in Ukraine”. The Russian Expert newspaper assessed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took drastic measures such as fighting the opposition media allegedly pro-Russia, punishing billionaire Medvedchuk who allegedly has close ties to the Kremlin, or ban Russian language in schools aimed at regaining its image in the country.

Meanwhile, the World Socialist Web Site contains information proving that Ukraine, the US and the West are acting “aggressive, provocative” against Russia. Accordingly, Kiev in early March adopted a strategy to “withdraw the Crimean peninsula”. On March 25, President Zelensky also adopted a new military strategy emphasizing the urgency of mobilizing the entire population in a war against Russia in Ukraine. This strategy recognizes that Ukraine can only win with NATO support and no less than 19 mentions of its intention to join the military alliance.

80,000 Russian soldiers in border areas

Ukrainian President Iuliia Mendel’s spokesman on April 12 said Russia sent more than 40,000 troops to Ukraine’s eastern border and another 40,000 to Crimea – which was declared Russian since 2014. “Van Our presidential room has asked to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin. We have not received an answer and hope that this is not a refusal to talk, “Ms. Iuliia Mendel told Interfax and added that the request for negotiations was sent on March 26, after when four Ukrainian soldiers were killed by bombardment in the East.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited troops in the eastern Donbass region on April 9, amid escalating tensions.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry asked Russia to end what it called “military rhetoric and misinformation.” In mid-April, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Paris to speak with European leaders about Russia’s actions and the growing conflict in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskiyy is scheduled to meet with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan – an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Meanwhile, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he “has not seen any requests for the past few days”. Confirming that Russia’s military forces are free to move within the country as appropriate and that the movement of troops near the Ukrainian border and the exercises pose no threat, the Kremlin reiterated that Their support for the separatists is limited to political and humanitarian support.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits the army in the Donbass region east.

Last week, President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of “dangerous provocations” in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine and said Russian-Ukrainian political advisers were trying to organize a new round of talks. may take place in Normandy format – a multilateral dialogue involving French and German leaders. German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer on April 12 also urged Moscow to announce its intentions in the region, saying that if Vladimir Putin’s government “has nothing to hide it can be easily explained. the reason why the army is moving “.

And Manfred Weber, a prominent member of the European Parliament, calls Russia’s military build-up a limited test of the West, warning that if the situation continues to escalate, Moscow will face off. with new sanctions.

Close to the risk of conflict

The fighting in eastern Ukraine had calmed down since July last year but has now heated up and has seen violence erupt. The question now is whether Russia’s beginning to gather troops along the Ukrainian border is a prelude to war? In fact, last year, Moscow and Kiev agreed to better enforce a prolonged ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, namely the Donetsk and Luhansk separatist regions.

However, President Volodymyr Zelenskiyy was unable to fulfill his promise while running for office. Violence in the Donbass began to increase in early February when Ukraine dispatched new forces and weapons to the border line; at the same time announced the joint exercise plan with NATO member countries in this country’s territory.

In this regard, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Ukraine’s membership in NATO could lead to a large-scale escalation in the separatist republics of southeastern Ukraine and cause cooperation. action is irreversible for Ukraine. According to the Russian side, Ukraine’s accession to NATO is just an illusion, because one of the principles for a country to join this organization is that there is no internal conflict, otherwise, it will turn NATO into a war party. . Russia also responded by increasing its border controls with Ukraine.

Soldiers of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) during a training exercise near Donetsk city in August 2020. Photo: EPA.

“Obviously, Ukraine wants to show its toughness to Russia, wants to resolve the internal conflict by means of strength. At the same time, if Ukraine joins NATO, Ukraine can expect the support of its allies to confront Russia directly in resolving disputes, ”commented AP firm.

In addition, with the new administration of the United States, President Volodymyr Zelenskiyy began to make decisions to allow Washington to participate more directly in the deadlock in the East. However, according to NATO officials, Russia is unlikely to escalate the problem for Ukraine because they are also worried about bogged down in a costly conflict without a clear exit strategy. , especially the conflict that has the potential to disappoint Western countries. Furthermore, the element of military intervention on behalf of Donetsk and Luhansk does not have the same political appeal to the Russian public as the conflicts in Georgia and Crimea were.

On the Ukraine side, observers also said that the country did not want to engage in a protracted war with its larger neighbor. “Kiev understands that if they take any offensive action against Russia, they risk losing the existing support of the West,” the Times article stated. Also according to the Times magazine, the current Russian – Ukraine tensions are also a challenge to NATO and a test for the US President Joe Biden administration.

That period of history – the early days of the early state – was marked by a very special name: Rus Kievan (or in Russian as Rus Kievskaya), the origin of both Russian (Russian) and Kiev (Ukrainian capital) landmarks.

Under genghis Khan’s horses

Kievan Rus’s was a grand duke, headed by a grand duke. A rich and prosperous grand district, with a lot of rich profits from the trade in fur, honey, beeswax … Moreover, the chosen geographical location helped Rus Kievan control the three most important trade routes in Eastern Europe: the Volga trade route from the Baltic Sea to the East, the Dnepr trade route from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, and the trade route from the Khazars to the Germanic.

And not only that, the good relations between that grand district and the Byzantine Empire byzantium – the rulers of the Black Sea (especially after Vladimir I chose the Eastern Government according to the model of Byzantium as the state religion) made the status of Kievan Rus’s even more important.

But, after nearly 500 years of existence, that grand district has been completely wiped out on the world map, since 1240. The Khan of Bach Do, the son of Joch, the grandson of Genghis Khan, led a full-on attack on Kievan Rus’s territory in 1237.

But in fact, 14 years earlier, the great victory on the Kalka River that two Mongolian generals – Zhejiang and Speedy Radio – carried out was enough to defeat all the majesty of Kievan Rus’s in particular as well as all the armies on modern Russian – Ukrainian soil in general.

The Mongols – those who brought down the authority of Rus Kievan.

It is worth mentioning that at that time, The Philosopher and Speedy Radio had not set the invasion or occupation of the Eastern Slave territories as the main targets. They were on their way to the West, to pursue the Sultan (emperor) of the Khwaresmia Central Asian Islamic Empire.

On that pursuit, “by the way”, the Mongols destroyed the Iraqi city of Baghdad, ravaged Iran, looted, massacred and massacred Azerbaijan, launched troops into exploration in Georgian soil and ambushed all Georgian troops.

They then crossed the Caucasus, opposite a coalition of North Caucasus tribes. With the separation of cockroaches, Philosopher and Speedy Radio continued to defeat this coalition. The game then pushed them, or rather, pushed the Slave princes to battle against the complete champion army at that time.

As historical researchers noted, the Mongols took advantage of the cavalry’s manoillion, pretending to evacuate to stretch the enemy formation, leading the Kievan Rusan troops to the banks of the Kalka River, the site of the unified Philosopher’s And The Speedy Way. There, the Mongols struck back, slaughtering the majority of the Rus. They pretended to agree to surrender to a small number of princes, but then continued to massacre the disarmed soldiers, to the heads of the imprisoned princes, to both party and watch them suffocate.

After this defeat, Kievan Rus’s barely had the energy to recover, militarily. Triet Villas and Speedy Radio brought troops to the east with Genghis Khan, but left a lot of spies. And so, when Ba do decided to hit Slave land again, he got all the important information.

It can’t be any different. Kievan Rus’s name was removed, forced to depend and tribute to the Mongol Golden Hord, for more than a hundred years. Then, as the Mongol authority deteriorated, the Grand Grand District of Moscow emerged, replacing Kiev’s position, as the capital of the Rus.

Domain history

Therefore, it is no coincidence that in many previous letters, besides Tsar Russia, Ukraine is called Little Russia, while Belarus (Belorussia) bears the name White Russia. These three modern nations, in fact, are a very inseparable block throughout history, three branches of trees buding from a Kievan Rus root.

But, in the beginning, what is Kievan Rus’s? Rus was, in essence, a new people formed during the 9th–19th centuries.

According to records in the historical books of the area, Kievan Rus was officially founded in 880, by a prince named Oleg. With his military talents, Oleg established the dominance of the Kiev princes over every neighboring territory, and even pressuring constantinople, the capital of Byzantium. Thereby, Oleg laid the foundations for his descendants Vladimir I and Yaroslav Wise to build Kievan Rus’s into a prosperous regime.

Kiev – the first capital of the Russians.

The problem is, the more that prosperity fades. This comes from many causes. The first reason was due to the densely landscaped mechanism of the Kiev royal family – when the royals liked most of them to be orthed, so that over time the territories became more and more divided, lacking the necessary concentration as they were at the beginning, while the spirit of sand and isolation increased.

The second reason, the Crusades also caused Rus Kievan to face more challenges, from more powerful conquerors, and therefore, economic resources also declined, leading to the nation’s lag. And the ultimate reason: Kievan Rus’s royal family is constantly divided by countless power struggles.

That is the premedation to follow the changes of history, having escaped the yoke of the Golden Horde, after the polish dosing or being dominated by Poland, after the collisions with central – eastern European powers such as the Grand National Poland – Lithuania, the Kingdom of Prussia or the German Empire … , between the western part of ancient Kievan Rus’s (which became modern Ukraine), is a very fragile line separating it from the eastern part – the darker Slave and the more Russian (Rus) color.

And since nazi armored convoys entered Soviet soil during World War II, the notion of division has become even more pronounced. Then, thirty years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Crimean problem and its follow-up donbass put the children of the same mother in a position to treat each other like enemy sheep.

* At the time of the defeat of the russian princes (Rus), Triet Dao and Speed RealTai had less than two thousand cavalry. Meanwhile, the number of soldiers recorded did not create unity in historical research. The range is estimated at 5,000 (from 30,000 troops to 80,000 troops). In 1237, Speedy Radio assistant Ba do returned, conquering Rus Kievan with 120,000 troops.

* In the years 1054-1224, up to 64 du kingdoms were erected and then collapsed, as many as 293 princes made demands for the inheritance of the throne and their disputes led to 83 civil wars. The problem became more complicated at the end of the 11th century and brought the grand district into chaos. On the initiative of Vladimir Monomakh II in 1097, the first Federal Council of Kievan Rus was met in the city of Liubech near Chernigov with the main purpose of for the war parties to negotiate. However, this only creates a necessary silence.

Ukrainian army.

In vestnik newspaper, the (unnamed) officer said there was little hope that the West would be able to prevent Russian President Putin from conducting a large-scale military operation in Ukraine this spring.

“Unfortunately, because Ukraine itself is simply incapable of creating anything that could influence this decision (the actions of the Russian military – PV).

Ukraine has indeed lost too much time and has been in vain to modernize its defensive areas, which are capable of repelling a potential large-scale military campaign from Russia.

Kiev’s military is said to be unable to inflict any significant “sensitive damage” on its enemies while countering a Moscow offensive.

Ukrainian special forces.

I’m under no illusions about this like some politicians, bloggers, journalists and other citizens of the country. I know all too well the current state of the Ukrainian army and their combat capabilities, the real capacity of the army as opposed to these people (Ukrainian journalists, bloggers…).

Of course, the Russian military is significantly inferior to the U.S. military and the army of several other NATO countries, if not nuclear weapons (NW).

But, unfortunately, it is clear that when escalating the war, the person must take into take into take into calculation the element of nuclear weapons. It is because of this type of weapons of great destruction that 2016 both the US and NATO have not entered into the conflict in Ukraine as “as wise adults.

Even if both American destroyers, the warships in the coming days, enter the Black Sea, detecting a Russian attack on the Ochakov area of Ukraine, they almost certainly do not enter the war.

Ukrainian Navy.

The amphibious fleets of the Black Sea Fleet did not even care about the presence of American warships, would ignore them and enter Ukrainian territory to conduct offensive operations.

American aircraft will also not be crazy but shoot down russian Armed Forces aircraft on the territory of Ukraine, even, they will not bomb russian gathering areas.

President Erdogan’s Bayraktar (Ukraine purchased by Turkey) drones will also not make much of an impact on the operation of the Russian military. These flying vehicles simply won’t have enough time to fight.

Russian Air Force Su-27 aircraft.

Ukraine’s domestic airports will be quickly bombarded by missile strikes or captured by ground forces.

Between now and April 20, kiev’s enemies (Russian military – PV) will have an attack group three times larger than the need to defeat all the main forces of Kiev’s armed forces on the left bank of Ukrainian territory. I predict “D-Day” will fall the following week after that day (April 20)…

Modern tanks of the Russian Army.

Based on the situation before an attack (assumption), I clearly envisioned the plans of the Russian military in the first week of my offensive march. There will be three main offensive directions and two second directions.

The purpose of the three main directions of attack was to encircle the entire Ukrainian Armed Forces group in eastern Ukraine, defeating and arresting the group.

A training-level strike from the north, in the concentrated area of the 3rd Motor rifle group, intensified by gunmen from the Valuyki districts of the Belgorod region, would cut off the road to Kharkov in the Izyum region and the Russian military would occupy the entire place.

Russian special forces.

In the important positions in the south, especially the Novomoskovsk region. From the south, the assault group stationed on the Crimean Peninsula, intensified by several groups of troops of the two amphibious forces (Pskov, Tula), will launch an offensive along the Melitopol-Zaporozhye-Novomoskovsk line.

As a result, the remaining retreats of Ukraine’s combined forces to the Dnepr region will be severed.

At the same time, the main combat-ready forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be separated from all large armys in which the Ukrainian army can fight back as fiercely and prolongedly as possible.

After the formation of a strategic siege that is gradually closed by the northern and southern attack groups in the Novomoskovsk region, a direct attack will be carried out by the forces of the 150th motor rifle group on the front lines in Donbass in order to cut the ukrainian combined forces into 2-3 parts. I believe in the full moon.during this period, Russian offensive campaigns will last from 3 to 5 days.

Large amphibious landing ship formation of the Black Sea Fleet.

In the period lasting from 2 to 5 days from the time the Russian attack is activated, two second attacks (as mentioned above) will be carried out.

The force consisting of about two Brigades of Russian Marines, after landing in the Ochakov-Koblevo area, will attack in the direction of the Kakhovka, aiming to encircle units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Ochakov, Nikolaev and Kherson.

At that time, a ceremonial battalion of the Russian army could also be sent to Odessa for the “liberation of Odessa” event.

The remnants of the 28th Brigade and the Ukrainian Navy left in combat forces in Odessa are unlikely to cause serious resistance.

Ships of the Black Sea Fleet.

It is not helpful to attack the Russians again at the moment, even if this remaining force only effectively stops the Russian army. Immediately accepting surrender “in honor” is something that will surely happen.

Part of the force of the Russian military’s “Ochakovsko-Koblevsky” amphibious operation will be sent toward Kiev, at which point I think this Russian force will be limited to occupying/intercepting the defensive fire of the 72nd brigade and Belotserkovsky airport.

There will be a special hunt for the drone “Made inTurkey/built in Turkey) Bayraktars.

Ukrainian Bayraktars drone purchased from Turkey.

I believe that the task of occupying bayraktar tactical drone operating facilities on the ground and american counterattack radars will be assigned by Russia to special operations units because they have the autonomy to perform combat missions separate from the main military wings.

This tactic of the Special Forces of the Russian Federation was successfully used in Georgia in 2008 to capture/destroy objects far from the main military activity area.

Thus, during the 2008 war, small groups of Special Forces of the Russian Navy attacked Georgian coast guard vessels received from the US at the port of Poti, dismantling and removing early warning radar equipment (also american) from within Georgian territory.

Ukraine’s defensive weapons.

These forces have carried out separate operations. The complete absence of defense troops in Ukraine facilitates such groups to operate at almost any battlefield depth.

A second additional attack will be carried out from the Bryansk region through Chernigov against the facilities of ukraine’s 1st Tank Brigade in Goncharovsky and the Desna training center.

I don’t know what enemy units (Russian military – PV) are now, but information about the formation of an attack group there has been leaked online.

Elite special forces of the Russian army.

The objective of this attack was to take over the center of training of reserve forces, an area very important to the capital Kiev. When successful, Russian forces here will pose an extremely great threat to Kiev from the North.

After forming a closed-siege force against the remaining Ukrainian combined forces, it is very likely that the enemy will enter Kharkov (again, ritualically, as in Odessa) and raid separate bases along the Kharkov-Kiev highway to Boryspil, to create a threat to Kiev from the East.

Again, according to my estimates, the enemy has a three times the amount of reserves to perform the tasks described above. I believe it will take 5-7 days to complete them,” the Ukrainian officer wrote.

Newspapers World & amp; Vietnam highlights of the day:

Russia-Ukraine Ukraine: Russia won’t dare attack

Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Reznikov insisted that, although Russia has been ablediving a large number of troops to the border, there will be no large-scale offensive.

According to Mr. Reznikov, Russia’s concentration of troops on the Ukrainian border is just “a show of force without intention of use,” although there will be minimal probabilities of an attack to occur.

However, Mr Reznikov stressed, the main target remains a “signal” from Russia, which suggests Moscow may attack but that it will prioritise negotiations. (TASS)

Russia ‘reveals’ reasons for marching troops to border

On April 13, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that Moscow’s large-scale military push in the West was part of exercises to assess readiness amid threats from NATO.

Speaking in a meeting with senior generals, Mr Shoigu said the ongoing exercise was a response to what he called relentless efforts by the US and NATO allies to strengthen their forces near Russia’s borders.

“Russian soldiers are ready to complete the task of protecting the security of the country,” Shoigu asserted. (AP)

Moscow warns West over Ukraine issue

On the same day, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that the US and EU are stepping up tensions in Ukraine by increasing military support for the country.

“We want to reiterate that NATO countries, who use the fallacy to speculate on the defense of Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, should think about Kiev’s belligerent attitude, while ensuring the implementation of the Minsk Measure Package that Kiev is deliberately ignoring,” Ryabkov said.

He added that, in the worst assumption, “Kiev and its allies in the West will be fully responsible for the consequences.” (TASS)

US-Russia: What’s in the Biden-Putin radio?

During the April 13 phone call, U.S. President Joe Biden proposed to his Russian ally Vladimir Putin to hold a summit in a third country.

The White House statement stated: “During the talks, President Biden reaffirmed his goal of building a stable, predictable relationship with Russia and in line with American interests.”

At the same time, the White House boss asserted, the U.S. will act “resolutely” to protect national interests, responding to Russian actions such as cyber intrusion and election interference.

On the Ukraine issue, the U.S. President emphasized Washington’s relentless support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In addition, President Biden proposed that the leaders of the two countries meet for a third summit in the next few months to discuss a range of issues in U.S.-Russia relations. If held, it would be the first meeting between Mr Biden and Mr Putin.

For his part, the Kremlin announced, during the talks, that the US President had told Mr Putin that Washington wanted to normalize relations and cooperation on arms control, the Iranian nuclear program, the Afghan issue and climate change.

In addition, President Putin has outlined approaches to solving politics in Ukraine and outlined approaches to solving political problems rooted in the Minsk Measures Package. (Reuters/TASS)

U.S. intelligence puts China at the top of threat list

According to the 2021 Annual Assessment of Threats report, China will continue to increase its influence while trying to undermine U.S. influence, “dividing” relations between Washington and its partners, as well as allies.

China’s promotion of power globally is a leading threat to U.S. national security, the report said.

Regarding Russia, the report said, Moscow “does not want a direct conflict” with the U.S., though it will continue its destabilizing efforts toward Ukraine.

As for North Korea, the report said, Pyongyang will likely consider whether it should resume its nuclear weapons and long-range missile tests this year, amid efforts by the Northeast Asian nation to negotiate with the new U.S. administration on its own terms. (Reuters)

American c’Official’ delegation to Taiwan

U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration on April 13 sent an official delegation to Taiwan, a move seen as a “personal signal” of the President’s commitment to the island.

The delegation included Senator Chris Dodd and two former Deputy Foreign Ministers, Richard Armitage and James Steinberg.

In addition, according to a senior official in Mr. Biden’s administration, the U.S. sent the delegation as the U.S. and Taiwan celebrated the 42nd anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act that Mr. Biden voted to pass as a senator.

“The dispatch of these three individuals – senior politicians, longtime friends of Taiwan and close personal ties to President Biden – sends an important signal of America’s commitment to Taiwan and its democracy,” the official said. (Reuters)

Iran-Israel Iran produces 60% uranium in response to Israel

On April 14, Iran announced next week it would begin producing uranium enriched in purity of up to 60 percent, three days after an attack that Tehran accused of being caused by Israel against a key nuclear facility in Natanz. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani explained that the decision to enrich uranium was in response to Israel’s “nuclear terrorism.”

Speaking on television, Mr Rouhani stressed: “Activate IR-6 (centrifugal machines) in Natanz on April 14, or raise the level of enrichment to 60%… to respond to malice. What (Israel) did was nuclear terrorism. What we do is legal.”

In a report sent to member countries, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said iran had informed the agency that it planned to start enriching uranium at a maximum of 60 percent. (AFP)

Israeli ship attacked, suspected Iran culprit?

The Israeli-owned Hyperion vessel was attacked off the UAE coast, according to the channel TV 12, this missile was launched from Iran.

The ship suffered minor damage. Channel TV 12 Israeli sources on the same day cited security sources as reporting that the missile had been launched by Iran.

According to the news channel, several unnamed Israeli officials accused Iran of carrying out the attack. (Al-Mayadeen)

South China Sea NATO condemns China in South China Sea

On April 13, speaking online at the Raisina Dialogue (India’s conference on geography and economics), NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that china’s rise is seen as a global issue, all countries need to pay attention to this.

The NATO secretary general said, “we must be clearly aware of the challenges that come with china’s rise.”

According to Jens Stoltenberg, China is strengthening its military strength along with economic development. The country has tripled its military spending over the past decade, now has the world’s second-largest defense budget and continues to massively invest in military modernization.

Besides, Mr. Stoltenberg asserted, NATO is an important foundation for responding to the security effects of a rising China. “NATO wants to interact closer with partners around the world, because it is the best way to protect the rules-based international order, protecting society and democracy,” Said Stoltenberg. (Business Standard)

China fires real ammunition in South China Sea

The website of China’s Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) on April 14 posted a notice of the country’s schedule of real-life ammunition firing exercises in the South China Sea.

Accordingly, live-fire exercises in the South China Sea take place in an area limited by coordinates 23-18-007N 117-16-00E, 23-18-00N 117-24-00E, 23-10-00N 117-24-00E and 23-10-00N 117-16-00E from 0h-10h daily UTC (7h-17h Hanoi time), from April 15-20.

The above notice states that during the exercises, MSA of Shantou city banned boats from entering the above area. (THX)

Afghanistan: US, UK, NATO simultaneously schedule withdrawals

On April 13, U.S. President Joe Biden decided to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan before 9/11, exactly 20 years after the Al-Qaeda attack sparked America’s longest war.

However, according to unnamed sources, the withdrawal will be based on specific assurances on security and human rights, before formalizing the decision. The sources did not provide further details.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are expected to announce the decision with allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Brussels on April 14. President Biden may also announce his decision.

Following in the U.S., Britain and NATO also announced they would withdraw almost all forces from Afghanistan.

Speaking to a TV channel Ard, German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer stated: “We always declare: we will go together, we will withdraw together… I support an orderly withdrawal and that’s why I think today (April 14) we (NATO) will be united on that.” (Reuters/AFP)

A test with President Biden

For now, it’s not hard to see whether America’s adversies are trying to challenge the country’s leader, from Russia’s increased force on its border with Ukraine, China’s moves in Taiwan or North Korea’s missile tests to get President Biden’s attention.

President Biden. Photo: CNN

Mr Biden’s hopes of resuming the nuclear deal with Iran will be even harder if Tehran’s hardline followers are in charge of negotiations. Besides, if Israel is accused of carrying out an attack on Iran, President Biden will likely face a crisis with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in pending the situation. The ability to address these challenges will shape Mr Biden’s legacy.

China has been intensifying its rise over the past year and is now ready to assert military power in Asia, as well as its influence in many parts of the world. Meanwhile, Western tensions and divisions also have many problems related to Russia.

President Biden’s administration understands its enemies are probing a new White House. Bitter disagreements between U.S. and Chinese officials in Alaska last month sent a clear message from Washington to Beijing that President Biden would not be easily persuaded.

Since then, U.S. and Chinese carrier combat forces have increased their presence in the South China Sea. In addition, China sent 25 fighters to taiwan’s air defense zone as a message asking Washington not to interfere in its internal work.

Taiwan is considered the issue with the highest risk of sparking the US-China conflict. After Washington launched the USS John McCain into the Taiwan Strait last week, China warned the U.S. not to “play with fire.”

Along with its Western allies, President Biden’s administration has also put pressure on Russia over the Ukraine issue due to fears that current tensions in eastern Ukraine could lead to a full-on conflict in the sensitive region.

A senior U.S. defense official told CNN last week that the Pentagon is considering moving two ships to the Black Sea to show support for Ukraine, a move that could escalate tensions.

Tough stance

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who spoke directly to Chinese officials in Alaska, did not hesitate to give tough warnings to Russia and China.

“It would be a serious mistake if anyone tried to change the status quo by force,” Mr Blinken said on NBC on April 11.

In Europe, on April 13, during a NATO meeting to announce the U.S. increased military presence in Germany, Foreign Minister Blinken met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleb, and said that if Russia continues to escalate tensions, as President Biden has made clear, the country will pay the price and suffer the consequences.”

These hardline statements are intended to counter the claim in both Russia and China that america’s weakening and downward decline is inevitable after two decades of war, financial terrorism, internal political discord and limited ability to cope with the pandemic.

U.S. Secretary of State Blinken’s remarks also need to be taken into account when compared to the foreign policy approach of former President Trump, who has not taken a stance too tough on Russia.

The Current White House’s position with both Russia and China is to cooperate when possible but confrontational relations still prevail, especially in the fierce economic competition with Beijing.

As CNN reported, President Biden’s climate envoy, former Secretary of State John Kerry, will make a brief visit to Beijing to seek common ground between the two countries ahead of the Climate Summit in Scotland in November. In a surprise move, President Biden on April 13 offered a third face-to-face meeting next month with Russian President Putin, just weeks after the U.S. leader endorsed what he called the Russian leader a “murderer.”

The move is said to resemble a “carrot” that Mr Biden gave Mr Putin in order to avoid any escalation of tensions in Ukraine or in connection with the poisoning of opposition figures Alexei Navalny.

Decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan

President Biden’s decision on Afghanistan appears to be a foreign policy given after calculations on domestic policies.

Republicans with hardline views argue that this decision by the American leader is a dangerous step. The power gap after years of civil war in Afghanistan will cause the Taliban to intensify operations and turn the country into a terrorist paradise for al Qaeda to stage attacks on New York and Washington.

“The hasty withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan is a disastrous mistake because the process takes place when the enemy has not gone away and is a sign that the U.S. is abandoning its leadership,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Not all Republicans, though, have criticized the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. Congressman Ted Cruz, who has always opposed most of Mr. Biden’s policies, is an example. Ted Cruz said he was not opposed to the deadline for withdrawing American troops from Afghanistan that Mr Biden set.

“Bringing our troops back should not be seen as a sign that the U.S. neglects caution in protecting the American people and our allies. We can still defend our interests without the need to maintain a long-term military presence here.”

If Mr. Biden is determined to implement his plan, he can achieve what former Presidents Obama and Trump have tried but failed to do, which is to end American interference in the endless wars that followed 9/11 abroad.

President Volodymyr Zelensky during his latest visit to the frontline area in eastern Ukraine. Photo: Getty

Speaking to CNN reporters during a visit to the frontline area in the East on April 12, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that “an invasion” from Russia was highly likely and that Ukraine was ready to face the challenge when it was a story related to the country’s territory.

The West has also officially voiced concerns about Russian military movement in the region bordering Ukriane. European Council spokesman Peter Stano said on April 12 that the European Union hoped there would be no escalation of tensions or conflict in eastern Ukraine, urging Russia to avoid steps that could increase tensions in the region. He also said the Ukraine issue would be on the agenda at the meeting of EU foreign ministers, scheduled to open next April 19.

For its part, Moscow insists that the movement of soldiers and weapons within Russian territory is normal, in order to ensure the security and territorial defense of Russia, not a threat to anyone. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on April 12 also reiterated the view that Russia needs to pay attention to the Russian-speaking ethnic community around the world in general and that need is increasingly urgent for communities in the two self-proclaimed donbass countries, who are also rejected by the Kiev authorities.

The war 10 sides expected: However, a large-scale clash in Eastern Ukraine is less likely, especially between Russia and Ukraine.

The Ukraine issue was a prominent factor in Mr Biden’s proposal to meet with President Putin at a phone call between the two leaders on April 13. Photo: CNN

On the Ukrainian side, the key issue lies in the that President Zelensky is losing credibility, political position. Many of the initiatives he outlined when he came to power were deadlocked. He also lost support within the ruling People’s People’s Party.

Many members of the party see, with recent steps – such as passing language laws, shuting down anti-Russian broadcasters, Mr. Zelensky is following the agenda of his predecessor Poroshenko. This means losing personal status, entering the next election with many unfavorable factors.

U.S. and Western backing is also a factor kiev must take into account. To date, the U.S. has expressed great support for Ukraine, but is in favor of claiming to be the main one. President Joe Biden pledged “backing first as one” to kiev authorities, including military aid. The White House also urged European allies, especially France and Germany, to stand side by side with Ukraine.

But the most desirable thing is that modern weapons and the prospect of NATO membership remain out of Kiev’s reach. Without both of these factors, Ukraine would not dare risk opening a war in Donbass, because it would be an act of suicide.

Ukrainian President Andriy Yermak made a blunt offer to the West, saying: “Ukraine is the anti-Russian frontline of the West. But look, where does the U.S. deploy the Patriot missile defense system? The closest point is Poland. Such systems need to appear in Ukraine”. Ukraine has so far not received missiles, modern weapons capable of repelling enemy air attacks.

Mr Zelensky in a phone call with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on April 6 again asked the military alliance to give a clear roadmap for Ukraine to join NATO. He insisted full membership would be the decisive factor in ending the war in Donbass. In response, NATO argued that Kiev must first focus on domestic reforms and develop its defense potential in a way that is in close proximity to the bloc’s standards, which in the end will be considered.

For Russia, the move to close ukraine’s borders is a way for Moscow to move its message to the West, which is not necessarily a warm-up for a new conflict with Kiev. According to Michael Kofman, Director of the Research Division on Russia at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), Russia deliberately publicly moved its troops, in order for Ukraine and the West to recognize it. Russia’s primary purpose is to pressure Kiev and some Western allies as progress on implementing the Minsk II ceasefire agreement is intended and in line with its interests.ch of Moscow.

The Ukrainian leadership is also in the ting of this evaluation trend. President Zelensky sees Russia’s actions as a test against the West. What Moscow wants is to “escalate tensions” to the threshold enough for the U.S. and NATO to step down in favor of Kiev, hesitating to recognize Ukraine as a real partner.

Military pressure is a step for Moscow to establish its influence in Ukraine as it wishes. Russia did so after noticing that hopes for current construction in Ukraine through political measures were gone, with decisions by Mr Zelensky’s administration on sanctioning elements, the anti-Russian political force, shut down Russian-language broadcast TV channels. It means that the scenario of a leader, the russian party is unlikely to be in power in Kiev in the near future – something that lies in Moscow’s long-term calculations.

President Zelensky’s administration did not want to risk escalating the war in Donbass, because the consequences were too great. Mr Putin may still decide to launch a total force offensive, which is that Ukraine is almost incapable of resisting and that it is “really scary,” as the Kiev leader himself admits. But on the public side, Mr. Zelensky is not allowed to reveal it.

As the purpose of the parties gradually reveals, statements or military moves can be just a cover, a way to create pressure and public opinion to be able to reach the negotiating table with the greatest advantage.