Tanzania,Tanzania

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — With global hunger levels at a new high, the United Nations chief said Wednesday he is in intense contacts” with Russia and other key countries hoping for an agreement to allow the export of grain stored in Ukrainian ports and ensure Russian food and fertilizer have unrestricted access to global markets.But Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told a ministerial meeting on the escalating food security crisis, which has been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, that “there is still a long way to go.”“The complex security, economic and financial implications require goodwill on all sides for a package deal to be reached,” he said. “I will not go into details because public statements could undermine the chances of success.”Guterres said global hunger levels “are at a new high,” with the number of people facing severe food insecurity doubling in just two years from 135 million before the pandemic to 276 million today. He said more than 500,000 people are living in famine conditions -- an increase of more than 500% since 2016.He said Ukraine and Russia together produce almost a third of the world’s wheat and barley and half of its sunflower oil, while Russia and its ally Belarus are the world’s number two and three producers of potash, a key ingredient of fertilizer.“There is no effective solution to the food crisis without reintegrating Ukraine’s food production, as well as the food and fertilizer produced by Russia and Belarus, into world markets, despite the war,” he said.The secretary-general said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 is “amplifying and accelerating” the drivers of food insecurity and global hunger — climate change, COVID-19 and inequality. The conflict has closed Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, halting food exports to many developing countries, Guterres said that during his recent visit to Africa’s Sahel region, he met families who didn’t know where their next meal was coming from. David Beasley, head of the U.N. World Food Program, warned that “failure to open the ports will be a declaration of war on global food security, resulting in famine and destabilization of nations as well as mass migration by necessity.”“This is not just about Ukraine,” he said. “This is about the poorest of the poor around the world who are on the brink of starvation as we speak. So I ask (Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin, if you have any heart at all, to please open these ports … so that we can feed the poorest of the poor and avert famine, as we’ve done in the past, when nations in this room have stepped up together.”U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who chaired the meeting called by the United States, said the world is facing “the greatest global food security crisis of our time.”Blinken said that between 2016 and 2021, the number of people living in acute food insecurity -- where their inability to eat adequate food puts their lives or livelihoods “in immediate danger” -- skyrocketed from 108 million to 161 million.America’s top diplomat urged countries make significant new contributions for humanitarian organizations and agencies battling food insecurity, and he called on countries with significant grain and fertilizer reserves to also come forward quickly.“Governments and international organizations can also come together to compel the Russian Federation to create corridors so that food and other vital supplies can safely leave Ukraine by land or by sea,” Blinken said. “There are an estimated 22 million tons of grain sitting in silos in Ukraine right now, food that could immediately go toward helping those in need if it can simply get out of the country.”

UN chief `hopeful' of Ukraine grain deal to help food crisis

Ukraine

Russia

Belarus

UnitedNations

AntonioGuterres

Vladimir

Suman V

Just hours before US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Democratic-California) who said to have tested positive for COVID-19, reports surfaced that she is expected to make a trip to Taiwan in the near future. However, the exact date when the visit will take place is not known. Despite any confirmation from Pelosi’s office and Taiwanese officials of the trip, China issued a warning for US over the speaker's upcoming visit, Bloomberg reported. “If the United States insists on having its own way, China will take strong measures in response to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. All possible consequences that arise from this will completely be borne by the U.S. side,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said, Reuters reported. Also Read | Russia’s Ukraine war a strategic burden on Beijing: Pentagon,Lijian emphasized that China opposes all official contact between the US and Taiwan. China claims Taiwan as its own and has been stepping up pressure on the island to take territory control. Taiwan says it's already an independent state under the name of the Republic of China. The increasing support that Taiwan has been receiving from US has angered Beijing. Many have suggested that Russia's invasion of Ukraine could inspire China into taking over Taiwan by force. ,Now, Pelosi's visit could hint at a key support for the island nation. Whenever the visit takes place, it would be the first time the US Speaker of the House has traveled to Taiwan since 1997. ,Washington has strongly opposed China's claim on the island. A bill introduced in the House on Wednesday would sanction China for any threats or actions taken against Taiwan. “The situation in Ukraine is the very real consequence of weak leadership and a lack of true deterrence for Russia. Taiwan is a friend, good trading partner, and beacon of freedom and democracy,” Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) said regarding a similar bill he put forth in the Senate. Also Read | What does the $95M US arms package mean for Taiwan amid China's military expansion?,“Our bill threatens crippling financial sanctions as a deterrence to China trying to follow in [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s footsteps as it relates to Taiwan,” he added. The US has also been working on strengthening Taiwan's military capabilities by approving a recent arms deal. The State Department notified Congress of a $95 million equipment and maintenance package for Taiwan's Patriot surface-to-air missile systems on April 5, according to a press released issued by the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency. This is the Biden administration's third foreign military sale to Taiwan. Lijian had condemned the deal with Taiwan, demanded that the US withdraw the package. ,The arms sale seriously undermines China's sovereignty and security interests, and seriously undermines China-U.S. relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, he said, according to Xinhua Net. China will take resolute and powerful measures to resolutely defend its sovereignty and security interests, Zhao said. Also Read | House Speaker Pelosi tests COVID positive a day after meeting Biden,Late on Thursday, Pelosi tested positive for COVID-19 a day after she met with US President Joe Biden at the White House for the Postal services bill signing. This suggests that even if a Taiwan visit has been on the cards, it would surely be delayed.

{\"time\":1649356846095,\"strCount\":4461,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Just hours before&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/us\\\">US</a> House Speaker&nbsp;Nancy Pelosi (Democratic-California) who said to have tested positive for COVID-19, reports surfaced that she is expected to make a trip to <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/taiwan\\\">Taiwan</a> in the near future. However, the exact date when the visit will take place is not known.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Despite any confirmation from Pelosi’s office and Taiwanese officials of the trip, China issued a warning for US over the speaker's upcoming visit, Bloomberg reported.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"“If the United States insists on having its own way, China will take strong measures in response to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. All possible consequences that arise from this will completely be borne by the U.S. side,” <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/chinese\\\">Chinese</a> foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said, Reuters reported.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read |&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/english/russias-ukraine-war-a-strategic-burden-for-beijing-pentagon\\\">Russia’s Ukraine war a strategic burden on Beijing: Pentagon</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Lijian emphasized that China opposes all official contact between the US and Taiwan.&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/china\\\">China</a>&nbsp;claims Taiwan as its own and has been stepping up pressure on the island to take territory control. Taiwan says it's already an independent state under the name of the Republic of China.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The increasing support that Taiwan has been receiving from US has angered <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/beijing\\\">Beijing</a>. Many have suggested that Russia's invasion of Ukraine could inspire China into taking over Taiwan by force.&nbsp;\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Now, Pelosi's visit could hint at a key support for the island nation. Whenever the visit takes place, it would be the first time the US Speaker of the House has traveled to Taiwan since 1997.&nbsp;\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/washington\\\">Washington</a> has strongly opposed China's claim on the island.&nbsp;A bill introduced in the House on Wednesday would sanction China for any threats or actions taken against Taiwan.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"“The situation in Ukraine is the very real consequence of weak leadership and a lack of true deterrence for <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/russia\\\">Russia</a>. Taiwan is a friend, good trading partner, and beacon of freedom and democracy,” Sen.&nbsp;Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) said regarding a similar bill he put forth in the <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/senate\\\">Senate</a>.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read |&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/english/what-does-the-95m-us-arms-package-mean-for-taiwan-amid-chinas-military-expansion\\\">What does the $95M US arms package mean for Taiwan amid China's military expansion?</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"“Our bill threatens crippling financial sanctions as a deterrence to China trying to follow in [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s footsteps as it relates to Taiwan,” he added.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The US has also been working on strengthening Taiwan's military capabilities by approving a recent arms deal.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The State Department notified&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/congress\\\">Congress</a>&nbsp;of a $95 million equipment and maintenance package for Taiwan's Patriot surface-to-air missile systems on April 5, according to a press released issued by the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency. This is the&nbsp;Biden administration's third foreign military sale to Taiwan.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Lijian had condemned the deal with Taiwan, demanded that the US withdraw the package. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The arms sale \\\"seriously undermines China's sovereignty and security interests, and seriously undermines China-U.S. relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,\\\" he said, according to Xinhua Net. \\\"China will take resolute and powerful measures to resolutely defend its sovereignty and security interests,\\\" Zhao said.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read |&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/english/us-house-speaker-nancy-pelosi-tests-covid-positive-a-day-after-meeting-president-joe-biden\\\">House Speaker Pelosi tests COVID positive a day after meeting Biden</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Late on Thursday,&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/nancypelosi\\\">Pelosi</a>&nbsp;tested positive for&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/covid19\\\">COVID-19</a>&nbsp;a day after she met with&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/us\\\">US</a>&nbsp;President&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/joebiden\\\">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;at the White House for the&nbsp;Postal services bill signing. This suggests that even if a Taiwan visit has been on the cards, it would surely be delayed.\"}}]}

<ul>
  <li>China has issued a warning for US over the speaker's upcoming visit</li>
  <li>Neither Pelosi's office nor Taiwanese officials have confirmed the visit</li>
  <li>The increasing support that Taiwan has been receiving from US has angered Beijing</li>
</ul>

Opoyi Central

What US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's planned visit to Taiwan means for China

Pentagon

China

Beijing

Taiwan

Washington

Senate

Chinese

Asia

Europe

UnitedStates

Islamabad, Apr 1 (PTI) Ahead of the crucial parliamentary no-confidence vote, embattled Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday stepped up his attack on the US, saying a powerful country had expressed displeasure over his recent visit to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. Opposition parties in the National Assembly have submitted the no-trust motion seeking Khan's ouster for allegedly mismanaging the cash-strapped country's economy. The 69-year-old cricketer-turned-politician, despite losing majority in the lower house, said on Thursday night in an address to the nation that he would not resign and will face the no-confidence vote on Sunday. He also vowed that he would stand up to foreign intervention in Pakistan's internal affairs. In what appeared to be a slip of tongue, Khan named the US as the origin of a memo that he said confirmed a foreign conspiracy prompted by his maiden visit to Russia on the day President Putin invaded Ukraine. We got a message from America — oh, not America, I mean a foreign country I can't name, Khan said in the live televised address. They say they are angry with Pakistan. ... They say they will forgive Pakistan if Imran Khan loses a no-trust motion. But if the vote fails, Pakistan will have to face serious consequences, Khan said, citing the text of the alleged memo. The US has dismissed Khan's allegations. We are closely following developments in Pakistan. We respect, we support Pakistan's constitutional process and the rule of law, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters at his daily news conference on Thursday in Washington. But when it comes to those allegations, there is no truth to them,” Price said when asked to comment on Khan's remarks. But in Islamabad, Pakistan's Foreign Office summoned US Charge d’ Affaires Angela P Aggeler over a “threatening letter” that warned of dire consequences if the Opposition’s no-confidence motion against Khan failed. The senior US diplomat was summoned after a decision by Pakistan's National Security Council (NSC) on Thursday. The Foreign Office also handed over a letter of protest to the US diplomat over the language used by a foreign official during a formal communication. The Foreign Office also told the US diplomat that interference in Pakistan's internal affairs is unacceptable. On Friday, Prime Minister Khan raked up the alleged US intervention during his address to the Islamabad Security Dialogue. Referring to the US, Khan said a powerful country had expressed displeasure over his recent visit to Russia, the official APP news agency reported. On the other hand, it is supporting its ally India which imports oil from Russia,” he rued. Dismissing Prime Minister Khan's allegations that Opposition was involved in a foreign-funded conspiracy to topple his government, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday urged the premier to leave his office ‘respectfully’ and not look for any face-saving. The decision [to table no-confidence motion] was taken long before Imran Khan's visit to Russia. We took many decisions during our CEC meeting in January, he said while addressing a news conference here. Meanwhile, leading Pakistani newspapers noted that Prime Minister Khan's address to the nation seemed like an election campaign speech. By condemning in advance those who will be voting against him on Sunday as willing accomplices in an international conspiracy, Prime Minister Imran Khan has cemented his narrative for his upcoming election campaign, the Dawn newspaper wrote in its editorial. He knows that he is not going to survive, but, through a lengthy prime time address heavy on sermon and nationalist zeal, he has ensured that he will remain relevant to a broad cross-section of the electorate easily swayed by emotion and deeply invested in conspiracy theories, the newspaper commented. A ‘slip of the tongue’, a lot of talk on foreign policy, and the promise that he will go down fighting ‘till the last ball’ and will not stop his efforts towards a sovereign Pakistan – in truth the Prime Minister’s speech last night seemed more like the launch of an election campaign, the News International said in its editorial. The no-confidence resolution against Prime Minister Khan was tabled by the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif on March 28. Khan needs 172 votes in the lower house of 342 to foil the Opposition's bid to topple him. However, Opposition claims it has the support of 177 lawmakers and the prime minister should immediately resign. No Pakistani prime minister has ever completed a full five-year term in office. Also, no prime minister in Pakistan's history has ever been ousted through a no-confidence motion, and Khan is the third premier to face the challenge.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan steps up attack on US ahead of crucial trust vote

Pakistan

ImranKhan

Moscow

Putin

Islamabad, Apr 1 (PTI) Ahead of Sunday's no-trust motion against him, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said a powerful country, which is supporting India, is angry with Pakistan because of his recent visit to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin. Addressing the Islamabad Security Dialogue, Khan emphasised that an independent foreign policy was crucial for the country, and said the reason why Pakistan could not touch its peak potential was its dependency syndrome on other powerful nations. A county without an independent foreign policy remains unable to secure the interests of its people, he said. Khan said taking independent decisions while keeping high the interests of a nation was extremely important rather than submitting to the will of other countries in exchange for foreign aid. Referring to the US, Khan said a powerful country had expressed displeasure over his recent visit to Russia, the official APP news agency reported. On the other hand, it is supporting its ally India which imports oil from Russia,” he rued. Khan's comments came a day after Pakistan summoned the Acting US envoy in Islamabad to the Foreign Ministry over a threatening letter and an alleged “foreign-funded plot” against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government led by Khan. The US diplomat was summoned hours after the country’s top decision-making body on national security voiced concern over the issue during a meeting chaired by Khan on Thursday. Prime Minister Khan met President Putin in the Kremlin on February 24, the day the Russian President ordered a special military operation against Ukraine. Pakistan's ties with Russia have moved past the bitter Cold War hostilities in recent years and the chill in the relations between Pakistan and the US has further pushed the country towards Russia and China. US President Joe Biden is yet to make a customary call to Prime Minister Khan since he assumed office in January 2021. In his speech, Khan said his government has pursued an independent foreign policy. How come a country can interfere in the affairs of an independent State, he said. But not to blame them, as it is our fault because we gave them this impression. He said for its own interest, Pakistan’s elite threw the nation to the altar and put its self-respect at stake. Last month, Pakistan abstained from voting in United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution calling on Russia to stop the war against Ukraine, and urged that the conflict be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. Khan has been claiming that the Opposition’s no-confidence motion against him was the result of a “foreign conspiracy” because of his independent foreign policy and funds were being channelled from abroad to oust him from power. The 69-year-old embattled prime minister on Wednesday effectively lost majority in Parliament after Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), a key partner of the ruling coalition, joined the ranks of the Opposition, which had tabled a no-confidence motion against his government in the National Assembly. The crucial vote on the no-confidence motion will take place on Sunday. Taking a jibe at the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif, Khan said: “Those who are preparing to get to the Prime Minister's Office are giving interviews that my statements will piss off America and Pakistan cannot survive without its support.” The prime minister said the decisions of previous politicians have led to a situation where no foreign country respects Pakistan. They order us. They say that if the no-confidence motion does not become successful, there will be consequences for Pakistan, he said.

Imran Khan says a 'powerful country' supporting India is angry with Pak for his Russia visit

India

Islamabad

Berlin,Germany

BERLIN (AP) — The Group of Seven major economies have agreed to reject Moscow’s demand to pay for energy imports from Russia in rubles, Germany’s energy minister said Monday.Robert Habeck told reporters that “all G-7 ministers agreed completely that this (would be) a one-sided and clear breach of the existing contracts.”Habeck said that “payment in ruble is not acceptable and we will urge the companies affected not to follow (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s demand.”Putin announced last week that Russia will demand “unfriendly countries pay for natural gas only in Russian currency from now on. He instructed the country’s central bank to work out a procedure for natural gas buyers to acquire rubles in Russia.Economists said the move appeared designed to try to support the ruble, which has collapsed against other currencies since Putin invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24 and Western countries responded with far-reaching sanctions against Moscow. But some analysts expressed doubt that it would work.Asked by reporters earlier Monday if Russia could cut natural gas supplies to European customers if they reject the demand to pay in rubles, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a conference call that “we clearly aren’t going to supply gas for free.”“In our situation, it’s hardly possible and feasible to engage in charity for Europe,” Peskov said.The G-7 nations are France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.

Germany: G7 rejects Russia's demand to pay for gas in rubles

Germany

Berlín

Kremlin

United States

A small radio station near Kansas City, Missouri, was criticized for airing a controversial Russian state-sponsored program. However, its owner has defended its act saying he is defending free speech. Peter Schartel is paid $5,000 a month to air Radio Sputnik, the content of which is being dubbed pro-Putin propaganda. The radio program is being funded by the Russian government on Schartel broadcasting company's KCXL station. ,Schartel's company is just one of two in the U.S. that accepts money from the Russian-backed program, according to the Associated Press. Also Read | 'This man can't remain in power': Biden calls for regime change in Russia,The program was first aired in January 2020 for financial purposes, but it still continues, despite several condemnation over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Several people criticizing Schartel's act have accused him of being a traitor and promoting misinformation during the war, which has claimed thousands of lives and has displaced millions. Earlier this month, the Kansas City Star strongly criticized Schartel for bombarding listeners with pro-Putin talk. Supporting Radio Sputnik, especially during a time of war in Europe, is unpatriotic, if not un-American, the Star wrote in a recent editorial. We advise KCXL to drop all programming that paints (Russian President Vladimir) Putin in a positive light. The Russian president is no victim; he is for sure no war hero. Also Read | Cryptocurrencies helping Ukraine raise millions in war against Russia,Despite facing criticism, Schartel continued airing the radio program, calling his act an exercise of his own free speech. Some will talk to me, but others will still call me a piece of whatever, he told the AP. What I am thankful for is we are still living in a country where they can call me up. Even if they aren't thinking about free speech they're exercising that right. A US branch of Rossiya Segodnya, which is operated by the Russian government, produces Radio Sputnik. Amid the war in Ukraine, several people have accused Radio Sputnik of spreading false and misleading information. On March 1, just a week into the Russia-Ukraine war, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) issued a statement urging radio broadcasters in the US to exclude Radio Sputnik and other Russian-sponsored programs. We believe that our nation must stand fully united against misinformation and for freedom and democracy across the globe, NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt said in a statement.

{\"time\":1648324222790,\"strCount\":3025,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"A small radio station&nbsp;near Kansas City, <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/missouri\\\">Missouri</a>, was criticized for airing&nbsp;a controversial Russian state-sponsored program. However, its owner has defended its act saying he is defending free speech.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Peter Schartel is paid $5,000 a month to air Radio Sputnik, the content of which is being&nbsp;dubbed \\\"pro-Putin propaganda.\\\" The radio program is being&nbsp;funded by the Russian government on Schartel broadcasting company's KCXL station. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Schartel's company is just one of two in the U.S. that accepts money from the Russian-backed program, according to the Associated Press.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read |&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/english/us-president-joe-biden-calls-for-regime-change-in-russia-amid-ukraine-crisis\\\">'This man can't remain in power': Biden calls for regime change in Russia</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The program was first aired in January 2020 for financial purposes,&nbsp; but it still continues, despite several condemnation over Russia's invasion of <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/ukraine\\\">Ukraine</a>.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Several people criticizing&nbsp;Schartel's act have&nbsp;accused him of being a \\\"traitor\\\" and promoting misinformation during the war, which has claimed thousands of lives and has displaced millions.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Earlier this month, the Kansas City <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/star\\\">Star</a> strongly criticized Schartel for \\\"bombarding\\\" listeners with \\\"pro-Putin talk.\\\"\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"Supporting Radio Sputnik, especially during a time of war in Europe, is unpatriotic, if not un-American,\\\" the Star wrote in a recent editorial. \\\"We advise KCXL to drop all programming that paints (Russian President Vladimir) <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/putin\\\">Putin</a> in a positive light. The Russian president is no victim; he is for sure no war hero.\\\"\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read |&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/english/cryptocurrencies-helping-ukraine-raise-millions-in-war-against-russia\\\">Cryptocurrencies helping Ukraine raise millions in war against Russia</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Despite facing criticism, Schartel continued airing the radio program, calling his act an exercise of his own free speech.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"Some will talk to me, but others will still call me a piece of whatever,\\\" he told the AP. \\\"What I am thankful for is we are still living in a country where they can call me up. Even if they aren't thinking about free speech they're exercising that right.\\\"\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"A <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/us\\\">US</a> branch of Rossiya Segodnya, which is operated by the Russian government, produces&nbsp;Radio Sputnik.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Amid the war in Ukraine, several people have accused&nbsp;Radio Sputnik of spreading false and misleading information.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"On March 1, just a week into the Russia-Ukraine war, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) issued a statement&nbsp; urging radio broadcasters in the US to exclude Radio Sputnik and other Russian-sponsored programs.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"We believe that our nation must stand fully united against misinformation and for freedom and democracy across the globe,\\\" NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt said in a statement.\"}}]}

<ul>
  <li>Peter Schartel is paid $5,000 a month to air Radio Sputnik</li>
  <li>The content of the program is being&nbsp;dubbed "pro-Putin propaganda"</li>
  <li>It is being&nbsp;funded by the Russian government on Schartel broadcasting company's KCXL station</li>
</ul>

'Pro-Putin propaganda:' US radio station defends free speech for pay

Missouri

Sucharita Ganguly

Washington D.C., DC, USA

Belarus could soon join Russia in its war against Ukraine, and the country is already taking efforts to do so, according to US and NATO sources, CNN reported. Belarus's entry into the fight is becoming more likely, according to a NATO military officer on Monday. (Russian President Vladimir) Putin needs support. Anything would help the official elaborated. Also read: Russia admits nearly 10,000 soldiers lost in Ukraine, deletes data: Report,According to a Belarusian opposition source, Belarusian combat formations are ready to enter Ukraine as soon as the next few days, with thousands of forces ready to deploy. Per this source, this would have less of a military impact than it would have a geopolitical impact, given the consequences of another country joining the war. Separately, a senior NATO intelligence source stated that the alliance believes the Belarusian government is preparing the environment to justify a Belarusian offensive against Ukraine. Russia launched its attack on Ukraine from Belarus, and thousands of Russian troops gathered in Belarus before the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine last month, which the two countries claimed was for training exercises. In response to the war, US and European sanctions have targeted both Russian and Belarusian politicians, including Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Also read: Will Putin accept Zelensky's 'compromise'?,Belarus amended its constitution last month to allow it to permanently host both Russian forces and nuclear weapons, though US officials told CNN that they have seen no evidence of Russia moving or preparing to move nuclear weapons. According to the sources, there have been no indications that Belarus is currently involved in the fighting in Ukraine, and a senior US defence official stated that the Pentagon had not seen any indications that the Belarusians are preparing to move in — into Ukraine or that they have made any agreements to do that. According to the NATO military officer, a definitive decision on Belarus' involvement in the battle must to be taken in Moscow, and there has been no sign that Belarusian forces are now fighting in Ukraine. Also read: Unacceptable: Japan PM on Russia's call to drop WWII peace treaty talks,It is not about what Lukashenko wants, said the official. The question is: does Putin want another unstable country in the region?,Involvement would destabilize Belarus, according to the official. The official did not expand on how Belarus may intervene in the battle, but said it made sense for Russia to try to block off NATO military aid into Ukraine from its western border.

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<ul>
  <li>Reportedly Belarus could "soon" join Russia in its war against Ukraine, and the country is already taking efforts to do so</li>
  <li>Belarus's entry into the fight is becoming more "likely," according to a NATO military officer on Monday</li>
  <li>According to a Belarusian opposition source, Belarusian combat formations are ready to enter Ukraine as soon as the next few days</li>
</ul>

US, NATO says Belarus could soon join forces with Russia in Ukraine: Report

NATO

AlexanderLukashenko

- Absence of clear denunciation of Russia by China flies in the face of everything Beijing stands for: WH - India deeply concerned over deteriorating humanitarian situation in Ukraine: Ambassador T S Tirumurti - White House says Indian-American physician Ashish Jha is effective communicator on tackling COVID-19 - Bipartisan group of lawmakers urge India to speak out against Russian President Vladimir Putin. - Stories on Russia-Ukraine conflict. - Global COVID-19 situation and vaccine-related developments. - Stories relating to the Omicron variant. MRJ

Foreign news schedule for Friday, Mar 18

WhiteHouse

BERLIN (AP) — A senior German official predicted Tuesday that the war in Ukraine and its impact on fossil fuel prices worldwide will provide a “massive boost” for the means and measures needed to curb climate change.Patrick Graichen, Germany's deputy energy and climate minister, said rising global prices for oil, gas and coal will accelerate the uptake of low-emission technology that simultaneously reduces countries' reliance on imports from Russia.“The core technologies to become independent of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and to drive forward climate protection are the same,” he told reporters in Berlin.“They are renewables, they are efficiency and electrification,” said Graichen. “These three will now get a massive boost.”Graichen spoke at the presentation of the annual report on Germany's greenhouse gas emissions, which rose sharply in 2021 after a pandemic-induced dip the year before.Preliminary figures show Germany released the equivalent of 762 million metric tons of heat-trapping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere last year. That's 33 millions tons, or about 4.5%, more than in 2020.Germany failed in its efforts to cut emissions by 40% by 2020 compared with 1990 levels. The government has acknowledged that a huge effort will be required to halve emissions by 2030 and achieve ‘net zero’ by 2045.Among the measures currently promoted by the government are the replacement of oil-or-gas furnaces for home heating with highly efficient electric heat pumps.The head of the German Environment Agency, Dirk Messner, suggested transport sector emissions could also be sharply reduced if drivers were to limit their speeds to 100 kph (62 mph) on highways and 80 kph (50 mph) on large extra-urban roads. Germany currently has no universal speed limits on its Autobahn network, and the issue of introducing one is politically contentious.

German official: Ukraine war will boost low-emissions tech

Birmingham, Mar 15 (The Conversation) In its scale and cost, as well as its broader implications for European and international security, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine constitutes a new low in the foreign policy of Russian president Vladimir Putin.But below the surface, Russia is also following established playbooks in how it deals with the areas it has taken control of. This has important implications for the war in Ukraine, how it might end, and how it might spread.During the first days of war, Russia occupied Kherson region in southern Ukraine.The Russian army did not encounter significant military resistance in the cities of Kherson, Skadovsk, Nova Kakhovka and was able to advance in columns through the Zaporizhzhia region (including the cities of Melitopol and Berdiansk, as well as the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant) to Mariupol.Here, Russia encountered fierce resistance and has subjected the city to a brutal siege. In Kherson region, however, things played out differently. Once occupied, the Russian military called on the local Ukrainian authorities to cooperate with them and announced their intention to hold a “referendum” on the proclamation of the “Kherson People’s Republic”.Residents of the cities of Kherson, Melitopol and Berdiansk responded with civil disobedience and organised peaceful protests of many thousands through social networks under the slogan “My city is Ukrainian!” On March 12, 2022, the democratically elected Kherson Regional Council adopted a resolution proclaiming the planned referendum illegal. In response, the Russian military has targeted elected officials and Ukrainian civil servants in these newly occupied territories.This has included the kidnapping of the mayors of Melitopol and Dniprorudne.In Melitopol, the Russian occupation forces then appointed a new mayor, Galina Danilchenko, a local deputy from the so-called “Opposition Bloc”, constituted from the remnants of former pro-Russian president Victor Yanukovych’s Party of the Regions.Helped by Russian occupation forces and their local proxies terrorising the civilian population, Danilchenko and others with similar pro-Russian leanings have now become increasingly vocal in their demands that local authorities either cooperate or be replaced by people willing to do so.This is an almost exact reenactment of what happened in the Donbas region in 2014.Here, Russia’s little green men used a combination of intimidation and brutal force to oust incumbent local officials and replace them with representatives of marginal groups willing to cooperate with the occupying power. This strategy of societal destabilisation initially aims at the physical removal from power of elected local elites.It then targets public servants, liberal intellectuals, journalists and other opinion leaders and the middle class in general. Russia has a frightening track record of efficiency in this regard, using widely publicised intimidation, torture and execution of local leaders among its tools.In the context of Donbas in 2014, the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights, concluded that these tactics “may constitute crimes against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute”.Writ large, this might also be how Putin imagines Ukraine’s “denazification” – that is, the replacement of the country’s democratically elected government with his own marionettes.While this does not bode well for civilians in Ukrainian territories newly occupied by Russia, it also has important implications for the further course of the war – both in Ukraine and beyond.At least a part of Russian strategy appears to be the establishment of more de facto states according to the 2014 Donbas playbook.This will give Russia increased leverage over these occupied territories through their proxies.It will simultaneously allow the Kremlin to deny any responsibility for fulfilling its obligations as an occupying power towards the civilian population of these areas and for any war crimes committed there. As Russia expands its control of territory, the illegally occupied parts of Ukraine are likely to resemble a patchwork of unrecognised self-proclaimed statelets.These will be unstable in themselves while creating instability along the lines of contact with Ukrainian-controlled territory. Like the breakaway Donetsk and Luhansk republics after 2014, they could also be used as bargaining chips in future negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv. Russia’s societal destabilisation playbook also offers a potential blueprint for how and where the war might spread.There has been much discussion about the threats to Moldova. One scenario here might be the enacting of Russia’s playbook in the autonomous region of Gagauzia in southern Moldova, where Moscow wields some influence.In the south Caucasus, Georgia’s Adjara region, where Russia used to have a military base in the regional capital Batumi, might be another target. But any Russian move in this direction is risky and not guaranteed to succeed, given, for example, Turkey’s considerable links with both regions.Success can be measured in different ways, however. From Russia’s perspective, creating more instability in other parts of the post-Soviet region might be enough, for now.It would be a signal to Moldova and Georgia and their partners in the EU and Nato that Russia has the capacity to be disruptive and can escalate as and when it wants to.This is also the main danger for the Baltic states – especially Latvia and Estonia, which have large, concentrated ethnic Russian and Russian-speaking minorities.Russia may not risk a direct intervention there, but the kind of deniable subversive activities that form at least part of the early Russian playbook are important to watch out for, to call out, and to counter decisively. (The Conversation) RUP

Ukraine: how Putin could try to split the country into regional puppet governments

Georgia

Birmingham

London, Mar 14 (PTI) The UK government has airlifted 21 Ukrainian children from the conflict zone with Russia for lifesaving cancer treatment by experts at different hospitals across England. The 21 children and their immediate family members arrived in England from Poland on Sunday evening and will be assessed by National Health Service (NHS) medics to understand their health needs before being sent to NHS hospitals to continue their care. The government said the vital and, in many cases, lifesaving cancer treatment will be provided free of charge by the NHS. “The sickening suffering of innocent civilians in Ukraine is truly horrific. This vital lifesaving medical care is another important step in our support for the people of Ukraine and their resistance against [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s illegal invasion,” said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. “I am hugely grateful to our fantastic NHS staff as well as our partners, including our Polish friends, for their support in bringing these children to the UK and we will continue to do all we can to support them as they continue their critical treatment here,” he said. Hospitals in Poland have taken in many children needing healthcare who have arrived from Ukraine, fleeing the war with Russia. With more children crossing the border requiring immediate treatment, the UK said it has responded to Poland’s call for support from international partners to provide additional care. “I am appalled by the atrocities we’ve seen in Ukraine and the despicable attacks being carried out on innocent civilians,” said UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid. “I am proud that the UK is offering lifesaving medical care to these Ukrainian children, who have been forced out of their home country by the Russian invasion while undergoing medical treatment. I know that the incredible staff in the NHS will ensure they get the best possible care,” he said. The UK government says it has sent seven aircraft to the region to deliver more than 650,000 medical items, including wound care packs, equipment for intensive care and vital medicines. “Russia’s assault on the innocent people of Ukraine is reprehensible and barbaric. Working with our partners in the region we continue to be at the forefront of the joint humanitarian effort to provide the best medical care and support for these children and their families,” said UK Home Secretary Priti Patel. The UK says it has pledged approximately GBP 400 million in humanitarian aid and funds to bolster the Ukrainian economy and reduce the country's reliance on Russian gas. It has also been providing “defensive military aid” to Ukraine, which has been battling with Russian forces since last month, and has also imposed “wide-ranging sanctions” on Russian businesses, banks and individuals.

UK airlifts 21 Ukrainian children for cancer treatment

Poland

London

England

Washington, Mar 9 (PTI) Russia's war against Ukraine has hurt American families with gas prices shooting up and it is going to rise further, US President Joe Biden said after announcing a ban on the import of Russian oil and gas.Biden, however, promised of doing everything he can to minimize (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's price hike here at home.By an executive order signed on Tuesday, Biden banned the import of Russian crude oil and certain petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, and coal.This step is aimed at depriving Russia of billions of dollars in revenues from US drivers and consumers annually. Last year, the US imported nearly 7,00,000 barrels of crude oil and refined petroleum products from Russia daily.The executive order also banned new US investment in Russia's energy sector, to ensure that American companies and investors are not underwriting Vladimir Putin's efforts to expand energy production inside Russia, the White House said.It mentioned that Americans will also be prohibited from financing or enabling foreign companies that are investing to produce energy in Russia.Addressing reporters at the White House later, Biden said, Putin's war is already hurting American families at the gas pump. Since Putin began his military buildup at the Ukrainian borders, the price of the gas at the pump in the US went up USD 0.75. With this ban, it is going to go up further. About steps taken to arrest fuel price rise, he said, In coordination with our partners we have announced releasing 60 million barrels of oil from our joint oil reserves. Half of that is coming from the United States. We are taking steps to ensure the reliable supply of global energy. Biden also promised to keep working with every tool at our disposal to protect American families and businesses.Let me say this to the oil and gas companies and to the finance firms that back them: We understand that Putin's war against the people of Ukraine is causing prices to rise. That's self-evident.But it's no excuse for an excessive price increase or padding profits or any kind of effort to exploit the situation or the American consumers. Russia's aggression is costing us all, and it's no time for profiteering or price gouging, he stressed.At the same time, he also acknowledged those firms and oil and gas industries that are pulling out of Russia and joining other businesses that are leading by example.This is the time when we have to do our part and make sure we are not taking advantage, the US president said.A senior official in the Biden administration told reporters that they expect gas prices to rise following the ban.The reason energy prices are rising right now is because of Putin's choices and this needless war and the risk that he could escalate further. Prices at gas pumps are now up about 75 cents since Putin started to amass troops at Ukraine's border. The price of Brent crude oil is up about USD 50 a barrel since that time. So, what we are seeing now is a result of fears of Putin's ongoing aggression escalating and the consequences of his actions, the official said.

Putin's war hurting American families at gas pump, will do everything to contain price hike: Biden

Biden

JoeBiden

London, Mar 5 (PTI) The UK government is in the process of fast-tracking laws to make it easier to execute sanctions against Russian oligarchs, most of whom are known to have close links with President Vladimir Putin.Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday vowed to ramp up pressure on rich elites who try to launder money through the UK.The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed that emergency legislation will be introduced in Parliament next week to allow the government to move “faster and harder” in sanctioning oligarchs and businesses associated with the Putin regime.“The UK has led the way with our toughest ever sanctions package against Putin’s regime and we’re bolstering this with new powers in our arsenal to go further and faster,” said Johnson.“We will ramp up pressure on criminal elites trying to launder money on UK soil and close the net on corruption,” he said. The Economic Crime Bill, which has cross-party support, is expected to be sped through the UK Parliament on Monday and become law by mid-March.Outlining its amendments, the FCDO said the appropriateness test – a threshold that needed to be met when imposing sanctions on individuals – would be removed.It is also speeding up the deadline for overseas companies to declare their true owners, from 18 months to six months.Maximum fines for non-compliance with this rule are set to increase from 500 pounds to 2,500 pounds per day.The world is turning its back on Putin and his regime, Johnson said in a video message on Twitter.His spokesperson at 10 Downing Street made clear that the UK Prime Minister did not support the remarks of US Senator Lindsey Graham, calling for “somebody in Russia” to assassinate Putin to bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine.“We’ve said before that Putin must be held to account at the International [Criminal] Court for the horrific acts that have been seen, the spokesperson said.The Metropolitan Police’s War Crimes Team said on Friday that it is gathering evidence in relation to alleged war crimes in Ukraine in support of the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation, which was confirmed by the ICC Prosecutor earlier this week.The War Crimes Team is part of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command and has responsibility for carrying out any UK enquiries into war crimes and core international crimes.Scotland Yard detectives are appealing for anyone in the UK who may have direct evidence of war crimes in Ukraine from November 21, 2013 to the present.“Following the news that the ICC had opened an investigation into war crimes in Ukraine, our War Crimes Team is now seeking to gather any evidence that might be present here in the UK of such crimes in Ukraine,” said Commander Richard Smith, Head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, which includes the War Crimes Team.“This could be in the form of direct messages, images or videos that friends or relatives here in the UK have been sent by those in Ukraine. Or it could be somebody who was previously in Ukraine and who may have witnessed or even been a victim of a war crime and have since travelled to the UK,” he said.“To be clear though, we specifically want to hear from people who are now here in the UK, and who have a direct link to any relevant information or evidence – this is not about the general public highlighting or telling us about things they might have simply come across or seen in the media, online or on social media,” he added.Officers based at UK ports are also being briefed in relation to this matter, so that they can help to make those arriving in the UK, having recently been in Ukraine, aware that they can report and provide any evidence to the War Crimes Team and that any evidence gathered from this may then be shared with the ongoing ICC investigation.Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called for a new Nuremberg style tribunal – which prosecuted Nazi war crimes from the Second World War – to be established so that Putin and his associates can be tried for crimes of aggression against Ukraine.

UK fast-tracks law for quicker sanctions on Russian oligarchs having close links with Putin

BorisJohnson

Parliament

Boston,United States

BOSTON (AP) — Formed in a fury to counter Russia’s blitzkrieg attack, Ukraine’s hundreds-strong volunteer “hacker” corps is much more than a paramilitary cyberattack force in Europe's first major war of the internet age. It is crucial to information combat and to crowdsourcing intelligence .“We are really a swarm. A self-organizing swarm, said Roman Zakharov, a 37-year-old IT executive at the center of Ukraine's bootstrap digital army. Inventions of the volunteer hackers range from software tools that let smartphone and computer owners anywhere participate in distributed denial-of-service attacks on official Russian websites to bots on the Telegram messaging platform that block disinformation, let people report Russian troop locations and offer instructions on assembling Molotov cocktails and basic first aid.Zahkarov ran research at an automation startup before joining Ukraine's digital self-defense corps. His group is StandForUkraine. Its ranks include software engineers, marketing managers, graphic designers and online ad buyers, he said. The movement is global, drawing on IT professionals in the Ukrainian diaspora whose handiwork includes web defacements with antiwar messaging and graphic images of death and destruction in the hopes of mobilizing Russians against the invasion.“Both our nations are scared of a single man — (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, said Zakharov. He's just out of his mind.” Volunteers reach out person-to-person to Russians with phone calls, emails and text messages, he said, and send videos and pictures of dead soldiers from the invading force from virtual call centers.Some build websites, such as a site where Russian mothers can look through (photos of) captured Russian guys to find their sons,” Zakharov said by phone from Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital.The cyber volunteers' effectiveness is difficult to gauge. Russian government websites have been repeatedly knocked offline, if briefly, by the DDoS attacks, but generally weather them with countermeasures. It's impossible to say how much of the disruption — including more damaging hacks — is caused by freelancers working independently of but in solidarity with Ukrainian hackers. A tool called “Liberator” lets anyone in the world with a digital device become part of a DDoS attack network, or botnet. The tool’s programmers code in new targets as priorities change. But is it legal? Some analysts say it violates international cyber norms. Its Estonian developers say they acted “in coordination with the Ministry of Digital Transformation” of Ukraine.A top Ukrainian cybersecurity official, Victor Zhora, insisted at his first online news conference of the war Friday that homegrown volunteers were attacking only what they deem military targets, in which he included the financial sector, Kremlin-controlled media and railways. He did not discuss specific targets.Zakharov did. He said Russia's banking sector was well fortified against attack but that some telecommunications networks and rail services were not. He said Ukrainian-organized cyberattacks had briefly interrupted rail ticket sales in western Russia around Rostov and Voronezh and knocked out telephone service for a time in the region of eastern Ukraine controlled by Russian-backed separatists since 2014. The claims could not be independently confirmed. A group of Belarusian hacktivists calling themselves the Cyber Partisans also apparently disrupted rail service in neighboring Belarus this week seeking to frustrate transiting Russian troops. A spokeswoman said Friday that electronic ticket sales were still down after their malware attack froze up railway IT servers.Over the weekend, Ukraine's minister of digital transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, announced the creation of an volunteer cyber army. The IT Army of Ukraine now counts 290,000 followers on Telegram. Zhora, deputy chair of the state special communications service, said one job of Ukrainian volunteers is to obtain intelligence that can be used to attack Russian military systems.Some cybersecurity experts have expressed concern that soliciting help from freelancers who violate cyber norms could have dangerous escalatory consequences. One shadowy group claimed to have hacked Russian satellites; Dmitry Rogozin, the director general of Russia's space agency Roscosmos, called the claim false but was also quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying such a cyberattack would be considered an act of war. Asked if he endorsed the kind of hostile hacking being done under the umbrella of the Anonymous hacktivist brand — which anyone can claim — Zhora said, “We do not welcome any illegal activity in cyberspace.”“But the world order changed on the 24th of February,” he added, when Russia invaded. The overall effort was spurred by the creation of a group called the Ukrainian Cyber Volunteers by a civilian cybersecurity executive, Yegor Aushev, in coordination with Ukraine’s Defense Ministry. Aushev said it numbers more than 1,000 volunteers. On Friday, most of Ukraine’s telecommunications and internet were fully operational despite outages in areas captured by invading Russian forces, said Zhora. He reported about 10 hostile hijackings of local government websites in Ukraine to spread false propaganda saying Ukraine's government had capitulated.Zhora said presumed Russian hackers continued trying to spread destructive malware in targeted email attacks on Ukrainian officials and — in what he considers a new tactic — to infect the devices of individual citizens. Three instances of such malware were discovered in the runup to the invasion.U.S. Cyber Command has been assisting Ukraine since well before the invasion. Ukraine does not have a dedicated military cyber unit. It was standing one up when Russia attacked.Zhora anticipates an escalation in Russia’s cyber aggression — many experts believe far worse is yet to come.Meantime, donations from the global IT community continue to pour in. A few examples: NameCheap has donated internet domains while Amazon has been generous with cloud services, said Zakharov.

Ukraine digital army brews cyberattacks, intel and infowar

Telegram

New Delhi, Mar 4 (PTI) Amid a Russian military offensive against Ukraine, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury has said that the war is essentially between Russia and the US and NATO with Ukraine being its theatre. In an article in the forthcoming edition of party mouthpiece People's Democracy, Yechury has called for an immediate ceasefire, and questioned the need for the existence and expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). US imperialism, with its desire to strengthen its global hegemony post cold war confrontation, chose not only to retain the NATO but to further strengthen it and use it for military operations across the world, particularly in Europe and Central Asia. Instead of disbanding, US imperialism hastened the eastward expansion of NATO negating an assurance given to Gorbachev post-USSR dismembering, Yechury wrote. He said that last December, Russia proposed security guarantees between Russia and NATO members suggesting no further NATO expansion, no assault weapons on Russian borders and return to the 1997 NATO-Russia Founding Act, all of which were rejected by the US. Rejecting this, US encouraged an anti-Russia power grouping in Ukraine and engineered a coup in 2014. Subsequently, NATO infrastructure started growing in Ukraine without Ukraine formally joining the NATO. (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and Russia saw these hostile developments as threatening Russia's security leading to its current military actions and invasion. Hence, this is a war essentially between Russia and USA/NATO. Ukraine is the theatre where this war is being waged, he said. Yechury said that an immediate ceasefire and Russian withdrawal is essential to ensure that this war did not gain global dimensions. He said that it is essential that the NATO stops its further eastward expansion. NATO must stop deployment of lethal weapons and missile systems on Russia’s borders threatening its security. Ukraine must remain a neutral sovereign State not permitting the stationing of NATO missiles and other weapon systems posing security threats to Russia. The existing NATO infrastructure in Ukraine must be dismantled, he said.

#Vladimir