Rnews Crooked Bough News Round-up: Russia Times

Russia Times

— Most Ukrainians don’t trust Trump – poll: at 4/29/25 9:48pm
The US president has refused to blame Russia and provide security guarantees to Kiev Nearly 90% of Ukrainians don’t have faith in Donald Trump, according to a new poll released to mark the US president’s first 100 days back in office. The survey, conducted by Info Sapiens for the Kiev-based New Europe Center (NEC) and published on Monday, suggests that 89% of Ukrainians said they don’t trust Trump, while only 7.4% said the opposite. A similar poll in November 2024, before Trump was sworn in for his second term, indicated that 44.6% of Ukrainians said they trusted Trump, compared to 47.2% who didn’t. The NEC attributed Trump’s “relatively high score” at the time to the “general disappointment with the hesitant policy of Joe Biden’s administration toward supporting Ukraine,” as well as Trump’s campaign promise to quickly negotiate a peace deal between Kiev and Moscow. Trust in the US president has since plummeted in Ukraine because his strategy “at times, seemed more in line with Russia’s revanchist vision than with international law,” the NEC said. Read more Ukraine could be ‘crushed very shortly’ – Trump While Trump has criticized both Russia and Ukraine, he blamed Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky for the conflict. Their meeting in the Oval Office in February descended into a shouting match, during which Trump and US Vice President J.D. Vance accused Zelensky of being ungrateful for American aid and “gambling with World War III.” Trump has declined to offer security guarantees to Ukraine, instead pressuring Kiev to sign a deal that would allow the US to profit from the country’s natural resources. The peace agreement proposed by Washington reportedly includes US recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea, freezing the conflict along the current front line, and acknowledging Moscow’s control over large parts of the four former Ukrainian regions that voted to join Russia. The deal would also reportedly prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and initiate a phased removal of sanctions imposed on Russia. Moscow has said that a viable peace can only be achieved if Ukraine abandons its territorial claims and drops plans to join NATO – something Kiev has refused to do.
[Link to media]
— Most Ukrainians don’t trust Trump – Poll: at 4/29/25 9:48pm
The US president has refused to blame Russia and provide security guarantees to Kiev Nearly 90% of Ukrainians don’t have faith in Donald Trump, according to a new poll released to mark the US president’s first 100 days in office. The survey, conducted by Info Sapiens for the Kiev-based New Europe Center (NEC) and published on Monday, suggests that 89% of Ukrainians said they don’t trust Trump, while only 7.4% said the opposite. A similar poll in November 2024, before Trump was sworn in for his second term, indicated that 44.6% of Ukrainians said they trusted Trump, and 47.2% said they didn’t. The NEC attributed Trump’s “relatively high score” at the time to the “general disappointment with the hesitant policy of Joe Biden’s administration toward supporting Ukraine,” as well as Trump’s campaign promise to quickly negotiate a peace deal. Trust in the US president has since plummeted in Ukraine because his strategy “at times, seemed more in line with Russia’s revanchist vision than with international law,” the NEC said. Read more Ukraine could be ‘crushed very shortly’ – Trump While Trump has criticized both Russia and Ukraine, he blamed Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky for the conflict. Their meeting in the Oval Office in February descended into a shouting match, during which Trump and US Vice President J.D. Vance accused Zelensky of being ungrateful for American aid and “gambling with World War III.” Trump has declined to offer security guarantees to Ukraine, instead pressuring Kiev to sign a deal that would allow the US to profit from the country’s natural resources. The peace agreement proposed by Washington reportedly includes US recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea, freezing the conflict along the current front line, and acknowledging Moscow’s control over large parts of the four former Ukrainian regions that voted to join Russia. The deal would also reportedly prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and initiate a phased removal of sanctions imposed on Russia. Moscow has said that a viable peace could only be achieved if Ukraine abandoned its territorial claims and dropped plans to join NATO – something Kiev has refused to do.
[Link to media]
— EU can’t rely on US – von der Leyen: at 4/29/25 7:54pm
The bloc will have to focus on its own defense, the head of the EC has said The European Union must be prepared to take responsibility for its own defense, as the United States is gradually stepping back from its security commitments, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said. Her remarks signaled that the bloc should strengthen its military capabilities amid growing tensions with US President Donald Trump. “The threat posed by Russia will not go away, and we know that the American focus will increasingly shift towards other regions. So, there is no doubt, peace in Europe requires that we take much greater responsibility for our own defense,” von der Leyen said in a speech at the European People’s Party congress in Valencia, Spain, on Tuesday. In March, von der Leyen unveiled a plan to raise €800 billion ($910 billion) to “rearm” the EU, as several member states look for ways to reduce reliance on US-led security arrangements. Read more Global military spending in largest surge since Cold War – report Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor-designate, said in February that Berlin must “gradually achieve independence from the US.” French President Emmanuel Macron, who has long argued that the EU can no longer outsource its defense to Washington, has expressed openness to extending France’s nuclear umbrella to cover Germany and other EU members. Trump has called on NATO members in Europe to contribute “a fair share” to collective defense. He has also refused to offer security guarantees to Ukraine or commit US troops to a potential peacekeeping mission. Moscow has warned that the EU’s military buildup will only escalate tensions. In an interview with TASS published on Tuesday, Nikolay Patrushev, a security adviser to President Vladimir Putin, accused Western countries of “deploying their military machine against Russia and becoming delirious with nuclear apocalypse scenarios.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov argued in March that the EU is willing to “sacrifice” its own economy “only to achieve the ideological goal of ‘defeating’ Russia.”
[Link to media]
— US to shift focus from Europe’s defense – von der Leyen: at 4/29/25 7:54pm
The EU can no longer rely on the Americans, the head of the European Commission has said The European Union must be prepared to take responsibility for its own defense, as the United States is gradually stepping back from its security commitments, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said. Her remarks signaled that the bloc should strengthen its military capabilities amid growing tensions with US President Donald Trump. “The threat posed by Russia will not go away, and we know that the American focus will increasingly shift towards other regions. So, there is no doubt, peace in Europe requires that we take much greater responsibility for our own defense,” von der Leyen said in a speech at the European People’s Party congress in Valencia, Spain, on Tuesday. In March, von der Leyen unveiled a plan to raise €800 billion ($910 billion) to “rearm” the EU, as several member states look for ways to reduce reliance on US-led security arrangements. Read more Global military spending in largest surge since Cold War – report Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor-designate, said in February that Berlin must “gradually achieve independence from the US.” French President Emmanuel Macron, who has long argued that the EU can no longer outsource its defense to Washington, has expressed openness to extending France’s nuclear umbrella to cover Germany and other EU members. Trump has called on NATO members in Europe to contribute “a fair share” to collective defense. He has also refused to offer security guarantees to Ukraine or commit US troops to a potential peacekeeping mission. Moscow has warned that the EU’s military buildup will only escalate tensions. In an interview with TASS published on Tuesday, Nikolay Patrushev, a security adviser to President Vladimir Putin, accused Western countries of “deploying their military machine against Russia and becoming delirious with nuclear apocalypse scenarios.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov argued in March that the EU is willing to “sacrifice” its own economy “only to achieve the ideological goal of ‘defeating’ Russia.”
[Link to media]
— ‘I’d like to be pope’ – Trump: at 4/29/25 5:06pm
The US president says he has “no preference” among candidates to succeed the late Pope Francis US President Donald Trump has joked that he would like to become the next head of the Catholic Church when asked about potential successors to the late Pope Francis. “I’d like to be pope. That would be my number one choice,” the president quipped, before adding that he had “no preference” in the matter. Trump went on to say, “We have a cardinal that happens to be out of a place called New York, who is very good.” He did not clarify whom he was referring to. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York since 2009, was elevated to the College of Cardinals in 2012. Reporter: Who do you want to be the next Pope?Trump: “Id like to be Pope. Thatd be my number one choice.”? pic.twitter.com/gTIUBhXjMG— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) April 29, 2025 Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 on April 21, a day after greeting worshippers during Easter Sunday Mass at St. Peter’s Square. Trump attended the pontiff’s funeral alongside other world leaders at the Vatican. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Francis was elected pope in March 2013, becoming the first Jesuit and the first Latin American to lead the Catholic Church. A conclave of 135 cardinals is set to convene at the Vatican on May 7 to elect his successor.
[Link to media]
— India planning ‘military strike’ within 24–36 hours – Pakistan: at 4/29/25 3:43pm
The tensions rise after a deadly terrorist attack in India-administered Kashmir Pakistan has alleged that India is planning a military strike on its territory, signaling a further escalation in tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. “Pakistan has credible intelligence that India intends to launch a military strike within the next 24 to 36 hours, using the Pahalgam incident as a false pretext,” Information Minister Attaullah Tarar wrote on X on Tuesday evening. “Any act of aggression will be met with a decisive response. India will be fully responsible for any serious consequences in the region,” he added. The escalation comes amid accusations from New Delhi that Islamabad is supporting terrorism in India’s Jammu and Kashmir federal territory. Pakistan has denied the claims and, in turn, accused India of backing “terrorist networks” operating on Pakistani soil. The two countries have a long-standing dispute over the Kashmir region, which is de facto divided by the Line of Control established after the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. Read more A decades-old deal is falling apart – and two nuclear neighbors are involved On April 22, terrorists killed 26 people – mostly Indian tourists – in Pahalgam, located in the northern part of Jammu and Kashmir. The Resistance Front, believed to be an offshoot of the Pakistan-based jihadist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to punish “the terrorists and their backers.” According to NDTV, he has given the army “complete freedom” to determine the response to the attack. Indian media reported on Tuesday that four anti-terror operations were underway in Jammu and Kashmir. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif suggested that the Pahalgam attack was a “false flag operation.” In response, India’s Deputy Envoy to the United Nations, Yojna Patel, condemned Pakistan for making what she called “baseless allegations against India.”
[Link to media]
— Trump envoy sought to convince Putin on terms of ceasefire deal – Bloomberg: at 4/29/25 3:17pm
Steve Witkoff met the Russian president last week in the latest round of diplomacy on the Ukraine conflict US special envoy Steve Witkoff sought to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire last week that would halt fighting in the Ukraine conflict along the current frontlines, Bloomberg has reported, citing sources. Putin maintained a firm stance during the lengthy meeting, the sources said. The discussions on Friday marked the latest in a series of contacts between Moscow and Washington in recent months. Witkoff, seen as a key figure in kickstarting negotiations on the Ukraine conflict, has held multiple rounds of talks with senior Russian officials, including at least three meetings with Putin. People familiar with the process told Bloomberg on Tuesday that Putin insisted any viable peace deal must include formal recognition of the four former Ukrainian regions that joined Russia after referendums in 2022. Moscow has long said it is open to negotiations but maintains that the status of Crimea – which joined Russia in 2014 – and the four other regions is not up for discussion. Moscow insists that recognition of the “reality on the ground” is vital for a lasting peace. Read more Putin-Witkoff talks ‘constructive’ – Russian presidential aide Last week, Axios reported that Washington had presented Kiev with what US President Donald Trump described as a “final offer” to end the conflict. Under the proposal, the US is said to be prepared to grant “de jure” recognition of Crimea as part of Russia, and unofficially acknowledge Moscow’s “de facto” control over the Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republics, as well as the regions of Kherson and Zaporozhye. Vladimir Zelensky’s subsequent declaration that Kiev would never recognize Crimea as Russian prompted a warning from Trump that he risked losing his whole country if he continued stalling talks with Moscow. Trump, who met with the Ukrainian leader on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican on Saturday, was later asked by journalists if Zelensky was now prepared to “give up” the peninsula. “Oh, I think so, yeah,” he replied. One source told Bloomberg that negotiations have stalled for now and that progress would likely require direct contact between Putin and Trump. The two leaders held a two-hour phone call in March, during which they reaffirmed their commitment to achieving a “lasting peace” rather than a temporary solution to the Ukraine conflict. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier this month that a Putin-Trump meeting “will take place” but only “at the appropriate time.”
[Link to media]
— Trump’s envoy sought to convince Putin on terms of ceasefire deal – Bloomberg: at 4/29/25 3:17pm
Steve Witkoff met the Russian president last week in the latest round of diplomacy on the Ukraine conflict US special envoy Steve Witkoff sought to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire last week that would halt fighting in the Ukraine conflict along the current frontlines, Bloomberg has reported, citing sources. Putin maintained a firm stance during the lengthy meeting, the sources said. The discussions on Friday marked the latest in a series of contacts between Moscow and Washington in recent months. Witkoff, seen as a key figure in kickstarting negotiations on the Ukraine conflict, has held multiple rounds of talks with senior Russian officials, including at least three meetings with Putin. People familiar with the process told Bloomberg on Tuesday that Putin insisted any viable peace deal must include formal recognition of the four former Ukrainian regions that joined Russia after referendums in 2022. Moscow has long said it is open to negotiations but maintains that the status of Crimea – which joined Russia in 2014 – and the four other regions is not up for discussion. Moscow insists that recognition of the “reality on the ground” is vital for a lasting peace. Read more Putin-Witkoff talks ‘constructive’ – Russian presidential aide Last week, Axios reported that Washington had presented Kiev with what US President Donald Trump described as a “final offer” to end the conflict. Under the proposal, the US is said to be prepared to grant “de jure” recognition of Crimea as part of Russia, and unofficially acknowledge Moscow’s “de facto” control over the Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republics, as well as the regions of Kherson and Zaporozhye. Vladimir Zelensky’s subsequent declaration that Kiev would never recognize Crimea as Russian prompted a warning from Trump that he risked losing his whole country if he continued stalling talks with Moscow. Trump, who met with the Ukrainian leader on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican on Saturday, was later asked by journalists if Zelensky was now prepared to “give up” the peninsula. “Oh, I think so, yeah,” he replied. One source told Bloomberg that negotiations have stalled for now and that progress would likely require direct contact between Putin and Trump. The two leaders held a two-hour phone call in March, during which they reaffirmed their commitment to achieving a “lasting peace” rather than a temporary solution to the Ukraine conflict. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier this month that a Putin-Trump meeting “will take place” but only “at the appropriate time.”
[Link to media]
— We’re about to glimpse the future of all conservative parties: at 4/29/25 3:07pm
The upcoming Australian election will be an illustration of how most Western elections will play out in the near future Australian voters go to the polls next Saturday – voting in this country is compulsory, unlike in most Western democracies – but this is not a task that the electorate is looking forward to with any degree of enthusiasm, let alone optimism. The choice that confronts the electorate is a bleak one – one commentator has fittingly described this election as “the most dismal in decades.” Serious policy debate has been non-existent, with both leaders happy to offer meagre handouts to voters – an electricity price reduction from Prime Minister Albanese and a petrol price reduction from Conservative opposition leader Peter Dutton. The first term Albanese Labor government has, from any rational viewpoint, proved to be a rank failure and does not deserve to be re-elected – and any competent opposition leader should have been able to win this election easily and dispatch Labor to the opposition benches. Cost-of-living pressures have increased exponentially over the past three years – energy and food prices have skyrocketed, and house prices and rents in the major cities are now far beyond what ordinary wage earners in this country can afford to pay. This, according to every poll, is the major issue troubling voters – and the Albanese government has done absolutely nothing to alleviate it. Australian voters intuitively know, even if they are reluctant to admit it, that both the incumbent Labor government and the Conservative Liberal/National party opposition are incapable of alleviating the cost-of-living crisis. In fact, during the election campaign, both leaders have been reduced to telling outright lies (for example, that heavily subsidized renewable energy projects lead to lower energy prices) about how they will solve the crisis. The electorate’s escalating disenchantment with both major parties should come as no surprise to either Albanese or Dutton. Read more Anti-Trump Liberals win elections in Canada As yet, however, no political alternative has emerged that offers voters a way out (no matter how illusory) of this seemingly intractable impasse. Australia, in this respect, appears to be a decade or so behind Donald Trump’s America, Nigel Farage’s UK and Marine Le Pen’s France. Both major parties in Australia are firmly committed to policies that favor the ruling global elites – with the result that the gap between the economic ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ will only grow wider in the future as the cost-of-living crisis intensifies. This is hardly surprising, given that Australia has always been a colonial political and economic satrap state of both the UK and the US. So dependent still is Australia on these waning and decrepit colonial empires – they differ only in the way they enforce their respective colonial hegemonies – that our current head of state is King Charles III, and our economic overlords remain, in the apt words of Woody Guthrie, the “money grubbing racket boys” of Wall Street. What then are we to make of next week’s election? If almost all recent polls are to be believed, the inept Albanese Labor government appears to be on track to be re-elected with an increased majority. How is this altogether surprising state of affairs to be explained? It cannot be explained by the “achievements” of the Albanese government because, as intelligent Labor supporters know, there have been no achievements. Nor can it be explained by Albanese’s political skills or charisma – he is completely lacking in both – although perhaps his dogged blandness and non-threatening demeanor appeal to some voters. Nor can it be explained by opposition leader Peter Dutton’s gross political incompetence, his brief flirtation with Trump that backfired disastrously when tariffs were imposed and the stock market crashed (Canada’s Liberal leader did not make this mistake), or the fact that he has run probably the worst election campaign in Australian political history. Read more US liberals changing attitudes on free trade – poll The answer lies rather in the inability of the conservative opposition to formulate an effective alternative political agenda to that of the Labor party – and this failure arises not from Dutton’s manifold personal shortcomings, but from the fundamental ideological division at the heart of all mainstream conservative parties in the West. A deep-seated ideological division has emerged over the past few decades within these parties: between those adhering to traditional middle-class values (individual autonomy, individual rights, the rule of law, a traditional definition of the family, etc.) and those that have embraced the newer woke ideologies of the emerging global elites (catastrophic climate change, identity politics, DEI, transgender rights, etc). This division has both economic and cultural aspects, and in the UK it was intensified by the Brexit referendum. This ideological division has caused serious ongoing instability within all mainstream conservative parties in the West – in Australia and the UK, for example, these parties have been characterized by endless leadership coups that eventually led voters to throw them out of office in recent years. One important consequence of this ideological division is that mainstream conservative parties cannot wholeheartedly and openly attack woke global ideologies with any degree of vigor – because many of their politicians and supporters firmly subscribe to such views. It is this issue that has crippled Dutton’s election campaign. The Murdoch press and other conservative commentators have constantly urged Dutton to come out and explicitly attack dominant woke ideologies – that is, to adopt a fully-fledged Trump-like populist political agenda. Dutton, however, has refused to do so – because it is simply impossible for him to do so within the framework of the mainstream conservative political party that he so tenuously leads. If he tried to, he would alienate a large segment of his own party as well as a sizable component of conservative voters – thereby causing the coalition parties to split. More importantly, no traditional mainstream political party that is serious about winning an election can at present afford to openly attack dominant global ideologies – a majority of voters adhere to them, and no mainstream party can win office if it alienates a significant segment of these voters. Read more Here’s why the AfD is destined for the German government Dutton, therefore, has found himself in an impossible position. This was graphically illustrated in one of the recent televised debates, when a journalist asked Dutton if he believed in climate change. Dutton responded by saying “I will leave that to the scientists” – notwithstanding that the opposition is committed to the Paris accords and net zero. This non-answer, of course, pleased no one. It alienated those conservative and undecided voters who firmly believe in climate change ideology – but it also alienated those conservative voters who believe that the climate change ideology has had lasting and pernicious economic effects. In refusing to take a firm stand on this key issue, Dutton appears to stand for nothing. Does he really think that disgruntled voters who cannot afford to pay their electricity bills believe that climate change is just a matter for the scientists? It must surely be obvious to Dutton that, in order to win over those disaffected voters who have been left behind by globalization and who are being increasingly marginalized by the cost-of-living crisis, he has to openly attack dominant woke ideologies like catastrophic climate change – because it is precisely these voters who completely reject, for very sound economic and cultural reasons, such elite doctrines. This, however, is Dutton’s dilemma – in order to differentiate the opposition from Labor and attract the increasing number of disaffected voters, Dutton is obliged to openly attack dominant woke ideologies, but, as the leader of a mainstream conservative party, he simply cannot do so. Dutton’s dilemma is also UK opposition leader Kemi Badenoch’s dilemma – and it is a dilemma that right-wing commentators who urge mainstream conservative party leaders to miraculously transform themselves into Trump-like populists utterly fail to understand. These commentators also fail to appreciate that, apart from the difficulties described above, two further insurmountable problems face conservative leaders seeking to instantly morph into populists – they would have to adopt an isolationist foreign policy stance, and they would have to at least pretend to represent the interests of the displaced working class. Read more Le Pen’s verdict exposes Western Europe’s dangerous trend Dutton – just like Badenoch – is, however, a fervent Cold War warrior (fiercely anti-Russian and anti-Chinese) and a supporter of the Zelensky regime in Ukraine, as well as being a strident opponent of moderate trade union demands (he even consistently opposes basic wage increases). Trump, of course, can readily promise to end the conflict in Ukraine and accept endorsement from the head of the Teamsters Union – policy stances utterly impossible for a conservative leader like Dutton to even contemplate. If the above analysis is correct, and, as nearly all the polls predict, Dutton loses next week’s election, it follows that the conservative coalition in Australia will have no viable long-term future – in much the same way that the UK Conservative party appears to be doomed to political oblivion in the near future. This week’s local elections in the UK will be an important indicator of that party’s fate. If the Albanese government is returned to office with a majority, as seems likely, Dutton will no doubt be deposed as leader, but in fairness to Dutton, his shadow cabinet colleagues – who he has wisely kept hidden away during the election campaign – are all far less competent politicians than he is. There is, of course, an alternative scenario – one that mirrors the recent emergence of populist parties in other Western democracies – namely that the coalition parties will split and the right-wing segments of the Liberal and National parties will coalesce to form a new, genuinely populist party with a radically different political program. Read more Western Europe waging ‘quiet war’ against Trump – Medvedev This is a distinct possibility – although it may take some time to eventuate and would involve a significant amount of blood-letting and political disruption. A new populist party would face a revitalized Labor party – energized by winning an election under an uninspiring leader that it did not deserve to win – but still firmly committed to elite ideologies and programs that can only deepen the cost-of-living crisis that continues to brutally divide Australia. If the conservative coalition’s dilemma is that it cannot attack elite ideologies and programs, the Labor party’s dilemma (much like that of the Democratic party in America and the UK Labour party) is that it is firmly and irretrievably committed to them. Whatever the consequences of next Saturday’s election it is safe to predict that the chronic ongoing instability that has characterized Australian politics for the past few decades – and politics in the West more generally – will only intensify. In that sense nothing much will change – and there is a more fundamental historical continuity in the Australian context at work here. In 1964, Donald Horne, a prominent Australian intellectual, wrote a book titled “The Lucky Country” in which he described Australia as follows: “Australia is a lucky country ruled mainly by second-rate people… It lives on other people’s ideas, and although its ordinary people are adaptable, most of its leaders… lack curiosity about the events that surround them.” Horne could easily have been writing about Dutton and Albanese and next Saturday’s federal election.
[Link to media]
— Russia and US were close to World War III – Oliver Stone: at 4/29/25 3:07pm
Tensions between the two superpowers reached Cold War heights during the Ukraine conflict, the director has said There was a point during the last three years of the Ukraine conflict where Russia and the US were teetering on the edge of nuclear war, according to acclaimed filmmaker Oliver Stone. Speaking to Russian students at the ‘Knowledge.First’ event in Moscow on Tuesday, Stone spoke out against the US role in the Ukraine conflict, as well as its biased coverage in Western media. The Hollywood legend suggested that over the past three years, Moscow and Washington have relived the Cold War spike in tensions that previously culminated in the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, and said he hoped a corresponding wind-down would follow. The United States and the Soviet Union came close to a nuclear confrontation during the Cold War after the USSR positioned medium-range ballistic missiles in Cuba, partly in response to the earlier deployment of American nukes in Turkey. Read more Biden may start ‘World War III’ – Oliver Stone ”I want to emphasize to you students how very close we came to World War III because of this awful leadership,” he said. ”We bring a great waste of our resources, and the height of this futility was a war which [former US President Joe] Biden recently dedicated to weakening Russia,” Stone said. “It is a retrograde war.” Western media coverage of the conflict and Russia has shocked him during the past three years, the director admitted. ”Even at the height of the Cold War, we didn’t treat Russia like this,” he said. Whereas now, the media has trained people in the West to equate Russia with President Vladimir Putin, Stone added. This is a tragic substitution of hatred for intelligence. “The propaganda state in the West is an incredible empire. Far further and stronger than I ever imagined. You are unable to see the inside of the matrix,” he said. Straight out of the works of George Orwell. While the anti-war filmmaker has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump, he has criticized Biden and the US “neoconservative movement” for the Ukraine conflict. Stone produced the 2016 documentary ‘Ukraine on Fire’ showing the role Washington played in the 2014 Maidan coup that overthrew Kiev’s democratically-elected president Viktor Yanukovich.
[Link to media]
— Oliver Stone warns Russia and US were close to World War III: at 4/29/25 3:07pm
Tensions between the two superpowers reached Cold War heights during the Ukraine conflict, the director has said There was a point in the last three years of the Ukraine conflict where Russia and the US have teetered on the edge of a nuclear war, acclaimed filmmaker Oliver Stone has said. Speaking to Russian students at the ‘Knowledge.First’ event in Moscow on Tuesday, spoke out against the US role in the Ukraine conflict, as well as its coverage in Western media. The Hollywood legend suggested that over the past three years, Moscow and Washington have relived the Cold War spike in tensions that previously culminated in the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, and said he hoped a corresponding wind down would follow. The US and the Soviet Union almost came to a nuclear clash at the height of the Cold War, after the USSR retaliated by placing nuclear weapons in Cuba, following Washington’s deployment of nukes in Turkey. Read more Biden may start ‘World War III’ – Oliver Stone ”I want to emphasize to you students how very close we came to World War III because of this awful leadership,” he said. ”We bring a great waste of our resources and height of this futility was a war which [former US President Joe] Biden recently dedicated to weakening Russia,” Stone said. “It is a retrograde war.” Western media coverage of the conflict and Russia has shocked him during the past three years, the director admitted. ”Even at the height of the Cold War, we didn’t treat Russia like this,” he said. Whereas now, the media has trained people in the West to equate Russia with President Vladimir Putin, Stone added. This is a tragic substitution of hatred for intelligence. “The propaganda state in the West is an incredible empire. Far further and stronger than I ever imagined. You are unable to see the inside of the matrix,” he said. Straight out of the works of George Orwell. While the anti-war filmmaker has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump, he has criticized Biden and the US “neoconservative movement” for the Ukraine conflict. Stone produced the 2016 ‘Ukraine on Fire’ documentary showing the role Washington played in the 2014 Maidan coup that overthrew Kiev’s democratically-elected president Viktor Yanukovich.
[Link to media]
— Major brands pulling back from LGBTQ parades – WSJ: at 4/29/25 2:53pm
Companies have reportedly scaled down NYC Pride sponsorships over political pressure and economic concerns Major corporations have reduced their support for New York City Pride events in 2025, the Wall Street Journal has reported. Companies are reportedly reassessing their LGBTQ sponsorships under mounting political pressure and economic concerns. Financial services giant Mastercard has confirmed it will not renew its platinum-level sponsorship of the city’s annual LGBTQ march. However, the company said it will still participate in the June parade and other events despite the cutback. “Mastercard is a longstanding supporter of the many communities of which our employees are members, including the LGBTQIA+ community globally,” the WSJ quoted a company spokeswoman as saying. PepsiCo, Nissan, Citi, and PricewaterhouseCoopers have also opted not to renew their corporate sponsorships this year, according to the outlet. However, many companies are not withdrawing entirely, the article adds, with some maintaining a paid presence through branded booths or supporting smaller Pride events. Nissan’s move was part of a broader review of marketing and sales spending, a company spokesman told the WSJ. Other Pride events such as those in St. Louis and San Francisco are reportedly losing key sponsors like alcoholic beverage companies Anheuser-Busch InBev and Diageo, though the latter will continue sponsorships through its Smirnoff brand. Read more Apple facing ‘gay propaganda’ probe – TASS Eve Keller, co-president of the United States Association of Prides, attributed the pullback to “multilayered” factors including political pressure on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and economic uncertainty driven by recent tariff announcements by US President Donald Trump. Keller told the Journal that fear of political backlash has even led some companies to request removal of their logos from official Pride materials. Changes to NYC Pride’s sponsor packages, which no longer include access to certain marketing events, also contributed to some companies’ decisions not to renew, sources familiar with the matter told the newspaper. A recent survey by Gravity Research found that nearly 40% of executives plan to reduce their Pride-related activities this year, up sharply from 9% last year. Concerns about potential DEI investigations by the federal government have been cited as the primary reason for the cancellations, followed by potential backlash from conservative activists and consumers, according to the survey. Despite the shifting landscape, two-thirds of last year’s NYC Pride sponsors have recommitted for 2025, according to the WSJ. Target, which faced boycotts last year, will reportedly reaffirm its support and return as a platinum sponsor.
[Link to media]
— EU engaging in ‘perversion of history’ – Oliver Stone: at 4/29/25 2:40pm
The bloc’s attempts to belittle the Soviet role in the victory over Nazism are a “disgrace,” the filmmaker has told RT Attempts by EU elites to diminish the significance of the USSR’s contribution to the victory over Nazism are a “perversion of history,” Oscar-winning American movie director Oliver Stone has told RT ahead of World War II Victory Day celebrations in Russia. The bloc’s “elitist leadership” has distorted the message that World War II provides to humanity, the filmmaker has said. “I’m shocked by it, by [what] is happening,” he stated, calling it “a shame” and “a disgrace that we forgot or pretend to [have forgotten]” about the sacrifices the Soviet Union made during the war. Stone also said he did not believe people in Europe “buy this at all.” “I think the people don’t agree with the government,” Stone maintained, going on to say that “the futility of this campaign against Russia by the EU” is obvious to “anybody, who reads history [books] and is intelligent.” The director of ‘Platoon’ and ‘JFK’ expressed his doubts that “fascism is popular” nowadays and stated instead that European elites had lost their way because of their “worship of the EU.” “We are not back to the times of Hitler, but what is happening is a loss of perspective and we need to get back to a sense of reason,” Stone told RT as he called on Western leaders to “listen to the Russians” instead of antagonizing them. He also expressed his hope that the US and Russia would manage to mend their relationship, opening the way to a better future for humanity. “Russia and the United States are a great partnership, as is China, by the way, and I think we could have a world that is much safer… if we all get together and realize that it’s a multilateral world.” Read more Hollywood legend Oliver Stone blasts ‘Russiagate lies’ US President Donald Trump’s administration has been engaged in efforts to restore bilateral ties with Russia and resolve the Ukraine conflict. On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that America now has a “better” understanding of the Russian position on the crisis. Moscow’s key conditions for ending the conflict are Ukraine’s neutrality, demilitarization, and recognition of the new territorial reality on the ground. Last week, Trump also said that Russian President Vladimir Putin was easier to deal with than Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky. Russian officials maintain they have always been ready to engage in peace talks, provided the discussions aim for a permanent solution that addresses the root causes of the conflict. Moscow has rejected any temporary agreement, explaining that it could be used by Kiev and its backers to rearm the Ukrainian military.
[Link to media]
— Ukrainian agent jailed for attempting to poison Russian military pilots: at 4/29/25 2:02pm
The man has been found guilty of treason and terrorism after sending poisoned cake and alcohol to an anniversary event A Russian court has sentenced a man recruited by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) to 27 years in prison for attempting to poison graduates of a military aviation school, multiple media outlets have reported. The incident took place in October 2023 in Russia’s southern city of Armavir, where former cadets of the Higher Military Aviation School were celebrating the 20th anniversary of their graduation. On Tuesday, the Southern District Military Court reportedly found Yegor Semyonov guilty of treason and terrorism. The first five years of his sentence are to be served in prison, with the remainder in a high-security penal colony. According to the investigation, Semyonov, a native of Ukraine, moved to Russia in 2018 and acquired Russian citizenship in 2022. Shortly afterward, he contacted the SBU and offered to cooperate. Acting on instructions from Ukrainian handlers in late 2023, he apparently traveled to Armavir, purchased over 100 bottles of alcohol, and ordered a large cake decorated with the aviation school’s emblem. A courier delivered the items to the restaurant where 77 guests were attending the banquet. The courier claimed the gift was from a former student who could not attend. Guests cut the cake but did not eat it, reportedly alarmed by a strong chemical smell. Military officers alerted the Federal Security Service (FSB), which quickly traced the delivery to Semyonov. Read more Ukrainian MP issues post-war terror threat He was detained at a local airport trying to board a flight to Moscow. According to investigators, he had planned to flee to Egypt with his family but never received the 400,000 rubles (over $4,000) allegedly promised by his handlers. In court, he pleaded guilty. Prosecutors, who had sought a life sentence, said they would appeal the ruling. Kiev’s intelligence services have tried to use toxic chemicals to carry out attacks inside Russia before since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict. The FSB has reported multiple foiled sabotage plots involving toxic substances. In January, officials said they disrupted a plan to target staff at a defense industry facility in the city of Yaroslavl. In another case, four people were arrested in St. Petersburg for allegedly planning to poison food prepared by volunteers for Russian troops. Moscow has repeatedly accused Kiev of using terrorist tactics, citing targeted assassinations of civilians and covert operations carried out by Ukraine’s intelligence services in an effort to derail peace negotiations.
[Link to media]
— Russian oil exports edge higher – Bloomberg: at 4/29/25 1:20pm
Some blacklisted tankers are reportedly back in operation due to US President Donald Trump’s approach to sanctions Russia’s oil exports have been on the rise for the past two weeks as several tankers that were sanctioned under the previous US administration have resumed hauling Russian crude, Bloomberg has reported, citing vessel-tracking data. Western countries have placed restrictions on Russian vessels seeking to reduce Moscow’s oil revenues amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict. The outlet cited US President Donald Trump’s refraining from imposing additional sanctions as the reason several of the vessels sanctioned under former President Joe Biden are back in operation. “At least 18 of the 39 ships blacklisted by the US in 2023 and 2024 are now regularly hauling barrels from Russia’s ports, having previously been idle since they were sanctioned,” Bloomberg wrote on Tuesday. Last year, the US and the European Union sanctioned Sovcomflot, Russia’s largest state-owned shipping company, along with 14 of its crude oil tankers. Washington and Brussels have also targeted Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, a network of older tankers used to circumvent the restrictions. Read more Russian finance minister issues budget warning Since assuming office in January, US President Donald Trump has been actively involved in diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire between Moscow and Kiev. His approach to sanctions has also been more restrained compared to the previous administration. While Trump has publicly threatened to impose additional “large-scale” or secondary sanctions on Russia if it does not agree to a peace deal, he has also floated the possibility of easing certain restrictions as part of negotiations. Bloomberg also noted that Russia’s income from oil exports was little changed at about $1.3 billion a week, which suggests that higher flows were offset by lower prices. Crude prices have been declining in recent weeks due to increased supply and economic uncertainty. READ MORE: Trump tariff shock sends oil to four-year low Before the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, nearly half of Russian crude exports were destined for European countries. By 2024, that share plummeted to 10% due to EU bans. Russia redirected its supply to China and India, which accounted for 87% of Russian crude exports in 2024, up from 35% pre-conflict, according to figures from Oxford Analytica.
[Link to media]
— ‘We unite for the sake of the future’: Open dialogue on global economy held at the National Centre RUSSIA: at 4/29/25 12:45pm
Participants from several countries discussed rising centers of global economic influence and the growing role of BRICS in the world A presentation of the open dialogue “The Future of the World. A New Platform for Global Growth” has taken place at the National Centre RUSSIA in Moscow. The central topic of discussion was the formation of new centers of influence in the global economy and the strengthening of BRICS’ role in this process. “BRICS is not about uniting countries against someone – we unite for the sake of the future. For moving forward. For the common good. And in our system, no one makes decisions alone. The key principle is consensus. This is true diplomacy of the future,” emphasized Maxim Oreshkin, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration of Russia. A similar viewpoint was expressed by American economist and Columbia University professor Jeffrey Sachs. According to him, multipolarity implies the existence of many centers of influence; therefore, creating platforms for comprehensive interaction is an extremely important task. Read more Open Dialogue on the Future of the Global Economy launched at the National Centre RUSSIA “We do not want one country imposing cultural values on others. We need many religions, value systems, and cultures,” Sachs stressed. The day before, on the opening day of the open dialogue, the best essays were selected on the topics of investment in people, technology, environment, and connectivity. The organizers received nearly 700 essays written by authors from 102 countries in 18 languages. Participants of the initiative were invited to share their ideas on how long-term global changes could impact people’s lives and well-being. The open dialogue “The Future of the World. A New Platform for Global Growth” is taking place at the the National Centre RUSSIA from April 28 to 30, with delegates from 48 countries participating.
[Link to media]
— Media freedom deteriorating in EU – report: at 4/29/25 12:26pm
News organizations are increasingly controlled by wealthy owners or governments, the Liberties group has said Media freedom is deteriorating in a number of EU countries, according to a recent report by the Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties). The group has claimed that pluralism and freedom of speech are “under attack” as media companies become increasingly controlled by governments and wealthy owners. In the Media Freedom 2025 report, the authors have outlined a range of pressures facing journalists and independent outlets, including legal and physical threats, declining ownership transparency, and political interference in public broadcasting. The group has warned that these factors have had a significant impact on the work of the media, limiting the diversity of opinions and the independence of publications, reducing public trust in content. Liberties has identified Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, Croatia, France, Hungary, Slovakia and Spain as among the EU member states where the situation is most alarming. According to the report, public broadcasters in several of these countries are routinely manipulated by political interests, and legal protections for media workers remain weak or poorly enforced. The group also recorded at least 156 physical or verbal attacks on journalists in 2024, including cases of police intimidation and criminal defamation charges. In some states, the report notes, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) are still being used to silence critical reporting, despite the EU’s recent efforts to curb their abuse. Read more EU denies Russian news agency accreditation Liberties also noted that Russian and Belarusian journalists working in the bloc have repeatedly faced threats and harassment and become targets of spyware, raising concerns over their safety and what effect it could be having on their work. Earlier this month, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported that the EU had denied its journalists accreditation for 2025, citing sanctions regulations. The outlet has appealed the decision, referencing the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and earlier EU statements that had assured journalistic activity would not be restricted. The rejection follows a broader crackdown on Russian media in the EU since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. The European Council has banned Russian outlets such as RT, Sputnik and RIA across the bloc. In its 16th sanctions package adopted this February, the bloc also added eight more Russian news outlets to the blacklist, including Lenta.ru and the Zvezda TV channel. Russian officials have repeatedly condemned the bans, arguing EU officials are afraid of people seeing a viewpoint that differs from the Western mainstream narrative and drawing their own conclusions about current events.
[Link to media]
— Modi gives army ‘freedom’ to respond to Kashmir carnage – media: at 4/29/25 11:58am
The Indian leader has authorized the military to decide the mode and timing of any armed response to Pakistan Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday gave the country’s armed forces “full operational freedom” to determine the mode, targets, and timing of India’s response to the recent terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 people, Indian media has reported citing sources. The message was delivered at a high-level security meeting attended by Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Chief of Defense Staff General Anil Chauhan. NDTV reported that during the meeting, Modi reiterated New Delhi’s resolve to “deal a crushing blow to terrorism” and that he has “complete faith and confidence” in the Indian military. Reacting to the attack last week, Modi vowed to “identify, trace and punish” the terrorists “and their backers.” In an emotional speech at a rally in Bihar, he said “We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth.” On Sunday, Modi reiterated that the “conspirators and perpetrators of this attack will face the harshest response.” Read more A decades-old deal is falling apart – and two nuclear neighbors are involved The attack on April 22 left 26 people, mostly tourists from various parts of India, dead and dozens injured. The massacre was unleashed by terrorists in broad daylight at a popular picnic spot in Pahalgam, southern Kashmir. The Resistance Front, a militant group believed to be linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, has reportedly claimed responsibility, prompting New Delhi to accuse Islamabad of supporting cross-border terrorism. Pakistan has denied any role in the attack and stated it is for a neutral and transparent investigation. It was the worst such tragedy since the Pulwama attack in February 2019, when a suicide bomber rammed his vehicle into a bus in a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy, killing 40 personnel. In response, India conducted precision air strikes on terrorist camps reportedly run by banned terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed in Pakistan’s Balakot. In response to the latest attack, India suspended the key Indus Waters Treaty, expelled Pakistani diplomats, closed its land border, and suspended visas for Pakistani citizens, effectively ordering them to leave Indian soil within a few days. Earlier on Tuesday, Indian media reported that New Delhi had launched extensive counter-terrorism operations across various locations in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Four counter-terrorism operations are reportedly taking place in the region as part of a heightened security crackdown. The Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police are conducting joint operations, with a focus on southern Kashmir, local media said. Security has been increased in areas such as Pulwama (the scene of a major terror attack in 2019), where searches are taking place in forested and rural areas. As part of security measures, 48 out of 87 public parks and gardens in vulnerable areas have been closed in an effort to maintain safety and prevent potential threats.
[Link to media]
— Beyond reach: Why America’s ‘Golden Dome’ may be powerless against Russia’s doomsday missile: at 4/29/25 11:50am
A nuclear-powered cruise missile with unlimited range could outmaneuver even the most ambitious US missile defenses Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump launched the ambitious “Golden Dome” initiative – a sweeping plan to build a national missile defense system capable of shielding America from modern threats: ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons, and advanced cruise missiles. Designed as a next-generation shield, the Golden Dome aspires to close gaps in the nation’s defenses and guarantee security against a broad range of airborne dangers. But even the most sophisticated defense can face a threat it wasn’t designed to stop. As Washington doubles down on its plans for a new shield, Russia is preparing a weapon unlike anything currently in existence – a nuclear-powered cruise missile with unlimited range. And it’s a threat the Golden Dome may struggle to counter. Unexpected question for America’s new shield Russia is on the verge of deploying an entirely new class of cruise missile that could fundamentally alter air defense paradigms: nuclear-powered, unlimited-range cruise missiles. Chief among them is the Burevestnik. It’s only logical that US missile defense planners are thinking ahead to such unconventional threats. Open-source intelligence researchers like MT_Anderson have recently shared satellite imagery revealing suspected construction of Burevestnik launch facilities near Vologda. If verified, this would mark the next phase in the deployment of a weapon capable of shaking the foundations of global strategic stability. ??Burevestnik Launch Site??Looking back to last summer, one can tell the pace at which theyve built it out. Theyve been busy bees...@SkyfiApp | @planet imagery from Jun / Oct 2024, respectively https://t.co/hQB2UnY9Re pic.twitter.com/1REcKvY77M— MT Anderson (@MT_Anderson) April 7, 2025 Russia first revealed the Burevestnik missile during President Vladimir Putin’s address to the Federal Assembly on March 1, 2018. Dubbed SSC-X-9 “Skyfall” in the West, the missile has been cloaked in secrecy ever since. The commonly used designation “9M730 Burevestnik” is actually a misnomer, as the 9M730 label originally referred to a version of the Iskander-M missile system – but that’s a minor detail in the larger picture. Reports suggest that Burevestnik testing has been ongoing for years at sites like Novaya Zemlya, the Nenoksa naval testing range near Severodvinsk, and the Kapustin Yar missile complex – the latter featuring specialized infrastructure operated by Rosatom. As recently as two years ago, it seemed Russia was still far from completing development. Now, however, signs point to a major shift: operational launch sites are reportedly under construction. How the Burevestnik works Visually, the Burevestnik resembles a traditional cruise missile, with folding wings for compact launch storage. It launches from a ground platform using a solid-fuel booster, then switches to an air-breathing nuclear-powered jet engine once it reaches cruising speed. In theory, this engine heats incoming air via a compact nuclear reactor, allowing the missile to stay airborne for weeks or even months without refueling. Read more Oreshnik, Lancet, Geran: Russia’s cutting edge weapons shaping its Ukraine conflict strategy (VIDEOS) Sources estimate the missile’s operational range at 22,000km, though in practice it may be virtually unlimited. Such a missile could patrol potential conflict zones indefinitely, awaiting launch commands. Upon receiving orders, it could maneuver toward targets from unpredictable vectors, making interception extraordinarily difficult. Effectively, the Burevestnik is designed to serve as a “doomsday weapon” – a guaranteed retaliatory strike platform in the event of nuclear war. Outflanking defenses A nuclear-powered cruise missile would be capable of striking anywhere on the globe from any direction. It could exploit satellite communications to update flight paths, evade interception, and even receive new target information mid-flight. Naturally, preventing accidents is critical, but it’s likely that specialized recovery systems – possibly involving parachutes – have been developed. The ability to safely operate a nuclear-powered engine stems from technological breakthroughs achieved in the 1990s and 2000s, when Russian scientists successfully built compact nuclear reactors. These advancements paved the way not only for the Burevestnik, but also for other projects like the Poseidon underwater drone. Notably, the US and the Soviet Union both explored nuclear-powered aircraft concepts during the Cold War. Despite extensive research on platforms like the B-36 and Tu-95, both nations ultimately abandoned the projects due to insurmountable engineering challenges, astronomical costs, and radiation safety concerns. Today, with more advanced reactor technology, Russia seems poised to achieve what Cold War engineers only dreamed of: a practical, nuclear-powered, unlimited-range missile. Read more Breaking the ice: How Russia’s nuclear fleet outpaces rivals Is the Burevestnik ready? Can the Burevestnik be considered operational? Full details remain classified, but tests in 2020–2021 at Kapustin Yar and Nenoksa strongly suggest significant progress. The completion of permanent launch sites points to an impending deployment phase. According to some reports, Russia could begin fielding Burevestnik missiles as early as 2025-26 – potentially in large numbers. Thanks to their nearly limitless range, these missiles could patrol vast areas, including the Arctic, Siberia, or the Pacific Ocean, remaining invisible to conventional defense systems. A major challenge for America’s Golden Dome initiative will be detecting and tracking such missiles – no easy task. It would likely require unprecedented coordination with the US Navy and the full use of space-based tracking systems. Space: The final frontier of missile defense Ultimately, defeating a weapon like the Burevestnik would demand a fully integrated space-based missile defense component. Satellite tracking, rapid identification of launch zones, and intercept capabilities far beyond current systems would be necessary. Even advanced naval assets like Aegis-equipped ships would face a monumental challenge. For now, there is no simple solution. And while Washington scrambles to prepare, Moscow holds a major advantage – especially when considering additional next-generation weapons like the Poseidon nuclear drone. In this high-stakes race, Russia may have already moved the strategic chessboard – and set up a checkmate that America’s Golden Dome might not be able to prevent.
[Link to media]
— Argentina publishes files on notorious Nazi fugitives: at 4/29/25 11:31am
The newly-released documents detail times spent in the country by infamous death camp doctor Josef Mengele and Holocaust architect Adolf Eichmann, amongst others The Argentinean government has made public almost 2,000 declassified secret service files on hundreds of Nazi war criminals who fled to the Latin American country after the Third Reich’s defeat in the Second World War. According to estimates, as many as 10,000 Nazis utilized so-called ‘ratlines’ to escape as the Axis powers collapsed. Infamously, around half of them are believed to have chosen Argentina –known for its reluctance to grant extradition requests — as their refuge. The 1,850 files uploaded online by the Argentinian National Archives (AGN) on Monday included intelligence reports, photographs, and police records. The documents on “Nazi activities in Argentina” are now available to all “thanks to extensive restoration and digitization work,” the AGN said in a statement. Among other things, the papers depict how the likes of Josef Mengele, Erich Priebke and Adolf Eichmann were able to make it to Argentina and what they did in the country. Read more Swiss bank worked with WW2 Nazis until 2020 – US Senate Mengele was a physician and Nazi SS officer, nicknamed the ‘Angel of Death’ for his inhumane medical experiments on prisoners at the Auschwitz concentration camp. The published records show he entered Argentina in 1949 under the name of Gregor Helmut and then openly lived in the country. “References obtained from different sectors of the German community allowed us to learn that he was commander of the Assault Guards and, at the same time, doctor in the German extermination camp of Auschwitz,” one of the files on Mengele read. The newly-published papers also included the 1995 extradition documents for Priebke, a mid-level SS commander, who had been in charge of a unit responsible for the massacre of 335 Italian civilians at the Ardeatine Caves outside Rome in 1944. They also shed light on the time that Eichmann, a high-ranking SS official often described as the logistics chief of the Holocaust, spent in Argentina. He was kidnapped in Buenos Aires in 1960 by Mossad agents and hanged for his crimes by Israel two years later. The files in question were declassified in 1992 under a decree from then-Argentine President Carlos Menem, but they could only be viewed in a specially designated room at the AGN. READ MORE: CIA files reveal secret search for Hitler in 1950s The country’s current leader Javier Milei ordered that the Nazi papers be released to the general public in March on a request from the US Jewish human rights organization, the Simon Wiesenthal Center, which is currently investigating links between Swiss bank, Credit Suisse, and Nazi Germany.
[Link to media]
— Lavrov claims Kiev wants ceasefire to halt battlefield losses: at 4/29/25 11:29am
Ukraine has demanded an immediate and unconditional truce in reply to Moscow’s offer of a three-day armistice Kiev is demanding an unconditional ceasefire because its forces are being routed on the battlefield, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said. Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered Kiev a 72-hour truce from May 8 to 10 to coincide with this year’s Victory Day anniversary. Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky criticized the offer as an attempt at “manipulation” and called for an immediate and unconditional full ceasefire instead. Speaking at a press conference on following a BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Brazil on Tuesday, Lavrov noted a sharp departure in Kiev’s intransigence. “Against the backdrop of what is happening on the ground, on the line of combat contact, where the Ukrainian regime is increasingly retreating again and again,” he said. Read more Putin orders 3-day May ceasefire in Ukraine conflict (FULL STATEMENT) “They reversed their position 180 degrees and began to demand an immediate truce without preconditions,” the top diplomat added. Whereas a month or two ago, “Kiev spouted dire warnings that they would not accept any truce,” Lavrov said. European “radicals” were inciting Ukraine to continue the conflict, pumping it full of weapons and insisting that talks could only begin when Ukrainian authorities could negotiate from a position of power, “when Russia is weakened,” the top diplomat said. Read more Ukraine won’t win – Vance Western Europe seems to be interested in continuing the conflict in Ukraine, as well as undermining any US peace efforts to end it, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said last week. Moscow has repeatedly criticized European arms supplies to Kiev, and condemned its plans to deploy troops in Ukraine as escalatory. Russia has insisted that it has always been ready for peace talks, provided they are aimed at a permanent solution that addresses the core causes of the conflict. Any temporary ceasefire would instead be used by Kiev’s Western backers as a chance to rearm Ukraine, Moscow has said.
[Link to media]
— EU state votes to ditch ICC: at 4/29/25 11:07am
Hungary’s parliament has approved a bill to withdraw from the International Criminal Court Hungary’s National Assembly has voted to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has announced. He described the institution as biased and discredited. The decision was passed with a more than two-thirds majority on Tuesday. “The Hungarian Parliament just voted to withdraw from the @IntlCrimCourt. With this decision, we refuse to be part of a politicized institution that has lost its impartiality and credibility,” Szijjarto wrote on X. Earlier this month, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban accused the ICC of losing its impartiality and becoming a “political tribunal.” He announced his intention to end Budapest’s participation during a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Hungary. Last November, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as three figures in the Hamas leadership, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. READ MORE: ICC responds to appeal of Netanyahu arrest warrant US President Donald Trump has sanctioned the ICC and its chief prosecutor Karim Khan for going after top Israeli officials. The US is not a party to the Rome Statute, the ICC’s founding treaty, and neither are China, Russia, and Israel, among others. Read more Putin ICC arrest warrant invalid in Italy – local media In March of 2023, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and children’s rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova over alleged unlawful deportation and transfer of children from former Ukrainian territories. Moscow has criticized the order as “null and void,” insisting that the children were evacuated from the front line for their own safety, and can be returned to their legal guardians upon request. The judicial body lacks the ability to enforce its warrants, and relies on member states to detain and transfer suspects. Hungary’s withdrawal requires notifying the UN Secretary-General, after which it will take effect one year later. Until then, Hungary remains obligated to cooperate with the ICC under the terms of the Rome Statute.
[Link to media]
— Russia’s victory, EU’s decline, and a just world order: Highlights from Medvedev’s speech: at 4/29/25 10:58am
The former president has given an address outlining Moscow’s current foreign policy priorities Moscow’s victory in the Ukraine conflict will lay the groundwork for a more just world based on mutual respect and stable development, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said, adding that this vision is supported by most of the world’s population. The senior official, currently serving as deputy chair of the Russian Security Council, outlined Moscow’s foreign policy priorities and recalled the history of the West’s confrontational approach to Russia during a public lecture in Moscow on Tuesday. Here are the key points of Medvedev’s speech. Ukraine Conflict Medvedev stated that the Ukraine conflict stems from decades of Western hostility toward Russia and the fostering of neo-Nazism in Ukraine by the “Anglo-Saxon crowd.” He argued that Russia’s military response was necessary to address these provocations, stating that even US President Donald Trump acknowledged that Washington, Brussels, and Kiev are responsible for the Ukraine crisis which has nearly triggered World War III. Read more ‘Real de-Nazification’ would include all Europe – Medvedev The former president also stressed that Russia’s ultimate goal is to destroy the “Kiev neo-Nazi regime,” not the Ukrainian state itself. He emphasized that Russia would not allow hostile regimes to re-emerge on its borders and called for a complete denazification of Ukraine, as well as Europe. He also warned that all foreign fighters and any future foreign contingents in Ukraine are legitimate military targets under international law, and promised that war criminals would face justice. Commenting on Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, Medvedev described him as a “pathological figure” and suggested he would “end very badly.”He predicted that after the conflict ends, Russia would establish a new national holiday to commemorate its victory in Ukraine which, according to Medvedev, is essential to ensure lasting security. Russia and the West Medvedev has described Russia’s relationship with the West as a long history of confrontation, rooted in persistent efforts by ”Anglo-Saxon powers” to weaken Russia. He recalled that even during World War II, Britain and the US considered plans to attack the Soviet Union, referencing ”Operation Unthinkable,” which was secretly developed under Winston Churchill’s orders in 1945. Medvedev argued that after the war, the West squandered the chance to build a fair international order, instead creating a system based on double standards, cynicism, and attempts to isolate Russia. Read more Western Europe waging ‘quiet war’ against Trump – Medvedev Medvedev stated that while Russia had always sought peaceful coexistence, it now faces a situation where it must counter the West’s ”peace through strength” strategy with its own doctrine of ”peace through fear,” asserting that only the threat of strong retaliation, including nuclear deterrence, can keep the West from taking hostile actions. At the same time, he rejected claims that Russia might attack Europe, calling them ”nonsense” designed to frighten European populations and justify rampant militarization. The former president also concluded that Russian-EU relations have passed the ”point of no return,” arguing that there are no independent, strong leaders left on the continent, only ”spineless Russophobic figures” and ”cowardly marionettes.” Medvedev expressed little hope for meaningful dialogue with current EU governments, and suggested that future interaction would be limited or nonexistent. At the same time, he claimed that many ordinary Europeans are growing disillusioned with their leaders’ policies toward Russia. EU’s decline Medvedev described today’s Western Europe as suffering from “feeblemindedness without courage.” He argued that the continent has abandoned its traditions and fallen under the control of radical, Russophobic leaders. Read more Medvedev brands incoming German chancellor a ‘Nazi’ He claimed that Western Europe is increasingly embracing extremist ideologies and must also undergo a process of denazification alongside Ukraine. Medvedev pointed to the decision by European authorities to invite Ukrainian nationalists – whom he linked to WWII-era Ukrainian far-right leader Stepan Bandera – to the 80th anniversary celebrations of the end of World War II, while deliberately excluding representatives from Russia, calling it an act of profound cynicism. Medvedev went on to state that the EU is not only politically weak but also morally degraded, lacking any real leadership or strategic independence, and on the verge of collapse. He predicted that the bloc would continue to oppose Donald Trump and traditionalist forces in the US, reflecting a deep ideological split between globalist elites in Europe and rising conservative movements elsewhere in the West. Just world order The former president suggested that Russia is fighting with “truth and justice” on its side, positioning itself as the defender of genuine international law against Western hypocrisy. Read more Forum highlights Russia’s role in shaping multipolar global order He argued that Russia’s victory in the Ukraine conflict would mark the first step toward the creation of a fair, multipolar world order. Medvedev claimed that the Western “rules-based order” is illegitimate and called for its replacement with a true international system grounded in mutual respect and real international law. He noted that most of humanity, particularly the Global South, already supports this vision, while acknowledging that creating such a multipolar world would likely take many years. Medvedev also stated that despite their geopolitical rivalry, Russia and the US do not have to be permanent enemies and argued that pragmatic cooperation between the two countries is crucial for global stability, especially given their roles as the largest nuclear powers and permanent members of the UN Security Council. He expressed cautious hope that dialogue with Washington could resume on a more pragmatic basis, while dismissing the EU as an increasingly irrelevant actor.
[Link to media]
— Infant among those injured in Ukrainian strike – Russian mayor: at 4/29/25 10:56am
At least 16 people have suffered injuries in an attack on the Donbass city of Gorlovka, Ivan Prikhodko has said A Ukrainian strike on the city of Gorlovka in Russia’s Donetsk People’s Republic has left at least sixteen people injured, including a one-year-old child, according to the city’s mayor, Ivan Prikhodko. Kiev’s forces launched an artillery strike targeting the city center on Tuesday, the mayor said on his Telegram channel, where he posted a video and photos from the scene of streets filled with debris. The doors of several buildings, including apartment blocks, had been smashed in by explosions. A bus was also hit in the strike, according to Prikhodko. At least one person is in critical condition, the mayor said, without revealing any further details about the injured. Gorlovka, which is located 50 kilometers north of Donetsk, is one of the biggest cities in the People’s Republic. Before the conflict, it was home to some 250,000 people. It has been frequently targeted by Kiev’s forces. In early April, 16 civilians were injured when a Ukrainian kamikaze drone struck a bus in the city. A similar UAV strike targeted a passenger bus near Gorlovka in mid-March. Last month, Rodion Miroshnik, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s ambassador-at-large overseeing investigations into alleged war crimes, highlighted a rising number of civilian casualties resulting from Ukrainian attacks on vulnerable locations such as Gorlovka. According to Miroshnik, these attacks intensified as the US was pushing for peace negotiations between Moscow and Kiev. This indicated that Ukraine was seeking to obstruct those efforts, the diplomat said at the time.
[Link to media]
— Israel insists ‘no chance’ of long-term truce with Hamas – media: at 4/29/25 8:36am
The Arab-mediated proposal would allow the group to “rearm,” according to officials Israel has rejected a proposed five-year ceasefire with Hamas, claiming that a long-term truce would allow the Palestinian group to rearm, according to multiple media reports citing Israeli officials. Egypt and Qatar have tried to mediate a ceasefire in Gaza. Israel broke the previous two-month truce in March by launching a new barrage of attacks on the enclave. The proposed new deal reportedly included the release of all remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza in exchange for a long-term cessation of hostilities. Hamas is said to have refused to lay down arms for as long as the Israeli occupation continues. “There is no chance that we will agree to a hudna with Hamas that just allows it to rearm, recover and to continue its war against Israel,” the official said, as cited by The Times of Israel. “Hudna” is an Arabic term that denotes a prolonged period between a ceasefire and a peace treaty, noted the news outlet. Read more Hamas proposes full hostage release for end of Gaza war Israel has declared that its primary goal is the total disarmament and elimination of Hamas. Hamas’ founding charter calls for Israel’s destruction, but the movement has signaled that it might agree to a long-term truce in return for an end to occupation, noted Reuters. Earlier this month, the Palestinian group also said it wanted a comprehensive peace deal and that it would not accept any “partial” agreements. In response to Israel’s reported refusal to accept the long-term truce, a group representing the families of the hostages stated that “once again the ‘senior political source’ proves that the Israeli government has no plan” for the release of those still in captivity in Gaza. The Israeli authorities have reported that of the 59 hostages listed as remaining in the enclave, only 24 are thought to have survived. Dozens of others were previously released through ceasefire agreements or separate deals. Israeli forces have taken control of more than half of Gaza in a renewed offensive following the collapse of a ceasefire and the stalling of hostage negotiations in March. The IDF has resumed air strikes on the enclave in order to increase pressure on Hamas to release the remaining captives. The ongoing offensive in the enclave was triggered by the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel, when the militants killed approximately 1,200 people and took another 250 hostage. Since then, over 51,000 Palestinians have been killed amid the IDF military operation, according to Gazan health authorities. READ MORE: UN must stand trial – Israel The humanitarian situation has deteriorated sharply since March due to an Israeli-imposed blockade, leading to severe shortages of food, medical supplies, and other essential resources.
[Link to media]
— Russia reforms asylum for ‘mass arrivals’ – media: at 4/29/25 8:13am
The Interior Ministry is reportedly proposing a new legal framework for foreigners seeking shelter, including during emergencies such as war The Russian Interior Ministry has reportedly drafted a law overhauling the country’s asylum system, drawing on the experience of a rapid influx of Ukrainian nationals. Some 5 million Ukrainians are estimated to have fled to Russia amid the conflict between the two nations, with an overwhelming majority applying for expedited citizenship. According to a report by RBK on Tuesday, the legislation would introduce a new category – temporary protection – which would allow the government to respond effectively to “mass arrivals” during emergencies such as armed conflicts. Both this status and temporary shelter would initially be granted for one year, with the possibility of extension. At the same time, the bill would preserve existing mechanisms for refugees – individuals fleeing persecution based on ethnicity, religion, social status, or political beliefs. If enacted, the reforms would mean asylum for these individuals continues while the threats they face persist. Temporary shelter would still be granted on humanitarian grounds, but the criteria for this type of protection would be expanded to include rejection of traditional values and “Russophobia” in foreign countries, according to RBK. Read more More people see Russia as guardian of true values – Lavrov Russia currently has a program that offers residency to foreigners who assert that their way of life is under threat in their home countries due to neoliberal ideologies. The draft law specifically designates political asylum as a separate category of protection, to be awarded at the discretion of the Russian president. This mechanism, grounded in the Russian Constitution, is applied on a case-by-case basis. A notable recent example includes former Syrian President Bashar Assad, who was granted such status after fleeing to Russia last year. Additionally, the reform aims to eliminate outdated provisions regarding housing options for individuals seeking refuge in Russia, RBK reported.
[Link to media]

As of 4/30/25 1:26am. Last new 4/30/25 1:26am.

Next feed in category: Russia Global Affairs