Russian politicians

Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces: “Russia goals to maximise the destruction of our forces”

Based on the Ukrainian military, Russia goals to maximise the destruction of Ukrainian forces earlier than overseas navy help arrives within the nation, studies The Guardian.

Based on Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Russia’s probabilities of success lower second by second as Ukraine receives, amongst different issues, F-16 fighter jets from Western nations. With the fighters, Ukraine’s air protection might be strengthened.

Syrskyi says in his social media replace that, for that reason, Russia is attempting to each enhance the facility of its assault and assault an ever wider space. Based on Syrskyi, Russia is aiming to destroy Ukrainian troops, disrupt the coaching of recent troops, and forestall a counterattack.

Nonetheless, in keeping with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the quantity of Western arms help ought to be elevated, and the arrival of the already promised help ought to be accelerated.

Russia threatens with more durable peace phrases if Ukraine doesn’t settle for the present proposal

Based on Sergei Naryshkin, head of Russia’s overseas intelligence service, the calls for for the next peace phrases will change into more durable if Ukraine doesn’t settle for the present proposal of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Russian information company Tass reported on the matter.

Presently, Putin calls for the annexation of Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson areas to Russia as a situation for the decision of the battle. As well as, Ukraine ought to demilitarize and stay non-aligned and non-nuclear, in addition to abandon its sanctions towards Russia. Ukraine has not agreed to the Kremlin’s phrases.

Sergei Naryshkin, head of Russia’s overseas intelligence service. EPA / AOP

Kremlin: Swiss peace talks produced a “zero outcome”

Based on the Kremlin, the peace convention held in Switzerland over the weekend didn’t produce any outcomes, studies The Guardian.

– If we discuss in regards to the remaining outcomes of this assembly, then they’re a spherical zero, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov says.

Nonetheless, there was no query of peace negotiations on the weekend convention, as Russia was not invited. Based on the President of the Republic of Finland, Alexander Stubb, no options have been anticipated from the assembly both, because it was a dialogue and never a negotiation.

On the finish of the convention, the assertion supporting Ukraine’s regional unity was signed by greater than 80 nations and worldwide organizations. Nonetheless, quite a few main nations, together with Brazil, India, South Africa and Saudi Arabia, kept away from signing the assertion.

Based on Peskov, the nations’ resolution was as a consequence of Russia’s absence.

– Many nations understood the futility of the discussions in our nation’s absence, Peskov stated, however however emphasised that President Vladimir Putin is “nonetheless open to dialogue and critical discussions”.

A residents’ initiative despatched to the Ukrainian administration requires TikTok to be banned

A citizen’s initiative was submitted to the web site of the Cupboard of Ministers of Ukraine every week in the past, demanding the banning of the Chinese language-owned video service TikTok on Ukrainian soil. The initiative has already collected nearly half of the required signatures, and it refers back to the nationwide safety threat attributable to the video service. The impartial information web site Meduza reported on the matter.

Patrols chasing conscripts chase males into hiding in Ukraine

The “mobilization patrols” bringing males to the entrance are inflicting terror in Ukraine, studies the BBC. Patrols reportedly pressured passengers off buses and prepare stations, and transported them on to recruitment facilities.

Main a gaggle of about 12 troopers at Odessa’s principal prepare station Anatoly believes that males of conscription age keep away from troopers. Armed males stroll across the entrance yard of the station and cease males of service age to verify if they’ve already registered within the database as required by the brand new legislation.

– Some are operating away from us. It occurs very often, says Anatoli.

Desperately in want of extra frontline troopers, Ukraine has, amongst different issues, lowered the minimal age for enlisted males to 25, and made it simpler to establish conscripts.

Residing on the outskirts of Odessa Vova says that she doesn’t depart her condominium with out her 7-year-old daughter. Based on the person, the daughter’s presence prevents the patrols from forcing her with them.

– I am not a soldier, I’ve by no means held a gun in my hand, I do not assume I would be helpful on the entrance, Vova, who works as an IT engineer, justifies her resolution.

Troopers who keep away from service are united by concern of inadequate navy coaching and distrust of the nation’s officer corps. Some officers are stated to have accepted bribes to assist conscripts flee to neighboring nations.

FT: Russia changed the USA in fuel provides to Europe

In Could, Russia delivered extra pure fuel to European nations than the US, the Monetary Instances studies.

The data relies on the statistics of ICIS, a consulting firm that follows the uncooked supplies market. Along with EU nations (excluding Malta and Cyprus), they’ve included Nice Britain, Switzerland, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia.

That is the primary time in almost two years that Russia has equipped Europe with extra pure fuel than the US, regardless of Europe’s efforts to wean itself off Russian power.

America had been the second largest provider of fuel to European nations after Norway as of September 2022. In Could, 15 % of European fuel got here from Russia and 14 % from the US.

The Monetary Instances factors out that Jap European nations particularly nonetheless depend on Russian pure fuel, and it isn’t simple for these nations to interrupt away from Russian power.

– It’s hanging to see the market share of Russian pure fuel and liquefied pure fuel shrinking in Europe after the whole lot we’ve got been via and what we’ve got achieved to disengage (from Russian power) and scale back the dangers of power provide, ICIS skilled Tom Marzec-Manser says.

Nonetheless, Marzec-Manser factors out to the FT that the turnaround is unlikely to be everlasting. The truth that Russia now overtook the US is partly defined by non permanent components. One among these is the outage that occurred at a liquefied pure fuel relay station in the US.

Putin will go to North Korea this week

Russian President Vladimir Putin will go to North Korea on Tuesday of this week, the Russian information company Tass studies.

The 2-day go to is Putin’s first to North Korea since July 2000, when North Korea was led by Kim Jong-il.

Based on Putin’s workplace, this go to is going down on the invitation of the present chief of North Korea, Kim Jong-un. Kim himself visited Russia in September, when he additionally met Putin.

From North Korea, Putin continues his journey to Vietnam for a two-day go to.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is claimed to be prepared to barter a ceasefire. EPA/AOP

Russian President Vladimir Putin could be prepared for a cease-fire in Ukraine, the Reuters information company says based mostly on the knowledge it has obtained. In response to info, Putin would settle for a ceasefire if Ukraine accepted the present entrance strains.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov has commented on the Reuters information by stating that Russia has expressed on a number of events that it’s open to a dialogue about reaching its objectives. In response to Peskov, Russia doesn’t need an “everlasting state of conflict” both.

Russia professional Hanna Smith considers Reuters info credible.

– This isn’t the primary time that the Kremlin has been communicated on this manner. So this isn’t a brand new factor for you, he says.

Smith factors out that the present scenario of the conflict is favorable for Russia. Given this, it’s comprehensible that Putin needs to cease the combating when his personal curiosity permits it.

– In the mean time, after all, Russia is eager about negotiating earlier than the scenario probably turns the opposite manner once more, he says.

– You possibly can evaluate this to an ice hockey match, that’s, if you’re first down 0–2, then you definitely stage up and eventually take a 4–2 lead, then after all you wish to cease the sport within the lead within the third interval.

Booty from a navy expedition

In response to Smith, the query is what Putin needs in return.

In response to Reuters, Putin needs to maintain the present entrance strains. Bloomberg has beforehand reported that in return, Putin may settle for Ukraine’s NATO membership.

– It’s clear that Russia needs the spoils of this navy marketing campaign. In observe, it means land areas. The one query is how a lot, Smith says.

In response to Smith’s evaluation, Putin isn’t essentially glad with the present entrance strains, however ultimately needs the territories illegally annexed by Russia to formally belong to him.

At present, the areas of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson are usually not totally below Russian management.

– Russia might say that we’ll now take a ceasefire. Then, sooner or later, Russia will take these 4 areas that it has already declared for itself of their entirety, he says.

What does Ukraine need?

Smith factors out that Russia has successfully used earlier related bulletins of its want for peace to its benefit.

– It has occurred loads. Russia typically makes use of these speeches about how they’re eager about negotiating as a propaganda device, he says.

– “We’re prepared for peace, we wish to negotiate and we by no means wished conflict”. That is how Russia communicates, though after all Russia began the entire conflict.

Smith’s intestine feeling is that after the conferences between Putin and Chinese language President Xi Jinping, there are sometimes messages from Russia about readiness for peace. Putin final met Xi in mid-Might in Beijing.

In March, Xi visited Moscow, and after this assembly as properly, Putin introduced that he was “open to a negotiation course of” to finish the conflict. The USA characterised the declare as a “delaying tactic”.

– In these conferences with Xi and within the speeches after them, Putin typically emphasizes that Russia is striving for a ceasefire and peace, so long as Russia’s demand is taken into consideration, says Smith.

– There may be at all times the addition that Russia’s will and issues could be taken into consideration.

Lastly, Smith reminds that some within the West additionally suppose that Ukraine ought to maintain its independence with small territorial concessions after which develop into a powerful democratic state that may be part of NATO.

– This type of narrative happens in lots of circles within the West as properly. We regularly speak about what some circles in Russia and what some circles within the West focus on about Ukraine, he factors out.

In response to Smith, in the end, this entire factor is about what Ukraine needs. He reminds that Ukraine pays the very best worth day-after-day for the truth that Russia is waging an unlawful conflict of aggression towards it.

– Ukraine has to sacrifice its folks, folks die there and there are all types of horrors of conflict. Russia is bombing civilians. Ukrainians pay an unimaginable worth day-after-day, he says.

– It’s best to primarily ask them what they need. However in world politics, issues go considerably in a different way.

GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko spoke to the media in the Kremlin and said that Belarus need not engage in hostilities today or ever. This is reported by the Belarusian news agency Belta.

– There is no such need today or ever. I once said that Russia needs a calm and quiet Belarus that does its job. I’m not going to tell you in detail what we’re doing and so on, the president said.

Lukashenko also commented on Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy facilities.

– Ukrainians should understand that if they target facilities like oil refineries, the response (from Russia) will come immediately, but ten times harder. Why provoke? At the same time, they are talking about some kind of peace talks, to which Russia has not been invited.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin according to which Russia was forced to strike Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, such as power plants. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia fired a total of 82 missiles and drones on Thursday. Russian missiles and drones destroyed, among other things, the Tripilska power plant.

“If we joined the war”

Lukashenko said that if they joined the war, it would not change anything. According to Lukashenko, Ukraine mined the border with Belarus and stationed 120,000 soldiers there.

– Ukraine wants to send these troops to the front and replace them with French soldiers. We look forward to the French defending Ukraine. It’s a complete joke! It’s cheap talk. France will not send troops to defend Ukraine. They are trying to scare Putin and me. Belarus does not need to join the fighting.

In February, the French president Emmanuel Macron hinted at the possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine.

In addition, according to Lukashenka, the talk about the intentions of Russia and Belarus to conquer Europe is complete nonsense.

– Putin said yesterday that it is a complete lie. We have never discussed this issue, he said.

In 2005, Putin still managed to arrive with a flower delivery to meet the then president of Finland, Tarja Halo. The same would not be seen today. DMITRY ASTAKHOV/IZVESTIA

Elections will be held in Russia this weekend, the result of which has been considered clear: Vladimir Putin is elected for his fifth term.

Today, however, Russia is led by a quite different president than almost 25 years ago, when he first took up his post.

Researcher at the Foreign Policy Institute Kristiina Silvan previously assessed to Iltalehti that in the early 2000s Russia was a “rising star” on the world stage, seen as a good and reliable partner both in the Soviet republics and in the West. The country’s economy was growing, and the state was integrating into international and European organizations. Great developments were also noticeable in the country’s democracy at that time.

Around this time, the relations with the president of Finland who had just started in his position as well Tarja Halonen were good. At first, Putin and Halonen met annually, sometimes more often.

Halonen even described Putin as his friend.

The story continues after the pictures.

The annexation of Crimea electrified the spaces

The good relations between the presidents of Finland and Russia always continued Sauli Niinistön until the beginning of the first presidential term. In the years 2008–2012, Putin’s place at the head of the country was filled by Dmitri Medvedev, who was also known for his warm relations with Halo.

In 2012, Putin returned to the presidency, and Niinistö started his first term in Finland. At the first meeting of the presidents, the two were immortalized in brotherly relations in the hockey rink located on the Karelian Isthmus.

The story continues after the pictures.

The first real change in the relations between Finland and Russia was only seen in 2014, with the annexation of the Crimean peninsula belonging to Ukraine.

of Finland’s former ambassador to Moscow Hannu Himanen however, even at that time, the events did not essentially ruin the relations between Finland and Russia. However, the situation led to a clear electrification of the communication between the presidents.

Officially good relations remained, however, for years. In 2018, the decision to host Putin and the President of the United States spoke of the trust shown in Finland Donald Trump’s top meeting in Helsinki.

The story continues after the pictures.

Enemy from Finland

In autumn 2021, the situation had turned upside down with the tightening of the situation in Ukraine.

The last telephone conversation between the presidents of Finland and Russia took place in May 2022, after Russia launched its full-scale attack on Ukraine in February. During the call, Niinistö announced that Finland will soon apply for NATO membership.

Since then, Finland has been painted as an enemy in Russia as part of the “West” and NATO. The situation on Finland’s eastern border has tightened, and the Russian leadership’s threats of nuclear weapons are almost commonplace after the war.

In December 2023, Putin took a stance on Russian-Finnish relations on the Russian television channel Rossiya-1, and said that he believed “there will be problems with Finland” due to the recent NATO membership.

Recently, Putin has also threatened that Russia will strengthen its armed forces on its western border. In a televised interview in March 2024, Putin said he would move troops to the Finnish border.

– We haven’t had troops (at the Finnish border), but now there will be. There have been no weapon systems there, there will be in the future, he stated in an interview on the Rossija-1 channel.

However, several experts have pointed out that currently Russia’s resources are tied up in Ukraine. Concrete actions in the areas beyond the Finnish border are therefore hardly to be expected in the near future.

Despite the improvement, Finland’s relations with Russia are still not in Putin’s fifth term. After Sunday’s election, the dictator is expected to remain in power at least until 2030.