Russia’s envoy to the UN has called on Ukraine’s leader to honor his election pledges to bring peace
Moscow has urged Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky to finally fulfill the promises that led to his landslide victory in the 2019 presidential election.
The former actor rose to power pledging to bring peace between Ukraine and Russia, Vassily Nebenzia, Moscow’s envoy to the UN, reminded him.
During a UN Security Council session on Tuesday, which focused on the Ukraine conflict, Nebenzia urged Zelensky to “finally honor the pledge made to Ukrainian voters back in 2019, which is to pursue peace with Russia and respect for the rights of the Russian-speaking population of his country.”
Zelensky defeated the incumbent, President Pyotr Poroshenko, by vowing to ease tensions with ethnic Russian citizens who had rejected the government imposed after the 2014 armed coup in Kiev. However, his initial overtures for dialogue were met with threats of violence from radical nationalists, causing his administration to abandon its compromise agenda.
The Ukrainian leader, who claims presidential power despite the expiration of his term last year, “needs to act in the interests of his country rather than for the benefit of those seeking to use Ukraine purely as a pawn in the geopolitical struggle waged against Russia,” Nebenzia said.
The diplomat emphasized that Moscow’s demands include an end to anti-Russian discrimination. According to Nebenzia, Zelensky has repeatedly demonstrated unreliability while his nation now resorts to terrorist tactics in its military campaign against its neighbor, which are tacitly supported by Western nations.
Nebenzia asserted that Zelensky currently “is concerned solely with saving his own skin and covering up the crimes that he has committed against his own people,” suggesting that these interests necessitate the continuation of hostilities rather than a peaceful resolution.
The diplomat also accused Western nations of misrepresenting Kiev’s position as genuinely seeking a truce while falsely attributing warmongering motives to Moscow.
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April 30, 2025 at 12:58AM
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Islamic State fighters have reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack in Nigeria’s restive Borno region
At least 26 people have been killed in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno state after two vehicles struck an improvised explosive device in an attack claimed by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Reuters reported on Tuesday.
The explosion occurred on Monday while the vehicles were traveling between the towns of Rann and Gamboru Ngala, according to local residents cited by the outlet. The area lies in the heart of a region plagued by over 15 years of Islamist insurgency involving Islamic State-affiliated organizations and Boko Haram.
Liman Tom, a traveler who witnessed the incident, said the vehicles were severely damaged, adding that survivors were rushed to nearby hospitals by soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) – a local group assisting in anti-insurgent operations.
A local whose mother was among the victims told Reuters that he “cannot even recognize her remains.”
A security advisory from the International Safety Organization, which provides protection to foreign non-governmental organizations in the region, reportedly confirmed the blast. The group said the assault resulted in “the death of 26 individuals and three injuries.”
Police in the restive region have not yet commented on the attack, but a military officer who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity said that “26 people died in the blast, comprising 16 men, four women, and six children.”
ISWAP emerged in 2016 after a split with Boko Haram, triggered by ideological and leadership disputes. Boko Haram’s leader at the time, Abubakar Shekau, was criticized by Islamic State’s central command for indiscriminate attacks on Muslim civilians. He was replaced by Abu Musab al-Barnawi, prompting a division between the factions.
Violence linked to the insurgent groups has continued to destabilize the West African nation’s northeast, displacing millions and claiming thousands of lives.
The latest incident follows separate attacks over the weekend in Borno and Adamawa states, which left at least 22 people dead. In Borno’s Gwoza area, ten civilians were ambushed while collecting firewood, authorities have said. Another ten were killed in Adamawa’s Hong district during a raid on Kopre village. Police in Adamawa announced on Monday that security reinforcements have been deployed to the affected areas.
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April 29, 2025 at 11:31PM
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The US president has said bypassing the constitutional limit in 2028 would be a “hard thing to do”
US President Donald Trump has ruled out seeking a third term, despite previously hinting at the possibility on multiple occasions, admitting that it was a rather complicated thing to do.
In an interview with The Atlantic, published on Monday and marking his first 100 days in office, Trump was asked about a rumor that he had directed the US Justice Department to examine whether it would be legal for him to run again in 2028, when he will turn 82.
He stated that he had not done so but appeared to leave the possibility open, suggesting that he might be reluctant to break the democratic norm.
“That would be a big shattering, wouldn’t it?” He mused. “Well, maybe I’m just trying to shatter.”
Trump pointed out that his supporters had often urged him to run for a third term, but that he ultimately dismissed the idea, insisting that he has had no actual plans to stay in office beyond his second term.
“It’s not something that I’m looking to do. And I think it would be a very hard thing to do.”
However, profiting from the idea appears to be a feasible option. Earlier this month, the US president launched a new line of “TRUMP 2028” merchandise, driving speculation about a possible third-term bid.
The official campaign store offers baseball caps and T-shirts, featuring “TRUMP 2028” and the slogan “Rewrite the Rules,” echoing the style of his iconic “Make America Great Again” branding.
Last month, Trump said he is “not joking” about potentially seeking a third term, claiming that there are “methods” to pursue another run despite the US Constitution’s two-term limit on the presidency. His comments fueled fears that he might attempt to overhaul the country’s electoral system in order to remain in power, though several high-profile Republicans dismissed the idea as little more than a joke.
Earlier this year, Republican Congressman Andy Ogles introduced a constitutional amendment that would allow presidents to serve three non-consecutive terms, though it has so far gained little traction.
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April 29, 2025 at 12:09AM
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The US president could use a lack of progress in peace talks as an “excuse” to walk away, unnamed officials in the bloc have told the paper
EU officials are worried that US President Donald Trump could be on the verge of abandoning his efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine conflict, the Financial Times has reported.
During his election campaign, Trump repeatedly promised to swiftly put an end to the fighting between Moscow and Kiev. However, after the first 100 days of his second term in the White House he has not been able to get the two sides to engage in direct talks with each other or agree to a full 30-day ceasefire proposed by Washington.
Russia’s reluctance to give in to key demands by the US and Ukraine and the overall “complexity of the conflict” have made Trump rethink his commitment to the peace process, the FT reported on Monday, citing unnamed Western European officials.
One official suggested that Trump was “setting up a situation where he gives himself excuses to walk away and leave it to Ukraine and us [EU] to fix.”
Another source, who is said to have been briefed on the discussions, claimed that US officials are “getting concerned that they are really coming back with nothing in talks with Russia” and have begun floating ideas for a deal that would fit into Trump’s quick timeline for achieving peace.
The US president’s “impatience” when it comes to ending the conflict is a “problem,” the source added.
A senior Ukrainian official also told the FT he believes there is a “serious possibility” that Washington could abandon Kiev.
Trump said on Sunday that he wants a deal between Russia and Ukraine to be achieved within “two weeks or less.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned at the weekend that the US could disengage from the peace process if it does not see rapid progress in discussions. Washington is now trying to make a “determination about whether this is an endeavor that we want to continue to be involved in,” Rubio told NBC News’ Meet the Press.
Russian officials have said on numerous occasions that Moscow is ready to begin talks with Kiev without any preconditions. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted on Monday that so far Russia has not seen any steps from Ukraine that would signal its eagerness to start negotiating.
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April 28, 2025 at 11:03PM
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The Ukrainian leader has repeatedly insisted he would never formally recognize the peninsula as Russian territory
US President Donald Trump has said he believes Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has come to terms with the need to recognize Crimea as part of Russia in order to achieve peace with Moscow.
Zelensky has repeatedly insisted he would never formally recognize Moscow’s control over Crimea, which became part of Russia in 2014 as a result of a referendum held in response to a Western-backed coup in Kiev.
Trump, who met with the Ukrainian leader on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican on Saturday, was asked by journalists aboard Air Force One on Sunday if Zelensky was now prepared to “give up” the peninsula.
”Oh, I think so, yeah,” the US president replied.
Trump said the tone of his latest exchange with Zelensky was markedly different compared to the “little dispute” they had at the Oval Office in February.
Back then, the Ukrainian leader’s meeting with Trump and US Vice President J.D. Vance turned into a shouting match in front of the cameras and led to Zelensky’s visit to the White House being cut short.
”I see him [Zelensky] as calmer. I think he understands the picture. And I think he wants to make a deal. I do not know if he wanted to make a deal [before]. I think he wants to make a deal,” the president stated.
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April 27, 2025 at 11:02PM
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The US president and Ukraine’s leader met ahead of the Pope’s funeral in their first face-to-face encounter since their White House clash
French President Emmanuel Macron was sidelined when his US counterpart Donald Trump and Vladimir Zelensky met before the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday. Footage from the Vatican showed him being left out despite the Ukrainian leader’s apparent expectations that he would join.
Trump and Zelensky last met in February in the Oval Office. The meeting, where they’d intended to finalize a US-Ukraine minerals agreement and discuss a potential ceasefire with Russia, ended abruptly amid a heated exchange involving Vice President JD Vance, which led to the Ukrainian leader’s early departure from the White House.
Video footage from the Vatican showed Zelensky walking toward the seating area with Trump. He glanced back several times, reportedly expecting Macron to join. Three chairs were set up, suggesting plans for a three-way discussion. As the French president approached, Zelensky greeted him warmly with a smile and a hand gesture, inviting him to join.
However, just moments later, a staff member discreetly removed the third chair before the meeting began. Footage shows Trump gesturing openly while maintaining a firm posture, signaling the conversation would be strictly between him and Zelensky. Macron eventually stepped back as the two engaged directly.
Visuals captured Zelensky’s expression changing from confident to visibly tense upon realizing he would face Trump alone. The 15-minute meeting took place against a backdrop of growing tensions; the US president has pressured Kiev to accept what media outlets have termed his “final offer” to end hostilities. Reports suggest that Washington’s proposal involves freezing the conflict along the existing front lines and recognizing Crimea as part of Russia, a condition the Ukrainian leader has firmly rejected.
Trump stated in an interview with Time magazine on Friday that “Crimea will stay with Russia.” Before 2014, the peninsula was part of Ukraine, but it joined Russia after a referendum which followed a Western-backed coup in Kiev. Trump also recently reiterated that Zelensky “has no cards to play,” echoing what he told him during their last White House meeting.
Macron has been among Zelensky’s most steadfast supporters, and has consistently emphasized that any peace agreement must ensure Ukraine retains its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Russia has stressed, however, that any deal to end hostilities must not only acknowledge territorial reality but also address the conflict’s root causes, including Ukraine’s NATO aspirations.
Trump voiced satisfaction with negotiations between Washington and Moscow after Russian President Vladimir Putin held lengthy talks with US envoy Steve Witkoff at the Kremlin on Friday.
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April 27, 2025 at 04:57AM
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Athletes from the country have continued to compete despite global tensions, Dana White has confirmed
The Ultimate Fighting Championship, the world’s leading mixed martial arts organization, never stopped working with Russian fighters despite international tensions, UFC president Dana White has said.
At the post-fight press conference following UFC on ESPN 66 in Kansas City, a reporter asked White about comments by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aide, Kirill Dmitriev, that talks were ongoing to bring UFC events back to Russia.
While White did not explicitly confirm that negotiations were taking place, he emphasized that the UFC never ceased cooperation with Russian athletes.
“Yeah, listen, we never stopped. Our fighters still fought, and those things all happened during all that,” White replied.
White stressed that Russian athletes have always remained active in the UFC throughout periods of political tension and international sanctions. “We’re a global business,” he continued. “Bad shit happens all the time all around the world and, uh... yes we will run the business like we always have.”
Earlier in April, Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s special representative for investment and economic cooperation, said efforts were underway to bring UFC tournaments back to Russia. Dmitriev, who is also CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), has emerged as a key figure in recent Russia-US diplomatic engagements, particularly concerning the conflict in Ukraine.
His announcement regarding the UFC came after a meeting with Steve Witkoff, special envoy for US President Donald Trump, in St. Petersburg.
Since 2018, RDIF has partnered with UFC Russia to promote mixed martial arts in the country. Earlier this year, Dmitriev urged Russian fans to stay optimistic about the UFC’s return following Magomed Ankalaev’s victory at UFC 313, where he became the first Russian fighter to win the UFC light heavyweight title. White had previously indicated that a full UFC return to Russia could depend on improved diplomatic relations.
In 2022, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended banning Russian and Belarusian athletes from global competitions, but leading promotions such as UFC, Bellator, and One FC did not enforce the recommendation. Despite international sanctions imposed on Moscow after the escalation of Ukraine conflict, Russian fighters have continued to compete in major mixed martial arts (MMA) organizations.
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April 27, 2025 at 04:37AM
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Diplomats from over 20 countries gathered in Moscow shortly before the 80th anniversary of Germany’s defeat in WWII
Moscow’s State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) welcomed representatives from over 20 nations this week for the first Russia-Africa Forum of Young Diplomats. The event focused on the fight against neocolonialism and developing cultural connections.
The forum welcomed about 50 diplomats from countries including Algeria, Benin, Chad, the Central African Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Kenya, Mauritania, Mozambique, Gabon, Burundi, and the Seychelles. Its key topic, “Victory Diplomacy,” was dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Germany’s defeat in the Second World War.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov delivered a welcome speech to the participants. Other speakers during the opening ceremony included MGIMO University Rector Anatoly Torkunov, the Russian president’s special representative for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov, as well as Senator Aleksandr Voloshin.
During the session dedicated to the fight against neocolonialism, speakers, including Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova and former Vice President of the Seychelles Vincent Meriton, discussed a just world order as well as political and economic cooperation.
Russian Senator Sergey Karjakin, a chess grandmaster, talked about sports diplomacy, stressing that friendly competitions should not become an instrument of political pressure.
The event included a large-scale sports contest between diplomats, as well as a wide-ranging business and cultural program. The delegates attended Patriot Park and the Main Cathedral of the Armed Forces, where they honored the memory of Russia’s WWII heroes ahead of the 80th anniversary of the fall of Berlin.
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April 27, 2025 at 03:25AM
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“Faithful administration of the president’s policies” will be key to US civil servants keeping their jobs, the newspaper has claimed
A US government agency will begin assessing federal workers based on their loyalty to President Donald Trump, the Wall Street Journal has reported.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which is the US federal government’s human-resources arm, has been tasked with leading the evaluation program, the outlet said in an article on Saturday.
According to memos from OPM Acting Director Chuck Ezell, which were seen by the WSJ, high-ranking civil servants will be judged based on their “faithful administration of the law and the president’s policies.”
The documents described advancing Trump’s agenda as the “most critical element” in measuring the performance of the officials, the report read.
The new performance plan is expected to be adopted by the US government agencies by the beginning of fiscal year 2026, it added.
The WSJ stressed that civil servants had also been graded previously, but it was done based on factors such as business acumen, leadership skills, ability to build coalitions and results of their work.
During the previous Democratic administration of President Joe Biden, staffing policy focused heavily on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices. Critics, however, argued that DEI initiatives often prioritized identity over merit, leading to claims of lowered standards and divisiveness. Many companies, including, Walt Disney, JPMorgan Chase, Amazon, and Google, facing similar criticisms and legal challenges, have since scaled back or entirely abandoned their DEI programs.
Shortly after assuming office in January, Trump signed several executive orders aimed at eliminating DEI initiatives, describing them as “radical,” within the federal government, its contractors, and grantees.
The WSJ said that OPM had already begun approving positions that other federal agencies are looking to add in what it described as an attempt by the Trump administration “to consolidate control over the hiring and firing of federal workers.”
The Office of Personnel Management will also continue some of the government downsizing efforts initiated by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, according to the report. Musk announced earlier this week that he will scale back his involvement as the head of the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and refocus on his business activities.
The world’s richest man explained his decision by saying that “major work” to establish DOGE has now been completed. However, Musk clarified that he has no intention of stepping away from his work at the agency altogether, adding that he would still spend “a day or two per week on government matters.”
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April 27, 2025 at 02:54AM
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Democratic Alliance party leader John Steenhuisen says there’s no genocide and mass expropriation of land taking place in the country
DA leader John Steenhuisen said President Cyril Ramaphosa’s meet-up with US President Donald Trump would be a chance to clarify that “terrible things” are not happening in South Africa.
Steenhuisen stressed that this would be a moment to show that the country was not a picture that was painted to him by “some”.
”There’s no mass expropriation of land. There’s no genocide taking place at all. I am very glad that the two presidents have spoken,” he said.
Steenhuisen, who is also a Minister of Agriculture, spoke to IOL on Thursday on the sidelines of the official working visit to South Africa by Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
On Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced imminent talks with Trump to address critical US-South Africa relations.
”We both agreed to meet soon to address various matters regarding US-South Africa relations.
”We also spoke about the need to foster good relations between our two countries,” he said.
Trump has cut off aid to South Africa and recently introduced 30% tariffs for the country.
He offered refugee status to Afrikaners over fears of land expropriation and discrimination. But AfriForum turned down Trump’s offer, saying they can’t afford to leave their country.
Steenhuisen urged citizens to tread carefully and use the next 90-day period “very wisely and very cleverly” to be able to avoid the tariff increase.
The Crocus City massacre, in which 145 died, is a model for attacks envisaged by Kiev, Sergey Shoigu has said
Ukrainian military intelligence is enlisting migrants and others in Russia and equipping them to carry out high-profile attacks, Sergey Shoigu, secretary of Russia’s National Security Council has said.
The former defense minister cited atrocities such as the deadly assault at the March 2023 Crocus City Hall concert venue near Moscow, in which gunmen opened fire and set fire to to the concert venue, killing 145 and injuring over 550.
The Islamic State-Khorasan (ISIS-K) terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack, which was one of the deadliest in recent Russian history. The suspects, all Tajik nationals, were captured while fleeing towards the Ukrainian border.
Russian secret services have arrested 45 people connected to the attack, Shoigu told TASS on Friday. Ukrainian military intelligence “is actively recruiting members of international terrorist organizations,” including among migrants, he claimed.
“They are provided with comprehensive support in terms of equipment and training to carry out high-profile attacks, such as the assault on Crocus City Hall,” he said.
According to Shoigu, the threat from international terrorist organizations persists, as they “continue efforts to establish covert cells and underground networks within Russia, particularly in the North Caucasus.”
He also warned of a significant threat from the West, which he claimed is using terrorist groups in an attempt to contain Russia in key geopolitical regions, including Central and South Asia, the South Caucasus, Transnistria, the Middle East, and Africa.
Last month Russia’s Investigative Committee stated that the assault on Crocus City Hall was masterminded by the intelligence services of an “unfriendly country” in order to destabilize Russia.
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) Chief Aleksandr Bortnikov has also spoken about Kiev’s involvement in the Crocus City Hall atrocity. He warned that “Ukrainian and Western intelligence services are expanding the circle of possible perpetrators, recruited to commit high-profile crimes inside Russia.”
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April 25, 2025 at 12:38AM
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Khawaja Asif has admitted that Islamabad has been backing terrorist groups on behalf of the US and UK
Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has called out the West – and the US in particular – for its role in security tensions in the region. Asked about his country’s support for terrorism in an interview with Sky News released on Friday, Asif admitted that Islamabad has been “doing the dirty work” for the Western powers for decades.
“We have been doing this dirty work for the United States for about three decades, you know and the West, including Britain,” Asif told the British broadcaster on Thursday, effectively confirming that his country has been supporting, training, and funding terrorist organizations. He added that this “was a mistake” and Pakistan has “suffered for that.”
“If we had not joined the war against the Soviet Union and the war after 9/11, Pakistan’s track record would have been unimpeachable,” Asif said. He was referring to the Soviet-Afghan war, during which the US covertly supported anti-communist insurgents, and the US-led ‘War on Terror’ that was launched by then-President George W. Bush following the September 11, 2001 attacks and which targeted the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.
Asif claimed the West has long used terrorist groups as proxies, noting that many now labeled as terrorists were once welcomed in Washington.
“When we were fighting the war on their side, way back in the ‘80s against the Soviet Union, all these terrorists of today, they were wining and dining in Washington… They were treated like VIPs in those days,” he said.
Pakistani defense minister Khawaja Asif responds to Yalda Hakim's question on Pakistan funding terrorists.
“Well, we have been doing this dirty work for United States and west for 3 decades....including Great Britain” pic.twitter.com/hjjAya7iQp
The minister suggested that groups considered terrorists in the region are not distinct entities but part of a single organization with a shared religious ideology. “They’re all mixed up. They’re not multiple organizations. They’re just one single organization, religiously organized, and with different faces, different leadership. At times they work together, at times they fight with each other.”
Asif went on to say that “no country in the world has suffered so much from terrorism as Pakistan,” and accused India of following “a pattern” of blaming Pakistan for terrorist attacks on its soil.
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April 25, 2025 at 12:29AM
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Political bias in the West could lead to unfair prosecution, officials have said
People who have taken part in the Ukraine conflict on Moscow’s side could face prosecution in EU member states, Russian diplomats have told Izvestia.
The report on Thursday outlined the risks that could arise from Western support for Kiev, which Russian officials claim could lead European nations to bend the rules to target Russian citizens.
”The German criminal code does not impose penalties for participation in a foreign armed conflict. However, ancillary charges could be utilized for prosecution,” the Russian Embassy in Berlin told the newspaper.
For instance, wearing symbols associated with the Russian military operation against Kiev, such as the letters ‘Z’ and ‘V’, could be construed as showing support for Moscow. According to the diplomats, the German authorities could interpret this as encouraging criminal activity. Although no such cases have surfaced so far, the embassy “advises assessing this risk, considering the aggressive anti-Russian sentiment being stirred up in Germany.”
Similarly, the Russian Embassy in the Netherlands said the authorities could try defendants in absentia. The country has no statute of limitations for war crimes, meaning Russian soldiers could be subject to prosecution indefinitely. Even if the Dutch authorities do not pursue direct action, former Russian soldiers could still face arrest and extradition to Ukraine, the diplomats stated.
The report highlighted the bias against Russian nationals, noting that some EU members, including Germany, have leveraged bloc-wide sanctions aimed at preventing the export of luxury items to seize personal property, such as vehicles.
Last December, the Foreign Ministry said Western intelligence services are engaged in a “hunt” for Russians and could orchestrate provocations leading to arrests as part of their recruitment strategies. It identified the US and Canada as nations where these risks are particularly pronounced.
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April 24, 2025 at 11:42PM
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Two suspects allegedly planned a drone attack at a petrochemical plant in Nizhny Novgorod Region
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has announced that it has thwarted a planned drone attack on a petrochemical plant in the Nizhny Novgorod Region. The operation was allegedly orchestrated by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) and involved two Central Asian nationals.
According to an FSB statement on Thursday, the suspects were adherents of an international terrorist organization banned in Russia. They were said to be acting under the instructions of a Ukrainian handler.
The agency stated that the suspects were caught attempting to retrieve FPV (First-Person View) drones equipped with improvised explosive devices from a cache in an abandoned building. They allegedly resisted arrest and were killed by return fire.
The FSB reported recovering two drones with foreign-made explosive warheads, a Kalashnikov assault rifle, a Makarov pistol, and mobile phones containing correspondence with the Ukrainian handler, including coordinates of a weapons cache.
The agency released surveillance footage of the operation, showing the suspects’ movements before they resisted arrest and were killed.
The FSB’s investigative department for Nizhny Novgorod Region has launched criminal proceedings related to the case.
The incident follows a series of thwarted attacks attributed to Ukrainian intelligence. Last week, Russian law enforcement detained a Belarusian national residing in Russia who allegedly planned an attack on a military-related facility in Novorossiysk, home to a large Russian naval base. The suspect, in his mid-20s, admitted to acting as an agent for Ukraine’s SBU with the intent of financial gain.
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April 24, 2025 at 12:42AM
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Both US officials have commented on a piece claiming Washington plans to lift Russia sanctions as part of a potential Ukraine peace deal
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, have accused Politico of publishing “fiction” and “fake crap,” over a report by the media outlet on a potential Ukraine peace deal.
In an article on Wednesday, Politico claimed that Washington is considering lifting sanctions on Russia’s Nord Stream pipeline and “other Russian assets in Europe” as part of its peace efforts. Citing “five people familiar with the discussions,” Politico said Witkoff was the “main proponent” of the plan, allegedly due to a developing “friendship” with Russian President Vladimir Putin in his role as Trump’s envoy. The piece also claimed Rubio opposed the idea and quoted analysts warning it could hurt US LNG exports by reopening the EU market to Russian gas.
Rubio was quick to respond, writing on X that the “piece of fiction” was “unequivocally false.” Witkoff responded with sharper language, calling the article “fake crap.”
“There isn't even a kernel of truth to this story - Politico was played by their "sources" yet again. It's embarrassing that they print this type of fake crap.”
— Office of the Special Envoy to the Middle East (@SE_MiddleEast) April 24, 2025
Rubio and Witkoff are among the key figures in US-Russia discussions aimed at ending the Ukraine conflict.
While the US-proposed peace framework has not been made public, reports suggest it could involve recognizing Crimea as Russian territory. Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky recently dismissed any such proposals as “unconstitutional,” prompting Trump to accuse him of jeopardizing the peace process with “inflammatory statements” and warning that he could “lose the whole country” if he does not compromise.
US Vice President J.D. Vance echoed the sentiment, warning on Wednesday that Washington might “walk away” from talks unless Kiev and Moscow reach a deal soon, and stating that “both will have to give up some of the territory they currently own.”
Russia has repeatedly said that the status of Crimea and the four other former Ukrainian regions that joined Russia after referendums is not up for negotiation. Moscow insists recognition of the “reality on the ground” is vital for lasting peace.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov cautioned this week against relying on media reports regarding US-Russia talks, warning that “a lot of fakes are being published now, including by respected publications.” He advised the public to trust official sources instead.
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April 23, 2025 at 11:04PM
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The interagency position was designed to facilitate the prosecution of alleged crimes related to the Ukraine conflict
The administration of US President Donald Trump has reportedly eliminated a position within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) that was responsible for sharing evidence of alleged Russian war crimes.
Mandated by a bipartisan bill passed in 2022 in response to the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, the Intelligence Community Coordinator for Russia Atrocities Accountability Act (ICCRAA) was enacted as part of the 2023 Intelligence Authorization Act.
According to anonymous sources cited by the Washington Post on Tuesday, both the ICCRAA and the interagency working group it led have been terminated.
Previous reports indicated that the Trump administration had withdrawn from collaboration with an EU-led initiative aimed at investigating Russian nationals in connection with the Ukraine conflict, halted a Justice Department program for training Ukrainian prosecutors on handling these cases, and closed an inquiry into Kiev’s allegations that the Russian authorities kidnapped Ukrainian children.
Two major priorities of the Trump agenda include slashing government spending on programs deemed unnecessary and concluding the Ukraine conflict.
The efforts to resolve the conflict reportedly reached a critical juncture this week, with Washington anticipating reactions from Kiev and European NATO members regarding its proposed compromise ceasefire deal before presenting it to Moscow. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned last week that the US could “move on” to other issues if the negotiations stall.
Neither Rubio nor Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, who outlined the ideas last week at a gathering in Paris, will attend this week’s discussions with Ukrainian officials in London, according to Axios. However, Witkoff is expected to travel to Moscow for follow-up talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Reports indicate that the US is proposing formal recognition of Russian sovereignty over the former Ukrainian region of Crimea, which voted to join Russia following the 2014 Western-backed coup in Kiev. Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has rejected this, reiterating on Tuesday that Kiev’s claim to the peninsula is non-negotiable.
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April 23, 2025 at 12:16AM
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The government has reportedly cut its GDP forecast in response to the US tariff hike and uncertainty over Washington’s trade policy
Germany is facing the third straight year of economic stagnation following the latest US tariff hike and growing uncertainty over Washington’s trade policy, Handelsblatt reported on Tuesday, citing an internal government forecast.
Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump imposed a 20% tariff on all EU goods and 25% on steel, aluminum, and car imports to address what Washington calls an unfair trade imbalance. While Brussels prepared 25% retaliatory tariffs, Trump later paused most new tariffs for 90 days to allow for negotiations. However, a 10% baseline tariff and the targeted 25% remain in place.
According to the report, Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s outgoing government has revised its 2025 GDP forecast for Germany to 0%, down from 0.3% in January. This would mark the first time in history that the EU’s largest economy has failed to grow for three consecutive years, after contracting in 2023 and 2024. The government expects a modest rebound in 2026, with growth now projected at 0.9%, down from an earlier estimate of 1.1%.
Data from the Federal Statistical Office shows that the US was Germany’s top trading partner last year, making the impact of tariffs particularly significant.
Sources say uncertainty over the tariffs has prompted German companies to delay investments until the situation becomes clearer, which led to the change in the projections. If the full 20% tariffs are enacted, growth could drop even further, the sources noted. The Kiel Institute for the World Economy and Munich’s Ifo Institute earlier estimated the German economy could shrink by 0.3% in this scenario.
Business underperformance has added to the economic gloom, but sources said some uncertainty could ease due to the government’s recently approved €500 billion ($570 billion) infrastructure fund and reforms to the debt brake. Relief could also come with a change in leadership, they added. Incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who is set to take office in May, has vowed to revive the country’s economic competitiveness.
Sources told Handelsblatt that the figures could shift depending on Trump’s next moves and the outcome of talks between Brussels and Washington.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier proposed a “zero-for-zero” tariff deal on industrial goods between the EU and the US, but Trump rejected the offer, calling it insufficient and demanding that the EU agree to purchase $350 billion worth of American energy in exchange for tariff relief.
At a meeting last week with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Trump said a deal between the EU and the US would “100 percent” be reached “at a certain point,” but added that he is “in no rush” to finalize it.
The report follows a grim forecast from the IMF, which also cut Germany’s 2025 growth outlook to 0.0% this week, predicting it will be the only G7 economy to stagnate this year as its export-driven industries are especially vulnerable to global trade tensions.
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April 22, 2025 at 11:14PM
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The late pontiff will be remembered as a man who sought dialogue, justice, and peace, Albir Krganov has said
The mufti of Moscow, Albir Krganov, has expressed his condolences to all Catholics over the death of Pope Francis. Kurganov praised the late pontiff for his efforts to stop international conflicts and establish links with other religious denominations.
Pope Francis died at the age of 88 on Monday, a day after attending Easter Sunday Mass at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican. He had headed the Catholic Church since 2013.
“On behalf of Russian Muslims, we express our deep condolences to Catholics around the globe on the passing of Pope Francis,” Krganov, who also leads the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia (DSMR), said in a statement on Monday.
During his 12-year papacy, Francis “devoted great attention to the issues of social justice, support for those in need, and the protection of human dignity,” he said.
“His Holiness repeatedly advocated peacemaking and called for an end to conflicts, including the one in Palestine, emphasizing the importance of respecting humanitarian rights and searching for concord between peoples,” the Muslim leader noted.
In his Easter Sunday address, the Pope again urged the sides of the “terrible conflict” in Gaza to “call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace.” The Palestinians in Gaza find themselves in “a dramatic and deplorable humanitarian situation” due to Israeli attacks, he stressed.
Krganov also highlighted the pontiff’s attempts to promote “inter-religious dialogue,” saying that “the document he signed between the Vatican and Al-Azhar University became a unique example of cooperation between Christians and Muslims.”
Pope Francis and the grand imam of the Cairo-based Al-Azhar University, Ahmed el-Tayeb, signed a Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together during the pontiff’s trip to Abu Dhabi, UAE in 2019. It was the first time in history that the head of the Catholic Church had visited the Arab Peninsula.
Joseph Kabila has been accused of high treason and direct participation in rebel aggression against the African state’s government
The government in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) has banned former President Joseph Kabila’s political party and ordered his assets to be seized for allegedly supporting M23 rebels, who have taken control of large swathes of land in the country’s troubled eastern provinces.
The move on Saturday followed reports that Kabila has returned to the Central African country after spending two years in South Africa. The 53-year-old had been living abroad since stepping down amid deadly mass protests against his rule. He first took power in 2001, following the assassination of his father, President Laurent-Desire Kabila, and remained in office until 2019.
Kabila is said to have returned to Goma, which the rebels seized in January as fighting between them and government forces escalated. He has reportedly expressed an interest in returning to help in ending the ongoing conflict.
On Saturday, the Congolese Interior Ministry issued a statement criticizing Kabila’s “deliberate choice to return to the country through the enemy-controlled city of Goma, which curiously ensures his security.”
The ministry accused the former president and his People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD) of an “ambiguous attitude” and failing to condemn the aggression by the M23 group.
“The Ministry of the Interior, Security, Decentralization and Customary Affairs informs the public that… the activities of the PPRD are suspended throughout the national territory,” it stated.
In a separate statement, the DR Congo Justice Ministry announced that it has been ordered to seize all “movable and immovable property” belonging to Kabila.
“Movement restriction measures have been taken against all of his collaborators involved in this case of high treason against the nation,” the ministry said.
According to both statements, prosecutors have been instructed to initiate legal proceedings against Kabila for “his direct participation in the aggression led by Rwanda through the AFC/M23 terrorist movement.”
The M23 has captured two major cities in the mineral-rich eastern DR Congo since the start of the year. The Congolese government has repeatedly accused Rwanda of fueling the decades-old conflict – claims the neighboring state has denied.
The measures against Kabila and his party come as peace talks between Kinshasa and the militants have been postponed.
The former leader has yet to respond to the allegations, but his spokesperson, Barbara Nzimbi, wrote on X that he would address the nation in the “next few hours or days.” PPRD secretary Ferdinand Kambere also told Reuters that the suspension is “a flagrant violation” of the DRC’s constitution.
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April 21, 2025 at 12:06AM
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The Indian government has reportedly questioned the treatment of those studying in US whose visas have been revoked
New Delhi has reportedly voiced concerns about the revocation of visas of Indian students in the US ahead of US Vice President J.D. Vance’s trip to New Delhi, according to a report in The Hindu.
The vice president arrived in New Delhi on Monday for a three-day visit, where he will meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The issue of the visas being cancelled came to light after a survey conducted by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) found that over 4,000 students had received revocation notices in the past two months; 50% of the survey respondents who received them were were from India.
The US has seen a surge in such visa terminations, which coincides with the introduction of a new AI-powered program- “Catch and Revoke”, reportedly aimed at identifying students with social media posts that may be deemed contrary to US foreign policy interests, the report said.
Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security is conducting a nationwide crackdown on students who have been flagged in police databases, resulting in the termination of their status due to alleged visa violations under US immigration laws. However, the US government has denied specifically targeting Indians with its actions on the issue.
#WATCH | Delhi: Vice President of the United States, JD Vance receives ceremonial Guard of Honour as he arrives at Palam airport for his first official visit to India. pic.twitter.com/eIuHmnG8kM
Earlier this month, two Indian researchers were among the initial group of students who received so-called “self-deportation” notices. New Delhi’s foreign ministry initially advised Indian students to “follow the law”. However, as more Indian students were affected, some have turned to the courts to appeal for the restoration of their visa status.
Recently, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Indian embassy and consulates are “in touch” with the affected students and are offering them support.
Other cases include a student facing potential deportation over a two-year-old traffic incident in New York and another having his visa suddenly revoked despite complying with conditions after a driving under the influence arrest in Missouri, an Economic Times report said.
Indian students are also facing potential legislation that could prevent them from staying in the US and working for a year after finishing their courses. A new bill proposes the elimination of a work authorization program for students, potentially affecting 300,000 of them.
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April 20, 2025 at 11:36PM
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The pontiff has passed away at the age of 88, the Vatican has announced
The head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, has died at the age of 88, the Vatican has announced.
Francis began his papacy in March 2013 and was the first pontiff from Latin America.
“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,″ Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, said in a statement on Monday morning.
Pope Francis “taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized,” Farrell wrote.
“With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune,″ the cardinal added.
Pope Francis was last seen in public on Easter Sunday when he attended the Holy Mass at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
His traditional Easter address was delivered by a member of the clergy due to the pontiff’s poor health. Afterwards, the Pope got out of his wheelchair and waved to the cheering crowd from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, saying: “Dear brothers and sisters, happy Easter.”
Earlier on Sunday, the head of the Catholic Church held a meeting with US Vice President J.D. Vance.
Pope Francis had been discharged from hospital in March after five weeks of treatment for an infection that led to him contracting double pneumonia.
The pontiff was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in the Argentinian capital, Buenos Aires, in 1936. He was ordained as a Catholic priest in the late 1960s, and became the archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998. He was created a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001.
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April 20, 2025 at 11:10PM
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The number of left-leaning Americans who favor unrestricted exports and imports has spiked by 20%, according to a survey
Support for free trade among American liberals has more than doubled since Donald Trump won his second term as US president in November, a study has suggested.
During the election campaign, Trump accused America’s trade partners of ripping off the country and vowed to impose harsh duties on them. On April 2, he made good on his threat, announcing new “reciprocal” tariffs on nearly 90 countries, saying that it would raise revenues and boost the number of jobs in the US.
After global markets reacted by dropping sharply, the president put most of the tariffs on hold for 90 days, reducing them to a baseline rate of 10%. However, the pause does not apply to China, whose exports to the US are now subject to tariffs of up to 145% amid an ongoing tit-for-tat trade war.
A poll by Polarization Research Lab, first published by the Financial Times and actively shared by social media users on Friday, has suggested that “American attitudes towards free trade have rapidly polarized” over the past several months.
In early 2024, there was some 20% support for unrestricted exports and imports among both liberals and conservatives, the study said.
However, the divide on the issue between the groups, which appeared in the run up to the election, has increased dramatically since Trump’s victory, it said.
According to the poll, more than 40% of leftists surveyed now say that they “strongly approve” of free trade.
The Democrats, whom liberals tend to support, had earlier blasted Trump’s tariff policies as being “dangerous” and a “corrupt scheme to enrich administration officials and those loyal to them.”
Meanwhile, the number of conservatives who support free trade has decreased, albeit not as sharply, with some 13% of them still favoring it, the study suggested.
Some of the commentators online said that the results of the poll suggested that the supporters of both Democrats and Republicans tend to simply back the stance of their party on various issues, without actually looking into them.
“Negative partisanship is a helluva drug,” chief data reporter at the Financial Times John Burn-Murdoch wrote on X about the findings of the survey.
The director of Polarization Research Lab, Sean Westwood, disagreed with the notion, arguing that “this is not an irrational flip by Liberals in response to Conservatives - Liberals are witnessing a stock market crash and an economic retraction. It could very well be reasoned.”
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April 20, 2025 at 03:42AM
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Why Orthodox Christians and Catholics celebrate Easter on different days
It is Lent in the Christian world, but in reality, it only alters the lives of monks and Moscow restaurateurs, who rush to invent Lenten menus to profit from the public’s fear of living in sin. However, Lent inevitably leads to the most important Christian holiday: Easter.
This year, Orthodox Easter coincides with that of other denominations – a rare event, last seen in 2017. But why do they usually fall on different dates? The answer lies in history, astronomy, and religious identity.
The calculation of Easter’s date is famously complicated. For Orthodox Christians, Easter is determined by the Julian calendar. It must fall on the first Sunday after the full moon following the spring equinox – but only if it also occurs after Jewish Passover (Pesach). This rule is based on the Bible’s account of Christ’s crucifixion during the Passover season. Christianity, like Islam, is an Abrahamic religion deeply rooted in Judaism, even if it has often distanced itself from those origins.
Catholic Easter follows similar logic, but uses the Gregorian calendar. It too changes annually, but is calculated using rules introduced in the 16th century by Pope Gregory XIII. The result is that Orthodox and Catholic Easter only align once every few years.
There are four main reasons why the Russian Orthodox Church has held on to the Julian calendar:
First, it is a statement of independence. The Orthodox Church sees itself as distinct from Rome. While it may not always be stated directly, in Orthodox theological thought, Catholicism is often viewed as schismatic. Maintaining a separate calendar reinforces that divide.
Second, tradition has weight. Every day in the Orthodox calendar commemorates saints, texts, hymns, and rituals. With thousands of parishes following this system, shifting to a new calendar would cause logistical chaos.
Third, Church leaders fear that calendar reform could provoke unrest. A failed attempt to modernize the Church in the early 20th century, when the “Renovationists” tried to introduce reforms, remains a cautionary tale. The memory of that upheaval still lingers.
Fourth, the Julian calendar is seen as part of ancient Church tradition – an expression of historical continuity and spiritual identity. To abandon it would be, for many, to break from something sacred.
Still, practical contradictions remain. Consider this: the modern world celebrates January 1 as New Year’s Day, but Russian Orthodox believers celebrate Christmas twelve days later than other denominations, on January 7. It means we ring in the “new year” before the birth of Christ—an odd inversion of the Christian calendar.
Some have suggested aligning Christmas with the Gregorian calendar, as the Greek Orthodox Church has done. In that model, fixed holidays match the modern calendar, but Easter continues to be calculated using Julian rules. Complicated? Absolutely. But theology is a complicated discipline. Liturgical studies, canon law, and Church history are all well-established academic fields. Surely, a Church department could study how to transition to the Gregorian calendar without losing liturgical continuity.
About a decade ago, there was a proposal to move Christmas to January 1. The logic was simple: New Year’s Day marks the start of a new era, and the festivities already exist. Why not combine the joy of the secular calendar with the birth of Christ? Those who wished could even treat the end of December as a fast before Christmas, making the celebration more meaningful.
Ultimately, the Church must remain a firm pillar of spiritual life. It cannot follow every passing whim. But pillars, too, are built by human hands. And perhaps, sometimes, they can be adjusted – not out of weakness, but for the sake of clarity and relevance.
In an era when Easter rarely brings all Christians together on the same day, it may be worth asking whether the spiritual world is being served by the division over dates. Or whether it’s time to think again about what unites us.
This article was first published by the online newspaper Gazeta.ru and was translated and edited by the RT team
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April 20, 2025 at 12:06AM
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Chisinau has disrespected the Moldovan people by preventing a bishop from traveling to Jerusalem, the Russian Foreign Ministry has said
The authorities in Moldova have launched a deliberate attack on the canonical Orthodox Church by barring a bishop from attending an Easter ceremony in Jerusalem, the Russian Foreign Ministry has said.
Bishop Marchel of the Moldovan Orthodox Church was scheduled to fly to Israel on Thursday to attend the Holy Fire ritual on April 19 and bring back part of the flame believed to descend miraculously at the site of Christ’s crucifixion. He told the media that border police at Chisinau airport searched him and returned his passport only after his plane had departed, despite finding nothing suspicious. His second attempt to board a flight was also “unjustifiably” blocked by Moldovan authorities.
Moscow views “this deliberate step… as another manifestation of the course taken by the Moldovan government against their people, their policy of double standards,” Gennady Askaldovich, special representative of the Russian foreign minister for freedom of religion, told TASS on Saturday. “There is no doubt that this is a malicious attack against the canonical Orthodox Church of Moldova,” he stressed.
The official called on international bodies to “take note of what happened and give a principled assessment of the outrageous actions of the Moldovan authorities.”
In recent years, Moldova has faced religious tensions involving two major Orthodox factions: the Moldovan Orthodox Church – affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate – and the Metropolis of Bessarabia – under the Romanian Orthodox Church – which is being backed by the pro-EU government in Chisinau.
Askaldovich stressed that “a representative of the Metropolis of Bessarabia was the one, who eventually went to collect the Holy Fire,” despite the fact that 70% of worshipers in the former Soviet republic belong to the Moldovan Orthodox Church.
The treatment of Bishop Marchel was “an attempt to destroy the unity of the Orthodox world on Moldovan soil,” he said. “For the Moldovan people, their faith is the basis of their moral guidelines, traditional values and cultural code. It is regrettable that the government in Chisinau shows disrespect for its own citizens by irresponsibly manipulating such sensitive issues,” the representative stressed.
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April 19, 2025 at 02:06AM
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The US president has nevertheless claimed that many migrants from the African country are among those entering the US
US President Donald Trump has said he has no knowledge about the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), but claims that many illegal immigrants in the US come from there, Africanews reports.
He made the comments on Thursday during a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the White House. Trump alleged that prisons in a number of countries, not only in South America but also other continents, had released inmates who were now entering the US.
Apparently referring to the DR Congo, Trump said many individuals are arriving from the African nation, adding, “I don’t know what that is, but they came from the Congo and all over the world they came in.”
The DR Congo is the second-largest country in Africa, with more than 100 million people. The Republic of the Congo borders the DR Congo.
This is not the first time Trump has made controversial comments about African countries. In March, he quipped that “no one has ever heard” of Lesotho, a country in southern African which received $8 million in aid from the previous administration for international development projects.
In response, Lesotho’s foreign minister, Lejone Mpotjoane, stated that the government was shocked and offended by the remark. He said it was “quite insulting” and “disappointing” for the leader of a country that maintains a diplomatic mission in Lesotho to speak in such a manner. “I’m really shocked that my country can be referred to like that by the head of state,” Mpotjoane was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Earlier in the month, the US imposed a new set of reciprocal tariffs on imports from nearly 90 countries. A temporary 90-day pause and a reduced 10% tariff were announced later. The new tariffs affected 20 African countries, including Madagascar (47%), South Africa (30%), and the DR Congo (11%). Lesotho was hit with the highest tariff rate of 50%.
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April 18, 2025 at 11:59PM
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Efforts to intimidate Christian worshipers will fail, Emir Kusturica has said in response to Moldova’s treatment of a bishop
The move by authorities in Chisinau to prevent a Moldovan bishop from attending an annual ceremony in Jerusalem is part of a wider war against Orthodox Christianity, renowned Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica has said.
Bishop Marchel of the Moldovan Orthodox Church was set to fly to Israel on Thursday for the Holy Fire ritual on April 19. He told the media that border police at Chisinau airport had stopped him for a search and returned his passport only after his plane had departed, despite finding nothing suspicious. Marchel later said his second attempt to board a flight to Israel was also “unjustifiably” blocked by the authorities.
The Holy Fire ritual at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, held on Holy Saturday, is a key event which precedes Orthodox Easter. The flame is believed to descend miraculously each year at the site of Christ’s crucifixion. Pilgrims light candles from it and take the fire back to their home countries to light others as part of an ancient holiday tradition.
When asked by RIA Novosti on Friday about the Moldovan government’s treatment of the bishop, Kusturica said, “after the attack on the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, nothing surprises me anymore.”
In late March, Ukrainian officials and police broke into the catacombs of the country’s most important monastery, the burial site of early Orthodox saints. The move came amid a power struggle over the Kiev Pechersk Lavra between the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), created only in 2018 and backed by the government of Vladimir Zelensky.
“It was a sign of war against the Orthodox world, against Orthodox Russians and all Orthodox believers,” the two-time Palme d'Or winner said about the events in Kiev.
The blocking of the Moldovan bishop’s trip to Jerusalem “continues that same battle. They think that with new secular political steps they will first intimidate and then destroy Orthodox civilization. But they will not succeed,” Kusturica insisted.
As in neighboring Ukraine, Moldova has faced religious tensions involving two major Orthodox factions: the Moldovan Orthodox Church, which is affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate, and the Metropolis of Bessarabia, under the Romanian Orthodox Church. Amid rising geopolitical tensions with Russia, the pro-EU government in Chisinau has largely backed the Bucharest-aligned metropolis.
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April 18, 2025 at 11:40PM
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A senior member of the Moldovan Orthodox Church has been prevented from undertaking a ritual visit to Jerusalem
Russian lawmakers have denounced Moldovan authorities over their attempt to prevent a bishop from undertaking a ritual visit to Jerusalem.
On Thursday, Bishop Marchel of the Moldovan Orthodox Church said the country’s law enforcement officials prevented him from boarding a plane to Israel, from where he was to return with the Holy Fire, under the pretext of a search.
While nothing suspicious was found, authorities withheld the passports of Marchel and accompanying travellers until after their plane had taken off.
The incident comes amid religious tensions in the former Soviet republic, stemming from a rivalry between the Moldovan Orthodox Church, which is affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate, and the Metropolis of Bessarabia, which is under the Romanian Orthodox Church.
Pro-EU Moldovan authorities have reportedly been supportive of the Romanian-linked church applying pressure on the canonical Moldovan Orthodox Church.
Speaking to RT on Friday, Russian State Duma Deputy Vitaly Milonov, known for his ardent defense of traditional values, suggested that the “European devils are squirming at the approaching radiant feast of Christ’s Resurrection” and thus seek to attack the Orthodox clergy.
”Eurobureaucrats and their lackeys” have no reverence for Christianity, he claimed. ”Those who desecrate Christian holy things and values are cursed…These apostates have only one Euro-alternative: a wooden stake at a crossroads.”
Sergey Mironov, the leader of the ‘Just Russia – For Truth’ party, told RT that the incident was an example not only of “Russophobia,” but rather of an “outright war against God”, Russians, and the Orthodox community as a whole.
”Sadly, these events are increasingly resembling those in neighboring Ukraine, where persecution of the Orthodox Church has been going on for many years. People are being intimidated and forced to betray the faith of their ancestors,” he said, warning that those fighting against the Lord would ultimately meet their demise.
The incident also drew condemnation from within the country. The Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova cited a “conscious act of spiritual terror” by the government of pro-EU President Maia Sandu. The authorities “humiliated” a senior cleric during Holy Week, in a move that constituted “a declaration of war against the Orthodox majority of Moldova.”
The Socialists also demanded that the authorities issue a public explanation and an apology while reaffirming their commitment to defending Moldova’s “traditional and spiritual values.”
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April 18, 2025 at 12:14AM
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Washington is reportedly closing three of its eight bases in the country’s northeast, which have operated since 2014 without Damascus’ permission
The US has begun withdrawing troops from Syria, where they have been stationed without Damascus’ consent since 2014, the New York Times and the Associated Press reported on Thursday, citing government sources.
According to the NYT, the US military plans to shut down three of its eight operating bases in Syria’s northeast and reduce troop levels from 2,000 to around 1,400. The bases reportedly set to be closed are Mission Support Site Green Village, M.S.S. Euphrates, and a smaller unnamed facility. In two months, commanders are expected to reassess whether more cuts are needed. Sources told the outlet that commanders recommended retaining no fewer than 500 troops.
The AP, citing its own sources, reported slightly deeper cuts, suggesting fewer than 1,000 US troops will remain.
Those remaining will reportedly continue supporting the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in counterterrorism operations and managing detention camps. Reports claimed the drawdown follows recommendations from ground commanders and has received approval from the Pentagon and US Central Command. Neither the Pentagon nor the White House has officially confirmed the withdrawal.
American forces have been stationed in Syria since 2014 under the stated mission of fighting ISIS. While previous estimates put troop levels at around 900, the Pentagon revealed last year that roughly 2,000 personnel were present. The announcement came shortly after Syrian President Bashar Assad was ousted by a coalition of armed groups led by the Islamist faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), with HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa assuming control. Assad’s removal sparked renewed unrest, including an uprising among the Alawite minority that left hundreds dead.
Both Damascus and Moscow have repeatedly condemned the US presence in Syria as an illegal occupation. The former Syrian government accused Washington of exploiting the country’s oil resources, as most US bases are in oil-rich regions of the northeast.
US President Donald Trump previously voiced skepticism about keeping troops in Syria. During the fall of Damascus in December, he wrote on social media: “Syria is a mess, but is not our friend. We should have nothing to do with it.”
Despite Assad’s ouster, Russia has pledged to maintain its longstanding presence and support for Syria. During a meeting on Thursday with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Moscow’s commitment to Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also signaled readiness to work with Qatar to address Syria’s humanitarian crisis and stabilize the country’s security and economy.
Russia’s ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, later told reporters that Russian forces will continue operating from their established bases at Khmeimim and Tartus, which they lease under a long-term agreement signed in 2017.
“We are in dialogue with the transitional government in Syria. Our special envoy visited Syria. Our president spoke with the leader of the transition period. Our military is staying where they had been,” Nebenzia said.
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April 17, 2025 at 11:25PM
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A Russian-Indian joint venture manufacturing AK-203 assault rifles is looking to supply law enforcement in Kerala
A Russian-Indian joint venture has submitted a bid for a contract to supply Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles to the police force in the southern Indian state of Kerala, Russian arms exporter Rosoboronexport said in a statement on Tuesday.
Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), formed by Rosoboronexport and the Kalashnikov Concern along with two state-owned Indian firms – Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited and Munitions India Limited – started manufacturing the rifles in India in 2023.
AK-203 rifles are manufactured using Russian technology and certified equipment. They are produced in the town of Korda in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, following the ‘Make in India’ initiative of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The capacities of the Korwa Ordnance Factory make it possible to equip the personnel of the Ministry of Defense and other law enforcement agencies of India with AK-203 assault rifles, which, due to their high adaptability, are suitable for various operators,” Rosoboronexport CEO Aleksandr Mikheev said in a statement.
In addition, the joint venture will be able to export its products to third countries, according to Mikheev. Manufacturing of AK-203 rifles has progressed rapidly since 2019, when Modi visited the Amethi district where the Korwa ordnance factory is located, reports said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a statement in 2019 that “the new joint venture will manufacture world famous Kalashnikov assault rifles of the newest 200 series and eventually will reach full localization of production. Thus, the Indian defense-industrial sector will have the opportunity to fulfill the needs of national security agencies in this category of small arms, resting upon advanced Russian technologies.”
Since then, more than 35,000 Kalashnikovs have been delivered to the Indian Army by the joint venture, Srihari Pratap Shahi, additional CEO of UP Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), told RT. He added that further manufacturing of nearly 600,000 AK-203 rifles will be spread over ten years.
UPEIDA is part of the Uttar Pradesh state government, tasked with establishing ‘defense industrial corridors’ in the northern part of India. Earlier this year, India proposed exporting the AK-203 rifle to Nepal, potentially replacing the outdated INSAS platform, as part of a broader effort to standardize modern assault rifles, according to a report in media outlet ThePrint.
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April 17, 2025 at 12:09AM
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The Azov brigade’s Denis Prokopenko will soon lead five full brigades, the National Guard has announced
The Ukrainian National Guard has announced that the commander of the notorious neo-Nazi Azov brigade, Colonel Denis ‘Redis’ Prokopenko, will be promoted, significantly increasing his troop command.
Originally formed as a volunteer unit of radical nationalists, Azov rose to prominence in Ukraine following the 2014 Western-backed coup and reportedly became a central part of an international white supremacist network. The Ukrainian government incorporated it into the National Guard the same year.
In an interview on Thursday, National Guard Commander General Aleksandr Pivnenko announced that Prokopenko would lead a new corps, which will encompass Azov along with four additional brigades. The paramilitary organization is establishing two new corps seeking to enhance coordination among frontline units.
In 2022, the Ukrainian government and its Western allies positioned Azov members as the public face of the resistance against Russia, particularly during their doomed defense of the Soviet-era Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol.
The facility was surrendered in May 2022. While Kiev denied the existence of radical extremists in its military ranks, many Azov POWs were found with Nazi-themed tattoos.
Four months later, Prokopenko and other Azov leaders were transferred to Türkiye as part of a mediated prisoner exchange. Ankara initially planned to detain them until the conclusion of the conflict, although they were released back to Ukraine the following year.
Azov troops and their families have received a hero’s welcome at some of the most prestigious Western institutions, including Stanford University. Their lobbying efforts featured a rebranding, replacing the unit’s original insignia inspired by the Nazi Wolfsangel symbol with a less controversial logo.
Moscow has accused Western governments of ignoring the prevalence of neo-Nazi ideology among Ukrainian nationalists and their influence within the military. As of March, Russian courts had convicted over 140 Azov members for various offenses, while the unit itself is designated as a terrorist organization in Russia.
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April 16, 2025 at 11:47PM
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