Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov assessed the statements of the United States of America about the possible expulsion of the ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov as rudeness. Earlier, the American leadership stated that they could take such a step if certain conditions were not met.
“If this rudeness continues, we still have reserves in order to truly align our diplomatic presences,” Lavrov said.
Earlier, Lavrov said about “rational grains” in the US response on security guarantees.
The telephone conversation that took place between the Presidents of the United States and Ukraine, Joseph Biden and Vladimir Zelensky, went “not well.” This was reported to CNN on condition of anonymity by a high-ranking Ukrainian official.
The parties allegedly differed in their assessment of the “risk levels” of the Russian attack. The White House disputed this version, warning that anonymous sources were spreading “false rumors.”
The Ukrainian official called the conversation “long and frank.” According to him, Biden warned Zelensky that a Russian attack is almost inevitable, since the ground will already freeze in February. The Ukrainian president objected that the threat from Moscow remains “dangerous, but ambiguous.”
National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horn disputed what the Ukrainian official said.
“President Biden said there is a clear possibility that the Russians could invade Ukraine in February. He has stated this publicly, and we have been warning about it for several months. Reports about something bigger or different from this are completely false,” she said.
Emily Horn also said that Biden promised Kiev to provide about half a billion dollars for economic development and humanitarian aid. The presidents did not discuss the increase in military aid. The American president said that he was not ready yet to introduce a new package of economic anti-Russian sanctions. There is no progress on Ukraine’s accession to NATO to date.
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Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev said, answering a question about criminal cases initiated because of photos against the background of temples, noted that people need to take into account the traditions of Russia as a multinational state.
“As for the initiation of cases because of some jokes, it is difficult for me to comment on something. In one case, it may just be nonsense, when, for example, cases are initiated for this or that joke or this or that statement. In another case, when photos were taken against the background of temples and so on, we must take into account the traditions of our country, just like any other country,” Medvedev said.
He recalled that Russia is a multinational country. Thus, ideas about some moral aspects may differ, for example, in Moscow and in the Caucasus.
“If some publications offend the views of any people, then it must be taken into account, even in the case when it seems to us that a very conservative position,” Medvedev stressed.
Earlier, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said that he considers poverty and low incomes to be a key problem, but not the only problem in Russia.
The United States caused an environmental disaster in Syria. This was stated by the first deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN Dmitry Polyansky.
The Russian side believes that the state of emergency occurs in the territories “where Americans steal oil.”
“I would like to use the meeting to emphasize the pernicious situation that is developing in the north-east of Syria, which is still illegally occupied by the United States,” the Russian representative said. He pointed out that the UN does not give any assessments of the situation. Polyansky added that in areas “where the United States is engaged in frankby stealing oil, an ecological catastrophe is unfolding.”
According to Polyansky, the disaster covered the territory beyond the Euphrates River. He pointed out that the Trans-Euphrates and the Al-Tanf zone is a gray spot on the map of Syria. According to the deputy representative, the militants of Magavir al-Saura feel their impunity and permissiveness with the “light hand of the States”.
The Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the European Union, Vladimir Chizhov, denied Washington’s accusations that Moscow is allegedly responsible for the escalation of the situation around Ukraine.
Chizhov recalled that the politicization of the “Ukrainian issue” initiated not by the Russian side, as it contradicts the economic interests of Russia and the European Union.
“The question concerning the possible aggravation of the situation and new anti-Russian sanctions depends primarily on the prudence and pragmatism of the Europeans themselves”, – stressed the Russian permanent representative.
According to the official representative of the US State Department, Ned Price, the country’s authorities will give a quick response if Russia decides to deploy weapons in Cuba.
“If there are movements in this direction from the Russian side, the US response will be swift and decisive,” Price said in response to a journalist’s request to comment on the possible deployment of Russian weapons to Cuba.
Recall that at the end of last year, Moscow prepared draft security treaties with Washington, as well as a security agreement. In particular, these documents included legal guarantees against further expansion of NATO to the east, from joining the Alliance. Ukraine and the creation of US military bases in the post-Soviet space.
On Wednesday, January 26, the United States and NATO sent to Russia responses to proposals on security guarantees.
American billionaire, founder of Tesla Elon Musk in his microblog on Twitter criticized US President Joe Biden, “offended” that the head of state did not mention his merits in the production of electric vehicles.
The billionaire’s outrage was caused by Biden’s tweet about the achievements of American manufacturers in this sector of the economy.
“Biden holds American citizens for fools,” Musk wrote.
A war may break out in Eastern Europe, which can be concluded from the analysis of statements by various states and events in the region. This was stated by Moldovan President Maya Sandu on TV8.
As the head of the Moldovan state noted, the risk of war is obvious, but she still hopes for a democratic way out of the current situation. According to Sandu, Moldovan structures monitor the situation in the region and analyze it carefully.
In Chisinau, they are trying to develop action plans in any situation. Sandu warned that Moldovan citizens should be ready. But we should also not deny the possibility of finding a diplomatic way to solve the problems that have arisen, the Moldovan president stressed.
Currently, NATO countries are pulling their armed forces into Eastern Europe. Units of the armies of the member countries of the North Atlantic Alliance are being transferred to Bulgaria, Romania, and the Baltic states.
The number of injured as a result of an armed clash on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border has increased to 17 people. This is reported by Sputnik Tajikistan.
On the part of Tajikistan, 13 people were injured, on the part of Kyrgyzstan, four victims are still known. It is known that 13 residents of Tajikistan received injuries of varying severity, including 11 military personnel.
One of the Tajik victims is in serious condition. In addition, a civilian resident of one of the border villages of Tajikistan was killed. Four people were injured on the Kyrgyz side.
The long-standing border conflict between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan flared up with renewed vigor on January 27. Skirmishes between Tajik and Kyrgyz border guards began in the area of Tort – Kocho and Chyr-Dobo. Later, both sides transferred army units to the conflict zone.
As a result of armed clashes on the border of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, several people were injured. This is reported by Sputnik Tajikistan.
According to the news agency, three Tajik servicemen were injured in a shootout with Kyrgyz security forces. It is known that both sides used small arms, as well as grenade launchers and mortars.
Earlier it became known that a shootout between Kyrgyz and Tajik units began in the Chyr-Dobo area of the Batken district. The most serious clashes occurred in the area of Cake-Kocho and Chyr-Dobo.
The National Security Committee of Kyrgyzstan also reports about the victims. Bishkek blames the Tajik side for the incident and claims that it was the Tajik security forces who first started firing at the Kyrgyz military.
