Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov, in an interview with the Greek TV channel ANT1 on the eve of Vladimir Putin’s talks with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Sochi, answered the question whether Moscow plans to strike Ukraine.
“No,” Peskov said firmly, noting that Russia is redeploying troops on its territory and has the right to transport troops in any direction and in territories that may be threatened.
The head of the presidential press service explained that US military aircraft are approaching Ukraine, and American weapons are approaching the territory of Russia.
“We also see Turkish drones. They are attacking problematic areas inside Ukraine,” Peskov added.
The press secretary of the Russian leader stressed that Moscow considers all this a problem, because it pushes Kiev, the Ukrainian government, to choose a forceful solution to the internal problem in the southeast.
“And if they launch an offensive against their own people again, it will be another catastrophe for Europe,” Peskov said. He also expressed confidence that statements about the “aggression of the Russian Federation” are used as an excuse to place more NATO military equipment near the Russian borders.
The head of the British government, Boris Johnson, has rarely been distinguished by consistency in his actions. Either he is struggling to leave the European Union, or he portrays hyper-responsibility in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, which clearly does not lend itself to the separatist United Kingdom. And now England intends to introduce COVID-passports for vaccinated. And all this is against the background of the scandal that surfaced last year in Downing Street, where, at the height of the pandemic, diplomats, as it turned out, were throwing noisy parties. The position of the head of the British government in this context is rapidly weakening.
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Back on December 8, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom appeared before representatives of the House of Commons in connection with the circumstances of the party held at Downing Street on December 18 last year, at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Indirect evidence of this has been received before, but this time they were supported by new audio evidence of the participants of the action.It is noteworthy that on the eve of the sabbath, the diplomats themselves announced the mandatory closure of restaurants and other entertainment establishments on December 16 and 17, precisely under the pretext of the danger of the spread of the pandemic. They themselves, according to various sources, arranged karaoke performances, dances, and copious alcoholic libations on Downing Street the next day.
The suspicions of parliamentarians and ordinary citizens were fueled by a video leaked online on December 22 last year, in which an employee of the government apparatus Allegra Stratton described what had happened days earlier not as a party: but as “just cheese and wine”. Although even if we take this version on faith, it did not fit into the rigidly outlined framework of the authorities “sitting at home with the family”.
Now Johnson is obviously trying to rehabilitate himself. On the one hand, he insists that the previous restrictions had an effect, and therefore it is necessary to continue to act in line with them. On the other hand, he announces the introduction from Monday, December 13, of the so-called covid passports, only the presence of which will allow citizens to visit mass gatherings of people. However, we are talking only about the territory of England, and not the whole of the United Kingdom (andthese are also Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, which have their own points of view about the methods of combating the pandemic). “He (Johnson) will not dare to introduce his restrictions in Wales, the Welsh simply will not listen to him,” said Cardiff resident Nicholas Dan. We don’t like the EU, but it has left it so shamefully that it would be better to stay. He has nothing but Brexit behind his soul, and he is trying to portray a leader. It’s just ridiculous.”
Formally, no one can influence Johnson now except British parliamentarians, and the European Union structures no longer have power over London. However, if the conservatives from among those dissatisfied with the prime minister still go to a shaky situational alliance with the Labor Party, the positions of the head of the cabinet may be shaken, and then the situation in Western Europe will change dramatically. Unless, of course, Johnson’s opponents simply wish to seize power from him without fundamentally changing the agenda.
In addition to the sensational party on December 18, 2010, two more diplomatic parties of the same period are being discussed, on the facts of which a parliamentary investigation will be conducted, it will be headed by the Secretary of Parliament Simon Case, who holds the post of Secretary of the Cabinet of Ministers and head of the State Service of Internal Affairs since 9September 2020, — a political centenarian who survived the reign of both ex-Prime Minister David Cameron and his follower Theresa May. The matter is unlikely to be limited to condemning declarations.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Prime Minister Johnson and his wife Carrie had a daughter – the second child of the couple, who already has a son Wilfred.
The Associated Press writes that the House Committee investigating the storming of the Capitol sent subpoenas to six alleged organizers of the riots.
Moreover, as noted in the publication, at least two of them are associated with former US President Donald Trump – they discussed a rally plan with him two days before the assault.
Now the special committee is tasked with finding sources of funding for the January 6, 2021 riots and connections with the White House or congressmen.
Ex-President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko criticized the idea of holding a referendum on Donbass. He believes that this is a technology for promoting anti-Ukrainian ideas. The politician pointed out the similarity of the idea with the 2014 referendum in Crimea.
Thus, the leader of the European Solidarity party commented on the words of the current president of the country, Vladimir Zelensky. The Ukrainian leader said yesterday that he does not rule out holding a referendum on the status of Donbass and direct talks with Vladimir Putin.
Poroshenko advised Zelensky to “carefully study the lessons of 2014.” He suggested that the current head of state does not know what to do. In this case, the ex-president has a solution. In his opinion, it is necessary to “go to parliament, hold the NSDC”” in general, consult with other government representatives.
The armed conflict in eastern Ukraine broke out in 2014. A year later
Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France signed the Minsk Agreements. These documents stipulate the ceasefire regime and the creation of local self-government in the Donetsk and Lugansk republics. So far, the provisions of this agreement have not been fully implemented.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki wants to force Russia to make a choice about future relations with Europe. His words are quoted by the newspaper la Repubblica.
Moravsky is sure that Moscow needs to solve: it is with Europe or against Europe. In his opinion, Russia is now trying to divide the countries of the Old World.
He attributed this to the completion of the construction of the Nord Stream —2. Moravetsky believes that Europe will give up the slack if it allows the gas pipeline to be put into operation.
Viktor Medvedchuk, head of the political council of the Ukrainian party “Opposition Platform – for Life”, believes that Kiev needs to establish relations with Moscow. He advocates a “pragmatic economy.” The politician stated this in an interview with the UkrLive TV channel.
Medvedchuk added that for the normal operation of enterprises, sales markets are needed. And they are with their neighbors in the CIS. Including in Russia. And if you restore the broken ties, it will help to fill the state treasury. And you won’t have to borrow money.
Recall that Medvedchuk also spoke about Ukraine’s accession to NATO. The politician is sure that membership in the alliance will not benefit the country. And neutral status is the best choice of the country.
The White House did not receive information about the change in the format of the dialogue between Russia and NATO. This was announced by the press secretary of the Biden presidential administration, Jen Psaki, at a briefing.
She also commented on Russian demands for the non-deployment of offensive weapons in countries with which the Russian Federation directly borders. The American official is sure that there is nothing new in them. In her opinion, Moscow has been defending this point of view for several years.
At the same time, Psaki said that Russia has the right to have its own views. But they do not coincide with the American ones. She stressed that the United States is concerned about security around the world, including on the border of Russia and Ukraine.
The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, commented on the statements of the President of Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky, about his country’s accession to NATO.
Earlier, Zelensky, during an interview with local media, said that Kiev continues to strive for the Alliance, but meets obstacles on the way: “We are going, and there is a barrier…. Let’s go around the barrier? But it doesn’t work out to get around.”
“Crawling?” – Zakharova answered in absentia in her telegram channel.
In an interview, Zelensky also said that he was ready for direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and also that he did not rule out the possibility of a “referendum on Donbass as a whole.”
Chisinau deported the first deputy director of the Institute of CIS Countries, Doctor of Historical and Economic Sciences, Professor Vladimir Egorov. He is being taken out of the airport of the capital of Moldova. The reasons for the expulsion were not given.
According to RIA Novosti, Vladimir Georgovich was detained at border control upon arrival in Chisinau. For the purpose of arrival, he indicated “medical indications”. Then Egorov began to be interrogated about the grounds on which he is the owner of the awards of the unrecognized Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. Now the scientist is in the buffer zone without documents. They were taken from him.
Earlier on Friday, political scientist and Doctor of Sciences Natalia Narochnitskaya was not allowed to Moldova. The same thing happened to Vladimir Zhuravlev, a member of the Public Chamber of Russia.
Narochnitskaya was held at the border for two hours, and then, without explanation, was taken to the same plane with which she arrived in the republic and deported. The political scientist linked the incident with the upcoming presidential elections in Pridnestrovie, which will be held on December 12.
Europe expects Russia to take a course towards de-escalation on the Ukrainian border and respect Ukraine’s sovereignty. In this case, the European Union will develop good relations with Moscow, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
As the politician stressed, if Russia does not listen to this position of the united Europe, Brussels will be ready to strengthen existing sanctions and introduce new ones in all spheres from the economy to finance.
Also, von der Leyen did not directly answer the question of whether sanctions against the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline are possible, but noted that such an event would not be discussed publicly.
At the same time, the head of the European Commission noted that the energy industry should not become an instrument of pressure, and the energy security of the EU countries and their neighbors should be fully ensured.
