US
US urges Putin to ‘acknowledge reality’ after ‘war’ reference
The United States has called on Vladimir Putin to acknowledge reality and withdraw troops from Ukraine after the Russian president finally called the conflict a “war”.
Agence France-Presse reported that since Putin ordered the invasion in February, Russia has officially spoken of a “special military operation” and imposed a law that criminalises what authorities call misleading terminology.
But at a news conference on Thursday, Putin used the word “war” as he said that he hoped to end it as soon as possible.
A State Department spokesperson said on Friday:
Since February 24, the United States and rest of the world knew that Putin’s ‘special military operation’ was an unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine. Finally, after 300 days, Putin called the war what it is.
As a next step in acknowledging reality, we urge him to end this war by withdrawing his forces from Ukraine.
The State Department said that, whatever Putin’s terminology, “Russia’s aggression against its sovereign neighbour has resulted in death, destruction and displacement”.
The people of Ukraine no doubt find little consolation in Putin stating the obvious, nor do the tens of thousands of Russian families whose relatives have been killed fighting Putin’s war.
A Russian court earlier this month sentenced an opposition politician, Ilya Yashin, to eight-and-a-half years in prison under the new law over his “false information” about the war.
Yashin had spoken of a “massacre” in Bucha, the town near Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv where the bullet-ridden bodies of Ukrainians in civilian clothes with hands tied behind their backs were discovered after Russian forces retreated.
An opposition legislator critical of the invasion, Nikita Yuferev, on Friday said he was seeking legal action against Putin for spreading “fake news” over his “war” reference.
(source: theguardian.com)
Putin Deploys Nuclear-Capable Missiles Near Ukraine Border As US Lets Baltic States Arm Ukraine
Russia has reportedly deployed a large number of Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) systems in areas bordering Ukraine. Ukrainian military intelligence singled out SRBM systems that Russia has allegedly positioned near the Ukrainian border.
The West is concerned that Russia can equip the Iskander with tactical nuclear warheads which can strike deep in Europe. Amid the growing threat of Russian invasion, the US has approved transfer of American weapons from Baltic states to Ukraine. Meanwhile, United States has alleged that the Russian intelligence is recruiting Ukrainian officials to take over the Ukrainian govt.
UK warns Russian government will face ‘serious consequences’ if Ukraine is invaded
Full Blinken: ‘No Question Of Capitulation’ to Russia
US, Philippine, India, and Taiwan now willing to take the risk to fight China in South China Sea
South China Sea tensions have reached a crisis point after the US, Philippines and Taiwan took the risk to stop China’s growth in the region.
As well as showcasing Washington’s strength to Beijing, the show of force was also intended to show allies the US was still the leading power.
Heated up: China launched a monstrous missile as a warning to US destroyers in South China Sea
(source: Military Today News)
Yémen: Ansarallah rejette le plan US
Le mouvement yéménite Ansarallah s’est opposé à une proposition américaine de médiation visant à résoudre le conflit au Yémen, tenant Washington pour responsable de l’agression menée par l’Arabie saoudite contre le Yémen.
Mohammed al-Bakhiti, membre du Conseil politique d’Ansarallah, a déclaré mercredi à la chaîne arabophone iranienne Al-Alam que la paix serait rétablie au Yémen si les États-Unis mettaient fin à leur guerre contre ce pays appauvri.
Il a également exprimé son opposition à toute solution à la crise yéménite qui remettrait en cause l’indépendance et la souveraineté du pays.
TANIKO Madagascar 