27 Mar, 2025 12:39

Kiev’s spies posed as US think-tank staff – FSB

Ukrainian spooks allegedly pretended to be RAND Corporation employees while attempting to source classified information from Russian servicemen

Ukrainian intelligence services have reportedly been posing as members of a renowned US think tank to recruit intel sources in Russia, the Federal Security Service (FSB) has claimed.Kiev’s operatives were trying to get Russian military personnel to disclose classified information, according to the agency.

In a report issued on Thursday, the FSB stated that it had received information that Ukrainian spies have been posing as representatives of the Research and Development (RAND) Corporation and using messengers to contact Russian citizens connected with the military.

They reportedly offered money in exchange for classifiedinformation on the Russian Air Force's use of strategic aviation and the number and deployments of forces involvedin the Ukraine conflict.

The FSB also published an audio recording and screenshots of several exchanges between its agents and alleged Ukrainian operatives. In the messages, Kiev’s spies introduced themselves as employees of the CIS Countries department of the Eastern Europe Center of the RAND Corporation branch, called RAND Europe. They attempted to confirm their affiliation with the organization by providing information about Hans Pung, the director of RAND Europe.

In the messages, the Ukrainians offered to pay for information in any currency, including crypto and through online wallets or international banks.

“We are interested in first-hand and truthful information concerning the [special military operation]. Most of all we are interested in documentary evidence of certain events,” the operatives wrote.

RAND was originally established in 1948 as a joint project between the US Army Air Force and the Douglas Aircraft Company, with the goal of carrying out long-range planning for future weapons. The scope of the project was later expanded into civilian fields such as education and international affairs, and it became the first organization to be referred to as a “think tank.”

As noted by the FSB, the main declared area of activity of RAND currently is to promote scientific, educational, and charitable activities in the interests of public welfare and US national security, the development and identification of strategic problems and the development of concepts.However, most of RAND’s research connected to US security is classified.

In 2023, Moscow officially listed RAND as a foreign non-governmental organization whose activities are considered “undesirable” on the territory of Russia.

https://www.rt.com/russia/614856-ukraine-rand-recruiting-fsb/

27 Mar, 2025 12:21

Zelensky speaks of ‘hatred of Russians’

The Ukrainian leader, whose presidential term expired last year, has claimed thatresentment fuels his resolve to stay in power

Ukraine’s VladimirZelensky has admitted that his hatred of Russians is one of the driving forces propelling him to “keep going” in the conflict against Moscow.

In an interview with the French daily Le Figaro published on Wednesday, Zelensky identified the emotion as one of his three key psychological drivers since the escalation of the conflict in February 2022.

Zelensky said he hated “Russians who killed so many Ukrainian citizens,” adding that he considered such an attitude appropriate in wartime.His other motivations included a sense of national dignity and the desire for his descendants to live “in the free world.”

Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of being a historic oppressor while Zelensky has previously touted Ukrainians’ “love of freedom”as a trait that distinguishes them from Russians.

Zelensky, whose presidential term expired last year, was elected in 2019 on a platform of defusing tensions with Moscow and reconciling ethnic Russian Ukrainians in Donbass, many of whom opposed the 2014 Western-backed coup in Kiev. However, his initial diplomatic efforts were thwarted by radical Ukrainian nationalists in the body politic.

Since the coup,Kiev has enacted various policies undermining the rights of ethnic minorities, with Russians as the primary target. Moscow has accused Zelensky ofintensifying the crackdown, particularly by attacking the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the country’s largest religious denomination, which now faces potential prohibition for having historic links with Russia.

In a recent interview, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov asserted thatZelensky caters to “the segment of the population that holds radical, ultra-right, revanchist, Banderite views,”as his image as a national leader increasingly deteriorates.

“Zelensky does not want to display weakness, as he realizes that his days are numbered,” the Russian official claimed.

https://www.rt.com/russia/614852-zelensky-hatred-russians-office/

27 Mar, 202511:37

Kiev breaking energy ceasefire – Moscow

The Defense Ministry has reported three more incidents that breach a US-mediated deal

(Documents to seal the deal signed yesterday by both Putin and Zelensky, ceasefire started back on March 18, 2025. Ukraine have no intention of adhering to anything they agreed to with President Trump)

Ukrainian forces violated a US-mediated moratorium on attacking Russia's energy infrastructureon three occasions in 24 hours, the Defense Ministry in Moscow reported on Thursday.

The incidents included adrone strikein Bryansk Region thatdisabled a high-voltage power line, anartillery strike on a transformer stationin the same part of Russia, as well as what the military believe to be anattemptedkamikaze drone striketargeting an underground natural gas storage facilityin Crimea. In the latter episode, the Ukrainian aircraft was intercepted as it neared the target, the statement read.

On March 18, the Russian military wasordered to refrain from attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructureunder a deal that was agreed upon by President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart, Donald Trump. Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has publicly supported the 30-day partial ceasefire, which is supposed to involve reciprocal suspension of attacks by Kiev’s forces.

The Russian Ministry of Defense, however, hasreported multiple Ukrainian violationsof the agreement, which it described asaimed at undermining Trump’s mediation effortsbetween Moscow and Kiev. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday thatthe Kremlin will honor its obligationsdespite Ukrainian actions, since the agreement represents positive diplomatic engagement with the Trump administration.

Earlier this week, US officials met separately with Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Saudi Arabia. Following the talks,Moscow said it was willing to revive the Black Sea Grain Initiative, an arrangement that was originally mediated by the UN and Türkiye and expired in 2023.

The original deal was meant to facilitate Russian and Ukrainian exports of grains and fertilizers. Moscow, however, pulled out of the arrangement, citing a lack of progress in the lifting of Western sanctions on its commerce, which it expected to get under the initiative.Moscow is prepared to reinstate the initiative if these commitments are honored, Peskov has said.

https://www.rt.com/russia/614849-mod-ukraine-energy-infrastructure/

27 Mar, 2025 08:38

Kiev touts dating prospects to lure men into military

Serving tours would allow men to earnenough money to attract women, the Defense Ministry has suggested

(I guess the promise of 15,000 cheeseburgers or Netflix sub wasn’t enough of a temptation to enroll in the military for the losing war.)

A Ukrainian military campaign targeting young men has claimed that signing a contract with the army would improve their dating lives.

Since February, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry hasbeen offering enrollment incentives to men aged 18 to 24 who are not subject to compulsory conscription. Chief among these is compensation of 1 million hryvnia ($24,000) for one year of service. The ministry has also released several videos showcasing how this windfall could supposedly enhance recruits’ lifestyles.

A clip released on Wednesday on the ministry’s TikTok channel suggests that the money could significantly improve the dating prospects of those who complete their service. It features several young women discussing their expectations regarding a partner’s income.

”That would bebetween 100,000 and 150,000 hryvnia ($2,400 to $3,600) per month – enough to live in Kiev, rent an apartment, and dine out,” one woman explained. The interviewer then turns to the camera, proposing that signing a contract with the Defense Ministry could enable young men to earn this kind of money. Earlier advertisements in the series have stated that a year of military service could equate to 15,625 cheeseburgers or185 years of Netflix subscriptions.(how poor are regular Ukrainians?)

This week, Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky announced plans to expand the recruitment program, allowing both the National Guard and Border Guard to seek enlistees.

Kiev faces challenges in replacing military casualties through mandatory conscriptiondespite last year’s significant system overhaul. Evasion remains prevalent, with draft officers resorting to harsh measures to meet their quotas.

Human rights ombudsman Dmitry Lubinets acknowledged on Wednesday that abuses –including beatings and unlawful detentions – have become “systematic and mass in nature”and demand urgent state intervention.

https://www.rt.com/russia/614839-ukraine-draft-ad-dating/

27 Mar, 2025 02:38

Russia’s new ambassador makes first statement upon landing in US

Aleksandr Darchiev has hailed warmer bilateral relations as a “window of opportunity” and outlined Moscow’s priorities

Relations between Moscow and Washington have gained some positive momentum, but further efforts are needed toovercome the “toxic legacy” of the previous American presidential administration, newly appointed Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Darchiev has said.

Speaking to reporters upon his arrival in Washington on Wednesday night, Darchiev expressed that he was optimistic now that both countries are showing signs of constructive engagement.

“It is encouraging that my tenure in the United States begins at a time when a certain window of opportunityhas opened in our bilateral relations,” Darchiev told reporters, according to TASS. “The presidents of our countries have set a goal to restore state-to-state contacts, which were effectively severed by the team of former US President Joe Biden, and to normalize the functioning of the diplomatic missions.”

Darchiev added that while work is progressing on multiple fronts,the process of clearing what he described as the “toxic legacy” of previous years remains a major challenge. He said Moscow is pushing for theeasing of visa proceduresnot only fordiplomatsbut also forordinary citizens, as well as thereinstatement of direct air travelbetween the two countries and thereturn of six confiscated Russian diplomatic propertiesin the US. (How does the U.S. confiscate Russia’s properties.?)

“All of these are issues I intend to address substantively,” Darchiev stated. “The practical work has gained momentum, which should be sustained and increased based on the principle of strict reciprocity.”

Darchiev is a seasoned career diplomat who previously headed the North American Department at Russia’s Foreign Ministry. Fluent in English and French, heserved as Russia’s ambassadortoCanada between 2014 and 2021. He has also held multiple postings at the Russian Embassy in Washington, including as senior counselor and minister-counselor.

The new ambassador’s arrival comes after years of strained relations between Moscow and Washington, marked by reciprocal sanctions and the expulsion of diplomatic personnel.The post had remained vacantsince the end of Anatoly Antonov’s tenure inOctober.

President Vladimir Putin signed a decree appointing Darchiev ambassador to the US on March 6, after his candidacy was discussed with US officials during talks in Istanbul in late February.

https://www.rt.com/russia/614832-russia-ambassador-darchiev-arrives-us/

26 Mar, 2025 21:21

Germany’s AfD more popular than ever

The right-wing party is only 3.5% behind the country’s top conservative CDU/CSU alliance, a new INSA poll

The right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party enjoys record high public support, according to polls conducted by the Institute for New Social Answers (INSA).

The latest poll, released byINSA on Tuesday, indicated 23.5% support for the party, while the top conservative alliance, between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), polled at 27%. The figure constituted a 1.5% drop since the CDU/CSU achieved victory in Germany’s February 23 general election.

“This is the highest value ever measured for the AfD in the INSA opinion trend,” the head of INSA, Hermann Binkert, told Bild daily.

The AfD has gained nearly three points in polls since the election and is currentlyjust 3.5% behind the CDU/CSU alliance. TheChristian Democrats alone polled at 21%,and their Bavarian sister party fetched a further 7% for the alliance, Binkert noted.

The INSA poll sampled the opinions of some 2,004 respondents, representing various social groups throughout Germany.

According to the pollster’s estimates,the party’s public support could reach as high as 30.5%. Other parties, however, still maintain higher estimated ceilings, with the CDU/CSU theoretically able to reach up to 42%, while the Social Democratic Party (SPD) could get up to 39.5%, according to INSA’s analysts.

The CDU/CSU emerged as the strongest force in last month’s parliamentary election with 28.5% of the vote,while failing to get an absolute majority. The party iscurrently in coalition talks with the SPD, which suffered a crushing defeat during the election, garnering a record-low 16.4%. Should the two forces reach a coalition, however, they would hold 328 seats in the Bundestag, comfortably surpassing the 316-seat mark to get a majority.

The AfD solidly secured second place during the election, receiving 20.8% of the vote – a twofold rise from the 10.4% they got in 2021.Despite the result, the party remains ostracized by the other major political forces, which refuse to cooperate with it, and is commonly labeled ‘far-right’ by officials and media alike.

https://www.rt.com/news/614829-germany-afd-poll-record/

27 Mar, 2025 11:16

Ukraine’s former top general claims NATO’s ‘Article 5’ doesn’t exist

The US-led bloc has no intention of protecting its Eastern European members, Valery Zaluzhny has claimed

NATO's Eastern European members are aware that the US-led military bloc has no intention of protecting them from Russia, Ukraine’s former top general Valery Zaluzhny has said. (More Propaganda)

Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, stipulating that an attack on one NATO member is to be considered an attack on all,is not being implemented in practice, Zaluzhny, who currently serves as Kiev’s ambassador to the UK, said during a meeting with students in the city of Lviv on Wednesday.

“The Baltic States understand that there is no Article 5 and never has been. Poland understands this too as missiles fall there from time to time – sometimes ours, sometimes Russian. Romania understands everything, but keeps silent,” he claimed.

The ambassador recalled that when he was still head of the Ukrainian army, “they called from Romania and asked me not to say a word” after two alleged Russian drones crashed in Romanian territory.

An official from Bucharest blamed Ukraine for the incident, saying that the UAVs had been diverted to Romania because of the use of electronic warfare by Kiev, he said.

“I told them: ‘Shoot them [drones] down. You have 40 F-16 jets’,” added Zaluzhny, who was sacked as Kiev’s top general in February 2023.

He also suggested thateven if Ukraine’s push to join NATO were to succeed, it would not provide the country with security guarantees. “It would not give anything besides political protection,”the ambassador insisted.

US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said in an interview with Tucker Carlson last week that VladimirZelensky and his chief of staff, Andrey Yermak, “have largely conceded that they are not going to be a member of NATO.”

“I think it is accepted that Ukraine and Russia, if there is going to be a peace deal, Ukraine cannot be a member of NATO,” he said.

As for the option of Ukraine getting “what is called Article 5 protection” from the US or Western European countries without being in NATO “that is open for discussion,” Witkoff stated.

Preventing Kiev from joining NATO, which Moscow views as a hostile bloc, had been named by Moscow as among the reasons for launching its military operation in February 2022. Late last year, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that Ukraine’s membership would be “unacceptable” and would contradict Russia’s stance that “security of one country cannot be ensured at the expense of the security of another.”

https://www.rt.com/news/614848-ukraine-nato-romania-zaluzhny/

He fails to say, the US is slowly withdrawing from NATO and turning over leadership to Europe. Why is the US responsible for Europe’s protection, when they won’t even pay the required amount to be in NATO, and this doesn’t help the U.S.? They wouldn’t come to the U.S. to drive out the invasion of foreigners that happened in the last 5 years. Why do all of them expect this from the U.S. it’s time for them to grow up and protect their own continent?

24 Jun, 2021

EU leaders split over whether to push for summit with Russia, France & Germany back plan but some other members voice opposition

Senior EU leaders have clashed over whether to ask for high-level talks with Moscow,just days after US President Joe Biden met with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to discuss a range of issues including global security.

At a meeting of the bloc's heads of state in Brussels on Thursday, opinion was divided about how such talks would be organized, and even whether they should go ahead at all.

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel led the charge in favor of opening up bilateral channels with Russian officials.Macron said that it was vital to begin a “demanding dialogue” in order “to defend our interests as Europeans.” Such an approach, he argued, is “necessary for the stability of the European continent,” citing the precedent set by the Biden meeting.

Adding her voice to the call for negotiations,Merkel said ahead of the meeting that, “in my opinion, we as the EU must also seek direct contact with Russia and the Russian president.”The chancellor had told the German Bundestag that “it is not enough for US President Joe Biden to talk to the Russian president – I very much welcome that – but the European Union must also create formats for talks here…there is no other way to resolve conflicts.”

However, the EU summit gave the proposals a more mixed reception, with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte saying “I don't mind a meeting with Vladimir Putin” going ahead, but insisting only EU Presidents Charles Michel and Ursula Von Der Leyen should attend. “I will not participate in a meeting with Vladimir Putin myself,” he added.

Lithuania's President Gitanas Nausėda was more cautious, saying that if the talks went ahead “without any changes, positive changes”in Russia's approach, then “it will send a very uncertain and bad signal to our partners.” He conceded the idea was worth considering, but said “we should be extremely cautious.”

Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki took an even harder line, arguing that “any direct dialogue on the highest political level is only possible in a situation where there’s an actual de-escalation and actual withdrawal from the aggressive politics.” He pointed to recent allegations of cyberattacks leveled against Moscow as a barrier to a potential sit-down.

Earlier this month, new proposals from EU officials on how to work with Russia were revealed. Deploying a three-pronged strategy, entitled “push back, constrain and engage,” the plans railed against supposed wrongdoing by Moscow and advocated a confrontational approach. Politico, however, reported that a number of diplomats had doubts about how helpful the plan would be – although some Eastern European states were said to want even tougher steps.

In March, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that his country now has “no relations with the EU as an organization.” This situation, he said, has come about because “the entire infrastructure of these relations has been destroyed by unilateral decisions made from Brussels.”

(Well looky here the lemmings in the EU considered working with Russia when Bidan met with him, but refuse when Trump is trying to end the war Russia.The EU not only follows the worst U.S. leaders,they hate Trump so much they won’t try to end the war with Ukraine and Russia!)

https://www.rt.com/russia/527491-eu-leaders-split-summit/

1 Apr, 202113:28

Dutch caretaker PM Mark Rutte to face vote of no confidence as he attempts to form new govt after March election

(I was trying to find out why Rutte was kicked out of leadership. Rutte kept the Dutch in Covid lockdowns longer and more often then most other countries)

Opposition parties have tabled a vote of no confidence against Rutte, just two weeks after the election,claiming the leader lied about a potential political appointment.

Rutte will face the vote later on Thursday, after lawmakers objected to his conduct. Opposition parties are furious with the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy leader, who toldreporters he had not had any discussions concerning the appointment to his government of Christian Democratic Appeal politician, Pieter Omtzigt.

It later emerged that Rutte had held these discussions after all, and he apologized on Thursday for the “very clumsy statement,”adding that he had been “rightly called out” by the media.

Despite the apology, there has been an angry backlash from the opposition.“Rutte has a big problem, as far as I’m concerned,” said Socialist Party leader Lilian Marijnissen. “It is inconceivable that the prime minister has been lying.”

We already thought that Rutte cannot be a credible leader of this country,and if you keep the country in its grip for another week by telling lies, and actually have to come back to it today, then you are certainly no longer credible,”claimed Denk party boss Farid Azarkan.

In the March 17 election, Rutte’s party came out on top, with 35 out of 150 seats and a mandate to attempt to form a government. The veteran leader has been prime minister since 2010 and head of his party since

https://www.rt.com/news/519845-netherlands-rutte-confidence-vote/

23 Mar, 202119:56

‘A huge downer’: Dutch PM Mark Rutte extends lockdown for 3 weeks amid ‘worrying’ Covid-19 spike

The Netherlands’ controversial Covid-19 curbs will be extended until April 20 in a bid to tackle climbing case rates, Prime Minister Mark Rutte has said, just days after police clashed with anti-lockdown protesters in Amsterdam.

The country’s lockdown was due to end on March 31, but Rutte said on Tuesday that public health measures could not be eased, amid a 16% increase in cases over the past week to more than 46,000 on Tuesday.

The Netherlands’ controversial curfews, which sparked several riots earlier this year, will now begin an hour later at 10pm, running until 4:30am so they are easier to police in summer, Rutte said.

“This is a huge downer,” the PM told a news conference, as he outlined the changes to the measures, while pledging that the government would continue supporting businesses affected by the curbs.

Rutte’s government drew further anger last month after an appeals court reinstated the country’s curfews, reversing an earlier ruling that found the measures were “illegitimate.”

https://www.rt.com/news/518954-netherlands-extends-covid-lockdown/

9 Jul, 20218:17

Netherlands reimposes Covid-19 measures over rise in cases just weeks after lifting restrictions

The Netherlands is reintroducing Covid-19 restrictions for nightclubs, restaurants and music festivals in response to a spike in infections among younger people, the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has said.

The reimposition of the health measures, which were only lifted June 26, will take effect from Saturday morning and stay in place until August 14, Rutte told a news conference on Friday.

https://www.rt.com/news/528843-netherlands-reintroduces-covid-curbs-delta-rise/

>>22829251

It’s good to have old articles to read onRutte, he’s a snake.

25 Sep, 202118:32

Dutch junior minister SACKED after criticizing ‘illogical’ vaccine passports

Junior Economic Affairs Minister Mona Keijzer has beenfired by Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Her crime? Suggesting that the country’s vaccine passport scheme is “illogical” and the Netherlands should “go back to the old normal.”

As of Sunday, people hoping to visit bars, cafés, restaurants,and other venues will have to show proof of vaccinationagainst Covid-19 or the results of a recent negative test. The pass system was introduceddespite recent mass protests in Amsterdam, and demonstrationsagainst the now-compulsory vaccine passports took place again on Sunday.

Criticism of the scheme has come from both the public and workers in the hospitality sector, but also from within the government. In an interview with the Telegraaf newspaper on Saturday,Kiejzer had said it was “inexplicable” that the pass was required, even though the wholesale reopening of schools and universities in August had not led to a surge in hospitalizations.

“You can participate in the marathon without a [vaccine pass], but if you are going to eat a pastry in the lunchroom you must have it,” she stated, adding that she could “no longer explain it logically.”

If we end up in a society where we have to be afraid of each other unless we can show proof, then you really have to scratch your head and ask yourself: ‘Is this the direction we want to go?’

Keijzer’s comments earned her a swift dismissal from Rutte’s cabinet. After consulting with his deputies and senior economy minister, he announced on Saturday that Keijzer would be fired “with immediate effect.” Her comments, he said, were “not compatible with decisions recently taken by the cabinet.”

The Algemeen Dagblad (AD) newspaper reported that Rutte and his team had learnt of Keijzer’s interview only late on Friday night, and, being aware of the stance she would take, immediately agreed to fire her. According to AD’s sources, the minister hadn’t anticipated that she would be let go. Had she been forewarned of the consequences, she said, “she would have resigned.”

Since the introduction of the vaccine pass, social distancing measures in the Netherlands have been almost entirely lifted. Bars and cafés still have to close at midnight, and masks are still required on public transport and at airports, however.

Roughly 82% of eligible adults in the country have now been fully vaccinated, and cases of Covid-19 have been falling steadily since July. In her interview, Keizer pointed to the high vaccination take-up, as well as the rarity of serious symptoms at present, as proof that the vaccine passports should be scrapped. “We have to go back to the old normal,” she said.

https://www.rt.com/news/535833-dutch-minister-fired-vaccine-passports/

27 Mar, 2025 09:53

EU candidate’s pro-Western government arrests autonomous region’s leader

Yevgenia Gutsul, known as a critic of Moldova’s government, has been taken into custody upon her arrival in the capital.

A vocal critic of Moldova’s pro-Western government, who leads an autonomous region in the EU candidate state, has denounced her arrest on what she claims to be fabricated criminal charges.

Yevgenia Gutsul was taken into custody on Tuesday evening at the international airport in the Moldovan capital, Chisinau, with the authorities saying she was on a wanted list. In a statement released through her lawyers on Thursday, she accused the government of pursuing a plan to dismantle the region of Gagauzia’s autonomy through lawfare targeting her administration.

“I am behind bars now under trumped up charges, yet my heart and my soul is with you,”she said, addressing the people of Gagauzia.

”This arrest is not a personal attack. It’s part of Chisinau’s grand plan to destroy our autonomy. Law enforcement officials controlled by the [ruling party] PAS have been trying to put pressure on me with bogus criminal cases for two years,” she added.

According to Moldovan media, Gutsul was taken into custody as part of an investigation into the 2023 gubernatorial election in Gagauzia, which she won. Her campaign was accused of financial irregularities. The Moldovan government claims that Gutsul is part of a Russian influence operation aimed at disrupting the country’s attempts to become a member of the EU.

The Gagauz people are a Turkic-speaking,primarily Orthodox Christian ethnic group living in the southern part of Moldova, Their region, Gagauzia, has been granted broad self-government rights.Moldovan President Maia Sanduhas questioned Gutsul’s mandate as governor, denouncing her former party ‘Shor’ as a “criminal organization.” In 2023, a court in Chisinau outlawed it. (Sandu didn’t win the election last year, she just refuses to leave.She’s an EU puppet.)

Gutsul has called on Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoganto apply pressure on the Sandu administration in defense of Gagauzia’s rights.

On Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned the arrest, asserting thatChisinau “has decided to pay no heed to the law, democratic principles and political pluralism and to openly pressure political rivals.”

He compared the approach to that of the Romanian government, where a presidential election was recently overturned after a surprise first round victory by an opposition candidate.

The constitutional court’s decision was based on claims that Russia interfered in the process, but media reports suggested that the social media campaign cited by officials originated from the ruling party, which sought to undermine a mainstream candidate by boosting an unlikely outsider.

https://www.rt.com/russia/614847-moldova-governor-gutsul-arrest/

27 Mar, 2025 08:30

EU rejects US-mediated Black Sea ceasefire deal

The bloc still hopes to “maximize pressure” on Moscow, a European Commission spokesperson has told the Financial Times

The EU will not fulfill Russia’s demand to lift sanctions on the country’s main agricultural bank as part of the Black Sea ceasefire initiativediscussed between Moscow and Washington, European Commission Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Anitta Hipper has said.

During the talks between Russian and US experts in Riyadh on Monday,the sides agreed to move towards reviving the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which, according to the Kremlin, should include the removal of Western restrictions against Russian Agricultural Bank and other financial institutions involved in the international sale of food and fertilizers.The maritime ceasefire is seen by Moscow and Washington as a step towards settling the Ukraine conflict.

In her interview with the Financial Times on Wednesday, Hipper insisted that “the end of the Russian unprovoked and unjustified aggression in Ukraine and unconditional withdrawal of all Russian military forces from the entire territory of Ukraine would be one of the main preconditions to amend or lift sanctions.”

“The EU’s main focus remains to maximize pressure on Russia, using all tools available, including sanctions, to diminish Russia’s ability to wage its war against Ukraine,” she insisted.

US President Donald Trump confirmed on Tuesday that his administration is considering lifting some curbs against Moscow, saying that “there are about five or six conditions. We are looking at all of them.”

Ukrainian leader VladimirZelensky claimed later that Kiev did not agree to the maritime trucedue to it representing “a weakening of positions and a weakening of sanctions” against Russia. (He did sign the agreement)

The Black Sea Grain Initiative, originally brokered in July 2022 by the UN and Türkiye, envisioned the safe passage of Ukrainian agricultural products in exchange for the West lifting its restrictions on Russian grain and fertilizer exports. Moscow withdrew from the deal a year later, citing the West’s failure to uphold its obligations.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that the maritime truce could take effect only once certain conditions set out by Russia are met.“Of course, this time justice must prevail, and we will continue our work with the Americans [on the Black Sea Initiative],”Peskov stressed.

(The EU is bound and determined not to end the war and oppose Trump’s plan and work as long as they can. I guess tariffs might be a good negotiating plan for Trump.)

https://www.rt.com/news/614838-eu-sanctions-ukraine-trump/

Vietnam Proactively Responds to April 2nd “Independence Day” Tariffs, by Lowering Import Tariff Regime

March 27, 2025 | Sundance |

Wealthy nations will attempt to maintain exports against President Trump tariffs by subsidizing their industries. Corporations have deeper pockets, and the politicians are used to the bribes, we call it “lobbying.” Therefore, the government responds by subsidizing the corporations [ie. the WEF business model].

Canada will subsidize their export industries, Germany will subsidize their auto industry, the EU will provide subsidies to their manufacturing powerhouses, and China will once again start subsidizing their manufacturing industry.Each of these nations will in turn devalue their currency.

However, poorer nations will be faster to lower import tariffs on USA goods becausethey have lower lobbying (bribe) incomefrom corporations to govt. That’s what we should expect to see.

VIETNAM –Vietnam said it plans to cut import duties on a range of goods including cars, liquified natural gas and agricultural products.

[…] The announcement on the finance ministry’s website late Tuesday came less than two weeks after Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said the country was reviewing duties in order to encourage increased imports from the United States.

Vietnam represents the United States’s third-highest trade deficit, behind China and Mexico.

According to the finance ministry statement, import duties on some cars will be cut by half and the tax rate for liquified natural gas will drop fromfive percent to just two percent. Duties will also be cut for a number of other products including frozen chicken thighs, almonds, sweet cherries, raisins and wood. (more)

During President Trump’s first term, many companies proactivelymoved manufacturing operations from China to other nations in Southeast Asia. Vietnam was a big benefactorof the manufacturing shift. It is smart for them to respond to the reciprocal tariffs coming April 2nd by lowering their tariff rate.

President Trump has instructed the Commerce Department and U.S. Trade Representative tocalculate both the tariffs and the non-tariff trade barriersas part of the reciprocity equation. The non-tariff barrier calculation is the factor many foreign governments are anticipating with great interest.

This overall dynamic is a major reset in global tradeas the U.S. market is the crown jewel for entry. We are the customers that everyone wants access to. President Trump isleveraging that access to trigger internal GDP growth.

Remember, even the GDP calculation is a factor of the value of products we generate, minus the value of the products we import. If we lower the import side of the equation and simultaneously increase domestic production, the GDP expands significantly more than just increasing production.

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2025/03/27/vietnam-proactively-responds-to-april-2nd-independence-day-tariffs-by-lowering-import-tariff-regime/