Peace Page

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Iran, Russia, China Drill

in Indian Ocean Kicks off

January 21st, 8:32am (al Manar)

A trilateral Combined Naval Drill, dubbed as

“Maritime Security Belt 2022,” kicked off

on Friday in the North Indian Ocean with
the participation of military units from
Iran, China and Russia.

The joint naval drill participated by naval and

airborne forces the Iranian Navy, Islamic

Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy,

and vessels from China and Russia,

kicked off in the Indian Ocean,

on Friday.

Rear Admiral Mostafa Tajeddini the Spokesman

for the naval drill, said that this is the third

combined naval exercise that will be held

with the participation of Iran, China

and Russia.

The naval drill was held with the aim of strengthening
security in the region, enhancing marine security,

combating piracy and maritime terrorism, and

the exchange of information, he added.

With the planning made in this regard, various tactical

exercises such as rescuing the floating vessel from

fire, freeing the hijacked vessel... and shooting

against specific naval targets during day and

night will be practiced by the naval units of

Iran, China and Russia in the exercise,

Rear Admiral Tajeddini emphasized.

He considered the North Indian Ocean region ‘very

important’ due to the existence of waterways and

the important straits of Bab al-Mandeb, Malacca
and Hormuz and said, “These three straits are
mentioned as golden triangles in the region
and also, the Sea of Oman and the North
Indian Ocean, are among the crucial
trade areas.”

Therefore,the Islamic Republic of Iran, China and

Russia, with their collective efforts to achieve

sustainable maritime security in this region

and its vital waterways, are going to safe-

guard their interests in this area, the

rear admiral added.

The Combined Naval Exercise, Maritime Security

Belt 2022 is held under the slogan of “Together

for Peace and Security” over an area of 17,000

square kilometres.

Sources: Al-Manar English

Website and Iranian media

______________________

Raeisi: Iran, Russia, Reached

‘Fundamental Agreements’

on Expanding Ties

January 21st, 8:10pm (al Manar)

President Ebrahim Raisi has said that Iran and

Russia reached “fundamental agreements” on

expanding all-out bilateral relations to secure

mutual interests.

“Undoubtedly, the development of relations with

Russia, will contribute to the security and

prosperity of the two nations. Certainly,

such security-building cooperation will

be for the sake of the region,” Raisi

said after arriving in Tehran from

Moscow at around midnight.

He said that during his Russia trip, which began

on Wednesday, the two sides discussed steps

to challenge the dominance of the US
dollar... and continue trade in
their national currencies.

“Our oil minister had good agreements with Russian

energy officials, the effects of which, will emerge

later,” he said, adding that good agreements

were also reached, on removing obstacles
to boosting trade relations.

However, the level of trade relations is

“not acceptable”, the president stated.

Officials have said the two sides seek to

increase the current record $3 billion

bilateral trade.

“We decided to increase the level of trade

between the two countries to $10 billion

in the first stage,” President Raisi said.

“In the field of agriculture, there were also

good discussions, that will lead to real

exchanges of agricultural products,”

he said.

In the field of transportation, the two sides decided
to advance the North-South corridor, which will
facilitate transportation.. and greatly reduce
transportation times, the president added.

In 2002, Russia, Iran, and India signed an agreement

for the International North-South Transport Corridor,

a 7,200 km multi-mode network, of ship, rail and
road routes, for moving freight between India,

Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Russia,
Central Asia, and Europe.

The INSTC is seen a game-changer that will shorten

the distance and lower the cost of transportation

from South Asia to Europe, through Iran and

Russia... and, potentially, serve as an

alternative to the Suez Canal for

East-West trade.

Tehran and Moscow also reached agreements to

expand their cooperation in the industry,

defense, and aerospace sectors,

President Raisi said.

On the first day of his two-day trip, which he described

as a “turning point” in Iran-Russia relations, Raisi had

a three-hour meeting, with his Russian counterpart,

Vladimir Putin, during which, the Iranian president

said the Islamic Republic seeks to forge strategic

relations with Moscow.

Later on Wednesday, he met with Iranians residing

in Russia. On Thursday, Raisi addressed the State

Duma and attended the prayers at the Moscow

Grand Mosque, at the invitation of Rawil

Gaynutdin, chairman of the Russian

Mufti Council.

‘US must be held accountable for

General Suleimani assassination’

Speaking with Russia’s RT television... in an exclusive

interview, Raisi said the US must be held accountable

for assassinating Iran’s top anti-terror commander,

Lt. Gen. Qassem Suleimani, in Iraq two years ago.

“Qassem Suleimani belonged not only to the people of
Iran, but also to the Muslim community. He came

to save people’s lives. He made efforts in this

direction, and all people, both Muslims and

non-Muslims, of course, have great
respect for his work,” he said.

He said people respected Gen. Suleimani because

they knew he managed to save people’s lives

from Daesh and other terrorist groups.

“He was able to protect and save people’s lives.

Therefore... his presence in Syria and Iraq in
the region was aimed at fighting terrorism,”

he said.

“Therefore, Qassem Suleimani is a hero and the

Americans must give answers,” Raisi said.

“They say they are flag-bearers in the fight

against terrorism, but why was the hero

of the fight against terrorism killed?”

He pointed out that the Americans committed such

a great crime and openly confessed to their crime.

“The one who commits such a great crime and

confesses to it naturally should be punished

in a qualified court,” the president asserted.

“The promise to protect the oppressed and punish

the oppressors is, of course, a sincere promise:

and it will certainly be kept.”

US refusal to abide by JCPOA

Elsewhere in the interview, President Raisi said Iran

takes the Vienna negotiations on restoring the 2015

agreement “very seriously”. He made clear that the

hurdle to restoring the pact, remains Washington’s

refusal to abide by its terms.

“What we have seen so far ...is a violation of obligations

on the part of the Americans,” he said, referring to the

US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan
of Action (JCPOA) in 2018... and its subsequent

sanctions on Tehran, in violation of the deal.

The Iranian president noted that the European parties

to the treaty – France, Germany and the UK – have

“also failed to fulfill their obligations” under the
JCPOA through “the lack of new appropriate

measures” to deal with the US violation.

“The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stated

15 times that Iran had fulfilled its obligations, that Iran

was committed to its obligations,” Raisi stated.

“So, we have fulfilled our obligations, but they

have violated theirs. They must fulfill their

obligations. We didn’t break anything.”

“If the parties are ready to remove sanctions,

the ground for reaching an agreement on

nuclear issues, is absolutely ready,”

he added.

Sources: Al-Manar English

Website and Iranian media

______________________

Ukrainian opposition party

brands the US sanctions

against its members

as ‘political terror’

January 21st, 3:33am (TASS)

Ukraine’s Opposition Platform - For Life (OPFL) party

considers US sanctions against its members as an

"act of international political terror."

"The OPFL states that sanctions and biased criminal

cases against the representatives of our party

directed at obstructing lawmaking activity,

are an act of international political terror

conducted on the orders of the criminal

Ukrainian government," the statement

published on Thursday on the party’s

website said.

The opposition noted: that the US, and Ukrainian

President Vladimir Zelensky, instead of fighting

oligarchs and corrupt officials, are launching

attacks on the OPFL. "There are no doubts,

that the introduction of these sanctions is

the result of close communication... and

personal agreements between Vladimir

Zelensky and US officials, in particular

US State Secretary, Antony Blinken,

& US senators," the party asserted,

saying that this was... the "direct

result.... of the criminal policy of

depriving Ukraine of sovereignty,

handing it over - to be externally

governed. Precisely because of

our party’s fight -- for Ukraine’s

sovereignty its independence

--- the fight against external

governing --- the sanctions

are being introduced

against our party’s

leadership."

Earlier on Thursday, the US Treasury Department

imposed sanctions on four Ukrainians --- who,

according to Washington, allegedly "engaged

in Russian government-directed influence

activities to destabilize Ukraine."

They included the former Deputy Head of

Ukraine’s National Security and Defense
Council, Vladimir Sivkovich, Verkhovna

Rada delegates from the OPFL, Taras
Kozak, and Oleg Voloshin... plus

Vladimir Oleynik, a former
lawmaker.

The Treasury Department’s press release alleges

that "the four individuals have played various

roles in Russia’s global influence campaign

to destabilize sovereign countries in

support of the Kremlin’s political

objectives."

On February 2nd, 2021, the National Security

and Defense Council of Ukraine, on the

''recommendations'' of the Verkhovna

Rada and Ukraine’s Security Service,

imposed personal sanctions against

Kozak, and his TV channels,
NewsOne, ZIK, and
112 Ukraine.

______________________________

UN chief alarmed: at continued

Saudi airstrikes on Yemen

January 21st, 2:38am (PressTV)

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voices

alarm at continued Saudi Arabian airstrikes

against various locations in Yemen,

including hugely sensitive and

lifeline targets.

Speaking through his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric,

the United Nations chief singled out the Saudi attacks

that have been targeting the Yemeni capital Sana’a

and the impoverished country’s most important

port of entry, namely the western coastal
city of al-Hudaydah, for criticism.

Guterres also noted with alarm that missile attacks

and shelling had continued in several areas in the

country, apparently referring to military actions

by Saudi-led militants.

All of these actions have resulted in civilian casualties

and damage to civilian infrastructure, Dujarric told a

daily press briefing.

"The secretary-general reiterates his call on the

parties to exercise maximum restraint and

prevent any escalation amid heightened

tensions in the region, as well as to

respect their obligations... under

international humanitarian law,"
the spokesman said.

The Saudi kingdom and several of its allies, most

notably the United Arab Emirates, have been

attacking the Arab world’s already poorest

nation, since 2015, in an unsuccessful
bid.. to change its ruling structure
in favour of its former Riyadh-

aligned officials.

The war has killed tens of thousands of Yemenis,

and turned all Yemen into the site of the world’s

worst humanitarian crisis.

UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg

has just left Riyadh, after concluding a visit
to Saudi Arabia.

During his meetings, Grundberg likewise denounced

the recent wave of military escalation, including
the heavy airstrikes that have been
hitting Sana’a.

The envoy exchanged views on possible options

to achieve immediate de-escalation and pave
the way for comprehensive political talks,
said the spokesman.

_________________________

At least one Russian soldier
crossing Ukrainian border
to be perceived as attack
- Blinken

January 21st, 00:02am (TASS)

"If a Russian soldier crosses into Ukraine," this will

indicate an attack on that country, US Secretary
of State, Antony Blinken, said, in an interview
with Germany’s ZDF TV channel on
Thursday... made public by the
press service of the US
Department of State.

"If a Russian soldier crosses into Ukraine, then
we have a profound problem, a clear attack
on Ukraine, whether it’s one soldier or
a thousand soldiers," the US

diplomat asserted.

Lately, in the West and Ukraine, the claims of
an alleged possible Russian "invasion" into

Ukrainian territory, are being touted

increasingly more often.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov branded such

information, as the empty and groundless

escalation of tension, emphasizing that

Russia does not represent a threat to

anyone. That said, he didn’t exclude

the possibility of provocations

being whipped up in order to

justify such claims... and

warned that attempts to

resolve the problem in

southeastern Ukraine

through the use of

force, would have

the most serious

consequences.

___________________

Finland ‘Very Unlikely’
to Join NATO for Now,

‘Neither US or Russia

Can Influence Decision’,

PM Says

January 20th, 4:36pm (Sputnik)

While it enjoyed non-aligned status after the end of

WWII... Finland has drifted toward NATO since the

end of the Cold War, taking part in alliance drills,

participating in the NATO Response Force, and

allowing the bloc to use its land, airspace and

territorial waters. The Western bloc has been

lobbying Helsinki toward formal membership.

Finland is... “very unlikely” to join NATO in the

immediate future, but will support the US and

Europe with “extremely tough” sanctions

against Russia, if Moscow decides to

invade Ukraine, Prime Minister

Sanna Marin has said.

“Finland makes its own decisions when it comes to

foreign policy and security. Nobody can influence

us, not the US, not Russia, not anyone else. We
will make our decisions by ourselves, as we

have been doing so far,” the prime minister

said in an interview with Reuters.

NATO membership was not on the cards at the

moment, according to Marin, because “We

have... a very fresh new paper on foreign

security policy and we have decided we
have the opportunity, the possibility,

to become a NATO member state,
but we are not applying and we
are not discussing applying.

But we've that possibility
in the future.”

On Tuesday, US President, Joe Biden, held his second

talks with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto in a month

...to discuss “the importance of Finland’s close

defence partnership with the United States

and with NATO” amid the current crisis

between Russia and the West

over Ukraine.

The US and its allies have claimed that Russia is

preparing to “invade” its western neighbour.

Moscow has vehemently denied the claims

and accused Washington of using trumped

up claims of “Russian aggression”..... to

justify NATO’s eastward creep.

Marin’s remarks to Reuters follow on comments

she made during her New Year’s address to the

nation, when she said that Finland “retains the

option of applying for NATO membership,” and

will “uphold this freedom of choice and make

sure it remains a reality, as this is part of
every country’s right, to decide its own

security policies.”

President Niinisto echoed Marin’s sentiments in his

own address... and criticized the Russian security

proposals – which ask NATO to halt its eastward

expansion, as an outdated notion about

“spheres of influence.”

During the Cold War, Finland, which shares a 1,340 km

border with Russia, was able to enjoy neutrality, with

neither the Western nor the Eastern blocs interfering

with its security, economic or political affairs. After

the Soviet collapse, the country began a slow drift

toward NATO... engaging in joint drills with bloc

members, and allowing the alliance to use its

territory under a ‘host nation support

agreement’ signed in 1994.

Finland’s potential membership in NATO has been

debated for decades. This week, polls conducted

for the Helsingin Sanomat national newspaper,

found that 42 percent of Finns, were opposed

to the prospect of alliance membership,
with 28 percent in favour, and
30 percent undecided.

In neighbouring Sweden, recent polling has found

that 35 percent of Swedes are in favour of NATO

membership, with 33 percent opposed and the

rest undecided.

Late last year and again earlier this month, NATO

chief Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance already

enjoys close cooperation with Helsinki, and

that Finland is welcome to join anytime
if it so chooses.

Last month, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman

Maria Zakharova warned that the accession of
either Finland or Sweden into the Western
bloc would necessitate an “adequate
response” from Moscow.

Accusing NATO of seeking to “draw the two countries

into the orbit of its interests & opportunistic policies,”

Zakharova stressed: that Russia sees the countries’

non-alignment as an important factor for ensuring

stability in northern Europe, with the choice of

a national defence strategy remaining in
the hands of each state.

____________________________________

Ukrainian forces fire

grenade launchers at

Donetsk outskirts,

DPR south

January 20th, 3:38pm (DAN)

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Ukrainian armed formations fired grenade launchers

at Donetsk outskirts and a village area in the south

of the Donetsk People’s Republic, on Thursday
evening, the DPR Office at the Joint Centre

for Control and Coordination

(JCCC) reported.

Fire was opened at 16:00 and 16:40 at the Shakhta

Trudovskaya in western Donetsk and Novolaspa

village in the south of the Republic, from the

Maryinka and Starognatovka areas,

respectively. The enemy used

grenade launchers expending

20 rounds of ammunition. No

casualties or damage were

immediately reported, the

JCCC said.

Earlier on Thursday, Ukrainian forces delivered

a mortar strike at the Spartak village area in

the northern suburbs of Donetsk.

_______________________________

Israeli Occupation Forces

Launch Arrest Campaign

in Jenin, Al-Quds

January 20th, 2:08pm (al Manar)

Clashes erupted at dawn on Thursday, as Israeli

occupation forces raided the town of Qabatya,

south of the West Bank city of Jenin.

Palestinian youths confronted the

occupation forces, as they raided
the town, local sources reported.

The IOF arrested Nabil Khazimia and his disabled

father, Abdul Qader, as they raided their house in

Qabatya, the sources said.

Another Palestinian, Muatassim Kumail, was

arrested from his house in the same town.

Elsewhere in Al-Quds, IOF arrested Abdul Hakim

Elias, 29, from his house in Beit Anan town,

west of the occupied city.

Another Palestinian, Nizr Abu Shalbak, was

arrested by occupation forces who raided

his house in Qalindya Camp, north of

occupied Al-Quds.

Source: Al-Manar English Website

___________________________

Ukrainian army

opens mortar fire

at Donetsk suburb

January 20th, 11:25am (DAN)

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Ukrainian armed formations opened mortar fire

at the Spartak neighbourhood in the northern

suburbs of Donetsk, on Thursday, the

Donetsk People’s Republic Office at

the Joint Centre for Control and

Coordination (JCCC) reported.

Fire was delivered from the Opytnoye settlement

area at 11:35. The enemy used 120mm mortars

(ten rounds were expended) ..and large calibre

machine guns. No casualties or damage were

immediately reported, the JCCC said.

The package of tighter ceasefire control measures

has been formally in effect in Donbass since July

27th, 2020. The document bans the use of any

weapons, deployment of heavy armaments

in & around settlements, engineer works

at troops’ positions & unmanned aerial

vehicle flights.

__________________________

After operation in Kazakhstan

CSTO to strengthen military

component — sec.-general

January 20th, 10:55am (TASS)

The Collective Security Treaty Organization

is going to take measures to strengthen its

military component --- in the wake of the

peace-keeping operation in Kazakhstan,

CSTO Secretary-General Stanislav Zas

told the media on Thursday.

ALSO...

Kazakhstan passes a bill to abolish Nazarbayev’s

lifelong chairmanship of the Security Council.

"We are going to derive conclusions from these

events. Alongside this, we will go ahead with

our activity - to strengthen the military

component - and with practical efforts

to combat terrorism - and to plug the

terrorist organizations’ recruitment

channels and sources of financing.''

''We will continue the struggle against illegal
migration, drug trafficking and a number of

other threats crucial to all of us, to all of
our countries" he said --- in reply to a
TASS question about the prospects of
CSTO activities --- after the events
in Kazakhstan.

Protests erupted in several Kazakh cities on January

2nd, escalating into mass riots with attacks against

police and military personnel. President Kassym-

Jomart Tokayev, stated there was a government

coup attempt. The situation was stabilized, by

January 7th and the state of emergency was

lifted on January 19th. The authorities say

the unrest left 225 dead and more than

4,500 injured.

___________________________

Diplomat blasts West’s ‘Russian

invasion of Ukraine’ rumours

as cover-up for its own gambit

January 20th, 10:33am (TASS)

The West’s claims of Russia’s alleged preparations

for an invasion of Ukraine serve as an information

cover-up, in order to plot its own provocations,

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman,

Maria Zakharova, said on Thursday.

"Western and Ukrainian media outlets and officials

have been increasingly engaged in rumours of

Russia’s pending invasion of Ukraine. This, is

how they formulate it. We're certain that this

crusade is aimed at creating an information

cover-up for preparing their own large-scale

provocations, including those of a military

nature... that may have the most tragic

consequences for regional and

global security," the spokes-

woman explained.

Moscow’s fears are confirmed by the West’s

genuine inflammatory acts, the diplomat

stressed.

"Britain has been delivering weapons on its Air

Force military transport planes to Ukraine, for

several days now. At least 6 flights have been

arranged and each plane can carry up to 77.5

tonnes of cargo on board, that is, around 460

tonnes of armaments in total," the spokes-

woman pointed out.

It has also been reported that portable ant-tank

missile systems... will be delivered to Kiev
for employing them in urban warfare, the

Russian diplomat added ---- stressing

that Western instructors are training

Ukrainian military personnel at the

Yavorovsky training ground... in

Ukraine’s western Lvov Region,

for conducting this type of

combat operations.

US military aid

Canada has already sent over 200 special operations

forces to Ukraine under the pretext of protecting its

embassy and evacuating its diplomats in the event

of an emergency, the Russian Foreign Ministry
spokeswoman said.

However, it is the United States that is providing

the bulk of military assistance to Ukraine,

Zakharova stressed.

"In the past few months alone, Washington has

delivered 30 Javelin anti-tank missile systems

and 180 missiles to Ukraine," she emphasized.

Moreover, it was earlier reported that the next

delivery of armaments, worth $20 million, is

expected in January, the Russian diplomat

pointed out.

"Ukraine perceives this aid as its carte-blanche

for a military operation in Donbass,"

she maintained.

"We urge Western countries to halt the hostile anti-

Russian media crusade, [stop] abetting Ukraine’s

militarization - by dragging it into NATO - and

instead channel all efforts into prompting

the Kiev regime to honour the Minsk

Accords and other international

commitments," the spokes-

woman stated.

_________________________

Russia doesn't mind getting

written US response to

security proposals...

next week - Kremlin

January 20th, 10:38am (TASS)

Moscow expects Washington to respond to

its proposals on security guarantees in the

coming days, and does not mind getting
a response next week, the Kremlin

Spokesman, Dmitry Peskov,

told reporters.

"Time is of the essence. We have said, that we

expect to receive it [response] in the coming

days, not necessarily tomorrow," he pointed

out, commenting on US Secretary of State

Antony Blinken’s statement, that he

did not intend to hand a response

over to Russian Foreign Minister

Sergey Lavrov at their meeting

in Geneva on January 21st.

When asked if Russia would be okay with the

US providing written documents next week,

Peskov said "yes."

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman, Maria

Zakharova, said earlier, that Lavrov will meet

with Blinken in Geneva on January the 21st.

According to her, Lavrov and Blinken are

expected to discuss further steps in

terms of Moscow’s proposals on

security guarantees.

On December the 17th, the Russian Foreign Ministry

released a draft agreement on security guarantees

between Russia and the United States and a draft

agreement on ensuring the security of Russia

and NATO member states. Consultations on

the issue took place in Geneva on January

10th, followed by a meeting of the Russia-

NATO Council, in Brussels, on January

12th and a session of the Organization

for Security and Cooperation in

Europe (OSCE) Permanent

Council in Vienna, on

January the 13th.

___________________________

Kiev forces open fire

in Donbass once

over 24 hours

January 20th, 8:41am (DAN)

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Ukrainian forces opened fire at the Donetsk

People’s Republic once, over the past 24

hours; no ceasefire violations occurred

on the contact line with the Lugansk

People’s Republic... the Donbass

Republics’ Offices at the Joint

Centre for Control and

Coordination report

on Thursday.

Small arms and sniper fire was delivered at

the Shakhta 6/7 settlement in Gorlovka, the

JCCC said.

In the previous reporting period,

Ukrainian armed formations

violated the ceasefire once.

The package of tighter ceasefire control measures

has been formally in effect in Donbass since July

27th, 2020. The document bans, among other

things, the use of weapons, the deployment
of hardware next to settlements... and

engineer works at troops’ positions.

__________________________________

US allows three NATO allies

to send US-made missiles

to Ukraine: Report

January 20th, 8:20am (PressTV)

The United States has given permission to three

fellow-NATO member states in the Baltic region

to send US-made missiles and other armaments

to Ukraine, sources say, amid boiling tensions

between Russia and the West, over the

ex-Soviet country.

The US State Department has approved shipments

of US-made missiles & other weapons from NATO

allies Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, to Ukraine,
Reuters cited three unnamed sources as

saying, on Wednesday.

Russia and the US-led NATO... have recently been
at odds over Ukraine. Western countries accuse

Russia of preparing for an invasion of Ukraine

by amassing troops and armaments near the

border with that country. Moscow says, that

it's free to move its military freely within its

borders and that it is taking precautionary

steps because of increased NATO activity

near its territory.

The export control regulations require the countries to
first be granted approval by the US State Department,

before shipping any weapons they received from the
US, to third parties.

According to the sources, the three Baltic countries

had requested the approval to transfer missiles and

other US-made weapons to Ukraine in recent weeks

...and the news of the approval... emerged late on

Wednesday, after US President Joe Biden told

a press conference, that Russia would pay

dearly if it invaded Ukraine.

The US leader said at the time that his “guess is

[Russian President Vladimir Putin] will move in”

against Ukraine, though “I think he’ll regret

having done it.”

Estonia can now ship Javelin anti-tank missiles to

Ukraine, while Lithuania is allowed to send

Stinger missiles, one of the sources said.

Russia: Tensions with US over Ukraine

risk repeat of Cuba missile crisis

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Ryabkov,

says the escalation of tensions between Moscow

& Washington over the situation around Ukraine,

could culminate in a repeat of the 1962 Cuban

missile crisis --- that pushed the world to the

brink of a full-scale nuclear war.

Washington has announced that it will also begin

the process of shipping $200 million worth of

anti-armour missiles, ammunition and other

equipment to Ukraine, in the coming days.

This is while Russian officials have repeatedly

denied planning to invade neighboring Ukraine.

Last month, the Russian government made

demands on NATO and Ukraine, about the

future of their relationship, calling on the

Western military alliance to deny Ukraine

membership to NATO and to roll back its

military deployments.

Moscow also proposed that the US not establish

any military bases in the former Soviet states

that are not part of NATO, and not develop a

bilateral military alliance with them.

Washington has rejected the proposals

as "non-starters."

Russia has repeatedly warned that Moscow will act

if the US-led NATO military alliance crosses its red

lines in Ukraine.

Earlier this month, Russia held a series of diplomatic

meetings with the US and its NATO allies in Geneva,

Brussels, and Vienna, over the Ukraine crisis.

During the talks, the Russian representatives

reiterated Moscow's demand for the security

guarantees to be taken seriously.

The Kremlin has ruled out any further talks with

Washington and NATO over the situation around

Ukraine, unless the West responds properly to

its security demands.

Relations between Ukraine and Russia... have been

deteriorating since 2014, when the then-Ukrainian

territory of Crimea voted in a referendum to fall

under Russian sovereignty. The US and the

European Union backed Kiev, refusing to

recognize the referendum results, and

later imposing sanctions on Moscow.

Ukraine - as well as the EU and the US - also claim,
that Russia has a hand in an ongoing conflict that

erupted in the Donbass region of Ukraine,

between government forces and ethnic

Russians in 2014. The West imposed

sanctions on Russia after accusing

it of ''interfering'' in the conflict.

Moscow denies the allegation.

Ukraine claims, that Russia has deployed heavy-

armoured vehicles, electronic warfare systems,

and nearly 100,000 soldiers near its border,

while Russia says Ukraine has deployed

half of its army, or 125,000 troops, to
the Donbass, calling it “very
dangerous adventurism.”

______________________________

Concern in Europe: over

Israeli colonization

of Palestine

by Ileana Ferrer Fonte

January 20th, 7:13am (Prensa Latina)

The governments of France, Italy and Germany

on Thursday, issued a joint concern over the

Israeli decision to build new settlements in

East Jerusalem, in occupied Palestine.

The new settlements will further disconnect the

West Bank from East Jerusalem... and will

represent an additional obstacle to the

two-State solution, spokesmen for the

Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the

three European countries said

in a statement.

In the text, the three powers urged the Israeli

authorities to reverse the decision, which is

in addition to those adopted in the last

decades, to alter the demography
of the West Bank --- and thus

perpetuate the occupation.

The intention is to build 2,092 settlements in

the vicinity of Mount Scopus and 1,465

others between Givat Hamatos
and Har Homa.

This action directly threatens the viability of a

future Palestinian state, with settlements that

constitute clear violations of international

law and obstruct the way towards a just

and lasting peace between Israelis

and Palestinians, Paris, Rome

and Berlin, stressed.

_________________________________

DPR warns of Ukrainian plans

to attack vital infrastructure

January 20th, 6:53am (DAN)

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Ukraimian armed forces are preparing sabotage

attacks in the DPR, the deputy chief-of-staff of

the Republican People's Militia, Eduard

Basurin, said.

"We have received reliable reports... saying that

Ukrainian command prepares sabotage attacks

in the People's Republics, close to the line of

contact."

The commander of the special task forces, Gen.

Galagan, ordered the 8th regiment to prepare

and carry out these attacks.

Basurin said that these attacks are expected to

target the vital facilities of Donetsk, Gorlovka,

Yasinovataya, Dokuchayevsk and other

townships, along the line of contact..

Among the aims are water ducts, power lines,

transformer substations, industrial facilities,

and objects storing hazardous chemicals.

In response to the threat... the DPR builds

up security at vital infrastructure facilities.

The Defense is calling on DPR residents to

report any suspicious people or activities

to emergency services, militray police,
or local law enforcement.

________________________________

Yemeni Forces Confront

UAE-led Mercenaries

Attack on Hreib & Ain,

Kill Scores of Them

January 19th, 6:42pm (al Manar)

The spokesman of the Yemeni Armed Forces,

General Yayhya Sarea announced frustrating

a major attack... launched by the UAE-led

mercenaries and ISIL terrorists on the

two districts of Hreib and Ain.

General Sarea indicated that the Emirati-led

mercenaries and ISIL militants failed to

achieve any field progress despite the

aerial support they received, adding

that more than 50 of them were

killed or injured .

General Sarea noted.. that the Yemeni forces fired

two ballistic missiles on the UAE-led mercenaries

and ISIL terrorists.. and destroyed many of

their vehicles.

Source: Al-Manar English Website

___________________________

Situation fragile in Libya,

country needs international

support — UN adviser

January 19th, 5:13pm (TASS)

The current situation is calm, but fragile in Libya,

so the international community should help the

country on its way towards national

reconciliation, Stephanie Williams,

Special Adviser of the UN Sec.

-General on Libya, said in an

interview with TASS.

"The situation in Libya is calm but fragile. And

in this, I think it’s a relay in common: on the

entire international community to help the

Libyans and also to encourage them to

continue and energize their efforts

towards national reconciliation

and transitional justice,"

she said.

Williams also noted that "the people of Libya are

not interested in another interim, transitional

government... until the presidential and

parliamentary elections are held, as

they are now prioritized."

"What I have recommended is that the parliament

focus its energies and efforts on the electoral

process. I don’t believe that Libya's people

want yet another, interim, temporary,

transitional government. It would be

something like the 6th government

since the events of 2011. And
again, what they (Libyans -
TASS) really want to do is
to go to the ballot box,"
she added.

_____________________________

DPR forces obtain information

about sabotage planned by

Ukrainian army near

contact line

January 19th, 4:51pm (TASS)

The Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) People’s

Militia has information about sabotage actions

being prepared by the Ukrainian Army.. at the

contact line in Donbass, People’s Militia

deputy head, Eduard Basurin, said
on Wednesday.

"We have obtained reliable information that the

Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) command... is

preparing sabotage actions in Donetsk and

Lugansk People’s Republics... near the

contact line. The Commander of UAF

Special Forces, Major Grigory

Galagan has ordered the 8th

Special Forces Regiment to

prepare & carry out these

terror attacks," he said,

according to Donetsk

News Agency.

According to the intelligence... acts of sabotage

may happen at life support facilities in Donetsk,

Gorlovka, Yasinovataya, Dokuchayevsk... and

other settlements in direct proximity of the

contact line. Then, the Kiev army plans to

orchestrate explosions at dangerous

chemical industries.

In this regard, the DPR reinforced the security

of all hazardous industries and socially

important facilities.

_______________________________

Militants Planning Terrorist

Attacks in Syria's Ports

January 19th, 3:57pm (FNA)

Terrorists from the Idlib de-escalation zone are

planning, according to the Syrian authorities,

terrorist attacks in the ports of Tartus and

Lattakia, a Russian official announced.

"According to information from the Syrian security

authorities, sabotage and terrorist groups of

radical gangs from the Idlib de-escalation

zone are planning terrorist attacks in the

ports of Tartus and Lattakia," Rear Adm.

Oleg Zhuravlev, the deputy head of the

Russian Centre for the Reconciliation

of Warring Parties in Syria, said,
RIA Novosti reported.

He added that... in accordance with the appeal of the

Syrian authorities, the command of Russian airbase

Hmeimim organized round-the-clock patrols.

Military police units patrol the seaport and

adjacent territory of the city of Lattakia.

He specified that the police use Patrul
and Tigr armoured vehicles.

According to Zhuravlev, the movement of units

from the air is controlled by unmanned aerial

vehicles of the Russian Aerospace Forces.

____________________________________

Communists in Duma
propose message to
Putin for recognition
of Donbass republics

January 19th, 3:56pm (TASS)

The Communist fraction in the State Duma and

its leader, Gennady Zyuganov, on Wednesday,

submitted to the State Duma a draft message

from the lower house, to President Vladimir

Putin, for the recognition of the Donetsk

and Lugansk republics. The draft was

uploaded to the State Duma’s

electronic database.

As follows from the draft, the Communists want

the State Duma to address the head of state

"...with a request... for considering the

recognition of the Donetsk People’s

Republic and the Lugansk People’s

Republic as independent and

sovereign states."

Also, the Communist Party deems it necessary

to ask the president, to consider the question

of conducting early talks with the leaders of

the DPR & LPR: "for creating a legal basis

of inter-state relations... governing all

aspects of cooperation and mutual

assistance, including security."

_______________________________

Russian delegation declares

start of ‘countdown’ in wait for

adoption of Russian proposals

January 19th, 3:47pm (TASS)

The West faces the moment of truth, which has

started the countdown in wait for the adoption

of Russian proposals on security guarantees

addressed to the United States and NATO,

Konstantin Gavrilov, the head of Russia's

delegation, at the Vienna Negotiations
on Military Security & Arms Control,

said on Wednesday.

Gavrilov spoke at the meeting of the OSCE

Forum for Security Cooperation, which is

the first, in 2022.

"There arrives a moment of truth when the West

either accepts our proposals --- or other ways
will be found to safeguard Russia’s security,"

Gavrilov said.

"I am convinced that, with goodwill and a willingness

to compromise in any situation, it is possible to find

a way out to mutually acceptable solutions. We are

running out of time. The countdown begins."

The Russian diplomat believes that what is at stake

is to minimize military spending and to resolve the

security issues, which are not pressing for Russia

alone, but for all the nations in Eurasia and the

Euro-Atlantic area, as well.

Gavrilov pointed out that the NATO actions had

resulted in fragmentation of the pan-European

space and inflicted huge damage to the

authority of the OSCE, which has

turned into a hostage of the

narrow agenda of the

"collective West."

In these circumstances, the Russian delegation will

henceforth be coming up at the OSCE Forum for

Security Cooperation with just the issues that

meet its own national interests, the head of

the Russian delegation stressed.

_______________________________

'Horror Stories': Minsk

Rejects US Claims That

Russia plans to Invade

Ukraine From Belarus

January 19th, 3:40pm (Sputnik)

Recent statements from the US State Department

...regarding Russia's alleged invasion of Ukraine

from Belarus and a deployment of nuclear arms

in the neighboring country --- are nothing more

than "horror stories", the Belarusian Foreign

Ministry said.

A senior US State Department official said on Tuesday

that proposed changes to the Belarusian constitution

indicate Minsk's plans to allow Russian conventional
and nuclear forces to be stationed on its territory.

They also claimed that Russia could deploy its troops
to Belarus, under the pretext of military drills, to

potentially attack Ukraine from the north.

"We had a look at this bizarre briefing... it is an

astonishing collection of fantasies and horror

stories. Also, it was done absolutely intent-

ionally, even the anonymous delivery

indicates this," the Foreign Ministry

spokesman, Anatoly Glaz, stated,

accusing Washington of making

false statements to aggravate

the situation and justify its

"illegal actions."

The official stated that Minsk is not obligated

to report to Washington but "if something

causes concern, we are always ready to

discuss it in a civilized manner."

______________________________

Iranians marking Gaza Day:

to voice support for popular

Palestinian resistance...

against Israeli crimes

January 19th, 11:27am (PressTV)

Iranians are commemorating Gaza Day across

Iran to show solidarity with the Palestinians

residing in the besieged coastal enclave:

urging them to keep up their struggles

against the Aviv regime’s incessant

acts of aggression and

criminal acts.

The ceremonies are mostly being held online,

amid the concerns over the spread of the

COVID-19 pandemic.

The day was designated after the full

offensive on the Gaza Strip, which

the Israeli regime recommenced

on December the 27th, 2008 - by

pounding a densely populated

Palestinian territory, from the

air, sea and land, for 22 days.

More than 2,000 Palestinians were killed in

Israel's 3-week-long operation, named

by Israel as "Operation Cast Lead,"

including dozens of children and

women. A total of 13 Israelis
were also killed - in attacks
by Palestinian resistance

factions.

Nearly 200 Palestinians, mostly security

personnel, were killed on the first day

of the Israeli offensive on the

seaside enclave.

Iranians also mark the Gaza Day to underscore

the fact that resistance, broadly speaking, is

not only the ability to fight back against an

oppressor that is militarily more powerful,

but also the ability to creatively resist

the colonization of one’s land.

Even though Israel launched massive attacks

against Gaza in 2009, 2012, 2014 and in May

2020.... none of its “objectives” of these

genocidal onslaughts – putting an end
to the rocket fire from Gaza, and

destroying those tunnels used

by resistance fighters, or

obfuscating any form

of unity... between

occupied al-Quds

and Gaza – has

been achieved.

Retaliatory rockets are still being launched

and the Hamas resistance movement has

proved to be strong enough to respond

to any act of aggression by apartheid

Israel against al-Quds and the holy

al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

_____________________________

UK Supplies Ukraine With

Thousands of Light

Anti-Tank Missiles

January 19th, 10:39am (Sputnik)

The United Kingdom has supplied Ukraine with

several thousands of light anti-tank missiles...

the UK Minister for the Armed Forces, James

Heappey, told the LBC radio broadcaster

on Wednesday.

The minister noted that Ukrainians are a proud

sovereign nation and they are ready to fight

for every inch of their country.

London said Tuesday, that the UK military

...had airlifted a batch of light anti-tank

weapons to Ukraine for self-defence.

Earlier this week the US & British officials

made statements: about increasing arms

deliveries to Ukraine, including shoulder

-launched anti-aircraft missile systems.

Russia criticised the move, saying it will

make the situation even worse. The

West has been speculating about

Russia's alleged plans to invade

Ukraine, a claim Moscow has

strongly denied.

__________________________

Izvestia: Why unscheduled

military exercises in

Belarus are needed

January 19th, 10am (TASS)

On February 10-20, Russia and Belarus will perform

an out-of-schedule large-scale defense training

operation which will involve the entire military

potential of both countries, Russian Deputy

Defense Minister, Alexander Fomin, said
on Tuesday, January the 18th.

The drills dubbed Union Resolve 2022 will involve

land troops being transferred to Belarus - along

with several all-arms units, artillery and rocket

subdivisions, and a squadron of Su-35S multi-

role fighter jets. The long-range air defense

forces on Belarusian territory, will also

be bolstered.

"Currently, the situation in Ukraine, is very complex.

Poroshenko returned - and Zelensky is in a difficult

situation. Chances are high that [Zelensky] will try

to use the DPR and LPR factor, in order to resolve

his issues," Dmitry Abzalov, the Director of the

Centre for Strategic Communications thinks.

"In order to avoid risks, Russia has to preserve

concentration. So the upcoming drills may

serve as a ‘safety switch’ of sorts, against

the escalation in Donbass," he explained.

The expert added that the maneuvers may serve as

an argument in Russia-NATO talks. As a response

to the increased military potential near Russia’s

borders, Moscow may increase its presence in

those countries that border NATO countries,
or are located close to the US.

Military expert Vladislav Shurygin, told the newspaper

that transferring troops from other regions is needed

--- to practice rapidly concentrating forces and

equipment in the necessary direction.

"We, unlike the Soviet Union, cannot have a group

of troops in every direction. Today, our goal is to

conduct a quick transfer of troops & equipment

and create strong units, that will follow a single

plan." The expert explained that the large-scale

drills would involve practicing active defense

techniques, in the scenario of deflecting
external aggression.

___________________________________

Kiev forces violate ceasefire

once in 24 hours

January 19th, 9:20am (DAN)

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Ukrainian forces violated the ceasefire once

over the past 24 hours, the DPR mission to

the Joint Centre for Control and

Coordination (JCCC) said.

The Alexandrovka township came under 120 mm

mortar fire. The total of 20 rounds exploded in

the area.

_____________________________________

Russia’s Central Military
Command to hold over
900 drills in 2022

January 19th, 6:49am (TASS)

The number of drills scheduled for 2022 in Russia’s

Central Military District has increased by 10%

compared to last year ....to 900 exercises,

Central Military District Commander

Colonel-General Alexander Lapin

said on Wednesday.

Basic efforts will focus on practicing the troop prompt

deployment and regrouping for other strategic areas,

and planning and conducting strategic operations.

The drills scheduled for 2022 will run at training

grounds in the Urals, Siberia and the Volga

area, and also at the Russian military
bases in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan,
the commander specified.

"This year, we will hold over 900 troop combat

and operational training measures, which is

almost 10% more compared to last year,"

the general said.

The upcoming drills will also focus on practicing the

aspects of resolving armed conflicts and stabilizing

the situation in Central Asian countries, the press

office of the Central Military District added.

The Central Military District is the largest in Russia.

It is based on the territory of the Volga, Urals and

Siberian integrated federal districts & 29 Russian

regions. Structurally, the Central Military District

also includes some overseas facilities: the 201st

military base in Tajikistan, the Kant integrated

military base in Kyrgyzstan, & units stationed

on the territory of Kazakhstan. The Central

Military District is headquartered in

Yekaterinburg in the Urals.

________________________________

Russian and Syrian

military patrol port

of Latakia

by Ileana Ferrer Fonte

January 19th, 7:52am (Prensa Latina)

Syrian soldiers and members of the Russian

military police have begun patrolling the

commercial port facilities in the

Syrian coastal city of Latakia,

390 kilometres northwest

of Damascus.

Footage broadcast by both countries’ media

showed several Russian armoured vehicles

patrolling the port complex that was twice

attacked by Israel in December.

According to official sources quoted by Al-Watan

newspaper, this presence is aimed at securing

and protecting the port and deterring any

aggression against its facilities.

Israel carried out two air strikes against the
referred facility on December 7th and 27th,
2021 --- resulting in huge material losses
in containers and imported goods.

Syria's authorities consider --- that these

aggressions by Tel Aviv, are part of the

economic war unleashed against this

Arab nation, by the United States
and its allies.

_______________________________

Armed men without insignia

occupy village school,

forestry company...

outside Volnovakha

January 18th, 7:10pm (DAN)

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Gunmen have occupied the school and the premises

of an active forestry company in the Kiev-controlled

Novognatovka village outside Volnovakha, Donetsk

People’s Republic People’s Militia deputy

commander Eduard Basurin said,

on Tuesday.

“According to Volnovakha district administration,

residents have been complaining about unlawful

actions by Ukrainian gunmen,” Basurin said.

“Reports said that about a month ago, some 60

gunmen without identifying insignia occupied

the Novognatovka secondary school and

seized the premises of an operating

forestry company to deploy 12

armoured personnel carriers

and infantry fighting

vehicles there.”

The gunmen have been looting the abandoned

homes and their tracked vehicles have been

ruining the village road, he added.

Tensions have been mounting on the contact line

in Donbass, since January 9th. Kiev army units

deliver fire on all axes. On Tuesday afternoon,

the Spartak village in the northern outskirts

of Donetsk, came under Ukrainian army

mortar fire.

____________________________

Kiev forces fire mortars at

northern Donetsk on eve

of Epiphany

January 18th, 6:12pm (DAN)

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A Spartak village area in the northern outskirts

of Donetsk, has come under mortar fire from

Ukrainian armed formations, the Donetsk

People’s Republic Office at the Joint

Centre for Control and Coordination

(JCCC), reported on Tuesday.

Fire was delivered from Opytnoye settlement area

at 16:25, the JCCC said. The enemy used 120mm

mortars expending six rounds. No casualties or

damage were immediately reported.

______________________

Israeli forces arrest 41

Palestinians as Negev

protests rage on

January 18th, 6:02pm (PressTV)

The Israeli regime’s forces keep up their crack-

down on ongoing protests in the Negev Desert

in the south of the occupied Palestinian

territories.

Tensions grew in Negev, early last week, after diggers

and bulldozers of the so-called Jewish National Fund

(JNF) razed some Bedouin farming lands there as

part of a controversial tree planting program or

afforestation. The provocative move triggered

large rallies, which met with a brutal crack-

down and mass arrests.

Reporting on Tuesday, the Palestine al-Yawm

television channel said the forces had

rounded up at least 41 Palestinians,

in their most recent bout of

coming down hard on

the rallies.

According to the channel, the

arrestees included minors.

The Middle East Eye (MEE) news outlet said the

victims were rounded up from the villages of

al-Zarnouq, Abu Talool, Khashm al-Zina and

Tel al-Sabe in Negev, adding that the

youngest of the captives “is only

10 years old.”

A rights group urged the occupying regime to

stop its “life-threatening crackdown” on the

protest rallies.

The Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights in Israel

(Adalah) said Israeli security forces had exceeded

its authority and endangered protesters lives, by

using rubber-coated bullets, teargas, and stun

grenades, as well as skunk water.

It further said the Israeli police had also used

drones to drop teargas grenades on the

protesters, condemning such use of

drones as “extremely dangerous,

disproportionate and unlawful”.

The desert houses around 300,000 Palestinians.

“Some 100,000 of the Palestinians are currently

living in 35 unrecognized villages that Israel

considers illegal, and it refuses to provide

them with electricity, water, education,

health, and transportation,” the

MEE noted.

____________________________

Blinken to travel to Ukraine

amid US propaganda

against Russia

January 18th, 3:22pm (PressTV)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to

Ukraine on Wednesday to meet with the country’s

president and foreign minister amid US claims

that Russia is preparing to invade the

neighboring country. Moscow has

rejected the accusations.

US State Department spokesperson, Ned Price, said

Tuesday that Blinken will meet with the Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelensky and Foreign

Minister Dmytro Kuleba, “to reinforce the

United States’ commitment to Ukraine’s

sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

The spokesperson added that Blinken will also

discuss "the Department’s efforts to plan for

contingencies" with the US Embassy’s

staff and their families.

The US secretary of state will later travel to Germany

to meet with Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock...

and attend a meeting with the Transatlantic QUAD,

which includes the US, UK, France, and Germany.

The State Department spokesperson said that the

purpose of the QUAD meeting in Germany is “to

discuss recent diplomatic engagements with

Russia and joint efforts to deter further

Russian aggression against Ukraine,

including Allies’ and partners’

readiness to impose massive

consequences... and severe

economic costs on Russia.”

“The Secretary’s travel and consultations are part

of the diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the
tension caused by Russia’s military build

-up and continued aggression against

Ukraine,” Price added.

This comes as a number of US war hawks earlier this

week also announced they were traveling to Ukraine

to meet with Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials.

Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Jeanne Shaheen (D-

N.H.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.),

Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)

and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) announced

their trip on Monday.

Commenting to Press TV, US journalist Don DeBar

said, “This is a freaking war party. Senator

Shaheen, for example, at a hearing for the

US intelligence propaganda outlets under

the Broadcast Board of Governors, called

Russian news services ''agencies of

propaganda'' & said their presence

in the US market, was ‘an act of
war, with a body count.’”

“If Donald Trump's presidency set the standard

to allow observers to issue remote diagnoses

of mental illness, Shaheen is, to use the

appropriate clinical term, a genocidal

maniac,” he added.

“Or, in plain English.. she is out of her freakin' mind,

seemingly obsessed with making war with Russia.

And she is the sanest of that delegation,” the

analyst noted.

The US senators said they would hold discussions

“to reaffirm the US’ commitment to Ukraine ---
which continues to face an increasingly
belligerent Russia.”

The development comes as US intelligence

agencies have accused Russia... of

preparing a false-flag operation

to invade Ukraine.

US officials told the media on Friday that US

intelligence findings.. point to Russia laying

the groundwork for fabricating a pretext for

invasion by blaming Ukraine for preparing

an “imminent attack” against Russian

forces in eastern Ukraine.

“The Russian military plans to begin these activities

several weeks before a military invasion, which

could begin between mid-January and mid-

February,” one official told The Hill. “We

saw this playbook in 2014 with Crimea.”

____________________________

German Foreign Minister calls

to revive Normandy Format to
implement Minsk Agreements

January 18th, 2:55pm TASS)

Germany is certain that the Normandy Format

must be "revived", in order to make progress

in implementation of the Minsk Agreements

and a resolution of the Ukrainian conflict,

the German Foreign Minister, Annalena

Baerbock, said at a press conference

...in the wake of the talks with her

Russian counterpart, Sergey

Lavrov, on Tuesday.

"Now it is important to flesh out the Normandy

process again.. in order to move forward with

the implementation of the Minsk agreements.

This would contribute... to the reinforcement

of security in Europe. It's encouraging that

all sides to the Normandy Format and

Minsk Agreements --- stated their

adherence to the Agreements,"

the Minister noted.

She added that both Foreign Ministers reaffirmed

their readiness to do everything to continue the

Normandy Format talks - as soon as possible.

The peaceful settlement of the conflict in Donbass,

is based on the Minsk Agreements, which not only

include a ceasefire, the withdrawal of arms, an

amnesty and the restoration of economic ties,

but also deep constitutional reform, based on

a dialogue with representatives of Donetsk

and Lugansk People’s republics which must

result in the decentralization of power with
consideration of the special status of
specific parts of the Donetsk and
Lugansk Regions of Ukraine.

However, the negotiating process has effectively

reached an impasse, because Ukraine refused

to implement the political articles of the

Minsk Agreements.

_________________________________

Russia still awaits response

on security guarantees from

US, NATO, top diplomat says

January 18th, 1pm (TASS)

Russia is still waiting for responses to its security