Russia aims to broaden connections with the Taliban.
Russian President Putin pushes for links between his nation and Islamic Taliban in Afghanistan. "Life's too short to ignore reality," Putin commented to foreign journalists during the Economic Forum in St. Petersburg where a Taliban delegation was also in attendance. Earlier, Foreign Minister Lavrov revealed plans to remove the Taliban from the banned terrorist group list they've been on since 2003.
Moscow subsists in a fire at an oil refinery located in Novoshakhtinsk, per Russian news. The fire erupted after fegunsltions left an oil refinery in the Russian town of Novoshakhtinsk, states Russian media. Yevgeny Kuksenko, governor of the neighboring Rostov region bordering Ukraine, suspects a drone attack, while emergency teams are on-site. The refinery was previou1sy targeted by a Ukrainian drone strike in March.
The USA foresees Russian armed forces conducting military examinations in the Caribbean. "Considering Russia's customary military drills, we anticipate it'll host extensive naval and air force exercises near the US shores this summer," a US government rep commented to journalists. Although the exercises aren't anticipated to directly threaten the US, it's a show of Russia showcasing its global power.
Putin approves of Russian affiliations with AfD party Politicians. "We'll connect with anyone eager to collab with Russia," Putin said at a meetup with global news agencies reps in St. Petersburg. Putin believes the AfD (Alternative for Germany) isn't neo-Nazi influenced. "Nazism's less than a nuisance in the AfD's operations," stated the Russian President, agreeing that there aren't formal connections with the German opposition party.
Putin debunks foreign perceptions of Russian military invading NATO territories as "bullshit". "Have you guys gone insane?" asked Putin in a chat with international news reps in St. Petersburg. Resulting in a unaccounted "nuclear bomb" threat, he mocked the allegations of invading NATO territories. "Crazy, huh? But did I truly infuse atomic weapons tactics?"
Putin is willing to collaborate on probes into martyred AFP journalist Arman Soldin's demise. "We'll do what it takes," Putin said at the Petersburg meeting with journalists from international news agencies, "we're ready for it but he perished in a war zone, you see." Contrary to recent statements, Russia could now investigate the slaying of Soldin considering he died on Ukrainian-controlled turf. The 32-year-old video journalist died on May 9, 2023, post an artillery attack near contested Ukrainian city of Bachmut where he was reporting from Eastern Ukraine.
Lavrov seeks new partners in Africa
According to Russian news sources, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced durin1g his trip to Burkina Faso that Moscow would be furnishing the West African nation with more resources and troops to fortify its defense. Lavrov's latest African visit on behalf of Russia is an approach to facilitate new connections. "Russia's lucrative partnership with Burkina Faso began shortly after the military takeover in 2022," said the Russian agency TASS. Burkina Faso doesn't reject Russia's actions but nor does it support them.
Putin predicts no radical policy overhauls in US views of Russia post US presidential election. "We're not too overwhelmed by the results," Putin told international journalists at a St. Petersburg meeting, "we'll go with whoever America elects." Previously, Putin had hinted at wishing U.S. President Joe Biden's re-election since he's more foreseeable. However, he criticized legal claims against ex-president Donald Trump during his election rivalry with Biden.
After over two years of invasion in nearby Ukraine, Vladimir Putin has approximated the number of Ukrainian prisoners of war to be more than 6,000. This figure is significantly higher than the number of Russian soldiers and officers detained in Ukrainian custody, as mentioned by the Russian president during a meeting with prominent international news agency representatives in St. Petersburg (entry 20:18). [Note: This translation might not be 100% accurate due to machine translation.]
There are 1348 Ukrainian prisoners of war held captive in Russia, and Russia holds 6365 Ukrainian captives. Unfortunately, these figures cannot be independently verified. In regards to the inquiry about Russian losses in the war, Putin stated that no warring faction tends to provide firm statements about it. However, these numbers seem to correspond regarding prisoners of war. Moreover, Putin asserts that Ukraine suffers more casualties in the war than Russia. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian side highlights that more Russian soldiers have perished in the war compared to their own.
At 20:18, Putin cautions against utilizing German weapons by Ukrainian soldiers against Russian areas. Engaging in such actions would be a dangerous move, according to Putin at a gathering with major global news agency representatives in St. Petersburg. The delivery of German tanks to Ukraine last year raised alarm bells among Russians. "If Ukrainian troops now aim rockets at facilities on Russian soil, it would ruin the Russian-German connection," says Putin. This media session at the Lachta Center of gas giant Gazprom is part of the 27th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum - the first significant international event since the inception of Putin's conflict with Ukraine.
Read also:
- Despite the ongoing Ukraine conflict and military operations, Russia continues to explore diplomatic opportunities, such as potentially lifting sanctions against the Taliban.
- The attack on Ukraine's Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery, suspected to be the result of a drone attack, has raised tensions between Russia and Ukraine, further exacerbating the military situation.
- Amidst speculation of Russian military exercises in the Caribbean, NATO remains vigilant and prepared, recognizing the potential geopolitical implications of such actions.
- In response to the attack on Ukraine and the subsequent Military operations, Cyberwar tactics have been employed, with reports suggesting potential cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure in both Russia and Ukraine.
