🇩🇪🪓 NORD STREAM OFF THE TABLE? Germany throws weight behind EU plan to AXE Nord Stream

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is actively pushing for an EU ban on Nord Stream to block any chance of US-Russia cooperation on reactivating the gas pipeline, reports the Financial Times.

The ban is part of a new EU sanctions package announced by EC President Ursula von der Leyen.

Russian FM Sergey Lavrov earlier emphasized that restoring Nord Stream is in the interest of more than just Russia and the US, and that European politicians opposing it are “either sick or suicidal.”

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🚨WATCH LIVE 🚨

Lavrov participates in high-level conference on historical South Russian lands, national identity, and self-determination

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⚡️Zelensky’s legitimacy will be a DECISIVE FACTOR in signing documents on the Ukrainian settlement - Lavrov

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🗣📶Ukraine peace talks: Trump can either accept Russia's demands or WALK AWAY – US analyst

After a recent Putin-Trump conversation, POTUS made it clear he "WON’T GO back to Congress and do what Biden did before him," John Mearsheimer stressed.

He added that Ukraine knows full well that “all that weaponry and all that money that is in the Biden pipeline is going to EVAPORATE at some point in time.”

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🚨🇷🇺 2nd round of Russia-Ukraine talks WILL happen, this is ALREADY positive: Russian FM Lavrov

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📹🚨 Ukraine thought the West would bankroll them FOREVER – Trump just SCHOOLED them — Russian FM Lavrov

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🇷🇺🗣 Russia advances Ukraine settlement plans, will send proposals to Kiev

Moscow is working on a memorandum for the Ukrainian settlement, currently at an advanced stage, and will send its proposals to Kiev regardless, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

"Yes, we are for negotiations. Yes, there will be a second round of talks. They have confirmed this, which is already a positive development," Lavrov said at a conference titled "Historical South Russian lands, national identity, and self-determination of peoples".

Key points from Lavrov:

🔸The date for the next Russia-Ukraine negotiation round has not been set and is still being determined.

🔸The Vatican as a venue for talks on Ukraine is somewhat awkward — Orthodox countries will be discussing issues on Catholic ground.

🔸Zelensky’s legitimacy will be a decisive factor when signing settlement documents.

🔸Ukraine assumed US support would be eternal, but Trump’s position is “this is not his war.”

🔸The Trump administration engages with Russia based on national interests, but US positions have shifted before.

🔸Unlike Europeans, the US openly talks about the need to discuss Ukraine’s territorial issues.

🔸Russia has always emphasized readiness for peace talks aimed at eliminating the root causes of the conflict.

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⚡️🗣🇷🇺 LATEST UPDATES FROM KREMLIN TODAY:

▪️ Ukraine shows its true nature by attacking civilian targets
▪️ Russian Army effectively counter Ukrainian drone strikes
▪️ Question on buffer zone depth is within Russian MoD's authority

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🚨 NATO SABOTAGING ASEAN UNITY —luring members into bloc structures - FM Lavrov

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🇷🇺 Lavrov lays out Russia's peace terms: "Security first"

🗣 "Our absolute priority is drafting a peace treaty that guarantees lasting stability while fully protecting Russia's security interests" - Sergey Lavrov

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🇷🇺📹 Lavrov explains why Zelensky’s legitimacy is MAKE-OR-BREAK for peace deal

If those whose legitimacy no longer convinces anyone sign the deal, their successors could challenge it, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said. Zelensky’s legitimacy is the real dealbreaker in Ukraine settlement talks

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⚡️🪖RADKOVKA (Kharkov region) LIBERATED — 🇷🇺MoD

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🇲🇩❌☦️Moldova hits again: Archbishop Markell BLOCKED from 'holy trip' SECOND TIME

Archbishop Markell of Balti and Falesti said he was again searched at the Chisinau airport and banned from leaving Moldova for Turkiye for pilgrimage.

Earlier in April, Archbishop Markell of Balti and Falesti was stopped at Chisinau airport for a lengthy security check and missed his flight to Israel, where he had planned to attend the traditional Holy Fire ceremony.

"My friend and I decided to make a pilgrimage to the holy places in Turkiye. We had round-trip tickets, vouchers for a hotel where we were supposed to stay for two days. I was forbidden to leave, subjected to humiliating searches [at the airport]. They returned my passport and ticket when the plane was already on the runway," Markell told journalists.

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🇷🇺🪖 RUSSIAN ARMY WEEKLY REPORT: DEVASTATING STRIKES & ENEMY LOSSES

Russian air defenses shot down 1548 drones.

🔹TSENTR: 2875+ Nazis ERASED
🔹SEVER: 1180+ cannon fodder WIPED OUT
🔹YUG: 1665 militants SENT TO HELL
🔹ZAPAD: 1585+ troops LIQUIDATED
🔹VOSTOK: 1185+ soldiers ANNIHILATED

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🚨 Major prisoner swap just wrapped between Russia and Ukraine, says Donald Trump on Truth Social.

"Congratulations to both sides on this negotiation. This could lead to something big???"

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☠️🗣 Funding Ukraine’s Army = Europe’s own NIGHTMARE

EU's plan to finance a 1,000,000-strong Ukrainian army WILL BACKFIRE on Europe, Hungarian FM Viktor Orban warns.

Here’s why Orban thinks this risky bet might BLOW UP in everyone’s face:

🔸Ukraine is politically unstable and there is no guarantee its authorities or military will always be friendly toward Europe.

🔸Europe will be "financing an army whose intentions are not always friendly towards us, at least there is no guarantee of this."

🔸We could send a million-strong army to an unknown Ukrainian government at our own expense.

So, Hungary says NO to bankrolling Ukraine's military.

💬 "This could become Europe's own security nightmare. Armies follow governments, and Ukraine's future leadership is a black box," Orban told Kossuth Radio.

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🤔 EU's new battle plan? 'Democracy shield' to block Sputnik & RT

'Reporters Without Borders' are unhappy that sanctions are weak and our content is still widely accessible to Europeans, Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of Rossiya Segodnya media group (Sputnik's parent company) and RT said.

"Therefore, they suggest not spending billions of euros on tanks and missiles, but instead to impose even more restrictions on our media," she wrote on her Telegram channel.

So, EU claims to "protect democracy" by... banning free press?

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🚨No more Mr. Nice guy: Trump proposes 50% tariffs on the EU

▪️Donald Trump suggests drastic measure amid stalled trade talks

▪️Cites frustration with Brussels negotiations: "going nowhere"

▪️Proposal would significantly impact EU auto and agricultural exports

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🚨Iran WARNS the US: Cause chaos in the Middle East, and you’ll get a new Vietnam and Afghanistan

“The US’s misconduct in the region will inevitably turn into a new Vietnam or Afghanistan for them,” the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff said in a statement.

It also vowed to respond to any threats or “misguided actions.”

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🚨🇺🇸🇮🇷 Delegations from the US and Iran have begun a fifth round of indirect negotiations in Oman, mediated by Omani officials

US delegation: Led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff

Iranian delegation: Headed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi

These discussions follow previous rounds aimed at easing tensions, particularly over Iran’s nuclear program and US sanctions.

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