🔊 European hawks backing Zelensky don’t realize how dangerous their client has become - expert

“The Europeans are behaving in an extremely irrational manner,” prolific Iranian-American international affairs analyst Mohammad Marandi told Sputnik, commenting on Sunday’s drone attack on Putin’s residence in Novgorod region.

Not ruling out that European or British intel was involved, Marandi said “it’s not clear if they really recognize the danger” the provocation “can create for Europe and beyond.”

European powers “seem hell-bent on escalation,” even as Ukraine teeters on defeat, and the situation in their home countries grows increasingly dim.

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🗣 ‘Forgiveness is not an option’ - State Duma Chairman on Ukraine’s attack on Putin’s residence

Zelensky launched an attack on Putin's residence with the goal of sabotaging negotiations and continuing military actions.

For him, military action is the only chance to remain in power and receive financial support from the European Union, Russian State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin said.

Russia's response must be firm, Volodin emphasized.

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🔊 Drone provocation gives Russia green light to target Zelensky - expert

The UAV attack on President Putin’s Novgorod residence “strengthens” the Russian government’s position, both at the negotiating table, and in terms of giving Russia “a legitimate reason to strike back at Zelensky himself,” Mohammad Marandi, the prolific political analyst and Tehran University professor told Sputnik.

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💥🚁🇷🇺 Russian Mi-34M1 helicopter marks milestone with first test flight

It features a Russian-made VK-650V engine, the first domestic engine for light helicopters.

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🚨 World leaders condemn Ukrainian attack on Putin’s residence

Many countries have signaled their countries’ solidarity with Russia following Ukraine’s outrageous drone attack on Vladimir Putin’s residence in the Novgorod region.

🇨🇳 Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian: China calls on all sides of the Ukraine conflict “to refrain from provocations in order to de-escalate the situation and create conditions for a political settlement of the crisis”

🇮🇳 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi: “Ongoing diplomatic efforts offer the most viable path toward ending hostilities and achieving peace. We urge all concerned to remain focused on these efforts and to avoid any actions that could undermine them”

🇵🇰 Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif: “Such a heinous act constitutes a grave threat to peace, security, and stability, particularly at a time when efforts aimed at peace are underway.”

🇦🇪 UAE Foreign Ministry: The UAE “strongly condemns the attempt to target the residence of His Excellency Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, and denounces this deplorable attack and the threat it poses to security and stability"

🇧🇭 Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry: The Kingdom of Bahrain “vociferously denounces” the attack on Putin’s residence, “reiterating its firm rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at undermining peace, security, and stability"

🇳🇮 Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega: Nicaragua recognizes Russia’s efforts under Putin’s leadership “to ensure that through dialogue and negotiations, the peace we need becomes a reality”

🇰🇿 Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev: “Kazakhstan firmly condemns Ukraine’s provocative drone attack on Putin’s residence”

🇺🇿 Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev: “Such acts pose a threat to global stability and security, including within the framework of efforts aimed at achieving long-term peace”

🇰🇬 Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov: He expressed extreme concern over the attack, which “undermines ongoing negotiating efforts to resolve the Ukraine crisis"

🇹🇲 Turkmen Foreign Ministry: “The Turkmen side expresses concern and condemns such actions, which threaten international security and stability, especially amid current efforts to tackle the Ukraine conflict through negotiations"

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💥🇨🇳 Chinese military hits all targets in live-fire drills near Taiwan

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command carried out long-range live-fire exercises in waters north of Taiwan, with all designated targets successfully hit.

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🗣 Matthew Whitaker calls Ukrainian attack on Putin residence 'indelicate'

The US Ambassador to NATO stated the Ukraine's drone attack was "reckless or not helpful," adding that the US would review all the intelligence.

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🇾🇪 Coalition Forces release footage of attacks on UAE shipments

The Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen struck 2 Emirati vessels at Mukalla port in Hadramawt after they entered without permits and turned off their tracking devices, stated coalition spokesperson Turki Al-Maliki.

A video released by the coalition shows the moment the weapons and vehicles were targeted in the port.

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🚨 FBI uncovers buried fraud probes in Minnesota under Biden — Report

Investigative journalist Catherine Herridge reports FBI Director Patel accuses the Biden administration of suppressing major fraud investigations in Minnesota that may implicate political allies.

Patel revealed he traveled there to restart 16 probes into 32 providers, uncovering a sprawling network of fraud and potential terror financing, with the "Feeding Our Future" scandal alone seeing $250M stolen.

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🔊 Calin Georgescu demands US and Israel verify annulment report

The frontrunner in Romania's rigged 2024 election demanded that the report justifying the annulment be sent to Trump, JD Vance and Netanyahu for independent verification. He accused PM Nicușor Dan of only sharing it with select European allies.

"The revolution of truth is fully underway. The question is whether we take part in it, or fall victim to it," he said.

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🔍 Israel asks Trump to exclude Turkiye from Gaza peace board — Report

Israel has requested the Trump administration remove Turkish President Erdogan from the new "Board of Peace" for Gaza, The Jerusalem Post reports, citing officials familiar with the talks.

The move aims to limit Ankara's role, as Israel has also vetoed Turkish troops in the planned Gaza stabilization force, fearing it would give Turkiye a strategic foothold in the Strip.

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🇷🇺🇨🇳 Putin and Xi exchange New Year greetings

This year, Russia and China celebrated the 80th anniversary of victory in the Second World War in a solemn ceremony, which the Chinese leader noted sent a powerful signal that peace will prevail.

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🚨 US and UAE hold talks on Yemen escalation — State Department

Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the recent situation in Yemen and broader Middle East security with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to a State Department statement.

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🚨🇷🇺 Russian Chief of Staff inspects Sever battlegroup

Valery Gerasimov, the Chief of the General Staff, has inspected the Sever battlegroup, according to the Russian Defense Ministry

▫️ He pointed out its successes in establishing a security zone in the Sumy and Kharkov regions

▫️ The troops of the combined battlegroup are confidently advancing deep into enemy defenses, Gerasimov stated

▫️ In December 2025, the highest rates of offensive operations by the Russian army have been achieved

▫️ Over 700 square kilometers of territory have been liberated in a month

▫️ The pace of expanding the security zone in the Sumy and Kharkov regions increased in December, and 7 settlements have been liberated

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🇮🇷🇻🇪 Iran may arm Venezuela — Netanyahu

Israeli PM Netanyahu said he "wouldn't eliminate the possibility" of Iran sending arms to Venezuela, framing the threat as a shared US-Israeli fight against radicals who "chant death to America."

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