Global Times: Putin’s calm, restrained Victory Day speech 'left room for negotiations'

Read the full article here @ https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202205/1265207.shtml

"In his Victory Day speech on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin "calmly but firmly" stated that Russia had to take preemptive actions in its special operation in Ukraine as NATO had created an "absolutely unacceptable threat" at Russia's borders. According to Chinese analysts, the speech was delivered in a "restrained" manner to send a clear signal to the West that Russia will not accept intensified pressure to squeeze Russia's strategic space, but at the same time showed Putin was leaving some room for negotiation."

"Chinese analysts said that contrary to how the West had "demonized" Putin by speculating that he would formally declare a "war" against Ukraine or use the occasion to announce major targets, Putin did not mention Ukraine directly nor did he give any sign that the conflict would spill over into other countries, nor used fierce rhetoric to stir up any confrontational sentiments among the public and military in his speech.

Cui Heng, an assistant research fellow from the Center for Russian Studies of East China Normal University, told the Global Times that Putin explained his security concerns in the speech, as the unilateral expansion of NATO without caring about other countries' security concerns had exacerbated the security situation in eastern Europe and provoked Russia's reaction.

Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times that one of the main purposes of the parade was to show the West that Russia will not accept more squeezing of its strategic space.

The West aimed to completely weaken Russia through prolonging the Russia-Ukraine conflict and attempted to kick Russia out of the UN and the international order so that the West could start a new set of order while ignoring the current international rules, Wang said.

But Putin did not harshly criticize NATO or the US so as to "maintain decency" for both sides and leave room for future negotiations, Cui said."

The dawn of EU lite? Macron invites Britain to join an alternative 'European political community' with 'full political integration'... one-and-a-half years after Brexit became official
By PETER ALLEN FOR MAIL ONLINE

‘Joining it would not prejudge future membership of the European Union, and it would not be closed to those who have left the latter’.

During a trip to Berlin later in the day, Mr Macron confirmed that Britain would be invited to ‘take its full place’ in the new community.

Mr Macron’s has previously suggested that Europe form an array of alliances making up 'concentric circles' and his new organisation would see the UK on the outer ring.

Britain already rejected closer security ties with Europe as part of the Brexit agreement - and Eastern European countries have been critical of plans for an apparently two-tier European Union.

Mr Macron also said that Ukraine’s wish to join the EU could take decades, so the new political union might act as a stop-gap measure.

Read the full article here @ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10798859/Macron-invites-Britain-join-alternative-European-political-community.html

😱😱 Flee or starve

Originally @ https://t.iss.one/smotri_media/14326

This is how democracy works. The United States is pressuring Greece to hand over to Ukraine about 130 BMP-1 and Russian-made anti-aircraft missile systems.

This is reported by the Greek newspaper Efimerida ton Syntakton.

As the newspaper notes, the United States has been putting strong pressure on the Greek government for two weeks. In return, they promise to deliver German Marder 1A5 infantry fighting vehicles.

But Athens has not yet made a decision.

"The pressure began at the initiative of the head of the Pentagon on April 26 at a meeting of defense ministers of 40 countries at the Ramstein Air base in Germany. Greece then managed to temporarily free itself from the demands for immediate assistance to the Armed Forces, referring to the Turkish threat, which does not allow reducing the Greek arsenal."

Thus, from the requirements of supplies to Ukraine, "the TOR-M1a anti-aircraft systems were excluded, as well as the less advanced Osa-AK anti-aircraft systems, which seriously fill gaps in the defense of the main Greek islands," the publication points out.

Originally @ https://t.iss.one/sputnik/3592

Gazprom confirmed receipt of a notification from the operator of the Ukrainian GTN on the termination of transit through the "Sokhranovka" GIS since May 11 due to force majeure. However, the company said that there is no confirmation of "force majeure," as well as there are no obstacles to continuing to pump gas through the GIS.

Earlier, the operator of the Ukrainian GTN said that gas transit to Europe through the "Sokhranovka" station in the LPR was stopped since May 11. This is due to force majeure circumstances, "which make it impossible to further transport gas." It is noted that transit will stop both through the GIS and through the "Novopskov" border compressor station, which "are under the control of the Russian Federation."

Gazprom also added that the transfer of transit volumes to the "Suja" GIS, based on the Russian streaming scheme, is technologically impossible.

Originally @ https://t.iss.one/readovkanews/33474

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs spreading Russian propaganda!
Russian fierce propaganda war!

😉You can suggest your own alternative

Originally @ https://t.iss.one/fuckyouthatswhy/59472

🇱🇻The Latvian monument to Liberators is covered by flowers once again.

The locals brought new flowers after the authorities removed all the bouquets brought to the monument on May 9.

Photo from social networks, taken on May 10 at about 12.00.

Origihally @ https://t.iss.one/sputniklive/37216

In western Ukraine you now get a bonus of a draft notice while buying petroleum

Originally @ https://t.iss.one/readovkanews/33349

🇱🇹The Lithuanian Parliament adopted a resolution in which it called Russia a state "supporting and carrying out terrorism."

Does Lithuania consider the fight against Nazism to be "terrorism"? — this is not explained in the resolution of the Lithuanian Parliament.

Originally @ https://t.iss.one/sputnik/3575

Originally @ https://t.iss.one/video_languages/1030

Biden urged Congress to immediately approve a request for $33 billion in aid to Ukraine so that he signs it in the coming days, the statement goes.

Originally @ https://t.iss.one/readovkanews/33380

Originally @ https://t.iss.one/video_languages/1034

Controversy between civilians and local authorities is underway in Riga (Latvia) at the Soviet monument. Police took to action trying to restrict access.

On the night, May 9, the Rīga municipality took away the flowers laid by the monument. Subsequently, on May 10, people started bringing flowers again and refused to disperse.

VP Chief Armands Ruks told Latvian TV on May 11 that the situation was exacerbated by the removal of flowers at the monument. In the opinion of Ruks, the flowers should not have been taken away by using a tractor. Images of the tractor clearing away the flowers caused numerous responses on social media.

Originally @ https://eng.lsm.lv/article/culture/history/access-denied-to-soviet-monument-after-pro-russian-rally-tuesday.a456228/?utm_source=lsm&utm_medium=article-bottom&utm_campaign=article

Greece has become the 9th country in the Eurozone with official inflation having reached two-digit values, exceeding 10% in April.

For people with relatively low incomes 10% of official inflation will mean about 30% rise of prices for everyday things.

Here are the top countries with double-digit inflation in the Eurozone

19% - Estonia
16.6% - Lithuania
13.2% - Latvia
12.3% - Poland
11.9% - Czech Republic
11.2% - Netherlands
10.9% - Slovakia
10.5% - Bulgaria
10.2% - Greece

Originally @ https://t.iss.one/nationconsunion/10703

🇯🇵🇷🇺Sanctions are... well, you know.

The losses of Japan's leading corporations due to the introduction of anti-Russian sanctions exceeded $2 billion, the Sankei newspaper reports.

Originally @ https://t.iss.one/sputniklive/37275

Poland, March/May

Originally @ https://t.iss.one/belarusian_silovik/2167