At the same time, Moscow has detected growing Chinese espionage efforts targeting mid-level government officials but has avoided publicly confronting Beijing for fear of damaging the increasingly unequal relationship.

The imbalance was highlighted during Putin's May visit to China, when Moscow failed to secure a long-sought deal for the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline. Chinese officials demanded Russian gas at below-market domestic prices and told Moscow not to raise the project again unless the terms changed. Putin ultimately left Beijing with 42 agreements and joint declarations — but no pipeline deal.

China has also grown uneasy over Russia's deepening military relationship with North Korea. Beijing, which has long viewed Pyongyang as within its own orbit, is particularly concerned that Russian technology transfers could strengthen North Korea's nuclear or submarine capabilities and push South Korea and Japan closer to the U.S.

Putin has also privately pushed for a trilateral Russia-China-North Korea summit, but Beijing rejected the proposal.

I believe defending the case of Israel is defending the case of democracy, of free societies.

It is more than our issue — and with the given history of the Czech Republic itself, they probably know to define that much more than other nations who failed to do so.

With only around 600 Patriot missiles produced annually, retired Marine Corps Colonel Mark Cancian warned that replenishment could take years.

“If you went and ordered another Patriot today, you probably wouldn’t get it for four or five years because of the backlog,” he said.

Netanyahu said the southern region is growing faster than anywhere else in the country and rejected claims it had been abandoned, adding that “the complete opposite is happening” and that its population is now higher than before October 7th.

I will say this to the leaders of Iran: Do not assume that there will be peace if you attack us.

Do not expect a repeat performance; it will be a different display — a much more powerful one.

The days when someone could strike us and we would not hit back twice as hard are over.

“I hope and tend to believe that this round of discussions in Rome will promote it,” he said.

The crises and conflicts on the African continent must be resolved on the basis of the principle: African problems require African solutions.

Wherever Ukrainians see an opportunity to inflict harm on the Russian Federation, they will ally themselves with anyone—including African extremists who are trying to overthrow legitimate governments in Africa, and indeed with any other scum of society.