Author: Steven Sahiounie

Beijing’s UN ambassador has blasted arbitrary seizures of countries’ assets China has called on Western states to refrain from freezing the foreign reserves of other nations, saying that the measure undermines world economic stability. The Chinese ambassador to the UN, Zhang Jun, made the remarks at a UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine on Tuesday. The call comes a month after roughly half of Russia’s foreign exchange reserves, worth over $300 billion, were frozen by Western countries as part of sanctions over Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine. “Arbitrary freezes of foreign exchange reserves of other countries also constitute a violation…

On April 19, Reuters reported a series of questions to the White House asking about an increase in artillery supplies to Ukraine, with U.S. President Joe Biden stating that the U.S. was going to increase supplies. In turn, White House spokeswoman, Psaki, tated that: “we will continue to supply more ammunition to Ukraine, along with increased arms shipments.” The White House will announce a new “big package” of military aid to Ukraine these days. Officials said the size of the package will be similar to the $800 million announced by Biden’s office last week. They also specified that the new…

China stresses that the United States should stop using various false pretexts to vilify Beijing and ruin its image, especially the Ukraine crisis. The US government should stop underestimating China’s resolve and ability to protect its national interests, Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe told his US counterpart, Lloyd Austin, during a phone call on Wednesday. “China hopes to establish a healthy and stable relationship with the United States, and [China] will protect its national interests and dignity. The US should not underestimate China’s resolve and capabilities,” the ministry announced. Wei added that if the Taiwan issue was resolved in an…

The Russian military has begun to use surveillance aerostats to keep an eye on supply lines and hot fronts in the Donbass region. On April 20, TV Zvezda aired a report showing a АVK-05 surveillance aerostat that was recently deployed over an unspecified part of Luhansk to enhance situation awareness and security measures in the region. The AVK-05 aerostat can operate as high as 1,000 meters with an endurance of up to 75 hours. The aerostat is usually equipped with an electro-optical\thermal imaging system with an effective range of ten kilometers. Footage from the surveillance system can be directly relied…

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated the military on the successful launch of the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), noting that this unique weapon will force everyone who tries to make threats against Russia to think twice. Before the Sarmat launch, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu told the president that the preparations to test fire the missile had been completed, and then footage of the launch was aired and watched by the president. “I congratulate you on the successful launch of the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile. It is a great and landmark event in the development of advanced weapon systems…

Kiev agrees with UN secretary-general’s call for a pause in fighting ahead of the Orthodox Easter The foreign ministry of Ukraine said on Wednesday that Kiev is in favor of a four-day “Easter ceasefire” proposed by the UN secretary general, and remains committed to resolving the conflict with Russia peacefully and through diplomacy. However, Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba, had a day earlier, contradicted this stance by telling French media the solution could be found only on the battlefield. “We fully share the opinion that a humanitarian pause is necessary for the safe evacuation of thousands of civilians wishing to leave the dangerous zones of ongoing and…

Kiev is betraying its own fighters by not giving the order to lay down arms, Moscow says Russia’s Defense Ministry has extended the offer to surrender for the remaining Ukrainian forces holed up at the Azovstal steel plant in the Black Sea port city of Mariupol after they refused to leave through a humanitarian corridor on Tuesday. Those present at the location may still exit the facility from 14:00 Moscow time on Wednesday without any arms or ammunition on them, officials said in a statement late on Tuesday. “The Russian leadership guarantees the preservation of life, complete safety and provision of qualified medical…

According to Israeli Ambassador to Russia, Israel would consider it “a great honor” to host possible talks between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents Israel confirms its readiness to host a possible meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Vladimir Zelensky of Ukraine, Israeli Ambassador to Russia Alexander Ben Zvi said in an interview with TASS. “Certainly,” he said in response to a question. “However, they (Putin and Zelensky) need to make a decision,” the envoy added. According to him, Israel would consider it “a great honor” to host possible talks between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents. “We will be…

US occupation forces have carried out an airdrop in Marqada township in Hasaka southern countryside, and kidnapped three civilians. Local sources told SANA that three US occupation’s helicopters carried out an airdrop this morning with support of a group of SDF militiamen in Marqada township, south of Hasaka city, and kidnapped three civilians and took them to an unknown destination. US occupation forces carry out frequent airdrops in the areas they occupy in cooperation with SDF militia in the Syrian Jazeera, during which they kidnap civilians and take them to unknown destinations and sometimes destroy the houses which they storm.…

The world’s richest man wants to take the microblogging platform private Elon Musk is reportedly willing to spend between $10-15 billion of his own money to take Twitter private, and is planning to launch a tender offer, according to two sources familiar with the matter as quoted by the New York Post. The bid will be made in about 10 days, the daily reported on Tuesday, adding that the billionaire has tapped Morgan Stanley to raise another $10 billion. Musk, who had previously purchased 9.1% of Twitter’s shares, may also be willing to borrow against his current stake if necessary,…