Chinese firms put deeper roots in Pakistan in post-flood reconstruction; more joint efforts needed for regional recovery

Chinese firms put deeper roots in Pakistan in post-flood reconstruction; more joint efforts needed for regional recovery

    Sunday, October 09, 2022   No comments

Chinese infrastructure companies in Pakistan are playing an increasingly important role in supporting the regional economy and livelihoods as the country looks for more joint efforts from the international community to facilitate the gradual recovery from the lingering devastation of recent floods.

While Chinese companies have taken an active approach in providing constant aid, they have also beefed up efforts to maintain the smooth operation of their projects in some key areas such as power generation and housing in Pakistan, as the country, hit by unprecedented floods in September, has seen its economic recovery slowing down.

Industry insiders and experts said that more joint efforts, including safety guarantees for local personnel and projects of Chinese companies, are needed more than ever to ensure the smooth operation of these projects.

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Media Review: The West is Paying the Price for Instrumentalizing Human Rights and Convenience-Driven Policies

Media Review: The West is Paying the Price for Instrumentalizing Human Rights and Convenience-Driven Policies

    Sunday, October 09, 2022   No comments

As revealed again by the West’s rhetorical support of protesters in Iran, the practice of using human rights claims to go after governments the West does not like and ignoring human rights abuses when they are done by Western-supported regimes or when done in Western countries, such a practice is very short-sighted and tends to backfire.

Case in point: for more than seventy years, the US and other

European governments provided unwavering support to the Saudi regime even when such regime banned women from driving, unleashed its morality police to beat shop owners who did not close their shops during Friday prayers, abused migrant workers, oppressed its Shia community, beheaded dissidents, launched illegal wars against its neighbors, and sent a team of 15 operatives to lure a dissident into its embassy building and dismember his body. Then, after one single decision by the Saudi regime to cut oil export just one month before midterm elections in the US and when Russia's oil is sanctioned, and the media and politicians are now gearing up to tell the world how bad the Saudi regime is. Soon, you will see more commentaries and political talking points unmasking Saudi Arabia’s “bad” human rights record. Given the context, few informed people will pay attention, and even fewer will trust the human rights claims behind which the West stands to justify its sanctions or interventions in countries run by leaders who do not follow and obey Western preferences. Here, the preeminent NYT and its top influencer is using a line from Trump’s book, They Are Laughing At Us, to promote the idea of punishing the Saudi regime.

Erdoğan, Putin discuss bilateral ties, Ukraine war

Erdoğan, Putin discuss bilateral ties, Ukraine war

    Friday, October 07, 2022   No comments

 Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, by phone, on Friday, bilateral relations between the two countries and the current situation in Ukraine.

A statement issued by the Turkish president's office said, "During the call, the two sides discussed ways to develop Turkish-Russian relations, as well as the situation in Ukraine."
He added, "President Erdogan stressed, during the talks, that Turkey is ready to contribute and do everything in its power to reach a peaceful solution to the Ukrainian crisis, to the satisfaction of all parties." 

Erdogan said he was counting on meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in the next three or four days, adding: "Today is Mr. Putin's birthday. I wanted to congratulate him, and he, in turn, thanked us for our mediation in the Ukraine crisis."
He continued, "It would be good if we had a detailed meeting in 3 or 4 days, if Mr. Putin could come to the Asian talks. Next week the President of Kazakhstan will hold summits to discuss confidence-building measures in Asia, and then we will be able to have bilateral talks, as well as talks." On Russia and Ukraine.

However, in a statement issued by the Communications Directorate informed that the two leaders spoke by phone on Oct. 7, a day after President Erdoğan attended the European Political Community in Prague where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron, Armenian President Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
“The call addressed matters that would enhance Türkiye-Russia relations as well as the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine war,” the statement informed. It also stressed that President Erdoğan “reiterated that they stood ready to do their part for the peaceful resolution of the Ukraine issue in a way that would benefit everyone.”

Türkiye has long been in an effort to convene Russian President Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky together for ending the armed conflict that started in February by Moscow. It also mediated for the resumption of the Ukrainian export of grain to the world markets to avoid a major global food crisis.

At a press conference he held following the Prague summit, President Erdoğan noted that he is probably the only leader in the world who can easily talk with both Putin and Zelensky. He underscored the importance Ankara attaches to the exchange of war prisoners between the two countries as well as to the ongoing efforts as regards the shipment of fertilizers and grains, Erdoğan stressed that it would be useful if Russia would start exporting its fertilizers to the world via Türkiye.
On July 22, Turkey hosted a meeting to sign multilateral agreements, which included lifting restrictions on the export of Russian grain and food products, and allowing the export of Ukrainian grain.

Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed that "Russia is not a country that can be underestimated", and considered that Western countries are pursuing a wrong policy regarding Ukraine, because it is based on provocations, stressing that "Turkey adheres to a balanced policy towards Ukraine."

After Meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Confirms that He Wants to Meet with Syrian leader Bashar Assad

After Meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Confirms that He Wants to Meet with Syrian leader Bashar Assad

    Friday, October 07, 2022   No comments

Türkiye believes that full normalization based on good neighborly relations can be achieved in the region as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he did not rule out a meeting with Syrian leader Bashar Assad after an in-person encounter with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit.

Erdoğan attended the EPC’s first summit in Prague on Oct. 6 from where he conveyed messages to the regional leaders, including Armenia and Syria with which Türkiye’s ties were once very strained.

Erdoğan held a bilateral meeting with Pashinyan after a brief trilateral dialogue that also included Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Erdoğan issued important messages at a press conference after the summit on late Oct. 6, particularly on Syria.

“Meeting with Assad is out of the question for now. But when the time comes, we can also meet with the president of Syria… Currently, low-level meetings are being held,” Erdoğan replied to a question on whether he would meet the Syrian leader for peace.

Türkiye has been taking steps to accelerate the return of Syrian refugees as the Turkish government constructs briquette houses in the north of the neighboring country, he, said noting that some 500,000 Syrians have returned to their homeland.

On the other hand, Ankara wants to get rid of the terrorist groups in Syria, he added. Erdoğan emphasized that the war between Russia and Ukraine had impacts on Syria as well.

“Of course, the Russia-Ukraine War delayed the steps to be taken in the region. Because Russia also has an active role in these events in Syria, Iran has an active role, and on the other hand, coalition forces have an active role,” he said.

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Dmitry Medvedev: Western govs have realized that their sanctions are self-mutilation... A typical crossbow in your own **s

Dmitry Medvedev: Western govs have realized that their sanctions are self-mutilation... A typical crossbow in your own **s

    Thursday, October 06, 2022   No comments

Russian leaders react to recent round of Western sanctions; Dmitry Medvedev: Western govs have realized that their sanctions are self-mutilation... A typical crossbow in your own **s

 Medvedev's full statement:

"Infernal Sanctions" went to the eighth round. As you know, there are nine circles in hell. So there are still reserves.

Let our enemies rage on. After all, it has long been clear that winding these circles without much harm to the “appointed sinner” is an empty business. And expensive.

What did this idiotic idea of ​​​​former partners result in today?

For Russia. From the very beginning of the special military operation, the West began consistently firing at our country from a multi-barreled sanctions MLRS. Our stupid opponents fail to understand a simple thing: Russia has long lived in conditions of restrictions and has learned well to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances. Our economy demonstrates a very decent vitality. Inflation is gradually slowing down, dropping from a peak of 17.8% in April to 13.7% in September. There is every reason to believe that by the end of the year it will not exceed 12%. Greater stability is shown by GDP, which by the end of the year will decline much less than expected.

In general, the West once again failed to "tear to shreds" our economy. The main thing is that Russia has not only the necessary margin of safety, but also all the opportunities for further development.

For the West. At first, our enemies desperately pounded their chests. They convinced their citizens and the whole world that they could easily do without Russian oil, gas, fertilizers, medicines and grain. Without buyers for their burgers, clothes, cosmetics, cars and Internet services. Now they have realized that their sanctions are self-mutilation. A typical crossbow in your own **s. Gasoline, groceries, and utilities are rising sharply in price. People out of desperation go to rallies. Politicians shrug helplessly. Beautiful words are repeated - it seems like "you have to pay for democracy." Without answering, however, the question of why the hell such a "democracy" is needed.

According to Eurostat, the eurozone is experiencing record inflation over the past decades - more than 9%. However, in some EU countries the situation is simply catastrophic. Among them are the most frostbitten enemies of Russia. They are fully reaping the fruits of their vomiting hatred of our country. In Estonia, inflation increased by 22.2% in annual terms, in Lithuania - by 21.1%, in Latvia - by 20.8%, in the Czech Republic - by 17.3%. And these two-digit anti-records are far from the limit. Ahead is a cold winter without Russian gas. And this despite the fact that the marginal price for our blue fuel has not yet been introduced. It seems that now they can be left without gas forever. In parallel, Europe's stupid bureaucrats are begging their citizens to save energy. And in order to better stimulate them, they are ready to shift the growing costs to users and even put them in jail, as in the once prosperous Switzerland.

For the whole world. The result is sad. With its manic sanctions, the West has achieved only one thing - the rapid destruction of the entire architecture of world trade in the form in which it has developed at a record pace for the past half century. Private property is no longer sacred, trade contracts are not binding, the currency of settlement is not a means of payment. Global supply chains are undermined. Western analysts expect a slowdown in the economic growth of all developed countries. In the next 12 months, Europe is facing a recession. At the same time, it should be noted that for the main instigator of the hybrid war against Russia - the United States - the results will be less catastrophic. But even there they are well aware of the grave consequences the actions of their decrepit president lead to.

There are no illusions. The West intends to go against Russia to the end. To introduce ever new senseless restrictions against it, hoping, like in recent years, to undermine the Russian economy as much as possible. Scattering of fragments from such indiscriminate use of sanctions weapons - throughout all countries of the world and to innocent people. Meanwhile, without normal international trade, chaos and poverty will be felt in various parts of the world. However, it is useless to appeal to the prudence of our enemies in the West. And you don't need to. Enemies must be made to beg for mercy in a lost economic battle. And complete it with their complete and unconditional surrender.

“OPEC +” agrees to reduce oil production by an average of two million barrels per day

“OPEC +” agrees to reduce oil production by an average of two million barrels per day

    Thursday, October 06, 2022   No comments

 Reuters quoted sources in Vienna as confirming that the "OPEC +" group agreed today to reduce oil production by two million barrels per day.

The Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee of the Global Oil Exporters Alliance "OPEC +", which includes ministers of prominent producing countries, agreed to reduce crude production by two million barrels per day in response to the decline in prices.

This came according to what was quoted by "Reuters" agency, quoting 3 sources familiar with the events, and as expected by media reports earlier, and in a move believed to destroy the efforts of the United States to increase supplies and reduce prices.

A disaster for the United States and will cause crises

On Tuesday, CNN reported, quoting a White House document, that "the United States is concerned that a possible decision by "OPEC" to reduce oil production may cause major crises for the country, and can be considered a hostile act."

And a report by the American network stated that the White House “warns that the “OPEC +” meeting may cause great damage to the United States, and that the decision to reduce oil production will be a “complete disaster” for the country.

The United States, in an attempt to persuade its OPEC allies, is proposing to buy back up to 200 million barrels of oil from its OPEC partners, which will be used to refill the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which President Joe Biden uses to help lower oil prices.

This is while another US official stated, according to "CNN", that the White House "is in a state of panic and panic."

"We have made clear that energy supplies must meet demand to support economic growth and lower prices for consumers around the world, and we will continue to talk to our partners about that," National Security Council spokeswoman Adrian Watson said in a statement.

A few days ago, the Wall Street Journal reported, quoting participants in the upcoming “OPEC +” meeting, that the coalition countries were “considering reducing oil production by more than one million barrels per day.”

Action to Prevent fluctuations

Saudi Arabia and other members of OPEC Plus, which includes OPEC countries and non-OPEC producers including Russia, say they are seeking to prevent volatility and not target a specific oil price.

Brent crude, the global benchmark, rose today, Wednesday, towards $93 a barrel, after rising yesterday.

The West accuses Russia of using energy as a weapon, and of creating a crisis in Europe that may force it to ration gas and electricity this winter.

In contrast, Moscow accuses the West of using the dollar and financial systems - such as Swift - as a weapon in response to Russia sending troops to Ukraine last February.

Reactions

US President Joe Biden expressed his disappointment over the decision of the OPEC Plus alliance to reduce oil production, and stressed that his administration would seek to reduce the alliance's control over energy prices, according to a statement issued by the White House.

The statement described the OPEC Plus decision as "short-sighted", and said that the decision - which is the largest reduction in oil production since the Covid-19 pandemic - will harm countries that are "already reeling" under the weight of high oil prices in light of a global economy that in turn suffers from the "negative impact". Russia's attack on Ukraine, according to the statement.

The White House considered that the "wrong" decision was in Russia's own interest, and said, "It is clear that OPEC Plus is allied with Russia."

He added that "in light of today's decision, the Biden administration will consult with Congress on additional tools and mechanisms to reduce the control of the coalition of oil-producing countries on energy prices."

On the other hand, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak described the decision taken by the OPEC Plus alliance during its meeting in Vienna today, Wednesday, as "unprecedented", and attributed it to the need to achieve balance in the oil market.

Novak warned - in statements he made to state television - that the trend to impose a ceiling on the price of Russian oil - a step proposed by the European Union as part of new planned sanctions on Moscow - will have a detrimental effect on global markets.

Novak stressed that Russian companies will not send oil supplies to countries that adopt this ceiling.

On Thursday, the US administration seem to escalate its reaction to this event. The White House hinted that it would “re-evaluate the issue of Saudi Arabia’s trade preference with regard to arms sales and defense support,” following the decision of the “OPEC +” group to reduce the collective production limit.

The President of the US National Economic Council, Brian Dees, indicated today, Thursday, that "the administration of President Joe Biden is in the process of consulting with Congress on the issue of Saudi Arabia's commercial preference for arms sales and defense support."

In response to a question about whether Saudi Arabia deserves to obtain weapons and US defense support in light of the decision of the “OPEC +” group, Deiss said: “We will conduct an assessment and consult closely with Congress on a number of issues related to this matter.”

The member countries of the “OPEC +” alliance agreed, yesterday, Wednesday, to reduce the collective production limit by two million barrels per day, in what is considered the largest supply curb since the 2020 agreement, in the midst of the historic price collapse due to the Corona pandemic.

Following the producers' decision, US President Joe Biden expressed his disappointment with the "OPEC +" agreement, stressing the importance of global energy supplies in light of the war in Ukraine.

White House spokeswoman Karen Jean-Pierre said that the “OPEC +” decision to reduce oil production, which is likely to raise prices in Western countries, “shows that the alliance is biased towards Russia.”

And the American network “CNN” reported, earlier, quoting a document of the White House, that “the United States is concerned that a possible decision by “OPEC” to reduce oil production may cause major crises for the country, and it can be considered a “hostile act.”

And a report by the American network stated that the White House “warns that the “OPEC +” meeting may cause great damage to the United States, and that the decision to reduce oil production will be a “complete disaster” for the country.

Read also: The “OPEC +” decision to reduce production .. its political and economic impact on the Biden administration

In turn, the Saudi Energy Minister, Abdulaziz bin Salman, confirmed that the decision of the “OPEC +” group to reduce oil production by two million barrels per day “is not an aggressive move and does not aim to harm anyone.”

As for Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, he announced that the decision of the “OPEC +” alliance to reduce oil production “is an unprecedented decision,” noting that the reason for taking such a decision “is the need to balance the market before winter.”

US intelligence: parties within the government of Ukraine are behind the assassination of Daria Dugin

US intelligence: parties within the government of Ukraine are behind the assassination of Daria Dugin

    Thursday, October 06, 2022   No comments

The New York Times reported that US intelligence agencies said that the Ukrainian government authorized the car bomb attack near Moscow in August, which killed Daria Dugin, the daughter of the Russian philosopher and thinker Alexander Dugin.

The newspaper quoted officials as saying that "the United States did not participate in the attack, whether by providing intelligence or other assistance."

They also added that they "were not aware of the operation ahead of time, and would have opposed the killing if they had been consulted," as they put it.

"We are frustrated by Ukraine's lack of transparency about its military and secret plans, especially on Russian soil," they said.

According to the newspaper, US officials warned Ukrainian officials against the assassination.

An accurate assessment of Ukrainian complicity, which has not previously been reported, was shared within the US government last week.

The newspaper pointed out that "the United States is concerned that such attacks - despite their high symbolic value - have little direct impact on the battlefield and could provoke Moscow to carry out its own strikes against senior Ukrainian officials."

It is worth noting that on August 22, the Russian Federal Security Service announced, in a statement, that "as a result of a set of urgent operational search procedures, the service has uncovered the details of the case of the murder of Russian journalist Daria Dugin, born in 1992."

How has the Chinese president restructured his army to become the largest power in the world?

How has the Chinese president restructured his army to become the largest power in the world?

    Tuesday, October 04, 2022   No comments

During the decade of Xi Jinping's rule, China has restructured the world's largest professional army, and developed a nuclear and ballistic arsenal capable of alarming its enemies.

As China's neighbors seek to follow this pattern, a third five-year term for the current Chinese president is likely to be accompanied by an acceleration in the arms race in the Asia-Pacific region.

China now has two aircraft carriers in service, hundreds of long- and medium-range ballistic missiles, thousands of combat aircraft, and the world's largest naval power, far ahead of the United States.

China's military budget has been rising for 27 years, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

According to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, China now has about 350 nuclear warheads, twice the amount it had during the Cold War. US intelligence agencies estimate that this stockpile may more than double to 700 warheads by 2027. New nuclear missile silos are being built in the northwest of the country.

"They have a very large navy, and if they want to intimidate and put ships in the vicinity of Taiwan, they can really do it," the commander of the Seventh Fleet told US media, Carl Thomas.

At the same time, China's nuclear arsenal is increasing dramatically and may be able - according to the Pentagon - to be launched from land, sea and air.

And last July, the Chinese president warned in a speech that "the Chinese people will never allow any external force to oppress, oppress or enslave them, and whoever dares to do so will be destroyed in front of a great steel wall built by 1.4 billion Chinese." He stressed that the time for bullying his country is over.

In January 2021, China signed a pledge, along with Russia, the United States, Britain and France, that would "reduce the risk of nuclear conflict."

The United States of America expressed its "concern" over a report published by the "Washington Post", that China has begun building more than 110 silos for launching intercontinental ballistic missiles.

A 2021 Pentagon report stated that China "is the only adversary capable of combining its economic, diplomatic, military and technological power to pose a long-term challenge to a stable and open international order."

For years, the People's Liberation Army was considered outdated and ineffective, with one historian describing it as "the largest military museum in the world." It was equipped with old military equipment made in the former Soviet Union, and was based mainly on infantry units that did not perform well on the ground abroad.

During the Korean War, the People's Liberation Army intervened on the side of North Korea, losing 400,000 men, according to Westerners, or 180,000, according to Beijing. In 1979, he faced Vietnam during a brief but bloody war.

By the time Xi Jinping became commander-in-chief of the armed forces in 2013, reforms had begun. It was initiated in the 1990s by Jiang Zemin.

"All the major players in the Indo-Pacific are responding as quickly as possible to the modernization of the Chinese military," said Malcolm Davis, a former Australian defense official now at the Institute for Policy Strategy.

For its part, South Korea wants to develop a naval force capable of operating off its coast, and Australia plans to buy eight nuclear submarines with British and American assistance under the "Ocos Agreement".

Canberra is also talking about buying hypersonic weapons, long-range ballistic missiles, and even stealth bombers capable of striking anywhere in the world without being detected. Here, Malcolm Davis says, these projects reflect a realization that China has a growing ability to engineer the region according to its will.

According to the former Australian defense official, "the era in which the US Navy dominated the seas in the western Pacific is coming to an end," explaining: "We would not have seen Okus if the Chinese president had not been... In a way, he has done us a favor." big.”

Arms purchases are on the rise, from South Korea, which has developed its deep-sea navy, to Australia, which is buying nuclear submarines.

According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, based in London, defense expenditures last year exceeded one trillion dollars in the Asia-Pacific region.

China, the Philippines and Vietnam have doubled their military spending over the past decade, and South Korea, India and Pakistan are not far from them. Even Japan presented this year a record budget in the field of defense, ending its reservations and talking about an "increasingly violent" security environment.

Chinese president calls on military to focus on preparing for military action

Chinese president calls on military to focus on preparing for military action

    Wednesday, September 21, 2022   No comments

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on the Chinese People's Liberation Army to "focus on preparing to engage in real combat".

According to China Central Television, the Chinese president sent such instructions to the participants of the National Defense and Military Reform Symposium, held in Beijing, which was attended by members of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

The Chinese president also instructed to strictly adhere to the plan to achieve the goals of the reform of the army, noting the need to strictly adhere to the path of implementing the pre-set reform goals.

Earlier, in response to US President Joe Biden's statements about the possibility of using the US military to protect Taiwan, the Chinese government expressed its willingness to "take all necessary measures" to protect its state's sovereignty.

In turn, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged the United States to adopt a rational and pragmatic policy, and act on the Taiwan issue correctly.

At a meeting with former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in New York, Wang Yi said that "any cold war between Beijing and Washington would be disastrous for bilateral relations and the entire world."

On Tuesday, US President Joe Biden announced that the United States does not support Taiwan's independence from China, despite their joint cooperation, stressing that Washington will provide protection to Taiwan in the event of a military conflict with China.

China earlier vowed to take legitimate and necessary countermeasures.

From the special operation to the partial mobilization... What is the significance of Putin's latest decision?

From the special operation to the partial mobilization... What is the significance of Putin's latest decision?

    Wednesday, September 21, 2022   No comments

Today, Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree declaring partial mobilization in the Russian Federation.

Partial mobilization is based on the implementation of the recruitment of citizens of the Russian Federation who have previous military experience, or who have undergone military courses in the army, and have a certain level of training, to participate in the fighting in Ukraine, without asking the general public. This is what distinguishes it from the general mobilization that affects all segments of society between the ages of 18 and 50.

Military service contracts concluded by military personnel in this case are based on a specific material allowance, and they are valid until the end of the partial mobilization period.

In light of this decision, senior officials in Russia, according to the official document of the declaration, must ensure conscription through partial mobilization within the time limits set by the Ministry of Defense. In the event that there are not a number of people wishing to join, the state takes a decision to compel any person who has military experience, or who has completed a specific course, to join the military.

Putin's declaration of bold mobilization in Russia means that the Russian leadership has taken a decision to move from the stage of a "special operation" to declaring "protecting Russia's sovereignty" in the face of the West.

A "special operation" is an operation based on a specific category of the army, which carries out specific and clear military action. In the case of the Russian military operation, the goal was only to "eliminate Nazism in Ukraine". Now the battle has entered the stage of the "war on Ukraine", which is a comprehensive battle related to the sovereignty of Russia itself, and not only the threat from Ukraine, and groups of the people, not the army alone, and the various categories of the army, not specific teams or groups of it, will fight together over the A wide geography, and within a country or group of other countries.

In the war, the battle will refrain from targeting only specific areas, as happened in the "special operation", and the war will develop into a broader field that may include, according to expectations, targeting Crimea, infrastructure, and decision centers in Kyiv. If Kherson, Zaporizhia and the Donbass are included, the battles in them will become battles within what is considered "Russian territory".

According to Putin, Russia is ready to use "all means" to protect its territory, including Moscow's willingness to use weapons of mass destruction if it is forced to make such a decision.

The announcement of the decision, today, reflects Russia's quest to achieve specific goals before the start of the winter season, on the one hand, and on the other hand, the end of the last phase and the start of a new phase of the conflict in Ukraine. Undoubtedly, it will carry an escalation against the West, which Putin called in his speech today the "enemy" that will be "fighting to protect Russia."

The Russian President said during a televised speech on Wednesday that his country "will support the decision that the residents of Donbass, Zaporozhye and Kherson will take on their future," referring to the referendum's support for the accession of these regions to the Russian Federation.

In a speech on the Russian military operation in Ukraine today, Wednesday, Putin added that there are "anti-Russian plans in Ukraine, as they turned the Ukrainian people against Russia," explaining that the Ukrainian army planned "to launch operations against Donbass and launch an attack on Crimea, and for this we launched Operation in Donbass.

The Russian president considered that "those who fight in the Donbass are professional heroes and volunteers who defend Russia and Donbass," stressing that the Russian forces "liberated the largest part of the lands of Kherson and Zaporozhye, according to the established plan."

The Russian president indicated that "Kyiv has obtained an order to undermine the proposals for a peaceful solution," explaining that "Washington, Germany and others give orders to Kiev against Russia."

He continued, "The West has crossed all lines in its hostile policy against Russia, and we constantly hear threats against our country and people."

Putin addressed the situation in the areas controlled by the Russian army, and said that "the citizens of the liberated areas do not want to be under Nazi rule," adding: "We cannot abandon the people of the land. That is why the parliament in Donbass took a decision in a referendum for self-determination and accession." to Russia".

He considered that "the threat to the Zaporozhye plant is a nuclear threat... Russia has a nuclear weapon, and we will use all means to protect Russia's territory."

The Russian President stressed that anyone who threatens his country's territory and the unity of his country "will be confronted by Russia."

...

Meanwhile, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that his country "is at war, not only with Ukraine, but also with the collective West."

"Ukraine is increasingly using Western weapons to strike civilians," Shoigu added, noting that "Kyiv has already lost half of its army," and that "its losses exceed one hundred thousand," in addition to the killing of "more than 2,000 mercenaries."

And he considered that "the West has crossed all limits in its policy of hostility to Russia." Also, the Russian Defense Minister revealed that "300,000 people from the reserves were called up when partial mobilization."

Yesterday, Tuesday, the President of the Lugansk People's Republic, Leonid Pasechnik, signed a law "on the conduct of a referendum on the accession of the Lugansk People's Republic to the Russian Federation."

Last Monday, the Public Chamber of the Lugansk People's Republic submitted a request to President Leonid Pasechnik and the People's Assembly, to immediately organize a popular poll to recognize the republic as a Russian entity.

Also, the head of the administration of the Kherson province, Vladimir Saldo, announced his approval to hold a popular referendum on the accession of the province to Russia, while the head of the administration of the Zaporozhye region Yevgeny Palitsky announced, on Tuesday, that the referendum on the province's accession to Russia will take place from 23 to 27 September.