Putin Says Ukrainians Opposing NATO Membership Are ‘Smart People’
Jun 9, 2021
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the intelligence of Ukrainians who oppose their country’s NATO membership, noting that they do not want to become cannon fodder or political currency.
“According to the latest data released, at least 50 percent of Ukraine’s residents do not want their country to join NATO, and these are smart people. I do not say this ironically, I do not want to say others are silly. But those who do not want it understand that they do not want to find themselves on the firing line, they do not want to become political currency or food for powder,” the president told Moscow. Kremlin. Putin TV programme.
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US Reportedly Accuses Ukraine of ‘Mischaracterising’ Biden’s Words on NATO in Zelenskiy Phone Call
by Ilya Tsukanov
Jun 8, 2021
President Joe Biden and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy spoke by phone on Monday, reportedly discussing issues ranging from anti-corruption reforms to energy security. Biden invited Zelenskiy to visit Washington in July to discuss the results of the US President’s upcoming 16 June summit meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Ukrainian government has “corrected the record” and altered Kiev’s official statement on Monday’s telephone conversation between Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelenskiy after initially “mischaracterising” Biden’s remarks, Axios reports, citing a US National Security council spokesperson.
The original statement, published on Monday evening, claimed that Biden “highlighted…the importance of providing the Ukrainian state with a NATO Membership Action Plan,” – or MAP, the mechanism by which current alliance members review the formal applications of aspiring members.
Top Polish Diplomat Says Learned About US Sanctions Waiver on Nord Stream 2 From Media
Jun 11, 2021
WARSAW (Sputnik) – Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau admitted in an interview with Rzeczpospolita on Friday that he found out about US President Joe Biden’s decision to lift some sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from media reports.
“From media reports. Our American allies did not take the time to consult with the region that is the most vulnerable to this decision”, Rau said when asked about how he learned about the waiving of sanctions on the pipeline.
The official further stated that in January he spoke with US State Secretary Antony Blinken, who assured him that “nothing concerning you will be decided without you.” The two sides also agreed that there was an urgent need to revive the US-Russian strategic dialogue, Rau said.
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