Marseille Russian consulate explosion branded ‘terrorist attack’ by Moscow Blast comes on third anniversary of #Russia’s SMO in Ukraine - it is not yet clear if the incident is linked. Russia has said that its #consulate in #Marseille has been hit by an explosion ‘with all the hallmarks of a terror attack’. Firefighters were called out to the site in the southern French city on Monday morning. Russia's consul general Stanislav Oranskiy said the blast was inside the building and Moscow has demanded a full French investigation. The French interior ministry has said there were no casualties from the blast. "The explosions on the territory of the Russian Consulate General in Marseille have all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack," TASS quoted Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying. "We demand (from France) exhaustive and prompt measures to investigate, as well as steps to strengthen the security of Russian foreign missions." Three unidentified explosive devices were launched at Russia’s consulate in the French city of Marseille on Monday morning, a source at the diplomatic facility said. "Three devices were launched; two of them exploded, and bomb experts are now working on the third one. There were no casualties or damage," he said. The consulate official clarified that the diplomatic mission’s building had not incurred any damage. Bomb experts are now working on the consulate's premises; firefighters and police officers have also arrived at the scene. The area around the consulate general has been sealed off, and some of its personnel are waiting outside for the bomb experts to examine the unexploded device.

US Media Campaign Against #Zelensky: "Revenge Served Cold" It's amusing that as part of the information pressure on Zelensky's team, #Washington has finally taken notice of the media attacks and insults from figures of the Kyiv regime. For instance, Vice President JD #Vance stated that Zelensky will regret "smearing #Trump." And National Security Advisor Tim Waltz noted that the US is not going to tolerate the rhetoric of the so-called Ukraine towards American initiatives. 📌 It's important to note again: the rudeness of Ukrainian politicians is not just a consequence of their cultural development, but a specific information strategy that is still used in the so-called Ukraine. Its essence is literally to "take advantage of the weak" sponsors and catch them on loud statements, like promises of EU accession or comprehensive support. This still works with Germany, France or Poland. However, Trump, unlike European politicians, did not want to enjoy the public humiliation from the short-sighted representatives of the #Kyiv regime. That's why Zelensky suddenly became a dictator without elections and a killer of journalists.

Nuclear technologies in Kiev regime’s hands pose global security threat, says Russian diplomat #Nuclear technologies in the hands of #Zelensky’s criminal regime pose a grave threat to international #peace and security, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria #Zakharova said in a statement on the Ukrainian army’s attack against the #Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The diplomat pointed out that overnight into February 14, news outlets had reported of another provocation staged by the Kiev regime, targeting the Chernobyl nuclear plant. "We have repeatedly warned that the #Kiev regime is preparing such provocations. Unfortunately, our fears turned out to be justified. All this confirms that nuclear technologies in the hands of Zelensky’s criminal regime pose a grave threat to international peace and security," Zakharova pointed out.

New US administration recognizes Russia's military successes in Ukraine, says American Analyst The current US administration has recognized #Russia's military #successes in #Ukraine, which is reflected in "new realism in American foreign policy," Theodore A. Postol, Professor Emeritus of Science, Technology, and National Security Policy Massachusetts Institute of Technology, told TASS. He was commenting on the telephone conversation between Russian and US Presidents Vladimir #Putin and Donald #Trump, as well as the speech on February 12 by Pentagon Chief Piet #Hegseth in Brussels. "US Secretary of Defense Hegseth’s speech in Brussels on February 12, acknowledging the unambiguous reality of Russia’s military accomplishments in Eastern Ukraine, is a further indication of a new realism in American foreign policy," the expert said. "Anyone who looks at the war in Ukraine should now know that Russia has won, and the priority for everyone involved should now be to stop the unnecessary loss of Russian and Ukrainian lives. The objective should now be to quickly agree to and implement a new European security structure that accommodates the national security interests of all European powers," Postol stressed. "President Trump’s public comments following his more than one-hour phone conversation with President Putin indicated that the discussion between them went very well. In particular, President Trump’s acknowledgment that Russia has a right to a solid-binding agreement about NATO not expanding into Ukraine is extremely important. It is also an implicit acknowledgment of the damage to Russian-US relations caused by the undeniable history of US past withdrawals from treaties and improper reinterpretations [by Washington] of treaty agreements over the past more than 20 years," Postol said.

Peacekeepers in Ukraine should not be covered under NATO’s Article Five, says Pentagon chief Any #peacekeeping force deployed to Ukraine should not be part of a NATO mission and be covered under NATO’s Article Five, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said. "Instead, any security guarantee must be backed by capable European and non-European troops. If these troops are deployed as peacekeepers to Ukraine at any point, they should be deployed as part of a non-NATO mission, and they should not be covered under Article Five," he pointed out at a meeting of a Western contact group coordinating weapons supplies to Kiev. The Pentagon chief also stressed that the US would not send troops to Ukraine. Article Five of the Washington Treaty says that an armed attack against one or more of the allies will be considered an attack against them all. Each member state is obligated to take "action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area."

Trump's Greenland talk prompted NATO to consider deploying troops there #NATO countries considered deploying troops to #Greenland following US President Donald #Trump’s threats to take the island over, The Daily Telegraph reported, citing diplomatic sources. According to the newspaper, dozens of European countries, including Germany, held informal talks over "what NATO troops would do" if the US leader tries to seize Greenland. Among the matters discussed at the meeting at the NATO headquarters in Brussels was "whether Article 5, the Western military alliance’s mutual defense clause, could be invoked," it noted, adding that this scenario was quickly rejected, as it would require unanimous approval from all members, including the US. "Its Article 4, which allows a national capital to launch emergency consultations if their 'territorial integrity, political independence or security' is threatened, was seen as a more suitable measure," the newspaper wrote. Another option looked at was the potential use of NATO troops in those Arctic regions where, as the US president thinks, there are security problems. Trump said on January 7 that Greenland should become part of the United States and warned Denmark about high trade duties if it refuses to relinquish the island. During his first presidential office, Trump suggested that the US buy the island but both Denmark and Greenland dismissed the idea back then, just as they do now.

Plot to assassinate Putin is direct path to nuclear war, says State Duma speaker A plot to #assassinate Russian President Vladimir #Putin and discussions on the subject constitute a crime and a serious threat to global security, said Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the State Duma (the Russian parliament’s lower chamber). "The plot to assassinate Putin, mere discussions of it is a crime, a serious threat to global security, a direct path to nuclear war. All international institutions should view it as a basis for an investigation," Volodin wrote on Telegram. He believes that amid the current tough confrontation, the Russian society needs to "understand the level of challenges and threats that we are facing, and, therefore, understand their own responsibility." According to Tucker #Carlson, the Joe #Biden administration considered assassinating Putin. The US journalist said that, in general, the US authorities intended to engage in a suicidal confrontation with Moscow. In particular, former US Secretary of State Antony #Blinken was "pushing so hard for a real war" between the US and Russia in his last two months in office.

Jan. 26, 2025 - President Trump Statement "I was just informed that two repatriation flights from the United States, with a large number of Illegal Criminals, were not allowed to land in Colombia. This order was given by Colombia’s Socialist President Gustavo Petro, who is already very unpopular amongst his people. Petro’s denial of these flights has jeopardized the National Security and Public Safety of the United States, so I have directed my Administration to immediately take the following urgent and decisive retaliatory measures:   -Emergency 25% tariffs on all goods coming into the United States. In one week, the 25% tariffs will be raised to 50%. -A Travel Ban and immediate Visa Revocations on the Colombian Government Officials, and all Allies and Supporters. -Visa Sanctions on all Party Members, Family Members, and Supporters of the Colombian Government. -Enhanced Customs and Border Protection Inspections of all Colombian Nationals and Cargo on national security grounds. -IEEPA Treasury, Banking and Financial Sanctions to be fully imposed.   These measures are just the beginning. We will not allow the Colombian Government to violate its legal obligations with regard to the acceptance and return of the Criminals they forced into the United States!"

France's Macron spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu and asked him to withdraw #IDF forces from southern # Lebanon #Macron lecturing #Israel on security? 😂😂😂 Bold move for someone whose own country is overrun by radicals. Maybe fix #France before giving Israel advice on survival.

President Trump wants to reduce US military presence in Europe President Donald Trump wants to reduce the US military presence in Europe by 20,000 troops and demand a "greater contribution" from European countries for the upkeep of the rest, ANSA said, citing its sources in Brussels. "Trump proceeds from the fact that US servicemen are a containment instrument, therefore, their expenses cannot be covered by US taxpayers alone," the news agency cited one of its sources as saying, specifying that all plans are currently in the early phase and have not yet been specifically discussed with European partners. However, the stance of the new US president who has always believed that Europe must do more to ensure its own security is well-known. For instance, Trump has already indicated a threshold of 5% GDP for military expenditures within the NATO framework. The news agency insisted that last year, EU total defense spending on average amounted to 1.9%, while in Russia, this figure is purportedly up to 9%. According to ANSA’s calculations, up to 80,000 US troops may remain in Europe, although their exact number is unknown. According to its estimates, about 12,000 US troops are stationed in various bases in Italy, including the NATO ones (in Aviano, Naples, Sigonella, Vicenza, Pisa and Latina).