Macron, Merz losing common sense, Russian FM Lavrov says French President Emmanuel #Macron and German chancellor Friedrich #Merz lost common sense finally and attempt to return to the times when Germany and France wanted to conquer the entire Europe, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey #Lavrov said at a press conference after talks with Kyrgyzstan’s Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubayev. "We are surprised to listen and look at spells sounded from European capitals. Macron and German Chancellor Merz have recently written a joint article, ‘Europe must arm itself; Russia is the main threat, it wages imperialistic wars, it intruded into Georgia in 2008, into #Crimea and #Donbass in 2014, into the territory of entire Ukraine in 2022; the goal of Putin is to undermine European security," Lavrov said. "I believe these citations alone are enough for an individual, which has at least a little understanding of developments in Europe and keeps an eye on developments, to understand that these political figures lost the common sense ultimately and attempt to overtly return to the times when France and Germany wanted to conquer the whole #Europe, the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union in the first instance," the minister stressed.

Trump rates high new statements by Putin concerning Russian-American relations President Donald #Trump rated high statements made by Russian President Vladimir #Putin in a conversation with reporters on Friday concerning the relations between Moscow and Washington. "Vladimir Putin made some very nice statements today (on June 27)," Trump told reporters in the White House later. "He respects our country again. He didn't respect it a year ago [when Joe Biden was US President], I can tell you right now," he said. "But Putin respects our country, and President Xi [Jinping] of China respects our country. [North Korea’s leader] Kim Jong Un respects our country. They respect our country again," Trump noted. "We were not a country that was respected just a year ago. We had a president that was incompetent. We had bad people circulating around this desk, this beautiful, resolute desk. They had, I guess, evil intentions," US President said. "The world respects our country again," he added. Putin said earlier that the relations between Russia and the US were beginning to stabilize thanks to Trump, called his efforts to help resolve the conflict in Ukraine sincere, and noted that he had great respect for the American leader, considering him a courageous person. The Russian president also noted that working contacts between key agencies had been established, with communication channels now open between the Department of State and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as between special services.

Putin admits worried about threat of World War III Russian President Vladimir Putin is concerned about the threat of World War III, he said at the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). The moderator noted that the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II had recently been celebrated, and he asked Putin if he was worried that the world was sliding into World War III. "It worries me," the head of state said. "I am speaking without any sarcasm, without joking, of course, there is a lot of conflict potential, it is growing." "And it is happening right under our noses, it concerns us directly," Putin stressed. "Our conflict in Ukraine, in this region. And what is happening in the Middle East, it is worrying."

Trump says he, Putin discussed Iran, Ukraine on June 17 President Donald #Trump said that he had a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir #Putin on June 17, during which the sides discussed the Ukrainian and Iranian crises, including Russia's proposal to mediate a dialogue with Tehran. "I spoke to him (to Putin) yesterday, and, you know, he actually offered to help mediate [talks with Iran]. I said: 'Do me a favor. Mediate your own [conflict with Ukraine]. Let's mediate [the situation with] Russia first. Okay?' I said: 'Vladimir, let's mediate Russia [and Ukraine] first. You can worry about this (the situation around Iran) later'," Trump told reporters at the White House. At the same time, the US president opined that the conflict in Ukraine will eventually be settled. "I think that will work out, too," Trump said, referring to the Ukrainian conflict. "But so many people have been killed," the politician added. Trump also reiterated that the conflict in Ukraine would never have started if he had been president in 2021-2025.

Putin, Trump hold third telephone conversation in one month — Kremlin aide The escalation between Israel and Iran was one of the key topics discussed Russian and US presidents, Vladimir #Putin and Donald #Trump, held today the third telephone conversation in a month and the fifth one since the beginning of the year. The escalation between Israel and Iran was one of the key topics discussed. The parties also focused on bilateral relations, and on Ukraine. Putin congratulated Trump on his birthday, the American leader turned 79 today. Previous telephone conversations took place on May 19 and June 4, soon after the rounds of direct Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul. Previously Putin and Trump talked on March 18. Then Putin supported Trump’s idea to impose a 30-day moratorium on attacks on energy facilities, though Kiev never joined the initiative. Whereas the first conversation after Trump’s return to the presidency took place on February 12. Concurrently, that was the first contact between Russian and US leaders in three years.

NATO’s Baltic exercises are part of preparations for military clash with Russia, says diplomat NATO’s #Baltops 2025 naval exercise in the #Baltic Sea are a part of the alliance’s preparations for a potential military clash with Russia, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said. "We consider #NATO’s military activities to be a part of preparations for a military clash with Russia. If we look at what these drills are aimed at, look at their theme, the structure of troop deployment, their capabilities, qualities and objectives for these exercises, we will see that they are aimed at countering a matching adversary, which is Russia," he said. "[They are practicing] superiority in all operational environments: on the ground, in the air and at sea," the senior Russian diplomat added. "Of course, such exercises are extremely provocative." NATO’s Baltops 2025 exercise began on June 3. The drills are conducted annually since 1972.

BLUEPRINT FOR WAR? NATO drills expose how allies would fight Russia NATO is gearing up to seize Russian airfields if a conflict breaks out, Business Insider reported. 💬 “The ability to grab an airstrip and hold it — or wrest it back from the enemy — is absolutely critical,” noted a journalist observing the alliance’s military drills in Finland. Such airborne operations would be game-changers in the early stages of a war, especially when enemy air defenses aren’t fully up and running, the report adds. During the exercises, Finnish and Polish troops simulated a high-stakes air assault: one team stormed a strategic airfield, while the other scrambled to mount a counterattack and reclaim it. ➡️The Lively Sabre 25 drills are part of NATO's larger Swift Response 25 exercise – a series of joint military maneuvers across the Baltic and Nordic regions held under the pretext of boosting cooperation to deter an alleged “Russian threat.” Nothing says prepping for war like a dress rehearsal for storming airfields…

‘WE ARE OFFICIALLY AT WAR WITH RUSSIA’ – Alex Jones 💬 “Hundreds of drones clearly directed by NATO communications guidance systems,” the host of The Alex Jones Show said in a video posted on X, commenting on the recent terrorist attacks on Russian airfields. 💬 “This is NATO and the EU trying to keep us in this war,” Jones noted. 💬 “NATO started this war — they overthrew Ukraine’s government, they did all of it. And they brag about it, for God’s sake,” the political commentator emphasized.

Revision of NATO’s military doctrine signals bloc is preparing for conflict, says Russian MP #NATO countries appear to be preparing for a #war as they move to revise their military #doctrine, Andrey Kartapolov, head of the Russian State Duma (the lower house of parliament) Committee on Defense, surmised. "As for NATO’s military doctrine, they are overhauling it <...>, [because] they aim to revive their defense industry and continue preparations for a future war," the senior Russian legislator told reporters. "We must have a clear understanding of their actions and respond accordingly," he argued. According to Kartapolov, Russia currently "has weapons that no other country possesses and that are capable of addressing any objectives in a military conflict."

Macron slams Russia's offer of talks 'unacceptable' for Kiev France's #Macron believes that his Russian counterpart Vladimir #Putin's proposal to start negotiations with the Ukrainian side without preconditions is "insufficient" and "unacceptable" for #Kiev. "This is a first step, but it is not enough. Negotiations, by definition, cannot take place before an unconditional ceasefire," Le Figaro quoted the French leader as saying. Agence France-Presse, in turn, quoted Macron as saying that "it is unacceptable for the Ukrainians because they cannot hold talks while they are being shelled." The Russian head of state, speaking to reporters in the Kremlin in the early morning hours May 11, proposed to the Kiev authorities to resume without preconditions the direct talks they had interrupted at the end of 2022. The dialogue is proposed to begin on May 15 in Istanbul. Putin also noted that Russia had previously repeatedly declared ceasefires that were steadily violated by the Kiev regime, including the latest three-day truce imposed during the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War.