Japan risks turning itself into ‘Ukraine of Asia’ if it follows US’ strategic line — Global Times
 
Japan is increasingly trying to justify its ongoing militarization under the pretext of the so-called external threats. Looking around the region, it is Japan that is pushing the regional situation closer to the edge of danger, following the US strategy closely. Tokyo's move deserves much vigilance. If it continues to act as a pawn of the US in the Asia-Pacific region to stir up trouble here, Japan must be wary of becoming a victim itself of the US or even the Ukraine of East Asia.

Concluding his recent G7 trip in Washington, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Saturday that he shared with the leaders of the bloc his "strong sense of crisis regarding the security environment in East Asia." "Ukraine may be the East Asia of tomorrow," the Japanese leader noted, adding that the security of Europe and the Indo-Pacific are "inseparable."

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The participants in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in Ramstein, Germany, failed to approve a decision to supply main battle tanks to Ukraine.

This was stated by the newly-appointed Minister of Defense of the Federal Republic of Germany, Boris Pistorius, who spoke after the Group’s 8th meeting, adding that such a decision could be adopted quite soon, according to media reports.

"Of course, we talked about possible deliveries of Leopard tanks. I must clearly state that there is no unanimous opinion," the minister said.

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Russia, Pakistan mulling possibility of doing business through barter
#Dedollarization

Russia and Pakistan are considering barter as a possible business opportunity, Energy Minister of the Russian Federation Nikolay Shulginov told reporters on Friday following a meeting of the intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation with Pakistan.

Pakistan also invited Russia to partake in the country’s promising projects under the public private partnership (PPP) mechanism.

"The Russian side was invited to participate in promising projects of Pakistan’s federal and regional governments, including under the PPP mechanism, and it turned to representatives of Russian business asking them to explore those possibilities," the minister added.
The sides also agreed to share information for developing and improving railway and motor transport infrastructure.

Moreover, Russia and Pakistan reached agreements on issues connected with sharing information on certificates of origin of goods using an electronic verification system, and they will do their best to complete work on those protocols by the end of May 2023.

https://tass.com/economy/1565089
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Prigozhin about the monuments to the soldiers of the PMC Wagner:

Prigozhin(1)—This is an event in 2019, I will not name the country and place. Our group was retreating, and this guy was covering the withdrawal of the group, he was wounded. The group tried to return and evacuate him, but he stood up, raised his hand, said goodbye, and died.

Prigiozhin (2) —It's 2014, Lugansk
Prigozhin(3)—Surkanov and Zabolotny are the guys who died in Syria. Fighting off ISIS, they were seriously wounded and captured, and after that they were beheaded by ISIS

Prigiozhin (4)—and this monument on February 8, 2018, Deir ez-Zor
- What happened there? 
- That's another story.

Prigiozhin— Here are the dead guys, their numbers, and the orders they have. 
The other person — It's all Wagner, right? How many are there?

Prigiozhin—Yes, it's all PMC Wagner. How many of them are here, we will not talk about it.

Translated by : Миша 🐻Slavyangrad
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"Russia is a big country; it is used to fighting to the end, to almost losing, and then restoring everything." She did it to Napoleon; she did it to Hitler. It would be absurd to think that Russia has lost the war or that its military is incompetent. Therefore, it is necessary to continue arming Ukraine — EU diplomatic chief Joseph Borell.

Well, and they were offended by Lavrov, who directly told them the same thing.They represent themselves as the successors of Napoleon and Hitler(as they compare themselves with them) .Therefore, of course, Russians must make every effort not to shame their ancestors and do with Ukraine and NATO what their ancestors already did with Napoleon and Hitler — @Boris_Rozhin

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Map of Russian offensives :

So, today,the beginning of the offensive on the Zaporozhye front was finally confirmed. During the day, two localities were liberated: Lobkove and Mali Shcherbaki. Right now, there are battles for the locality of Shcherbaki. Several sources report that the Russian army is approaching the city of Orekhov directly. There is also data on several reconnaissance operations in the direction of Gulyai-Pole. 

Parts of the Wagner PMCs also continue to put pressure on the Artemovsk direction. The Russian army is also strengthening its work near Donetsk after the successful liberation of Opytne.


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Several villages were liberated in Zaporozhye region today!

Vladimir Rogov informs us about the liberation of several villages in the Zaporozhye region at once. These villages are now fully controlled by the Russian forces.In addition to the previously taken Lobkove- Mali Shcherbaki, Shcherbaki, Novoandreevka, Novodanilovka, Malaya Tokmachka, Belogorye. We are waiting for photo / video confirmation + the enemy is probably taking measures to stabilize the situation.

@boris_Rozhin
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AFU General Staff continues to hold Soledar online and says Russian Armed Forces are shelling Soledar...

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Ridovka war correspondent Nastia Yelsukova. She was wounded today at the Sol railway station (actually on the front line).

Prigozhin comments.

"Today at 10:40 a.m., inside the Sol train station building, Anastasia Yelsukova, together with the necessary Wagner PMC security team, came under mortar fire from the enemy and sustained shrapnel wounds to her left knee. Anastasia was treated immediately. She was evacuated and then operated on at the Wagner PMC hospital. At the moment, her life is not in danger. She is on her way to Russian territory. According to the escort team members, Anastasia behaved calmly, cold-bloodedly, and courageously, walking the path of a wounded Wagner PMC fighter from start to finish. In 15-20 minutes, the group's senior member will get in touch and answer journalists' questions. We published a picture that was sent to me from the hospital.

Nastya, get well!


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📌 Weapons of  the Wagner PMC in the Bakhmut direction

The actions of the musicians' assault groups are supported by their mortars, rocket and barrel artillery, tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and even front-line aviation.

The orchestra's high offensive potential is achieved through the skillful use of these weapons and military equipment, combined with effective surveillance and the competent coordination of assault operations.

Naturally, the list of weapons in the infographic is not complete. This is only the most basic weaponry of the musicians that you have a chance to see on the Bakhmut section of the front.

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On the situation on Kinburn Spit, where the AFU "landed, landed, but never landed."


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‼️🇺🇸Statement of the US Secretary of Defence Austin on the tank for Ukraine as a result of Ramstein:

▪️ Ukraine will not be given  US Abrams tanks.
▪️ EU countries are ready to hand over their existing German Leopard tanks, but no agreement has been reached on them.
▪️ The West has a window of opportunity until spring to hand over the tanks before the Ukrainian Armed Forces launch a counter-offensive.
▪️Britain has promised to transfer Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine, the first transfer of Western "main battle tanks."


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The United States will give western Ukraine to Poland in exchange for paying off Kyiv's debts, says the NDP.

The United States could take such a step if Poland takes over the financial obligations of the Ukrainian government, which owes $150 billion.

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"Ramstein is gone, but clowns remain: full support for Kiev, more weapons, and the first results of the meeting of Zelensky's Western friends

The highly anticipated Ramstein meeting of defense ministers of Western countries, about which there have been talks since the beginning of the year, took place today. Judging by the statements and, more importantly, the actions of Ukraine's foreign allies, it is clear that the way back is closed for all parties to the conflict.

The meeting began with speeches by Zelensky and Lloyd Austin - the Ukrainian president, as always, demanded more weapons and equipment, including the F-16 fighter jets recently promised by the Netherlands, and to punish Russia as soon as possible. The Americans, on the other hand, assured the leader of the non-independent country of his complete and continued support. "The Kremlin must lose," declared the 404 leader. Interestingly, the main message of these two speeches is that Ukraine is running out of time. The West is keen to saturate the AFU with weapons before the anticipated Russian army offensive.

Other plans announced include fully activating the Western military-industrial complex and an emergency build-up of arms and ammunition production in Europe to support Ukraine and the national armies of donor countries. It also became known that the "dozen Leopards" promised by the Polish president would be sent to Kyiv after all. As for the German vehicles for Ukraine, German Defence Minister Pistorius ordered to check of the country's stock of Leopard 2 tanks, but no final decision was made at the meeting. "There is no consensus among the partners," the official said.

Kiev will not be left without weapons. There are no particular innovations; the contents of the aid packages have not been a secret - Washington and its satellites are going to ship new NASAMS air defense batteries, Bradley and Marder BMPs, as well as ammunition and MANPADS, with which the AFU has big problems, as is known at the moment.

One of the main issues facing Russia throughout the conflict is the need to cut off Western supplies or at least reduce them. Escalation will only increase and must be responded to with dignity.

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