Russia Ukraine war: Vladimir Putin's threat to Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Baltic states in speech

10 Jun, 2022 

news.com.au
By Alexis Carey

As the war in Ukraine drags on, Russian president Vladimir Putin has dropped a major clue he has set his sights on a new nation.

The invasion of Ukraine has been raging since late February.

Now, the fight has shifted to the crucial eastern city of Severodonetsk, where Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has declared the fate of the entire Donbas region will be decided.

But that key battle is not going well for the defenders. Local officials have confirmed the city is now mostly controlled by Russian forces after a "difficult" night.

And as things heat up in Ukraine, Putin has used a new speech to subtly threaten one of Russia's closest neighbours.

Speaking to technology students in Moscow on Thursday – the 350th anniversary of the birthday of Peter I, also known as Peter the Great – Putin declared that it was his "destiny" to "return" and "fortify territories".

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has taken a turn. Photo / Getty Images

That key phrase has caught the world's attention, especially given it was uttered on such a significant day.

Peter the Great was Russia's first emperor, known for founding St Petersburg and making it the capital, and conquering the Baltic coast during a war against Sweden, which ended Sweden's dominance in the region and started Russia's expansion into a major empire.

"Peter the Great returned territories and fortified them. This destiny has also fallen to us," Putin said.

He also spoke about Peter I's 21-year Great Northern War, declaring that "where it may seem that he was fighting against Sweden, and seizing lands … He wasn't seizing anything. He was actually returning" formerly Russian lands that had been lost.

Russian President Vladimir Putin at a press conference in Moscow, Russia. 

Photo / AP

Putin then compared Peter I's efforts with Russia's current plans, touching on the nation's need to "take back" territory and "defend itself", and noted that when the former tsar founded St Petersburg, "none of the countries in Europe recognised this territory as belonging to Russia".

"Everyone considered it to be part of Sweden. But from time immemorial, Slavs had lived there alongside Finno-Ugric peoples," he added.

"It is our responsibility also to take back and strengthen.

"Yes, there have been times in our country's history when we have been forced to retreat, but only to regain our strength and move forward."

Those comments have been widely seen as a reference to the Ukraine war, and a clue to what could be next on Putin's agenda.

Finland president's mystery move

Just hours after Putin's speech, a last-minute decision by Finland's president made headlines.

President Sauli Niinistö and his wife Jenni Haukio were visiting the islands of Åland, which lie between the Finnish and Swedish mainlands, where they were due to dine with Sweden's King Carl Gustav XVI and Queen Silvia.

A Flourish data visualization

However, that meeting was cancelled, and the leader abruptly flew home via helicopter, while the royals also left an evening concert earlier than expected.

It is believed the hasty move was the result of reports that Russian frigates had started drilling in the Baltic Sea off the enclave of Kaliningrad. Nato is also carrying out operations in the region.

The news is worrying given the islands are demilitarised and thus undefended – and would also be a strategic battleground if Russia were to strike against Finland and Sweden over their sensational move to join Nato last month.

Putin's new one-word threat

But while much of Putin's speech was seen as a general vow to continue his war against Ukraine, some of his final comments also raised eyebrows.

After speaking about Peter I's success over Sweden, he added that "the same is true in the western direction" – specifically referring to "Narva", which is now part of nearby Estonia and lies just 46km from St Petersburg.

Estonia gained independence from Russia in 1991. Photo / Getty Images

In an article in US conservative news magazine the Washington Examiner, reporter Tom Rogan claims that Putin's mention of Narva was a direct threat to Estonia, which gained independence in August 1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union.

"Thus followed Putin's crunch line threat: 'Apparently', Putin remarked, 'it also fell to our lot to return and strengthen'. The message and associated threat are clear: Putin's campaign of destiny is expanding, not retreating," Rogan writes.

"These are not the words of a leader who is cowed or seeking compromise.

"Indeed, these words likely represent the growing influence of the Kremlin ultra-hawks, led by Nikolai Patrushev. Recently aggressive rhetoric from top Kremlin figures like Dmitry Medvedev further emphasises the hawks' rising power."
Putin's grim plan

The Russian president's comments are the latest sign the invasion of Ukraine could just be the beginning. Many experts believe Putin's masterplan is to rebuild the old Soviet Union.

Earlier this year, US President Joe Biden agreed with that assessment, claiming Putin has "much larger ambitions in Ukraine".

"He wants to, in fact, re-establish the former Soviet Union. That's what this is about," Mr Biden said at the time, years after Putin raised eyebrows in 2005 by claiming in a speech the dissolution of the Soviet Union was the "greatest geopolitical tragedy of the 20th century".

Since then, many have suggested that the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, Moldova and Georgia could be under threat.

"Any area where the Russians have their quote-unquote peacekeeping forces … or anything that has disputed territory [is vulnerable]," former US Defence Intelligence Agency officer Rebekah Koffler told Fox News in early March.

"Will Putin now move quickly against other post-Soviet states? More military attacks on other post-Soviet countries seem unlikely for now," Penn State professor emerita of political science Donna Bahry added.

"But Putin could ramp up pressure on the countries with closer ties to the EU, such as Moldova and Georgia – for example, by recognising the independence of Transnistria or annexing South Ossetia.

And earlier this year, Australian National University's Russian political expert Dr Leonid Petrov told news.com.au Russia's expansion "cannot be stopped".

"Nobody can guarantee the integrity of European Union states like the Baltic republics [which include Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia] which were formerly part of the Soviet Union. Russia will have the power to annex them as well," he said.

"Putin cannot be stopped because of his state of mind.

"I believe that he is hellbent on the restoration of the Soviet Union and those borders of pre-1991 (when the Soviet Union collapsed)."

How united on Ukraine is the EU? | DW News

Jun 11, 2022

Unity in the face of aggression is a sentiment EU member states stressed over and over again when Russian troops first invaded Ukraine. But that unity developed cracks when it came to the specifics - how to punish Putin and his allies? How to best support Ukraine? Now, over a hundred days into the war, the positions keep drifting apart, as Christine Mhundwa reports.

The European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen made a surprise visit to Kyiv for talks with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

They focused on Ukraine's bid to join the European Union. Kyiv submitted its membership application back in March. Brussels is set to publish its final assessment next week. Von der Leyen says the commission is working all-out to facilitate the process.

 

Putin Has Withdrawn! Russia Is Now Independent of European Human Rights

Council

Why do Russians still back Putin on the invasion of Ukraine? 

DW News

Jun 3, 2022

When the war started, Putin aimed at a swift victory. 100 days later, Russia has had to withdraw, regroup and focus its attacks on the East. When the invasion started, some anti-war protests emerged in Russia. Now, these voices seem rather silent. How is Putin selling this as a success to the Russian people? 

There's been a lot of speculation about Putin's health in recent months. Unconfirmed reports suggest he may be suffering from cancer or Parkinson's disease. Is there anything to it than just rumors?

 

Putin’s War: Inside The Mind Of Vladimir Putin 

NBC News NOW Special

May 25, 2022

As the world watches Russia’s war in Ukraine with horror, it’s become clear that the key to understanding the conflict is understanding Vladimir Putin. Keir Simmons takes an in-depth dive into putin’s history, interviews some of his closest confidants, and the man himself, to better understand how we got here, and ask what’s next for Russia, and the world.

 

Serbia, Russia and the war in Ukraine 

DW Documentary

May 24, 2022

Serbia has refused to impose sanctions on Russia up to now. The majority of Serbs support Putin’s war in Ukraine. Many have traumatic memories of NATO bombing during the Kosovo War and mistrust the West.

This documentary shows how the war in Ukraine has actually strengthened many Serbs’ feelings for Russia and upped President Vladimir Putin’s popularity. At demonstrations, protesters chant "Serbia and Russia: brothers forever” and "Putin, Putin”. Construction worker Sreten Mijovic regards Ukrainians as antichrists. For him, the most important things in life are Russia, Serbia and the Serbian soccer club Red Star Belgrade. The Grbovic family remembers the frightening weeks that they spent in the cellar during the NATO bombing campaign in 1999 — when Russia was the only country that took Serbia’s side.

Serbia would like to join the European Union, but it feels strong ties to Russia because of a shared culture and the Christian orthodox faith.

 

Putin Ally Posts Ominous Video Featuring Chechnya's Armed Forces

GREAT RUSSIAN IMPERIALISM 

WITH MUSLIM MAMALUKES & JANISSARIES

BY ZOE STROZEWSKI

ON 6/10/22 

Ramzan Kadyrov, Chechnya's leader and a top ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has shared an ominous video showing a mass gathering of his armed forces and a speech he delivered about ensuring "peace" in the world.

The video, which included English dubbing that at times was hard to decipher, showed long lines of vehicles and troops, some carrying what looked to be the Chechen flag with Kadyrov's face on it, gathering in and around a large square. Kadyrov is then shown standing in front of the gathering and delivering an address in which he asserts that "our president always makes the right decisions."



Because the Chechen Republic is part of Russia, Kadyrov is apparently referring to Putin, though the English dubbing of his speech does not refer to the longtime Russian leader by name. He asks his audience to "stand next to our state," proclaiming that "only then will there be peace in our world." He also says that "Western European states have made all possible attempts to destroy our state."

The foreboding video was posted mere days after Kadyrov threatened a "real special operation" against Ukraine, an offshoot of Russia's repeated references to the war as a "special military operation." Kadyrov announced days after Russia invaded Ukraine that his forces had been deployed to Ukraine, and he has since posted videos and updates on social media that allegedly show Chechen participation in the war, according to Al Jazeera. It was not immediately clear if the new video and speech were meant to hint at a large-scale Chechen mobilization to back up Russia in its action against Ukraine.

IN CIVILIAN DRAG

Ramzan Kadyrov, Chechnya's leader and a top ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has shared an ominous video showing a mass gathering of his armed forces and a speech he delivered about ensuring "peace" in the world. Above, Kadyrov arrives in the Hall of the Order of St. George during a meeting on December 26, 2016, in Moscow.

MIKHAIL SVETLOV/GETTY IMAGES

Neither Russia nor Ukraine currently seems poised to score a decisive victory, though a Ukrainian military intelligence official told The Guardian in an interview published Friday that the conflict has become an "artillery war" that Ukraine is at risk of losing. Maps of territorial control in Ukraine, which are shared daily by the Institute for the Study of War, indicate that both sides have recently only been seeing incremental land gains and losses.

But despite neither side appearing to hold the upper hand in the war, Kadyrov has expressed a desire for Russia's offensive to go past Ukraine's borders. He said in a video that was shared on Twitter by BBC journalist Francis Scarr that "waging wars is a pleasure" and he would "take all those European states" if it were up to him.

He said in another video shared by Scarr that he is ready to attack Poland.

Newsweek reached out to Russia's Defense Ministry for comment.

READ MORE

Putin Ally Gets 'Pleasure' From Waging War, Tells Russia to Take Europe

Putin's Chechen Ally Threatens 'Special Operation' In Ukraine Within Days

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NOT A FRIEND NOR ALLY BUT A JANISSARY

Big Threat! Putin Ally Ramzan Kadyrov Tells Russia to Take Europe - 

 

Kadyrov has threatened Europe! Big words

 

The World is in Shock! A Close friend of Putin Suggested Starting a World War

  

'Rehearsal' for NATO conflict: Putin's ally says, 'Russia testing weapons in Ukraine'

Putin ally stated Ukraine war may be a 'rehearsal' for a possible large-scale conflict with the West. Moscow State University academic Alexei Fenenko made the remarks on a Kremlin-controlled channel. Putin ally hinted more is to come & raised the prospect of a broader conflict with NATO alliance members. Stuttering invasion, Kremlin-backed media going all out to portray 'demilitarisation of Ukraine' in a positive light.

Diving brothers discover royal shipwreck that carried James II | ITV News

Judge rejects NRA’s claims that NY AG is gunning for them with lawsuit

By Priscilla DeGregory
June 10, 2022 

NY Attorney General: NRA is not above the law

A New York judge on Friday rejected the National Rifle Associations’ claims that New York Attorney General Letitia James was illegally gunning for them with her investigation into the organization.

The pro-gun rights group had filed a counterclaim against the AG, accusing her of targeting it for political reasons as part of a “witch hunt” that goes back as far as when she was running for office.

But Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Joel Cohen shot down those allegations, finding that James’ office had sufficient grounds to launch its probe.

“The investigation followed reports of serious misconduct and it uncovered additional evidence that, at a bare minimum, undermines any suggestion that was a mere pretext to penalize the NRA for its constitutionally protected activities,” Cohen’s decision says.

“The narrative that the Attorney General’s investigation into these undeniably serious matters was nothing more than a politically motivated – and unconstitutional – witch hunt is simply not supported by the record,” the ruling reads.

New York Attorney General Letitia James originally filed suit against the NRA in 2020, claiming they were flouting non-profit rules.

Bloomberg via Getty Images

James filed suit in 2020 seeking to disband the NRA, claiming its leadership flouted nonprofit rules by diverting millions of agency dollars to fund lavish lifestyles, including trips to the Bahamas, safaris in Africa, and jaunts on yachts.

In March, Cohen dismissed a part of the AG’s suit that sought to break up the NRA, finding instead there are ways to reform the organization – including by potentially removing top executives.

“Today, the court reaffirmed the legitimacy and viability of my office’s lawsuit against the NRA for its years of fraud, abuse, and greed,” AG James said in a statement.

What do you think? Post a comment.

NRA lawyer William Brewer said they are “disappointed” with the ruling and maintained that James has a political animus toward the NRA.

“Naturally, we are disappointed in the opinion. However, we understand the court’s decision that certain counterclaims were rendered moot by the NRA’s recent victory against the NYAG – when the court struck down her efforts to dissolve the Association,” Brewer said in a statement. “And, as the record reflects, the NRA is committed to good governance and is transparent about its efforts in that regard.”

 

IOM Statement on the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection

Los Angeles – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) welcomes the adoption of the Los Angeles Declaration today at the Summit of the Americas. This is encouraging news for a continent that has seen a record number of people undertake risky and sometimes deadly journeys in search of better opportunities and protection for themselves and their families.

The Los Angeles Declaration builds on internationally adopted principles and instruments, including the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. 

With this Declaration, countries across the Americas recognize the urgent need to work collaboratively to protect the dignity, life and human rights of all migrants, regardless of migratory status. IOM applauds this commitment as a fundamental step toward effectively managing migratory movements in the Americas.

The recognition that no country can singlehandedly leverage the tremendous opportunities and address the challenges brought by people on the move is at the heart of well-managed migration. The document adopted today recognizes that good governance of human mobility must include solidarity and shared responsibility by all States, whether countries of origin, transit or destination of migrants, and that most countries are indeed all three. This recognition embraces international cooperation and multilateralism that is inherently necessary to address the transnational nature of human mobility.

IOM reaffirms its unwavering readiness to work with the countries of the Americas to mitigate the adverse drivers that force people to leave their countries of origin or transit, particularly in light of current record inflation rates, socio-economic contraction caused by the COVID 19 pandemic, the growing impacts of environmental degradation exacerbated by climate change and increasing food insecurity adding to existing underlying and structural factors driving migration. IOM remains committed to supporting governments in the Americas to address, amongst others, irregular migration, facilitate sustainable reintegration of returnees and combat human trafficking.

We are also eager to work with governments in the Americas to support host and transit communities, promote regular pathways for safe and orderly migration, social inclusion and access to international and other forms of protection where needed, provide support for emergency response and humanitarian assistance in situations of vulnerable migratory movements, foster opportunities for decent work, facilitate regularization and access to services, regional information-sharing and policy dialogues, and promote safe, orderly, humane and regular migration, applying principles of human rights, gender-responsiveness and child-sensitivity.

Finally, IOM reiterates its willingness and capacity to support the countries in the Americas in the difficult task of translating the commitments outlined in this Declaration from paper to reality.

Campaigners determined to stop asylum seeker flight leaving UK for Africa

The High Court has given the green light for a deportation flight to leave the UK for Rwanda but campaigners are determined to not let it take off.

Inflation costing Americans an extra $460 per month, analysis says

Thomas Barrabi and Mark Lungariello
June 10, 2022 

Inflation stayed red-hot in May as CPI spiked 8.6% — highest since

White-hot inflation has forced the average American household to cough up an extra $460 per month, as surging prices for food and fuel put family budgets across the nation under strain.

Moody’s Analytics senior economist Ryan Sweet calculated the figure based on data released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics that showed the Consumer Price Index had jumped 8.6% in the 12-month period ending May 31 – the largest increase since December 1981.

Sweet compared average US household spending in May to what would have been spent in 2018 and 2019, when annual inflation averaged 2.1%.

“Having inflation at 8.5% on a year-ago basis, compared with the 2.1% average growth in 2018 and 2019, is costing the average household $346.67 per month to purchase the same basket of goods and services as they did last year,” Sweet told The Post. “However, the pure cost for households for having inflation running at 8.5% is $460.42 per month.”

Soaring inflation has some economic experts worried a recession is coming, as President Biden and the Federal Reserve face pressure to enact policies to slow down the increase.

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Many goods have gone up in price as inflation skyrockets to its highest level in more than 30 years.NY Post graphic

Moody’s Analytics senior economist Ryan Sweet argues Americans are paying more than $400 a month based on current inflation levels.

EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

Critics of the administration have cited multitrillion-dollar COVID-19 pandemic aid packages as contributing to rising costs, while sanctions against Russia over its invasion Ukraine have contributed to staggering jumps in the cost of gas.

The average price for regular unleaded continues to set new records, with the average cost nationwide hitting a new high of $4.986 per gallon on Friday, according to AAA.

Energy prices were up 34.6% in May over the same month in 2021 – the largest spike since September 2005, with fuel oil alone skyrocketing by 106.7%, according to BLS.

The average cost for gas in the US is $4.986 per gallon, according to AAA.

SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images

Americans in the market for a car or truck were out of luck in May, as the BLS found that the price of a new car had increased by 12.6% over 12 months ago. Used car shoppers faced having to pay 16.1% more than at this time in 2021.

The food index increased 10.1%, the first jump of of 10% or more since March 1981, BLS said. Grocery store price increases were even steeper — 11.9%, the largest 12-month spike since April 1979 — with staples such as meats, poultry, fish, and eggs increasing a whopping 14.2% and even fruits and vegetables going up 8.2%.

Month to month, the CPI increased 1% from April to May on a seasonally adjusted basis, the BLS said. The so-called “core inflation” figure, which excludes food and energy costs, increased 6% from 12 months ago, above analyst expectations.

MONOPOLY CAPITALI$M

Chinese rubber company detains Laos farmer trying to sell crop outside province

The farmer, who did not have a contract with the company to sell his rubber, was released after police intervened.

By RFA Lao
2022.06.10

This 2020 file photo shows a rubber tree plantation in northern Laos's Oudomxay province.

citizen journalist

Employees of a Chinese-owned rubber company in rural Laos illegally stopped a local rubber tree farmer trying to sell his harvest to another buyer for a higher price, sources in the Southeast Asian country told RFA.

Zhongtian Luye operates a rubber processing factory in Khua district in the northern province of Phongsaly along the border with China. The company created a contract farming system with rubber tree farmers in the area to maintain supply.

It pays farmers U.S. $0.56 per kilogram ($0.25 per pound) of natural rubber. Though it has contracts with local farmers for certain quantities of their yield, nothing is stopping them from selling the rest of their crop in nearby Oudomxay province, where prices are around 25% higher.

Employees of the rubber company blocked a road to prevent a car packed with raw rubber from leaving town, a villager told RFA’s Lao Service on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

“They thought that the driver was shipping his output to sell in Oudomxay province [in breach of contract.] They also thought that he was trying to buy output from other villagers who have contracts with the company,” the villager said.

“That is why they stopped his car and took it to their camp area. Normally if a car is stopped and there is any kind of wrongdoing, it should be taken to the district police station,” he said.

Police showed up at the work camp to investigate, later ordering the company to release the driver. Zhongtian Luye did not have a contract with the man who was stopped, and the rubber was all from his own farm, the villager said.

Police fined the employees for blocking the road without permission.

A second villager said the company may feel justified in buying rubber at below market prices from local farmers because of the money it has invested in the area, including for road construction and to help farmers start producing rubber.

There also have been cases where the farmers broke their agreements with Zhongtian Luye to try to make more money elsewhere, the second villager said.

“They already signed agreements, but some farmers are not satisfied with the price set by the Chinese company,” the second source said.

“The company has a concession and the right to buy from the farmers as stated in the memorandum of understanding. However, when the trees are mature for harvesting, some farmers don’t want to sell for so low.”

A woman who used to do business with Zhongtian Luye told RFA that the company feels entitled to all the rubber produced in the area, even from farmers who are not under contract.

“They want them to sell it to their company only, even though they can get a higher price in Oudomxay,” she said.

RFA was able to contact Zhongtian Luye’s interpreter but he declined to comment on the issue.

Under the most common contract farming system in Laos, referred to as “3+2 contract farming,” companies provide funding, training and marketing services to producers, in addition to buying the product, while farmers provide land and labor. The central or local government is usually responsible for ensuring that neither party is taken advantage of.

An official from the Phongsaly province’s Department of Agriculture and Forests told RFA that Zhongtian Luye, the province and the farmers have signed production agreements. The company can decide to block roads to prevent the farmers from selling elsewhere, the official said.

“It is to up the provincial and district level authorities to consider how to solve this kind of problem and the district deputy governor will hold a meeting to find a solution,” the official said.

“But the agreement states that the rubber farmers who signed a contract-farming agreement cannot sell to other companies, but only this company,” he said, without explaining why the company has a right to prevent the farmers not under contract from selling elsewhere.

The official said the company does not tell his department the prices it pays, but said the department would meet with the company to double check that the contracts are fair.

Zhongtian Luye has been operating in Khua district since 2006. It is unknown how many farmers have contracts to produce rubber for the company.

According to the report from the Phongsaly province People’s Assembly, there are two Chinese rubber companies in the district.

Translated by Phouvong. Written in English by Eugene Whong.

THE ORYX WAS ONCE A CRYPTID

In pictures: Birth of first Arabian Oryx to be born in Saudi Arabia in 90 years



The calf was born at Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Royal Reserve. (Supplied: King Salman Royal Reserve)

Jennifer Bell, Al Arabiya English
Published: 11 June ,2022

New pictures released by Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Royal Reserve have documented the birth of the first Arabian oryx to be born in the Kingdom in 90 years.

The calf was born at the reserve which is located in the Northern Borders province and is the largest natural reserve in the Middle East, covering 130,700 square kilometers.

The historic moment was shared by authorities on Twitter, who announced the “interrupted labor of the Arabian Oryx species that lasted 90 years.”



The pictures show the calf released back into the wild under the Kingdom's programs to reintroduce endangered species back into their natural habitat.

The oryx has been released back into the wild under Saudi’s initiative to reintroduce endangered species back into their natural habitat. New pictures released by Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Royal Reserve have documented the birth of the first Arabian oryx be to be born in the Kingdom in 90 years. (Supplied: King Salman Royal Reserve)

The Arabian oryx is one of Saudi Arabia's endangered species currently benefiting from preservation efforts.

In 1972, the species was declared extinct in the wild having witnessed a significant drop in numbers due to loss of habitat and poaching. The Kingdom's goal is to reintroduce endangered species into the wild in order to preserve its natural heritage and biodiversity.

As part of conservation efforts, this includes preserving the natural habitats of respective species, while designating protected areas such as King Salman Royal Reserve.

The oryx has been released back into the wild under Saudi’s initiative to reintroduce endangered species back into their natural habitat. New pictures released by Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Royal Reserve have documented the birth of the first Arabian oryx be to be born in the Kingdom in 90 years. (Supplied: King Salman Royal Reserve)

Earlier this year, the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) released 20 Arabian oryx, 50 sand gazelles and 10 Nubian ibex into their native habitat in the nature reserves of northwestern Saudi Arabia to mark World Wildlife Day.

The animals came from the King Khaled Wildlife Research Center, which operates north of Riyadh as a branch of the National Center for Wildlife. After a period of adjustment to these new environs, the animals will be released into the Sharaan reserve; designed to protect indigenous animal species and conserve biodiversity.