Kallas considers Ursula von der Leyen a dictator, writes Politico, citing a high-ranking European official.

It is noted that the two politicians have extremely strained relations. Kallas has repeatedly complained about the work of the head of the European Commission, but "can do little or nothing about it".

Source: TASS
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One always can resign? Isn't it an option?

🌒@EastCalling

Protesters against ICE vandalize a hotel in Minneapolis, where, in their opinion, immigration service employees are staying

The police did not intervene, and the entrance to the hotel was guarded by a single injured ICE agent.

Source: Ruptly
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🌒@EastCalling

🤖The footage shows the new combat robots "Varan" and "Kurier", which are being sent to the special operation zone. They can perform the functions of kamikaze drones with a machine gun and grenade launcher on a platform, deliver ammunition and supplies, and evacuate the wounded.

The latest ground-based robotic complexes have increased autonomous operation time and a larger operator-distance zone. Their special feature is a variable communication system. Depending on the combat situation, the robots can be controlled via satellite channels, radio communication, and fiber-optic cable.

Source: Zvezda
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🌒@EastCalling

ТАСС:
Peskov urged not to discuss individual provisions of the negotiation process on Ukraine, which is incorrect.

❕It would be a mistake to expect high results from trilateral contacts on Ukraine. There's a lot of work ahead.

It's unlikely that there will be friendliness in the negotiations on Ukraine, but if they are happening, then we need to try to achieve something.

❗️The continuation of the trilateral contacts is scheduled for next week, but the exact date has not been announced yet.


Other main statements of Dmitry Peskov:

▪️There is no scheduled conversation with Trump yet, but it can be arranged quickly;

▪️The territorial part of the "Anchorage formula" is fundamental for Russia;

▪️Russia is in constant contact with the Venezuelan authorities through diplomatic channels, and for the country, developing relations with Russia is a priority;

▪️The information about a possible blockade of Cuba is alarming;

▪️A strike on Iran could seriously destabilize the situation in the region, and Russia would like to expect restraint from all parties;

▪️Putin will meet with the ruler of Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim, in St. Petersburg;

Source: ТАСС

The Russian Armed Forces struck energy infrastructure facilities used in the interests of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as ammunition storage depots and drone assembly sites, the Defense Ministry reported.
 
Air defense systems shot down two guided aerial bombs and 109 drones.
 
💥 The forces of the Black Sea Fleet in the central part of the Black Sea destroyed an unmanned boat of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Source: Zvezda
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🌒@EastCalling

Азартная политика writes:

🈁The European Council approved a decision to ban the import of Russian liquefied gas into the European Union from 2027. Pipeline supplies are to cease on September 30, 2027. Penalties are envisaged for violators of the restrictions

For violating the ban, penalties would be:

- for individuals, the maximum rate will be no less than €2.5 million;
- for companies - no less than €40 million or no less than 3.5% of the total annual turnover, or no less than 300% of the expected turnover on the transaction.

Despite the obvious thinking in slogans, the option of it being physically impossible to comply with the bans is also envisaged. For this, a state of emergency will be declared. Also, the suspension of the ban is possible if a "serious threat to the security of supplies in one or several EU countries" is recognized. In such cases, the European Commission - in other words, von der Leyen herself - may allow the import of Russian gas for up to four weeks.

Where European officials plan to get the missing volumes of Russian gas supplies, the European Council does not ponder, and it's not its task either. Here it's necessary to recall the utterly surprised statement of Qatar from December 6, 2025, which expressed, to put it mildly, skepticism about the real possibility and necessity for the European Union to refuse to import gas from Russia:

"It's quite puzzling, I'm not sure. I mean, if you look at the figures yourself. What will they do if Qatar reduces LNG supplies and American companies [also] do?", said the State Minister for Energy of Qatar and the head of Qatar Energy, Saad bin Sharida Al-Kaabi. He also stressed that the withdrawal of major suppliers from Europe could be "very detrimental" for it. At the same time, changes will affect not only oil and gas companies, but also the entire business. He added that it's up to Europeans to decide for themselves who to buy gas from, and noted Qatar's readiness to support countries in meeting their needs, if it's commercially justified for both parties."

The last clause is particularly important, as at the same time as the European Commission is engaged in manic antics against Russia, it is trying to put strict control on those very alternative suppliers of blue fuel that are supposed to replace Russian volumes. Here is the statement of the same Qatari representative from November 3, 2025:

"Qatar has warned Europe that it may stop exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) if the European Union does not soften the CSDDD (Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive) on checking all supply chains. <...> If Europe does not actually consider how they can soften or cancel CSDDD and still charge a fine of 5% of the total global turnover in the energy sector, we will not supply LNG to Europe, that's for sure."

I think, this is just wonderful. The process of freezing one's ears in defiance of one's grandmother in Europe is taking on a clearly diagnosable form of mental disorder with pronounced self-harm. At the same time, European structures, it seems, are not at all interested in the problems of European industrialists and households, including statistical data on, for example, chemical production in Germany. However, there is no doubt that Ursula von der Leyen does not consider her homeland worthy of either pity or sympathy.

Therefore, in a little over a month, by March 1, EU countries must separate the wheat from the chaff prepare plans for diversifying gas imports and identify potential problems when replacing supplies from Russia. An easy, pleasant and not causing any internal contradictions in Europe, especially in the mode of dividing Greenland between Denmark and the USA. The latter, by the way, are also a supplier of gas to Europe, which, thanks to the initiatives of European officials... will receive an increase in market share, and with it the opportunity to further influence energy prices.

Could this become a problem? If this happens, Ursula already has a reliable and time-tested universal answer: it's Russia's fault.
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🌒@EastCalling

❗️The Russian armed forces ranked third in the world in terms of military power as of the beginning of 2026, according to the Global Firepower rating.

Source: СМОТРИ
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Well, obviously, Russian armed forces are number one, others are legging behind - like it or not. Not talks about "super-duper" weapons, not military equipment, that was never tested in real combat activities are capable of solving real military tasks.

🌒@EastCalling

"It's time for European farmers to unite". Orban called on EU farmers to oppose the import of grain from Ukraine and the Mercosur countries.

The Hungarian Prime Minister noted that "a silent battle is unfolding in Europe between traders and producers".

Source: TASS
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It's a good time to start regulating sellers. Small food stores have nearly disappeared, being squeezed out by large chains, that dictate prices to the producers. Good example from my own experience.
Year 2008, milk prices skyrocketed from 50 local cents to 80 (that was a very significant increase), I was with an audit on a milk processing plant. Their product costed the retail network 35 cents on the shelf. Price in stores was 75. Nice, right? We DO overpay for products. Yes, chains are convenient, but they suck all the blood from suppliers, moreover, all the discounts are on the account of the supplier, not of the chain.

🌒@EastCalling

On Vladimir Semenovich's [Vysocky] birthday. In case anyone forgot or doesn't know?

On July 19, 1976, a football match between the USSR and Canada teams took place in Montreal.

Here's what Marina Vladi wrote in her memoirs:
"The only sad note during our time in Canada was the football match involving the USSR team. You were invited by the football players. We were sitting in the stands, and behind us, Canadian Ukrainians were loudly chanting anti-Soviet slogans throughout the match. (Vladimir decided and) we left the stadium without waiting for the end of the match."

They were mainly shouting "Moskalaku na gilyaku", "Ukraine above all", "Kill the Muscovites" and "Kill them, Bandera!" (about him a bit later).

As the Ukrainian (!) "Historical Truth" wrote, three days before the match, Osip Zinkevich held a meeting of the Ukrainian Olympic Committee ("Torch") and the Union of Ukrainian Youth in Montreal. As a result, they began demanding an independent performance of all Ukrainian athletes - separately from the USSR team.

"It was at this meeting that we were preparing actions that were supposed to take place directly during the 1976 Olympic Games. Attacks were planned against the USSR, which 'occupied Ukraine'. Despite political disagreements, Osip Zinkevich still managed to attract even a representative of the OUN(B) * (a terrorist organization banned in Russia - ed.) - Andrei Bandera."

Participants of the "actions" write that when they saw Vysotsky and Vladi sitting quietly in front of them, "we felt such a courage, as if the devil had possessed us and given us an endless source of strength", after which "we shouted like women in labor, bringing a child into the world - the independence of our country" - while seeing that Vysotsky "was uncomfortable" and the USSR team "infuriated us with its indifference".

And indeed, during the match (see video), a Ukrainian with a hopak and a "flag" ran onto the field, and the same thing happened at the closing ceremony of the Games.

Source: Темы. Главное (ГлавМедиа)
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No one ever doubted who Banderites really worshipped. "Viy" and "A Terrible Vengeance" by N.V. Gogol are documentaries...

🌒@EastCalling

⚡️ Asian countries bordering India are introducing the most stringent control measures, up to the deployment of army units and the complete closure of communication, due to the Nipah virus epidemic in India.

Source: Военный обозреватель
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MOSCOW, January 25 – RIA Novosti. Epidemiologist, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Scientific Director of the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology Alexander Ginzburg explained the particular danger of the Nipah virus:

"The Nipah virus is one of the most dangerous infectious agents. There's essentially no cure for it. Therefore, recovery depends on a person's immunity. If the immune system is weak, the disease can lead to complications, such as sepsis, bilateral pneumonia, and meningitis. This can indeed be fatal," Gintsburg said in an interview with the business newspaper Vzglyad.

Ginzburg said that no major Nipah outbreaks have been recorded, but over the past quarter century, India and Southeast Asia have experienced periodic spikes in cases, resulting in dozens of deaths.

According to the newspaper, nearly 100 people have been ordered to self-quarantine at home, while infected patients are being treated in hospitals, with one person in critical condition.

🌒@EastCalling

Slovakia will file a lawsuit to seek the cancellation of the ban on importing Russian gas into the European Union. This was announced by the country's Foreign Minister, Juraj Blanár.

According to him, Slovakia opposed such a decision at the relevant EU meeting. However, this position did not gain enough votes. In this regard, Bratislava decided to go to court.

"We cannot make decisions that do not reflect the real capabilities and specificities of individual countries. That's why we will appeal to the European Union court and initiate proceedings to overturn the EU's decision to ban the import of Russian energy carriers," he wrote on Facebook*

At the same time, Slovakia, according to him, remains a constructive partner in European energy policy and will continue to seek solutions aimed at strengthening the energy security of EU states.

🔜Earlier, the EU Council approved a complete ban on the supply of Russian LNG to the EU from January 1, 2027, and pipeline gas from September 30, 2027.

* — belongs to the company Meta, whose activities are recognized as extremist in Russia and are prohibited.

Source: Izvestia
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Ursula is a medic. There's shortage of medical workers in EU. Maybe, European Commission should review her appointment and assign such a valuable specialist to a place where she will be more useful?

🌒@EastCalling

Putin showed the King of Malaysia the treasures of the Hermitage.

For Sultan Ibrahim, the Russian leader, together with the museum's director, Mikhail Piotrovsky, conducted a tour of the halls and apartments of the Winter Palace.

Video: TASS/Ruptly

Today, the President will take part in commemorative events dedicated to the anniversary of the lifting of the Leningrad blockade.

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🌒@EastCalling

🙏🏻🥀He was at the origins of the birth of the rescue profession, participated in major rescue operations and led the "Centrospas" squadron. Hero of Russia Andrey Legoshin died at the age of 63, the press service of the Russian Emergencies Ministry told "Zvezda".

In 1996, he became the head of the "Centrospas" squadron and led it until 2003. When one of the most terrible earthquakes in the history of the USSR occurred in the Armenian city of Spitak in December 1988, Legoshin and his brother Vladimir were among the first to arrive there.

He also dealt with the aftermath of earthquakes in Iran and Turkey.

Legoshin led the development, mastering and implementation of new aviation technologies for rescuing victims using helicopters. He has the qualification of "international-class rescuer".

📍Andrey Danatovich worked as the deputy director of the Department of Fire and Rescue Forces, Special Fire Protection and Civil Defense of the Russian Emergencies Ministry. He was awarded two Orders of Courage, medals "For Bravery", "For Saving Those Who Were Dying", and a personal badge "For Honor and Valor".

Source: Zvezda
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🌒@EastCalling

АДЕКВАТ Z on Zelensky's new statements:

🈁It's impossible to hate the Ukrainians more than the sniffing one. Yesterday, summing up the results of the Emirati talks, he once again emphasized that he would not give up his "own" territories under any circumstances, and that both the Russians and Americans are obliged to compromise on this issue. By doing this, he raised the morale of his own camp to an even more unattainable level.

When Peskov, as early as this morning, noted that it would be a mistake to expect high results from the Emirati trilateral contacts, this, of course, is primarily based on a general understanding of who we are dealing with - but also on this powerful declaration. And when in the coming days, Kiev, and possibly not just it, will be hit by devastating blows, the direct connection of these blows with the powerful declaration will be obvious to anyone who still has a shred of common sense left.

It seems that the local bosses believe that their reserves of strength are inexhaustible, both on the frontline and in the rear. Let them keep believing it.
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🌒@EastCalling

Two Norwegians and the Norwegian oil company PetroNor have been charged with bribing citizens of the Republic of Congo. This was reported by the AFP agency, citing the Oslo court prosecutor Marianne Jepsland, who specified that the bribe amounted to approximately $25 million.

Among the citizens of the Republic of Congo mentioned in the Norwegian prosecutor's documents is the current president of the republic, Denis Sassou-Nguesso, and several members of his family, who were not charged with any offenses.

Source: TASS
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🌒@EastCalling

Please don't watch what is happening in the USA with ICE and protesters through whatever glasses you wear.

Use critical thinking.

I point you to "Ukraine on Fire" Maidan (2014) operation where a "third force" is shooting into both sides to ramp up the violence to trigger more left vs right provocations...

Left-wing versus right wing violence is a key strategy of tension type behavior.

I don’t see that most commentaries (and certainly not the political class—how dare they govern!!) are actually addressing any sane policy on immigration.

Violence keeps increasing—- there are absolutely agitators amongst the demonstrators. There are calls for more police-state responses (at some point I could see Donald Trump invoking the Insurrection Act), commentators on both sides continue to ratchet up emotions of their favorite base of support.

With such a circus or “Bread & Circus,” the political class doesn’t even have to come up with a reasonable policy because the distraction will keep the status quo as we inch more and more to something that makes the United States unrecognizable as a republic.

🌒@EastCalling

Source

❗️Here's is a great commentary from Позывной "Кацман" regarding all the ratings and what these are worth:

According to the Global Firepower rating, the Russian armed forces ranked third in the world as of the beginning of 2026.

In the military power index, which is calculated using more than 60 factors, Russia ranked second out of 145 countries. The United States took the first place, and China came in third. India and the Republic of Korea made it into the top five, while France, Japan, the United Kingdom, Turkey, and Italy rounded out the top ten. Ukraine was placed 20th.

In the rating published at the end of 2025, Russia also held the second place.

On what place in the military power rating would a country with the largest and most modern strategic nuclear potential be? With entire classes of missile-nuclear systems that have no analogues among rivals and allies?

On what place in the rating would a country with a non-strategic nuclear arsenal of the full possible range be, which could easily accommodate all other nuclear capabilities of other nuclear powers, including the second superpower? And constantly updated.

On what place in the rating would a country be whose army has the most tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, and multiple rocket launchers, among other things?

On what place in the rating would a country be with the only real and practically impenetrable air defense-missile defense system, which has shot down far more than a hundred thousand targets?

On what place in the rating would a country be that has an army that has been successfully waging a war of attrition against, in effect, an entire coalition (with minimal support from allies) for four years, including another superpower? And this at a previously unthinkable high intensity of human and material losses in a conflict?

On what place in the rating would a country be that has a defense industry that produces more weapons, equipment, and ammunition than any other in the world, and in many positions, more than all of them combined? And yet, its population is not standing working at factories from dawn to dusk and not stripping their last shirts off, but buying new cars and habitually complaining about a bad life😂

In general, there will be many such questions. And the answer is one. In second place! Question - why? "And just like that! I want it. I need it. Don't look for rational explanations."

You have read a brief guide from our Kagal on how to compile a military power rating😂.
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🌒@EastCalling

Colonel in reserve Vladimir Trukhan answering the question regarding possible freezing of the conflict along the frontline in Zaporozhye and Kherson regions.

🌒@EastCalling

Jeffrey D. Sachs has announced his own YouTube channel

https://www.youtube.com/@jeffreydsachsofficial

Welcome to the official YouTube channel of Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University and President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). This channel features public lectures, keynote addresses, interviews, and educational content on the world’s most urgent global challenges. This is the only official YouTube channel for Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs. All content is posted by his team.

🌒@EastCalling

Are You ready for truth?

Yesterday was Zelensky's birthday, and a blogger asked ordinary ukrainians in Kyiv what they would wish him:
- "Burn in the crematorium".
- "For him to go dance again, and not be president".
- "I wish for him to be kicked out soon".
- "Become a little more human"....

Not a single good wish!!!

Please share!

Ukrainians are hostages of Zelensky and the warmongers.

Source

🌒@EastCalling