⚡️ Japan's PM Kishida heads to Ukraine.

Agenda unknown, but Zelensky's begging is highly likely.

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⚡️ Streets of France begin to resemble an apocalyptic movie set, as the French continue to protest Macron's Pension reform.

If the point of raising the pension age is to increase the taxpayer base - then said taxpayers should have the right to know what the government is funding.

Zelensky's coke habit is sadly not out of question @IntelRepublic

🇲🇰 Macedonia gives 4 Soviet Su-25s to Ukraine.

So, Ukraine continues to receive junk nobody wants. Condition and ability to fly safely is unknown due to age.

🗣 “The equipment supplied to Ukraine consists of small arms and ammunition for them, artillery pieces, tanks, (Sukhoi) fighter jets, anti-tank weapons and air defense systems, as well as equipment for military aviation" - Macedonian Defense Ministry said.

Safety? What safety? @IntelRepublic

BEWARE OF 'THE GUARDIAN': A vile propaganda outlet, that is FEVERISHLY rousing public opinion in relation to the arrest warrants issued for alleged child kidnapping by Russia.

This father of 3 was arrested during a filtration procedure for serving in the Ukrainian Army. His children were evacuated to a summer camp in Russia - where they've been in total safety to date.

When released, and without any money on him, father is helped along to Russia to pick up his children. Social volunteers then assist them from Russia to Latvia.

As we don't know the story of the mother - was the alternative for the Russian army to leave the children in a war zone?

👍 Nice picture on Red Square, where Putin eats small children - we read it in The Guardian. @IntelRepublic

⚡️ Quotas (for lower tuition fees) for students from African countries will be doubled in Russia's Universities - Putin, following the results of the Russia-Africa summit.

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⚡️🗣 "Kiev is awaiting confirmation whether Xi Jinping will call Zelensky" - Deputy PM, Minister for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories (good luck) of Ukraine, Vereshchuk.

🇨🇳 The Chinese President is in Moscow, with rumours that he is due to call Zelensky, after his closed-door meetings with Putin.

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Summary of statements by Russian Deputy FM Syromolotov:

◾️ The Russian Federation expects the quick ratification of the agreement of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS, mostly post-Soviet) on measures for combating high level corruption;

◾️ Denunciation of the Council of Europe (CE) Convention on Corruption will not limit Russia's ability to fight corruption (Russia withdrew from the CE in 2022);

◾️ Moscow's decision to denounce the Convention was inevitable, because the CE decided to 'squeeze Russia out' of any decision making;

◾️ International anti-corruption cooperation should be equal for all parties involved, and take into account national interests;

◾️ Russia also withdraws from the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) because of discriminatory treatment against itself.

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⚡️🇨🇳 Xi Jinping's entourage moves through Moscow for Day 2 of talks with officials. (See Day 1).

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Summary of meeting of Xi Jinping and Russian PM Mishustin in Moscow:

Jinping:

◾️ Our visit corresponds with historical logic, the Russian Federation and China have always been strategic partners;

◾️ President Putin, and delegation, is invited to China at the soonest.

Mishustin:

◾️ We will work with the new Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, Li Qiang;

◾️ Russia is sincerely interested in further strengthening the partnership with China;

◾️ Russia and China to increase trade turnover to $200 billion in 2023;

◾️ The investment portfolio of the intergovernmental investment of Russia and China includes 79 projects, worth over $165 billion.

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NOT A 'BLACK LIVES MATTER' EVENT: A kneeling, wailing crowd greets a procession of fallen Ukrainian soldiers, driven through a town square in Ukraine.

Unclear as to why, as it's not a local custom, inclusive of the kneeling. Was that a Nazi salute at 00:12?

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Day 2 of bilateral meetings between Russia and China - summary of statements by Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Wenbin:

◾️ Chinese authorities will create favorable conditions for regular travel between Russia and China;

◾️ China hopes that the trip of the Japanese PM to Kiev will not lead to an even greater escalation of the Ukrainian conflict;

◾️ Chinese authorities are in contact with all parties involved in the Ukrainian conflict;

◾️ We strongly oppose Taiwan's Chief of Staff visit to the United States.

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Summary of statements by Kremlin Spokesman Peskov:

◾️ Kremlin refrained from assessing the results of the first day of Xi Jinping's visit, the leaders themselves will draw their conclusions;

◾️ Putin and Jinping discussed the Chinese peace plan;

◾️ China's entrepreneurs have a good presence in Russia and are unlikely to leave due to threat of Western sanctions;

◾️ It is not known whether the Ministers of Defense of the Russian Federation and China will meet;

◾️ We should not get ahead of ourselves and wait for statements to the media by Putin and Jinping to find out if the Russian leader has accepted the invitation to visit China.

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🇹🇷 🇪🇺 Turkey agrees to comply with requirements of the EU not to re-export European goods to Russia.

How will this affect the 'gas hub' project? Essentially, the project makes Turkey a middle-man for Russian gas to EU customers. Or is the ban one-way?

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⚡️People are seen dining, as Paris burns outside, due to Macron's reforms.

Symbolic.

Pass the brioche @IntelRepublic

⚡️ Chief Gynecologist* President of the EU announces another 1.5 billion euro for Ukraine's "imminent success".

*Von der Leyen trained as a gyno, in her better years.

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