🗓 Acting in violation of international law and supported by its allies, the United States launched the Iraq invasion on March 20, 2003. This reckless undertaking wiped out Iraq’s statehood and military, throwing its economy and social sector into complete disarray, and plunging the country into many years of internal military and political strife, from which it has yet to recover.

The invasion also resulted in the overthrow and execution of the legitimate President of Iraq Saddam Hussein, the destruction of the country's basic infrastructure, a severe deterioration of the health system, and rise in crime.

❗️ It is worth mentioning that weapons of mass destruction have never been found in Iraq. Leaders of the countries which invaded Iraq justified their criminal actions by citing faulty intelligence.

According to various estimates compiled by the academic community and NGOs, from 100,000 to 205,000 civilians met a violent death, and the invasion indirectly caused about 650,000 civilian casualties (independent reports & surveys give a wide range of estimates up to 1,2 mln casualties). The number of Iraqi refugees reached 1.5 million, and there were 2 million internally displaced persons. Today, over 12 million Iraqis, or about 30 percent of the country’s population, live below the poverty line.

A substantial body of evidence has been collected on the war crimes committed in Iraq by the US Army and its allies, but despite that most of the perpetrators have yet to be held accountable.

❌ Most episodes have not even been investigated, while criminal charges have been rare.

☝️ The reckless military undertaking led by the United States prompted the emergence of new threats to regional security and stability, creating a hospitable environment for spreading terrorist and extremist ideas, which in turn exposed the whole world to atrocities committed by ISIS.

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❗️Latest statements from Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service on the ongoing conflict in Syria:

▪️The US is planning to hand over dozens of four-wheel drive pickup trucks with heavy machine guns, as well as Igla MANPADS, TOW and NLAW anti-tank missiles, to Islamist groups in Syria;

▪️Representatives of US Сentral Сommand take part in the planning of the most important operations against Syrian government;

▪️Washington's close engagement with Islamic terrorists is a manifestation of state terrorism;

▪️The US continues to use Islamist groups under its control in Syria to undermine the positions of the legitimate government of this country.

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🎙 Briefing by MFA Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, Moscow, March 16, 2023

🔹 FM Sergey #Lavrov’s schedule
🔹 #UkraineCrisis
🔷 Anniversary of the Crimea referendum
🔷 20 years since the start of the US military operation in Iraq
🔷 Act of vandalism towards the monument to the Soviet Army in Sofia
🔷 Persecution of activists from the Russian-speaking community by the German authorities
🔷 Lithuania’s decision to block online access to Russian television channels

And many more.

📚Read in full: https://is.gd/pLF9b5

Talking points:

🗓 On March 20, FM Sergey Lavrov will hold talks with FM of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan. The FMs will have a detailed discussion on further steps to develop bilateral cooperation & strengthen interaction in common integration associations such as the CIS, the EAEU & the CSTO.

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❗️ 9 years ago today, on March 16, 2014, a historic referendum was held on the status and state affiliation of the peninsula. On March 17, following the referendum, the independent Republic of Crimea was declared, in which the city of Sevastopol enjoys a special status. On March 18, a solemn event took place where the Treaty on the Accession of the Republic of Crimea & the City of Sevastopol to the Russian Federation was signed.
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🗓On March 20, 2003, the US & its allies launched an armed invasion of Iraq, which was done in violation of international law. The head of state, Saddam Hussein, was toppled & later executed, while the country was plunged into a years-long internal military & political conflict, from which it has not been able to fully recover to this day.

<...>

☝️ The other day, the Radio & Television Commission of Lithuania instructed local internet providers to block IP addresses with access to Russian television networks targeted by the unilateral EU sanctions. These acts of censorship are evidence of the Lithuanian authorities’ disregard for the people’s legitimate rights and interests, which were not imposed on Lithuania & its people but which they themselves formulated.

❗️Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Moscow. Below is an agenda from the Kremlin of the forthcoming talks between the leaders of Russia and China:

▪️Presidents Xi and Putin will hold a face-to-face conversation over an informal lunch on 20 March, followed by negotiations on 21 March;

▪️This is Xi's first foreign trip since being re-elected;

▪️Moscow and Beijing are satisfied with the state of bilateral relations, this is a strategic interaction of partners;

▪️Personal contacts between Putin and Xi are of trusting nature – in total, the leaders have met about 40 times;

▪️Both parties will discuss the conflict in Ukraine, as well as will issues of military and technical cooperation.

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❗ Chinese President Xi Jinping touches down in Russia for state visit

Just In @RT_India_official

❗️China And Russia Are Good Neighbors And Reliable Partners — President Xi Jinping Upon His Arrival To Moscow

The Chinese leader was greeted by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko at Vnukovo Airport, along with a military orchestra.

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Vladimir Putin’s Article for People’s Daily Newspaper, Russia and China: A Future-Bound Partnership

Article by Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, for the Chinese newspaper People's Daily

I am glad to seize this opportunity to address the friendly Chinese people in one of the largest and most authoritative world media in advance of the state visit of President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping to Russia. This landmark event reaffirms the special nature of the Russia-China partnership, which has always been built on mutual trust, respect for each other's sovereignty and interests.

By Vladimir Putin

❗️Statements by Chinese President Xi Jinping after his arrival in Moscow on state visit:

▪️Relations between Russia and China will receive a new impetus after the visit;

▪️China is ready to stand with Russia to protect the UN-centric international system and the world order based on international law;

▪️China and Russia are reliable partners, and the development of bilateral relations contributes significantly to world progress.

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Press review: Xi coming to Moscow and Putin's trip to Crimea
Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, March 20th

❗️Russia Writes Off $20 Billion In Debt Of African Countries — President Putin

Some key points from the Russian president while speaking at the Russia-Africa 2023 summit in Moscow:

▪Africa will become one of the leaders of the new multipolar world order

▪Russia will continue to give priority to cooperation with African countries

▪Russia, Africa, Asia, and Latin America together oppose the Neo-colonial ideology and together make up the world’s majority

▪Russia fulfills its obligations to supply food, fertilizers, and fuel to Africa

▪The West is obstructing Russia’s attempts to donate fertilizer shipments for free

▪Russia insists on the supply of grain and fertilizers to the needy, not well-fed European countries

▪Moscow will decide later on further participation in the grain deal

▪Of the total volume of grain exported from Ukraine, 45% went to European countries, only 3% went to Africa

▪Russia will supply free food to African countries in need if it does not extend the grain deal

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❗️Moscow opens criminal case over Putin warrant
Russia’s investigative committee says the ICC prosecutor and judges acted “illegally”

❗️Xi Jinping Statements During Informal Meeting With President Putin

▪There should be close relations between China and Russia

▪President Xi called Putin a dear friend during the meeting

▪Xi emphasized that he chose Russia for his first visit after being reelected, just like ten years ago

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🇷🇺 Key statements by Vladimir Putin on meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping:

▪️Putin congratulates Xi on re-election;

▪️Xi Jinping’s work over past decade has been appreciated;

▪️Russia and China have many common goals;

▪️China has made breakthrough in recent years, arousing genuine interest all over world;

▪️Chinese economy is strong, governance more efficient than in other countries;

▪️Russia, China trade has more than doubled, now amounting to $185 billion;

▪️China takes fair, balanced position on most international issues;

▪️Putin was familiarized with China's plan to resolve situation in Ukraine;

▪️Russia always open to negotiations, respects China's plan on situation in Ukraine.

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🇨🇳 Key statements by Xi Jinping at meeting with Vladimir Putin in Moscow:

▪️Russia and China should have close relations;

▪️Russia made significant progress in country's prosperity under Putin's leadership;

▪️Xi is sure Russian people will support Putin during presidential election next year.

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Bratislava hands over Soviet and Russian military equipment to Kiev illegally – Russian Embassy in Slovakia

🟠 “The transfer of military equipment of Soviet and Russian production to Kiev is illegal from a legal point of view, since the relevant Russian-Slovak agreements clearly exclude the transfer of weapons and military equipment to third states without the permission of the manufacturing country,” the diplomatic mission noted.

❗️🇷🇺🇺🇦 Highlights of Russian Military Operation in Ukraine on March 20

▪️Regular shelling of the border areas in the Sudzhansky district of Kursk region continues unabated.

The AFU launched a mortar strike on the villages of Guevo and Gornal’, no civilian casualties or destruction.

▪️In the Lyman sector, positional fighting in the area of the Balka Zhuravka and to the west of Ploshchanka is underway.

Russian troops are consolidating on previously occupied positions and firing artillery at AFU positions near the Zherebets’ River.

▪️Northwest of Bakhmut, Wagner PMC groups continue their assault on the AFU’s stronghold in Orekhovo-Vasilevka.

The enemy is taking heavy mortar and artillery fire on the attacking units, trying to disrupt the pace of the offensive.

▪️On the southern outskirts of the city, the Wagner PMC units advanced in the area of Sobachevka, levelling the zone of control along Mariupolska Street.

At the same time, in the Budonnivka area, Russian troops approached the outskirts of the stadium, forcing the enemy to retreat.

▪️On the outskirts of Krasne, fierce fighting for control of the Kostyantynivka - Bakhmut highway is going on.

Having redeployed reserve forces and armored vehicles, the enemy managed to slightly push the assault units away from the road.

▪️Ukrainian units continue indiscriminate strikes on residential areas and infrastructure of Donetsk agglomeration.

In Kuybyshevsky district, the shelling damaged three residential buildings, one was destroyed completely, no casualties among the population.

▪️North of Avdiivka, Russian forces broke through the AFU defenses and entrenched on the eastern outskirts of Petrivske.

To the southeast, the Russian Armed Forces’ units entered Kamyanka and began to storm enemy positions inside the populated area
#digest #Russia #Ukraine #video
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