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Russia Today
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Zelensky is ‘politically dead' – Russia's top UN diplomat
Ukraine's 'expired' leader Vladimir Zelensky is 'politically dead' and refuses to step down to avoid accountability for his actions, Russian UN envoy Vassily Nebenzia has told RT's Rick Sanchez. In an interview on Sanchez Effect aired on Friday, Nebenzia accused Zelensky of betraying the promises that brought him to power and dragging Ukraine into a wider conflict. He referenced Zelensky's campaign pledge to end the fighting in Donbass, which the Kiev regime and its Western backers derailed by violating the 2014-15 Minsk agreements. 'Zelensky came to power on the promise to end the war in Donbass... He promised one thing, but he turned 180 degrees… Politically, Zelensky is already dead,' Nebenzia stated. Nebenzia said Zelensky is holding on to power to avoid the consequences of prolonging the conflict with Russia and misusing Western funds provided as aid. 'The end of his presidency may entail something for him that he is trying to avoid at all costs: Reporting on the money stolen and the loss of the people whom he failed miserably,' Nebenzia stated. 'So he has all the reasons... to cling to power and not to hold elections.' Ukrainians are our brothers, no doubt about it. But the clique that came to rule them – it is a regime, it is not a government. 'They stole billions of dollars out of the aid they were receiving. That's an open secret,' he said, adding that Kiev has already been asked to report on the aid but has failed to do so. 'I think that when finally it comes to it, the revelations will be very dire.' Zelensky has remained in office since his term expired in May, suspending elections due to martial law. He insists that he has the right to remain in office, though the constitution stipulates that presidential duties should pass to the parliament speaker. Russia has said it is open to talks with Ukraine but questions the legality of any deals made with the current government in Kiev. President Vladimir Putin recently said he would meet with Zelensky but called into question his authority to sign a treaty, as 'the signature must come from legitimate authorities, otherwise, whoever comes after [Zelensky] will toss it to the dumpster.'
Russia Today
6 hours ago
- Politics
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UK government comments on incoming MI6 chief's Nazi family links
The UK Foreign Office has defended Blaise Metreweli, the first woman appointed to lead the MI6 foreign intelligence agency, after media reports revealed that her grandfather fought for Nazi Germany. The government argued that Metreweli's controversial family background has only strengthened her resolve to protect the country from external threats. On Thursday, the Daily Mail published a report revealing for the first time that Metreweli, who is set to become MI6 director in October, is the granddaughter of Constantine Dobrowolski – a Red Army defector who joined Hitler's forces and was nicknamed 'The Butcher' for atrocities committed in Nazi-occupied Ukraine. In a statement on Friday, the Foreign Office said: 'Blaise Metreweli neither knew nor met her paternal grandfather. Blaise's ancestry is characterized by conflict and division and, as is the case for many with Eastern European heritage, only partially understood.' 'It is precisely this complex heritage which has contributed to her commitment to prevent conflict and protect the British public from modern threats posed by today's hostile states, as the next chief of MI6,' the statement continued. According to the Daily Mail, Dobrowolski served in an SS tank unit and later joined the Nazi military police, which took part in the mass murder of Jews, partisans, and political prisoners. Dobrowolski is believed to have been killed in 1943. His widow later moved to the UK, where she married Georgian-born David Metreweli.
Russia Today
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
The West waging ‘centuries-old war' against Moscow – Russia's top UN diplomat
Western nations are using Ukraine as their proxy in a longstanding confrontation with Russia that is deeply rooted in history, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia told RT's Rick Sanchez. In an interview on The Sanchez Effect aired on Friday, the diplomat argued that the conflict 'should be seen in a larger context.' 'They do not care about Ukraine. This is not a war between Russia and Ukraine,' Nebenzia said. 'Ukraine is a proxy in this war. This is a centuries-old war of the West against Russia, starting with the Polish invasion in the 17th century,' he added. As examples of earlier confrontations, Nebenzia cited Napoleon's invasion of Russia, the 1854–1856 Crimean War, Western military intervention during the Russian Civil War, and the invasion by Nazi Germany and its allies during World War II. He emphasized that Hitler's army included not only Germans, but also units drawn from allied countries and occupied territories. The Ukrainians and 'their sponsors' in the West sabotaged the 2014–2015 Minsk accords, which were aimed at ending the conflict between Kiev and the breakaway Donbass republics, the Russian diplomat said. Former French President Francois Hollande and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel later admitted the agreement was used by Kiev to buy time and rearm, Nebenzia stated. 'We are not going [to fall] into the same trap once again,' he said. He added that politicians like former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson similarly helped derail the 2022 peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine's European backers were forced to adjust their position, Nebenzia argued, after US President Donald Trump launched efforts to broker peace and Ukrainian troops began losing more ground. 'They changed their rhetoric from 'We should inflict strategic defeat on Russia' to 'Russia should not win in this war.' Now they are advocating for a full, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire, which is testimony that they want to shield and protect their proxy, as they are obviously losing on the battlefield,' he said. At the same time, Nebenzia noted that the resumption of direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations earlier this year provides hope that the conflict could be resolved soon.
Russia Today
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Putin respects US once again
US President Donald Trump has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has regained respect for America, whose international standing was damaged by the previous administration. Trump was responding to comments made by Putin during his visit to Belarus on Friday, where the Russian leader described the US president as a 'courageous man.' 'Vladimir Putin made some very nice statements today,' Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, adding that such remarks would have been impossible under former President Joe Biden. 'He respects our country again. He didn't respect it a year ago, I can tell you that,' Trump said, claiming that Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un also now respect the US since his return to the White House. 'We had a president that was incompetent. We had bad people circulating around this desk – this beautiful, resolute desk. They had, I guess, evil intentions,' Trump said. He has repeatedly described his predecessor's foreign policy as weak and damaging to America's global reputation, arguing that the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza would not have erupted under his leadership. Speaking to reporters in Minsk, Putin said he holds 'deep respect' for Trump and praised him for overcoming numerous challenges, including surviving an assassination attempt last year. He added that he believes Trump has been 'sincerely seeking' to help broker an end to the Ukraine conflict. Trump has revived direct contacts with Moscow, which were cut off during the Biden administration, and has held five phone calls with Putin since returning to office in January.
Russia Today
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
When opportunity turns to uncertainty: Indian migrants under fire in Israel
When sirens wailed across Israeli cities and missiles from Iran struck Israeli territory, about 150 Indian construction workers from the Bahraich district in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh found themselves caught in an increasingly dangerous situation, desperately seeking a way home. The workers, who traveled to Israel over the past year seeking better economic opportunities, faced a harsh reality: trapped between the promise of steady income and the very real threat of becoming casualties in a regional conflict. Sandeep, a resident of the Mihipurwa area, spoke to his family on the phone from Hadera, painting a grim picture of daily life under fire. 'Missiles are falling here, but we get alerts before they hit,' he explained to worried relatives back home. 'When the sirens start, we run to the bunkers and hide. These daily situations are affecting our work, and now we just want to come home.' The situation created a painful dilemma for the workers and their families. While the income from Israel has provided unprecedented financial stability – with workers earning around 160,000 rupees (about $1863) per month, compared to much lower wages in rural India – the escalating violence made the cost of this prosperity potentially too high to bear. Kamlavati, whose husband Gopal has been working in Israel for a year, captured the anguish felt by families back home. 'My husband has been working safely in Israel for a year, and in this situation, we demand from the government that he be sent back home safely,' she said. 'Because now, seeing the conditions in Israel, we are getting scared.' The irony of their situation is not lost on the families. Kamlavati described how the money from Israel has transformed their lives – they've been able to build a new home and provide better opportunities for their children. Her daughter has started attending school, while her younger son is still very small. But the fear for her husband's safety has overshadowed these material gains. 'We are getting money – he gets 160,000 rupees and keeps sending money home regularly, which helps run the household,' she explained. 'But now, seeing the new house being built doesn't feel good. We just want the children's father to come back.' The workers are part of a larger Indian diaspora in Israel. According to Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, as of December 4, 2024, 6,583 Indian workers had reached Israel for employment, recruited by Israeli authorities and deployed across 195 Israeli companies. Of these workers, 2,325 were engaged in building construction, 1,906 in iron bending, 1,578 in plastering, and 774 in ceramic tiling – all essential skills for Israel's construction industry. Mihipurwa has been particularly affected by this migration. Local official Shravan Kumar Madeshia revealed that 250 people from the area had filled out application forms for work in Israel, with 150 being selected and currently working there. This represents a significant portion of the area's working-age population, making tensions in West Asia a community-wide concern. The families of brothers Sandeep and Sanjay exemplify the collective anxiety gripping the region. 'Both brothers have been living in Israel for a year, but now seeing the terrible war between Iran and Israel, we want our sons to return home safely,' their relatives said. The conflict escalated dramatically before the countries agreed to a ceasefire on Tuesday. Recent Iranian missile attacks hit residential areas in Tel Aviv, bringing the war directly to neighborhoods where many of the Indian workers live and work. The tense environment presents a stark contrast to the hopes these workers had when they first arrived in Israel. For many from rural Uttar Pradesh, the opportunity to work in Israel represented a chance to escape poverty and provide for their families in ways that would have been impossible at home. The monthly salary is several times what they could earn in similar work in India. However, the reality of living in a war zone has quickly overshadowed these economic benefits. The workers described a daily routine of constant vigilance – working while listening for air raid sirens, knowing that at any moment they might need to run for shelter. The psychological toll of this existence is evident in their desperate pleas to return home. The absence of available flights made their situation even more precarious. Commercial aviation has been severely disrupted due to the conflict, with many airlines suspending or limiting services to and from Israel. This has left the workers with no clear path home, despite their growing desperation to leave. The Indian government faces a delicate diplomatic challenge in the Middle East. India maintains strong relationships with both Israel and Iran, and has refused to join international condemnations of Israeli actions. New Delhi is accustomed to balancing ties with rival states during crises, but the most recent presented a particularly difficult test. For the families in Bahraich, the geopolitical complexities matter little compared to their immediate concern: bringing their loved ones home safely. The transformation of their economic fortunes has come at an unexpected cost – the constant fear that their primary breadwinners might become casualties in a conflict that has nothing to do with them. With hundreds of people requiring hospital treatment, the Indian workers found themselves in an increasingly untenable position. They were neither combatants nor civilians in the traditional sense, but economic migrants caught in the crossfire of a regional conflict. During the recent crisis, when families in rural India waited anxiously for news from their loved ones, and workers huddled themselves in bunkers to the sound of sirens, one could not help but be reminded that in our interconnected world, no conflict is truly local, and its human toll extends far beyond the immediate theater of war.
