The airstrike took place over an area where displaced Palestinians have been taking shelter, outside the Emirate Hospital in the suburb of Tel Al-Sultan of southern Gaza's Rafah. / Photo: AP
Al-Qahera News TV Channel reported Saturday that 11 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli raid that targeted a tent allocated for displaced Palestinians west of Rafah City, south of the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli occupation forces have continued their aggression against the Gaza Strip by land, sea and air since the seventh of last October, resulting in the martyrdom of more than 30,000 Palestinians.
Most of the killed Palestinians are children and women. The Israeli aggression has also led to more than 71,000 injuries. And while more than 8,000 are still missing under the rubble and on the roads, the occupation prevents ambulance crews from reaching them.
The narrative that Rafah is a safe zone has once again been proven false.
Back in December, people were literally told to go this particular area of Rafah – Tal as-Sultan – to avoid being bombed.
But now a tent filled with displaced evacuees in the area, including an entire family, has been directly hit by a drone attack. At least 11 have been killed and numerous injured, including a paramedic.
While this is not the first time that the Tal as-Sultan area has been targeted, it is probably the worst.
Within the last few minutes, eight of the bodies have been taken to the Kuwaiti Hospital, where the scene is very chaotic. It is a small hospital, unprepared for the large number of injuries that are arriving. Soon, the wounded will be transferred to al-Najjar Hospital in central Rafah City, according to doctors.
People’s sense of safety in Rafah is completely shattered.
Israeli plans regarding Palestinians in Rafah may turn into 'ethnic cleansing' — Russia
Speaking at a news conference on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Türkiye, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Israel's plans regarding Palestinians in Rafah may turn into an "ethnic cleansing."
There are a lot of initiatives on a ceasefire and humanitarian pause, however, the statements of the Israeli leadership show that they do not change their goal of "clean up Gaza completely, eliminate Hamas," he said.
"Even the Western representatives wonder how can this be done, to eliminate Hamas by 100%. Moreover, Israeli generals and ministers say that everyone in Gaza is Hamas. It is then necessary to destroy all the inhabitants of Gaza," he said.
Lavrov said Moscow is also concerned about Israeli plans to carry out a ground invasion in Rafah, where two-thirds of the Palestinians are seeking shelter from violence.
"If the operation of Rafah begins, a huge number of refugees will leave for Egypt, and the Egyptians have repeatedly stated that this is unacceptable. This will be ethnic cleansing in fact," he stressed.
Head of Palestinian church committee appeals to global Christians
Ramzi Khoury, the head of the Palestinian Committee for Church Affairs, has issued a plea to international institutions and churches to raise their voices against Israel’s “massacres” in Gaza, Wafa reports.
Palestinian official Dr. Ramzi Khoury, Head of the Presidential Higher Committee for Churches Affairs, right, stands with clerics [File, Nasser Nasser/AP Photo]
Khoury said the recent attack on aid-seekers in Gaza was “unprecedented in the history of war crimes” and should compel international institutions to mobilise to push for an “immediate ceasefire”.
The Palestinian territories are home to tens of thousands of Christians, including some 47,000 in the occupied West Bank and 1,000 in Gaza. However, Palestinian Christian leaders have said they are ignored by Western church leaders while Israeli military attacks put them in peril.
In an open letter by Palestinian Christians back in October, they wrote, “We are disturbed by the silence of many church leaders and theologians when it is Palestinian civilians who are killed.”
Units of Russia’s Battlegroup South have improved their frontline position in the Donetsk area, making the enemy lose up to 410 troops, Battlegroup Spokesman Vadim Astafyev gold TASS.
"Units of Battlegroup South, backed by aircraft and artillery forces, have improved their frontline position, hitting the troops and equipment of the 24th Mechanized Brigade and the Third and 92nd assault brigades [of the Ukrainian armed forces] near Novoye, Bogdanovka, Andreyevka and Kurdyumovka. Up to 410 enemy troops were either killed or wounded. Anti-tank guided missile systems and loitering munitions hit two armored combat vehicles and 12 motor vehicles," he specified.
The spokesman added that two 152 mm Msta-B howitzers and a 152 mm Gvozdika howitzer had been destroyed by counterbattery fire.
Watch Russian Su-35 Fighter Jets Blocking Skies Over Avdeyevka
Su-35 provide support for bombers and attack aircraft as they carry out strikes on Ukrainian positions.
The Russian Ministry of Defence has released footage of Su-35 fighter jets patrolling the skies near Avdeyevka. According to the statement, their presence in the airspace makes Ukrainian planes terrified take off.
"By their sole presence in the air, Su-35 crews prevent the enemy from taking off, as any air target is immediately located and destroyed during take-off," the ministry said.
Russian troops pound Ukrainian military-industrial sites in precision strikes over week
Russian troops delivered 23 combined strikes by precision weapons against Ukrainian military-industrial sites, army and mercenaries’ deployment sites over the past week in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Friday.
"In the period of February 24 - March 1, the Russian Armed Forces delivered 23 combined strikes by precision weapons, multiple launch rocket systems and unmanned aerial vehicles against Ukrainian military-industrial sites engaged in the production of reconnaissance/strike unmanned aerial vehicles, arsenals and depots storing fuel and lubricants for military hardware.
The strikes also targeted deployment sites of the Ukrainian army, nationalists’ and foreign mercenaries’ formations. All the targets were destroyed," the ministry said in a statement.
Russian forces improve frontline positions in Kupyansk area over week
Russian forces improved their frontline positions and repelled 30 Ukrainian army counterattacks in the Kupyansk area over the week, the ministry reported.
"In the Kupyansk direction, units of the Western Battlegroup conducted active operations throughout the week, improved their forward edge positions and inflicted damage on enemy manpower and equipment near the settlements of Ivanovka, Peschanoye and Prikolotnoye in the Kharkov Region.
They repelled 30 counterattacks by assault groups of the Ukrainian army’s 32nd mechanized, 77th airmobile, 95th air assault and 57th motorized infantry brigades near the communities of Sinkovka in the Kharkov Region and Terny in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.
Kiev loses over 755 troops in Kupyansk area in week
Ukraine’s military lost more than 755 troops and 50 pieces of equipment in the Kupyansk area over the past week, the ministry reported.
"The enemy’s losses [in the Kupyansk direction] amounted to over 755 personnel, 3 tanks, 6 armored combat vehicles, 18 motor vehicles and 23 field artillery guns," the ministry said.
Kiev loses over 2,835 troops in Donetsk area in week
The Ukrainian military lost more than 2,835 troops and seven tanks in the Donetsk area over the week, the ministry reported.
"In the Donetsk direction, units of the Southern Battlegroup took more advantageous sites and inflicted damage on formations of the Ukrainian army’s 5th and 92nd assault, 28th, 72nd and 93rd mechanized brigades, 107th and 241st territorial defense brigades near the communities of Kleshcheyevka, Bogdanovka, Dyleyevka, Kurdyumovka, Andreyevka and Krasnoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic. In addition, they repelled 18 counterattacks by Ukrainian assault groups near the settlements of Berestovoye, Krasnogorovka, Georgiyevka and Novomikhailovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.
The Ukrainian army’s losses in the Donetsk direction over the reporting period totaled more than 2,835 personnel, seven tanks, 16 armored combat vehicles, 49 motor vehicles and 24 field artillery guns, it said.
Russian forces keep advancing in Avdeyevka area in DPR
Russian forces liberated three communities near Avdeyevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and pressed ahead with their advance over the past week, the ministry reported.
"In the Avdeyevka direction, units of the Battlegroup Center liberated the communities of Lastochkino, Severnoye and Petrovskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic and continued advancing in the western direction," the ministry said.
Operating jointly with combat aircraft and artillery, Russian forces inflicted damage on massed manpower and military hardware of the Ukrainian army’s 23rd, 24th, 53rd, 61st and 110th mechanized brigades, 59th motorized infantry brigade, 3rd assault brigade, 103rd and 107th territorial defense brigades near the settlements of Netailovo, Ocheretino, Mayorsk and Rozovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic, it said.
Over the past week, Russian forces also repulsed 48 counterattacks by Ukrainian assault groups near the settlements of Novgorodskoye, Leninskoye, Orlovka and Pervomaiskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic, the ministry reported.
"The enemy lost more than 2,600 personnel, 23 tanks, including a US-made Abrams tank, 45 armored combat vehicles, 83 motor vehicles and 26 field artillery guns in that direction over the week," the ministry specified.
Russian forces improve frontline positions in south Donetsk area over week
Russian forces improved their frontline positions and repulsed seven Ukrainian army attacks in the south Donetsk area, eliminating roughly 890 enemy troops over the week, the ministry reported.
"In the south Donetsk direction, units of the Battlegroup East improved their forward edge positions and repulsed seven attacks by enemy assault groups near the settlements of Marfopol in the Zaporozhye Region, Novodonetskoye and Shevchenko in the Donetsk People’s Republic. In addition, they inflicted damage on formations of the Ukrainian army’s 72nd mechanized and 58th motorized infantry brigades, 108th, 121st, 127th and 128th territorial defense brigades near the communities of Vodyanoye, Ugledar, Urozhainoye, Staromayorskoye and Rovnopol in the Donetsk People’s Republic and Lugovskoye in the Zaporozhye Region," the ministry said.
The Ukrainian army’s losses in the south Donetsk direction over the past week totaled as many as 890 personnel, 3 tanks, 6 armored combat vehicles, 28 motor vehicles and 8 field artillery guns, it said.
Russian forces repulse seven Ukrainian attacks in Kherson direction over week
Russian forces repulsed seven Ukrainian army attacks in the Kherson area over the past week, the ministry reported.
"In the Kherson direction, Russian troops gained more advantageous positions and repulsed seven attacks by assault groups of the Ukrainian army’s 117th and 118th mechanized brigades and the 15th National Guard brigade near the settlement of Rabotino in the Zaporozhye Region," the ministry said.
Russian forces also inflicted damage by combined firepower on the personnel and military equipment of the Ukrainian army’s 28th, 65th and 118th mechanized brigades, 44th airmobile brigade, 128th mountain assault brigade, 35th marine infantry brigade and 121st territorial defense brigade near the settlements of Verbovoye, Primorskoye, Novopokrovka, Orekhov, Malaya Tokmachka and Nesteryanka in the Zaporozhye Region, Ilyinka in the Dnepropetrovsk Region, Tokarevka and Dudchany in the Kherson Region, the ministry specified.
Russian forces also thwarted an attempt by a subversive group from the Ukrainian Navy’s 73rd special operations center to land from fast-speed motor boats in the area of the Tendra Spit on the Black Sea coast in the Kherson Region, it said.
Four enemy boats were destroyed in a brief battle and sank. As many as 25 Ukrainian personnel were eliminated and one soldier was captured by Russian forces, the ministry reported.
The enemy’s losses in the Kherson direction over the week totaled more than 290 personnel, 3 tanks, 4 armored combat vehicles, 34 motor vehicles and 16 field artillery guns," the ministry said.
Russian troops wipe out Norwegian NASAMS surface-to-air missile system
Russian forces destroyed a Norwegian NASAMS surface-to-air missile system and a Ukrainian S-300 anti-aircraft missile launcher over the past week, the ministry reported.
"Over the week, operational-tactical aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the groupings of forces destroyed a P-18 radar station, two radars and a launcher of an S-300 anti-aircraft missile system, a combat vehicle of a Norwegian-made NASAMS surface-to-air missile system and five Bukovel-AD electronic warfare stations," the ministry said.
Russian air defenses down three Ukrainian warplanes over week
Russian air defense forces shot down three Ukrainian combat planes over the past week, the ministry reported.
"Over the week, air defense capabilities shot down two MiG-29 fighter jets and a Su-25 attack plane of the Ukrainian Air Force," the ministry said.
Russian air defenses down 2 Storm Shadow missiles, 639 Ukrainian UAVs over week
Russian air defense forces shot down 2 Storm Shadow cruise missiles, 4 JDAM smart bombs, 35 HIMARS rockets and 639 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over the past week, the ministry reported.
"Over the week, air defense capabilities shot down two Storm Shadow cruise missiles, four JDAM guided air bombs, 35 rockets of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system and 639 unmanned aerial vehicles," the ministry said.
Sixteen Ukrainian soldiers surrender to Russian troops over week
Sixteen Ukrainian soldiers surrendered to Russian troops over the past week, the ministry reported.
"From February 24 to March 1, 16 Ukrainian soldiers surrendered," the ministry said.
In all, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 575 Ukrainian warplanes, 267 helicopters, 13,862 unmanned aerial vehicles, 475 surface-to-air missile systems, 15,304 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,227 multiple rocket launchers, 8,242 field artillery guns and mortars and 19,236 special military motor vehicles since the start of the special military operation, the ministry reported.
Reeling from their recent defeat in Avdeyevka, Ukrainian forces continue to be pummeled by Russian artillery and airstrikes.
Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber aircraft have delivered yet another surprise in the form of high-explosive bombs to the Kiev regime forces in the Donetsk People’s Republic.
According to a statement disseminated by the Russian Ministry of Defense, this airstrike destroyed several Ukrainian strongholds and a Ukrainian troop formation.
This video, also released by the ministry, shows how the airstrikes are carried out.
Watch Russia’s Su-25s Wipe Out Ukrainian Stronghold in Special Op Zone
The Russian Aerospace Forces Su-25 is a versatile attack aircraft designed to provide air support to ground forces by engaging targets such as tanks and other armored vehicles, as well as fortifications.
As part of the ongoing special military operation, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) has released a video showing the crews of Su-25 fighter jets destroying a Ukrainian troop position in the Avdeyevka area.
The Su-25s fired unguided S-8 missiles at the position, using a pitching maneuver accompanied by a sharp climb to set a certain angle for the S-8 launch, the MoD said in a statement.
The pilots then released the heat traps before returning to the home airfield to prepare for the next flight, according to the MoD.
Watch Russian Sharpshooter Snuff Out Ukrainian Servicemen
Snipers are essential assets in the special op, tasked with eliminating high-profile targets such as enemy officers and highly skilled specialists. In certain situations, these elite troops may also be called upon to track and eliminate ordinary enemy soldiers.
The Russian Ministry of Defense recently released footage of a sniper engaging in combat in the area of Avdeyevka. Ukrainian soldiers were attempting to change positions under cover of night when they were spotted by the skilled Russian sharpshooter, who swiftly neutralized them. Snipers adhere to a unique set of rules governing their combat behavior, operating discreetly in the shadows and striking unexpectedly.
Russia Liberates Three Villages Near Avdeyevka
Troops also repelled 48 attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in which Kiev's losses amounted to more than 2,600 soldiers and 23 tanks, including US-made Abrams, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported.
“In the Avdeyevka region, units of the Tsentr Battlegroup liberated the settlements of Lastochkino, Severnoye, Petrovskoye of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and continued to advance in a western direction,” the ministry reported.
Russian forces, supported by aviation and artillery, defeated concentrations of troops and equipment of the 23rd, 24th, 53rd, 61st, 110th Mechanized, 59th Motorized Infantry and 3rd Assault Brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as the 103rd and 107th Defense Brigades in the areas of the settlements of Netaylovo, Ocheretino, Mayorsk and Rozovka of the DPR.
“Also, 48 counterattacks of assault units were repelled in the areas of the settlements of Novgorodskoye, Leninskoye, Tonenkoye, Orlovka and Pervomaiskoye of the Donetsk People’s Republic. Over the course of a week in this region, the enemy lost over 2,600 troops, 23 tanks, including US-made Abrams, 45 armored combat vehicles, 83 vehicles, as well as 26 field artillery pieces,” the Ministry of Defense said.
The Russian Armed Forces also repelled 18 Ukrainian counterattacks in the past week near Donetsk, where Ukraine lost over 2,800 soldiers.
"The losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces during the specified period amounted to more than 2,835 military personnel, seven tanks, 16 armored combat vehicles, 49 vehicles and 24 field artillery guns," the ministry said in a statement, adding that Ukraine lost up to 890 soldiers in the South Donetsk region.
The Russian troops also repelled 30 counterattacks near Kupyansk, where Ukraine lost over 755 soldiers. In the Kherson region, Russian forces repelled seven attacks in the Rabotino area, while Ukraine lost over 290 soldiers.
Mahfud Md di Universitas Indonesia Salemba, Jakarta. ANTARA/Narda Margaretha Sinambela/aa.
Mantan Menteri Koordinator Bidang Politik, Hukum dan HAM Mahfud Md memuji putusan Mahkamah Konstitusi melalui putusan Nomor 116/PUU-XXI/2023 yang menghapus ketentuan ambang batas parlemen atau parliamentary threshold sebesar empat persen suara sah nasional.
Adapun penghapusan ambang batas tersebut itu baru dapat berlaku pada pemilu 2029, tidak pada Pemilu 2024 yang baru saja berlangsung.
"Bagus, memang harus begitu, berlakunya itu harus di dalam tradisi hukum di seluruh dunia. Kalau ada perubahan aturan yang memberatkan atau menguntungkan seseorang harus pada periode berikutnya," ujar Mahfud di Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta, Jumat.
Menurut Mahfud, hal itu sudah sesuai dengan tradisi hukum di dunia di mana perubahan aturan yang menguntungkan atau merugikan seseorang harus diberlakukan pada periode berikutnya.
Mantan Ketua Mahkamah Konstitusi itu menambahkan putusan soal penghapusan ambang batas parlemen tidak bisa diterapkan di Pemilu 2024. Sebab, ambang batas parlemen itu masih harus diputuskan oleh pembentuk undang-undang, yaitu pemerintah dan DPR.
"Kan disebut juga berlaku sebelum 2029, tapi yang 2024 berlaku (ketentuan) lama. Jangan bermimpi lah, yang dapat satu persen, dua persen lalu bisa masuk sekarang," katanya.
Dia menjelaskan pembentuk UU harus memiliki syarat dan alasan yang jelas mengapa syarat tersebut harus dihapuskan menjadi nol atau diturunkan menjadi sekian persen. Dengan demikian, sudah pasti putusan itu tidak bisa berlaku sekarang.
"Tidak sembarang partai baru, lalu bisa masuk ke parlemen atau yang sudah masuk ke parlemen. Kalau belum sekian tahun, lalu tidak boleh ikut mencalonkan calon presiden. Nanti, harus diatur, tidak bisa berlaku sekarang, sudah pasti tidak bisa berlaku sekarang," ucap Mahfud.
Mahfud juga berharap nantinya ambang batas parlemen itu tetap harus ada minimal dua persen. Hal itu sudah diatur sebagai kerangka dasar yang dibangun sejak awal reformasi.
Sebelumnya, pada hari Kamis, 29/03/2024, Mahkamah Konstitusi mengabulkan sebagian gugatan uji materi Perludem mengenai ketentuan ambang batas parlemen (parliamentary threshold) sebesar 4 persen suara sah nasional yang diatur dalam Undang-undang Nomor 7 Tahun 2017 tentang Pemilu.
"Mengabulkan permohonan Pemohon untuk sebagian," kata Ketua MK Suhartoyo membacakan amar putusan dalam Sidang Pleno MK yang dipantau secara daring di Jakarta, Kamis.
MK memutuskan norma Pasal 414 ayat (1) UU Pemilu adalah konstitusional sepanjang tetap berlaku untuk Pemilu DPR 2024 dan konstitusional bersyarat untuk diberlakukan pada Pemilu DPR 2029 dan Pemilu berikutnya, sepanjang telah dilakukan perubahan ambang batas parlemen dengan berpedoman pada persyaratan yang telah ditentukan.
Dalam perkara ini, Perludem menggugat frasa "partai politik peserta Pemilu harus memenuhi ambang batas perolehan suara paling sedikit empat persen dari jumlah suara sah secara nasional untuk diikutkan dalam penentuan perolehan kursi anggota DPR".
Perludem ingin norma pada pasal tersebut diganti menjadi "partai politik peserta pemilu harus memenuhi ambang batas perolehan suara efektif secara nasional untuk diikutkan dalam penentuan perolehan kursi anggota DPR dengan ketentuan: a. Bilangan 75 persen dibagi dengan rata-rata besaran daerah pemilihan, ditambah satu, dan dikali dengan akar jumlah daerah pemilihan; b. Dalam hal hasil bagi besaran ambang parlemen sebagaimana dimaksud huruf a menghasilkan bilangan desimal, dilakukan pembulatan".
Dalam pertimbangan hukum yang dibacakan oleh Wakil Ketua MK Saldi Isra, MK tidak menemukan dasar rasionalitas dalam penetapan besaran angka atau persentase paling sedikit empat persen dimaksud dalam pasal tersebut.
Saldi juga menyebut angka ambang batas parlemen tersebut juga berdampak terhadap konversi suara sah menjadi jumlah kursi DPR yang berkaitan dengan proporsionalitas hasil Pemilu.
The Japanese government extended a list of sanctions against Russia over the developments in Ukraine having blacklisted 12 individuals and 36 organizations, the Japanese Cabinet of Ministers said in a statement on Friday.
The newly-published list of sanctions against the individuals includes Commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Kaluga Region Irina Ageyeva, Commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Rostov Region Irina Cherkasova, Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Chechnya Mansur Soltayev, Chairman of the Government of the Chechen Republic Muslim Khuchiyev, Commander of the Second Special Purpose Police Regiment of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation in the Chechen Republic Zamid Chalayev.
Sibugol LCC owner Artyom Uss, Director-General of JSC GTLK Yevgeny Ditrikh, Director of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution Artek International Children’s Center Konstantin Fedorenko and Chief of Staff of the Regional Branch of the All-Russian Young Army Military Patriotic Social Movement (Yunarmiya) in the city of Sevastopol Vladimir Kovalenko are also on the list of Japan’s sanctions.
Among the blacklisted Russian enterprises are Kalashnikov, Almaz-Antey, Uralvagonzavod, GTLK, Atomflot and others.
Russia's Rapid Growth Shows Immunity to West's Cold War Tricks That Sapped USSR
President Vladimir Putin outlined his vision for Russia's future development and emphasized its growth potential together with BRICS during his State of the Nation speech on Thursday. He stressed that a lasting world order is impossible without a strong Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized the strategic objectives and matters that are instrumental in ensuring steady long-term development for Russia on Thursday as he delivered his address to the Federal Assembly in Gostiny Dvor, Moscow.
"It was a very powerful speech," Adriel Kasonta, a London-based foreign affairs analyst and former chairman of the International Affairs Committee at the Bow Group think tank, told Sputnik.
"It is related to the foreign policy that Russia is pivoting away from the West, that it's putting a strong emphasis on having closer ties with its BRICs partners and allies and also puts a strong emphasis on national rejuvenation," the analyst continued.
During his speech, Putin pointed out that Russia is on track to becoming one of the world's four largest economies in the near future. He drew attention to the fact that last year, the Russian economy grew faster than the global average and outpaced any growth seen in the G7 states.
The Russian president pointed out that by 2028, BRICS' share of the global economy at purchasing power parity will increase to 36.6%, whereas that of the G7 will drop to 27.8%.
"It is very significant to remember that these emerging economies, developing economies, present a profound potential of growth," Kasonta said. "The countries which are seen as the G7, they are declining. Their population growth is declining. Their economies are very weak because of the fact that they engaged themselves in the proxy war with Russia and also that they are subsidizing the war effort in Ukraine. So in my opinion, the West is done.
West Tried and Failed to Undermine Russia
After the beginning of Moscow's special operation in Ukraine, the US and its allies imposed a plethora of sanctions against Russia, targeting all sectors of the nation's economy. Russia was severed from the SWIFT system and its sovereign funds were frozen in the West.
Nonetheless, Russia has demonstrated remarkable economic growth and bolstered ties with Asian and African countries, the Arab world and Latin America, since.
"I think that Western sanctions only helped Russia to make a clear line of distinction between what is represented by the declining West and what is the future," Kasonta noted. "I think that the West doesn't understand that the sanctions are just a laughing stock for the rest of the world. As we know, the rest of the world is keen to do business and have diplomatic interactions with Russia."
Having admitted that the effect of sanctions has fallen short of the West's expectation, the US and its allies are now focused on funding their respective military-industrial complexes. During his address, President Putin lambasted the West for attempting to drag Russia into an arms race, stressing that similar tricks were used against the USSR in the 1980s to facilitate its collapse and demise.
According to Kasonta, it's clear that Russia won't fall into this trap again: the country has adopted a balanced approach to developing its defense sector as well as other sectors of the economy.
The West's old Cold War tricks no longer work, echoed Paolo Raffone, a strategic analyst and director of the CIPI Foundation in Brussels.
"The old Cold War plan to unpack Russia and force it to become a 'space' of nation-states has failed since Russian elites chose Putin at the end of 1990s," Raffone told Sputnik. "Western misunderstanding of what is the renewed strength of Russia under Putin’s leadership is astonishing. Today, Russia has nothing to do with the old USSR. Western attempts to launch a second phase of the Cold War (with Russia and China) are shortsighted and destined to fail. The global shift from the West to the rest is already happening, as Putin underlined."
The crux of the matter is that the West cannot uphold its monopoly in terms of global logistics, trade, or technology, according to the expert.
"The weakness of the West is represented by the failure of the effectiveness of sanctions against Russia (but also against Iran, China and other entities). The global transport infrastructure, trade and financial system is developing in spite of the West, pointing at an alternative to Western dominance in those areas," Raffone pointed out.
West Destroying Itself
"As we can see, the American empire is destroying itself by simply putting more money in the military, to sustain its multiple military bases around the world and to invent new weapons of mass destruction instead of concentrating on the well-being of their own population. Let us look at what is happening on the Texan border. I mean, there's an invasion over there and the level of living standard in the United States is decreasing," Kasonta underscored.
While the US and G7 are seeking ways to seize Russia's assets to fund their proxy war in Ukraine, the people in the West have grown weary of the ongoing conflict.
Various surveys in the US and the EU have demonstrated that Westerners no longer believe that the Kiev regime could win; furthermore, they say that the Western leadership should seek a "compromise settlement" to stop the conflict.
Regardless of this obvious shift in popular opinion, the Western leadership is continuing to push ahead with Ukraine's militarization. According to Raffone, it's unlikely that this bellicose rhetoric will change before the US elections. For their part, leaders of major EU powers will follow in the footsteps of Washington.
"The United States will outmaneuver itself (..) how long you can sustain this - a never-ending arms race - there is a certain limit to that. And the limit will be that the people in these countries will no longer be able to survive. And they will go to the streets and we will possibly have a civil war," warned Kasonta.
