Ukraine must accept territorial losses to survive – NATO state’s president

from RT

Ukraine does not have enough strength to retake its former territories in the near term without devastating losses and must therefore prioritize survival as a state, Czech President Petr Pavel has said.

Pavel, a former NATO Military Committee chair and longtime supporter of Ukraine – who believes the country should join the US-led bloc even in its “temporary” borders – made the remarks in a BBC interview on Monday.

Ukraine, even with Western backing, is “not in a position to liberate occupied territories in a short time frame without a significant cost to lives,” the president said.

”We want them to survive as an independent sovereign country. If the cost is to accept that part of the territory will be temporarily occupied, then [so] be it,” he added, stressing that the West will never recognize any former Ukrainian region as Russian...

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Media publishes Germany’s alleged war plan

from RT

The German Defense Ministry has drawn up contingency plans for a potential military conflict with Russia, Der Spiegel and Bild have reported. The document reportedly envisages Germany serving a key role as a transit state for NATO troops, with its population and civil services being expected to assist foreign military personnel.

Last month, the German government officially updated its wartime guidelines for the first time since 1989, which now include such measures as mandatory conscription and forcing manufacturers to produce war goods...

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No NATO-Israel cooperation until peace in Palestine – Türkiye

from RT

Türkiye will not support any cooperation between Israel and NATO while the Jewish state continues its military operation in Gaza, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said.  

Speaking after the NATO summit in Washington on Thursday, Erdogan accused Israel of “trampl[ing] on the fundamental values” of the US-led military bloc, and insisted it is “not acceptable” for NATO to cooperate with West Jerusalem.   

“Until a comprehensive, sustainable peace is established in Palestine, attempts at cooperation with Israel within NATO will not be approved by Türkiye,” Erdogan added. 

While not a member of the US-led military bloc, Israel maintains relations with Washington as a major non-NATO ally. 

Erdogan accused West Jerusalem of committing “atrocities” in Gaza, and argued that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration has endangered its own people and the wider region through “expansionist and reckless policies.”  

“I hereby call on all our allies to increase their pressure on the Netanyahu administration to ensure a cease-fire and the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, who have been starving for nine months,” Erdogan added...

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Huge anti-war rally in NATO member’s capital

from RT

Hundreds of thousands participated in a peace march in Hungary’s capital, Budapest on Saturday, denouncing the EU’s policy of escalating tensions with Russia. The event culminated with a speech by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who accused Brussels of bringing Europe closer to a global conflict. 

The demonstrators marched from the iconic Chain Bridge to Margaret Island on the Danube River.

Many carried flags, chanted pacifist slogans, and held signs reading “No war” and “Give us peace, Lord.” 

“Never before have so many people lined up for peace. We are the biggest peace corps, the largest peacekeeping force in Europe,” the prime minister said, as quoted by Reuters. “Europe must be prevented from rushing into war, into its own destruction.”...

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