? #LIVE: The UN Security Council holds a meeting to discuss the crash of the Il-76 plane.

? https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1b/k1bfmfqsfl

? https://twitter.com/RussiaUN/status/1750633632119603477

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Russia at the United Nations (@RussiaUN) on X

#HappeningNow ***🎬***Tune in LIVE for #UNSC briefing on the downing of IL-76 airplane ***🗓️*** 25 January | 17PM (EST) https://t.co/uEUFyF3jmR

Message by H.E. Ambassador Alexander Mantytskiy, Ambassador of Russia to Bangladesh, on the occasion of the 52nd anniversary of diplomatic relations

???? Meaningful interaction between our countries predates the formal establishment of diplomatic ties in January 1972 as the USSR largely supported the Bengali people during the ongoing War for Independence in 1971. Since then, over the span of more than 50 years, our bilateral history has seen many remarkable events and significant achievements.

? Despite the current turbulence in international affairs, fruitful cooperation between Moscow and Dhaka has been developing across many sectors. The year of 2023 saw several milestones: the first ever visit of the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to Bangladesh in September, the nuclear fuel delivery ceremony at the Rooppur NPP in October; a goodwill visit of the Russian Pacific Fleet to the port of Chattogram in November. In 2023, Russia's grain export to Bangladesh amounted to 2.7 million tons.

? It is my earnest hope that with the newly elected government the ties between Moscow and Dhaka will continue to thrive, bringing peace and prosperity to our peoples.

⚡️ Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova:

? I have just confirmed to the media the long-awaited news.

Russian diplomats’ efforts in contacting Hamas regarding the release of hostages are yielding results.

❗️ A Russian national has been released and transferred to the Red Cross today.

Our diplomats will attend to him in the nearest future, as soon as possible. The released hostage was not on the exchange list. It is a result of direct agreements between the Russian representatives and Hamas.

This work will continue.

✈️ In late November 1942, the USSR and France signed an agreement on forming the legendary Normandie-Niemen air squadron. It became a symbol of Soviet-French camaraderie and the most famous foreign military unit fighting on Soviet territory during WWII.

• By the time the squadron was formed, two thirds of France had been occupied. However, small Resistance groups wanted to continue fighting Hitler. In March 1942 they suggested sending a group of French pilots and air mechanics to the USSR to participate in combat activities.

• The Normandie-Niemen air squadron was made up of the best pilots of the 1st Fighter Group in the Free French Air Force, deployed in Lebanon at the time. The formation was initially called Normandie in honour of the French northwestern province occupied by the Germans. The squadron added Niemen to its name after a successful operation on the Nieman river during the liberation of Lithuania.

• It included 14 French pilots, 58 French mechanics and 17 Soviet mechanics. The Soviet government provided the squadron with Yakovlev-1 (Yak-1) and later Yak-3 and Yak-9 fighter planes which were subsequently donated to France.

• The French aces were part of the Soviet Air Force in 1943-1945, and fought in many landmark battles from the Kursk Bulge to Koenigsberg. In total, the squadron’s pilots made over 5,000 sorties and shot down 273 German planes. Four of them were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

• Upon returning home, the formation continued to exist bearing its former name. Unfortunately, today the fighters of the Normandie-Niemen air regiment are cynically used on NATO's eastern flank in the Baltic States, where they are practising tasks to "contain" Russia. In our country, however, we remember the heroism of the French aces and appreciate their contribution to our common victory.

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#WeRemember #WeWereAllies

David #Arakhamia, leader of the ruling “Servant of the People” party faction, who led the Ukrainian delegation at peace talks in Belarus and Türkiye, has publicly confirmed what ??President Vladimir #Putin spoke about.

In the Spring of 2022 Russian and Ukrainian delegations were on the verge of negotiating an end to the conflict, assuring Ukraine’s military non-alignment and protection of rights of Russian speakers.

A text was on the table in Istanbul, almost ready to be signed.

❗However, according to Arakhamia, during his visit to #Kiev ??Prime Minister Boris Johnson pressured the Ukrainian side “not to sign anything” and “just keep on fighting”.

☝️Thus, evidently, with substantial #UK input, an off-ramp for a negotiated solution was missed - with tragic consequences for Ukrainian statehood, economy and population.

❓Would the UK Government care to comment on Arakhamia’s assertions?

#Silence is complicity