NATO is preparing for the worst after the dialogue with Russia

 

 Relations between Russia and the West are "worse than ever": 100,000 Russian troops are stationed near the border with Ukraine and "not only Kiev is afraid of invasion," writes Der Spiegel. Speaking to the magazine in collaboration with the Koerber Foundation, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed: "There is a real danger."

Stoltenberg expressed concern about the "seriousness of the situation". According to him, in addition to the deployment of troops near the border, Russian intelligence is very active in Ukraine. Moscow is "trying to discredit the Ukrainian government in various ways," the NATO secretary general said.

 In the event of an escalation in Europe, the North Atlantic Alliance is ready to bring a large number of troops into combat readiness in a short period of time. However, Stoltenberg said, we need to continue to rely on dialogue. "We do not want to wage war, we want to prevent it," the NATO secretary general said.

At the same time, Stoltenberg suggests, the military alliance "must prepare for the worst." Russia is able to influence Ukraine in many ways: launch a missile strike, launch a cyber attack or organize small-scale events in Crimea. "We have to be ready to react to other scenarios, not just a major offensive operation," Stoltenberg said.

 Russia's ultimatum to NATO expires this week: Moscow is demanding, among other things, assurances that Ukraine will not be admitted to the military alliance. Stoltenberg said he was ready to meet with Russia and present his proposals. According to him, "everything" can be discussed, but no one "will compromise with the basic principles of the Alliance."

These include the right to defend one's allies and the "right of states to self-determination". Stoltenberg believes that Russia should not dictate to Ukraine which alliances to join. "The principle of self-determination of peoples is inherent in every nation," he said. According to politics, Russia's demands apply not only to Ukraine, but also to Sweden and Finland.

At a joint press conference with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Stoltenberg said he had invited Russia to attend a series of meetings within the Russia-NATO Council. NATO partners are ready to make concrete proposals, the Norwegian said. According to him, the subject of negotiations could be reducing risks during hostilities, greater transparency and improving communication channels. He also mentioned arms control, disarmament and the "Ukrainian conflict" as additional topics.

 On the issue of the common position of NATO countries, Stoltenberg said that in an alliance with 30 members there are always disagreements. "This is not a weakness, this is a strength - as long as we agree to defend each other," Stoltenberg said in an interview with the Körber Foundation and Der Spiegel.

The pandemic has led to the collapse of populism

 

 Around the world, support for populism has fallen sharply, writes The Times, citing a study conducted by the University of Cambridge. According to the publication, the study involved 750,000 people from 109 countries. As a result, since the beginning of the pandemic, trust in technocrats and scientists has increased significantly in society, and trust in populists has decreased.

According to the authors of the study, a possible reason for this trend is that many people consider the policies of famous populists regarding the coronavirus pandemic to be a failure (especially Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro). Scholars also suggest that the pandemic has become a "unifying event," while populism tends to prevail in divided societies.

According to The Times, the survey notes that the proportion of Europeans willing to vote for populist parties has fallen by 11%. Researchers say some populists, such as Donald Trump and Andrei Babish, have already lost power, while others (such as Bolsonaro) are so unpopular that they are likely to be replaced soon. Even the position of leaders consolidating power, such as Viktor Orban and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has shaken markedly, the paper said, citing the survey.

 "From Erdogan and Bolsonaro to the 'strong leaders' of Eastern Europe, the world is experiencing a wave of populism. The coronavirus probably caused the smoothing of this wave, "the publication quotes one of the authors of the study, Dr. Robert Foy.

Macron presented his vision for a new European order and security

 French President Emmanuel Macron presented the strategy of France during its EU presidency from the podium in Strasbourg. He was applauded for his efforts to strengthen the autonomy of the European Union and strengthen cooperation in Europe, but was criticized for using the European Parliament's rostrum in his campaign to re-elect France's president, Le Monde reported.

Above all, Macron called on Europeans to be brave so that the EU can establish itself as a "force of the future" and a "sovereign" so that it does not depend on other world powers. He called on Europe to create a "new security order" with NATO in the face of Russia and called for an "honest and demanding dialogue" with Russia.

 "The coming weeks should help us implement the European proposal to build a new order of security and stability. "We need to create it among Europeans, then share it with our NATO allies, and then offer it for negotiations with Russia," Macron said.

Ever since his election as French President in 2017, Emmanuel Macron has been at the helm of the European Union as opposed to nationalists and populists. He says his priority is to protect the rule of law, it is a "treasure", and "nations far from it must be convinced of this". And to strengthen the rule of law, Macron wants to include the right to abortion and the right to protect the environment in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

 Although Macron himself has not yet announced his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election in France, his opponents have not failed to accuse him of running his own election campaign. Green Representative Yannick Jado said: "You will go down in history as president of climate inaction, preferring to procrastinate rather than call for joint mobilization." Others criticized Macron for his actions on immigration, for his broken promises about the climate, writes Le Monde.
 

Anthony Blinken defended Ukraine's "democratic and European path"

 

 US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who visited Kiev on Wednesday, called on Ukrainians to "stick together", warning that - with 100,000 Russian troops gathered at the border - one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's goals is to provoke internal divisions. writes the European edition of Politico.

"Our strength depends on preserving our unity, and that includes unity in Ukraine," Blinken said, appearing with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky before the meeting. "One of Moscow's long-standing goals is to try to sow divisions between and within countries, and we simply cannot and will not allow them to do so. So our message to all our friends here and to all the global leaders of Ukraine, as well as to its citizens, is to stick together and stick to this unity, to strengthen it. "It has never been more important, especially since the country is facing the possibility of renewed Russian aggression."

Blinken noted that he was part of a parade of Western officials appearing in the Ukrainian capital in recent days. German Foreign Minister Analena Burbock was there on Monday, ahead of a visit to Moscow on Tuesday.

 "I'm tempted to say that the last thing you need is another visitor, because I think Kiev may be the most popular destination in the world right now," Blinken said. But he added that US President Joe Biden had asked him to go and demonstrate Washington's continued support.

"Now, as always, it is up to the Ukrainians and no one else to decide their own future and the future of this country," Blinken said. "The Ukrainian people chose a democratic and European path in 1991. They came to the Maidan to defend this election in 2013. And unfortunately, since then you have faced relentless aggression from Moscow. "Russia has invaded Crimea, provoked a conflict in eastern Ukraine and is systematically trying to undermine and divide Ukrainian democracy."

Zelensky thanked Blinken and reiterated Ukraine's desire to join NATO, but also stressed that his country desperately needs help to defend itself.

"We are allocating the maximum funds during all the years of our country's independence - the maximum money to support our army," he said. "But to take very quick steps to modernize the army - we need help here, especially help in such times, difficult times - I think these times can be called difficult."

Millions die from antibiotic resistance

 

 More than 1.2 million people died globally in 2019 from infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, according to the largest study to date on the issue, quoted by the BBC.

The number is higher than the annual mortality from malaria or AIDS.

Poorer countries are most affected, but antimicrobial resistance (AMP) threatens everyone's health, the report said. Urgent investments in new drugs and the use of existing ones are wiser recommendations for protection against it.

70% of Covid patients in Bulgaria are unnecessarily prescribed antibiotics.

 Excessive use of antibiotics in recent years for trivial infections means that they are becoming less effective against serious diseases.

People die from common and previously treatable infections as the bacteria that cause them become more resistant to treatment.

British health officials have recently warned that antimicrobial resistance is a 'hidden pandemic' that could occur with Covid-19 if antibiotics are not prescribed more responsibly.

 British authorities warn of a "hidden pandemic" of antibiotic-resistant diseases

The assessment of global deaths due to AMP, published in the authoritative journal Lancet, is based on an analysis of 204 countries by a team of international researchers led by the University of Washington.

They estimate that up to 5 million people died in 2019 from diseases in which AMP played a role, in addition to those 1.2 million directly caused.

In the same year, AIDS is thought to have killed 860,000 people and malaria 640,000.

Britain has already sent seven planes, probably loaded with anti-tank missiles, to Ukraine

 

 The next, already seventh flight to Ukraine, since Monday, was carried out by a heavy military transport aircraft C-17A Globemaster III of the British Royal Air Force, according to data from Western air traffic monitoring sites, the Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes. “.

Another plane ZZ178 arrived on Wednesday at Borispol airport near Kiev. British planes take off for Ukraine from Brase Norton Air Force Base in England. The operation, which involved at least half of the eight Royal Air Force (RAF) heavy transport aircraft, began on Monday. Each C-17A Globemaster III is capable of carrying up to 77.5 tons of cargo.

 According to The Drive, each aircraft can deliver at least 24 pallets with 9 anti-tank systems in each. As of Wednesday, London may have delivered more than 1,500 NLAW portable anti-tank guided missiles to Ukraine.

The visit of Kiril Petkov with positive assessments in Sofia and Skopje

 

 A day after their first meeting, the Bulgarian Prime Minister said that with the first step Bulgaria has achieved great success. Petkov is satisfied with the agreement reached on cooperation in several areas with Macedonia and emphasizes that one of their main goals is the note that the Macedonian Foreign Ministry sent to the UN has been fulfilled, commented the Skopje TV channel "Channel 5".

On the one hand, we shook hands when we went there first, and on the other hand, they gave us a note that we hoped to receive two years ago. This note is much more important than just the short and long name. This note shows that  Macedonia there are no territorial claims to Bulgaria. It should be understood here that yesterday we achieved great success, "said Kiril Petkov - Prime Minister of Bulgaria.

Macedonian Prime Minister Kovachevski, for his part, said the fact that Bulgaria had agreed to use the country's short name was the first major step in the new chapter, which the two prime ministers promised to citizens of both countries.

"My colleague Petkov and I promised ourselves that we would use the new energy and improve the relations between the two countries through a new approach based on mutual respect. He and I have the same common goal - to create conditions for a better future for the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Bulgaria, "said Dimitar Kovachevski.

 The focus should be on economic cooperation, trade, infrastructure, and history should be kept in the background - this strategy has met with positive reactions from all politicians. But will the rapprochement of the two countries in this way be enough to unblock the path of the Republic of Macedonia for European integration, will the other requirements of the Bulgarian 5 + 1 package still not be circumvented? Political analyst Petar Arsovski says time will tell whether individual scoring is a good tactic.

 "In principle, we have to wait to see if this situation will lead to some new impetus to improve relations and whether a second step will follow. Both in Macedonia and in Bulgaria there is a saying that a swallow does not make a spring. Let's see if this swallow is one of many, or will remain the only one, "said Petar Arovski, a political analyst in Skopje.

One of the Bulgarian demands is the recognition of the Bulgarian minority in Macedonia. For President Pendarovski, this is interference in the country's internal affairs, and he assures that he will not allow unworthy decisions to be made.

 "No, there is no chance of that happening. Such a decision cannot be taken. First I will go to a press conference and say "people, I do not accept this". And I do not think that any agreement should be hidden from the Macedonian or Bulgarian public. This thing is not happening by force, we must tell the citizens - we are talking about it and it does not undermine our national positions, said Stevo Pendarovski - President of Macedonia.

 Unlike the president, according to DUI leader Ali Ahmeti, there is nothing controversial about the inclusion of the Bulgarian minority in the Macedonian constitution.

The chairman of VMRO-DPMNE, Hristian Mickoski, met with Petkov, and the party said he had told the Bulgarian prime minister his already known views.