Blinken said the United States would not provide written responses to the Russian Federation's proposals in Geneva

 

 US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has said he will not present written answers to Russia's security proposals to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a meeting in Geneva on Friday. The corresponding statement was made by the head of the State Department on Wednesday at a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba in Kiev, TACC reports.

Blinken noted that at the end of a "busy week" of talks, the United States expects to "assess the situation." According to him, "it is also necessary to give negotiators from Russia time to assess the past consultations." "At the moment, I do not intend to present any documents to Foreign Minister Lavrov," Blinken said, answering a journalist's question whether he intended to present a written response to the Russian Federation's proposals at a meeting with the Russian foreign minister. . According to the Secretary of State, he hopes that at the meeting with Lavrov it will be possible to discuss the current state of affairs and "to see if there are still opportunities for diplomacy and dialogue."

The head of the State Department stressed that in the past consultations the United States "did not come up with any proposals to Russia." "We have only expressed our concern about Russia's security challenges in the European region. They have also expressed their own concerns, many of which have been made public," Blinken said. According to him, "soon after the meeting in Geneva (USA) will inform the Ukrainian partners and will discuss (with them) further steps."

It is not clear to Washington which Russian security proposals are central to Europe, some of which the United States says are "doomed to failure," Blinken said.

 "It is not clear what Russia's central request is or is not. They (Russia) have presented a whole range of proposals - some of which are clearly doomed to failure, such as closing NATO's doors to new members. Other proposals, if they really contribute to strengthen the security of each of the countries on a reciprocal basis, which we have made clear that we can discuss, "said the head of US diplomacy.

 He expressed hope that the situation would be clarified after his meeting in Geneva with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on January 21st. "I think these talks, which we have already held, allow us to clarify what is at the root of all this and to see if there are grounds for resolving these issues through diplomacy, dialogue and agreements. We still don't know, I think it will become much clearer to us, maybe after Friday, "Blinken concluded.

 According to him, the United States intends to continue diplomatic cooperation with the Russian Federation to resolve the situation around Ukraine as long as it can. "We intend to follow the diplomatic path in the negotiations with the Russian Federation for as long as possible," he said.

At the same time, Blinken expressed the view that the choice for further developments - by escalating or reducing tensions - remains for Russia. "If there is no result, it is only because Russia has chosen a different path," he added.

"The diplomatic path will be the best for everyone," Blinken continued. "We will stop at nothing in this work and we will continue the intense discussions."

England is giving up masks and Covid certificates

 

 Work from home, Covid passports and the obligatory wearing of face masks are being abolished in England, as Boris Johnson announced the abolition of measures under Plan B, informs Sky News.

The prime minister said that people will no longer be forced to work from home "from now on", and from Thursday next week the mandatory wearing of masks and Covid certificates will be abolished.

He reaffirmed his intention to end the rules on self-isolation of people with coronavirus in the coming weeks. The legal requirement will be dropped when the ordinances expire on March 24th, he said, and that date could be changed.

 The prime minister told parliament that cases were declining and that the wave of the Omicron strain had probably peaked nationwide, meaning the rules could now be eased.

The prime minister said it was time to "trust the public's judgment" on the use of masks in enclosed and crowded places, and they will be removed from classrooms tomorrow.

Restrictions on visits to nursing homes will also be further eased, with Health Minister Sajid Javid outlining plans for the coming days.

 Coronavirus levels in three of the four British nations - England, Scotland and Wales - have fallen for the first time since Christmas.

Approximately one in 20 people in private households in England was probably infected with the virus in the week to 15 January - about three million people - less than the record 3.7 million in the previous week, according to the latest National Statistics Service (ONS).

For Northern Ireland, the last figure is also one in 20, but the number of people with a positive test has increased slightly from 99,200 to 104,300, with the ONS describing the trend as "uncertain".

 In Scotland the figure is about one in 20, or 236,600 people, less than 297,400 - and in Wales one in 25, or 112,100 people, compared to 169,100.

MEPs discussed the priorities of the French presidency with Emmanuel Macron

 

 MEPs discussed the priorities of the French presidency with Emmanuel Macron, the press center of the European Parliament said. On Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron outlined to MEPs the main goals and political strategy for the six-month French presidency of the Council of the EU

Speaking at the Strasbourg plenary debate, President Macron explained that the promises on which the EU was founded - democracy, progress and peace - were now in jeopardy, and called for a commitment to "breathe new life into them". He warned that the end of the rule of law was the beginning of authoritarianism, and stressed that the EU must use dialogue to bring back those who are "moving away" from democratic principles.

He assured MEPs that the French Presidency will give priority to legislative dossiers that improve the quality of employment, ensure decent pay, reduce the pay gap between men and women, empower platform workers, combat discrimination and ensure gender balance. the boards of directors of companies. He also proposed that the right to abortion be included in the European Charter of Fundamental Rights.

 President Macron also referred to the challenges in the field of climate, digital technology and security - areas in which progress should be made on draft laws in the first half of 2022.

In the field of defense, President Macron emphasized that Europe must be able to anticipate risks and ensure its own security. He stressed that we must be firm against interference and attempts to destabilize Europe, especially by Russia, and to punish effectively those who violate international rules.

 On behalf of the Commission, Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič emphasized the fact that European security was under threat: "We are ready to take action if necessary". He identified strategic partnerships with Africa, relations with the Western Balkans, and Europe's economic and technological sovereignty ("bringing technology back to Europe") as priorities for the coming months. With regard to the United Kingdom, he said the Commission would show goodwill, but Europe needed a partner to do the same.

 In reactions to President Macron's speech, most political group leaders welcomed France's priorities, but added additional goals, including ending unanimous votes in the Foreign Affairs Council to allow a decisive response, inter alia, to "behavior". of Russian President Vladimir Putin, tackling the gender pay gap and rethinking the Fiscal Compact. Several speakers called for progress on the rule of law in Hungary and Poland, and criticized the French government's support for including nuclear energy in proposals for the new environmental taxonomy.

Putin discussed the situation surrounding the Iranian nuclear deal with the Iranian president

 

 Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Seyed Ebrahim Raisi discussed the nuclear agreement, the situation in Afghanistan, the fight against terrorism in Syria and economic cooperation between the countries, Rossiyskaya Gazeta reports.

At the beginning of the conversation, the Russian leader thanked Raisi for visiting Moscow during these difficult times of the pandemic. "Immediately after you take office, we are in constant contact. But, of course, neither video conferencing nor telephone conversations can replace personal communication, "Putin said. The President of the Russian Federation also noted that despite the pandemic last year, there was a slight increase in trade - over 6%. "And in the past, more than 38 percent," Putin added.

 Large projects are being implemented between Russia and Iran, work is being done in many areas, he stressed. Speaking about economic cooperation, Putin also recalled that Iran's relations with the Eurasian Economic Union are developing on the basis of an interim agreement. "We are actively working to create a long-term basis, a free trade area between Iran and our association," the Russian leader said. Iran and the Russian Federation can boost economic cooperation several times, Raisi is sure. "Our trade and economic relations in the current situation, of course, are not satisfying. Of course, we can increase the level of our trade and economic cooperation several times, "he said.

There is also cooperation between the two countries on an international basis. "I'm not even talking about the fact that, thanks in large part to our efforts, we have been able to help the Syrian government overcome the threats posed by international terrorism," Putin said. Raisi, for his part, said that the experience of cooperation between Russia and Iran in Syria could create preconditions for its application in other areas.

 He added that in the current situation, when there is opposition to the unilateral actions of the West, in particular the United States, Tehran and Moscow can create synergies in the interaction between the two countries. "We have been resisting the Americans for more than 40 years. And we will never stop the country's progress and development because of sanctions or threats. Of course, we are now working to ensure that sanctions are lifted," Raisi said. The situation in Afghanistan was also discussed during the talks. That worries Russia, Putin said. "I would like to discuss all these issues with you, to know your position on these issues," the Russian leader told the Iranian president.

 Another important topic raised during the talks between the two leaders was the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action for Iran's Nuclear Program (CFSP). Putin noted that he would like to know the position of the President of Iran on this issue. In general, the Russian leader stressed that the talks had a large agenda. Raisi, for his part, said the Iranian side had handed over a draft strategic co-operation agreement to Russia for a period of 20 years. After the protocol conversation, the negotiations traditionally continued behind closed doors.

New fighter jets increase Greece's deterrent

  

 The arrival of the first six of the 24 advanced Rafale fighter jets Greece has acquired from France will increase the country's deterrent and is a clear sign that Greece is "changing and thriving", Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said during a ceremony. welcoming the new planes, writes the electronic edition of the Greek newspaper Kathimerini.

 "The new fighters make our air force one of the strongest in Europe and the Mediterranean and strengthen the Greco-French defense agreement," he added in a speech at a ceremony marking the arrival of new aircraft at the Greek Air Force base in Tanagra, north of Tanagra. as the planes flew briefly over the Acropolis on their journey from southern France.

"We don't need anyone's permission to acquire these Rafales," Mitsotakis said, adding that "while Greece closes the door on any threat, it keeps the windows of dialogue open."

 Meanwhile, the prime minister used the occasion to announce tax breaks for servicemen, saying bonuses for flying and scuba diving would no longer be calculated as income and would therefore be tax-exempt. That is the least the government can do to reward men and women on the front lines, he said.

Anthony Blinken says the United States cannot accept that Russia is "trying to create its own sphere of influence."

 

 The United States cannot accept that Russia is "trying to create its own sphere of influence", as this could "open Pandora's box" and lead to chaos in international relations. This statement was made on Tuesday by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in an interview with the online edition of Crooked Media before leaving for Kiev, reports TACC.

"One country - Russia - says with its actions that it can change the borders of its neighbor by force, it believes that it can decide for the neighboring country with whom to establish relations, instead of its people and the government elected by him. This country says that it is normal to have a sphere of influence and if we leave such behavior unpunished, then I think we will open the box of Pandora, "said the head of US diplomacy.

He explained that in this case, "other autocratic states" could claim a sphere of influence that is a "direct path to conflict and chaos" and undermine democratic order in other countries. That's why the United States is concerned about problems that arise "thousands of miles from the United States," Blinken said.

 The US Secretary of State made the comment before flying to Kiev, where he is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba on Wednesday. A trip to Berlin is planned for Thursday, and a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva on Friday to continue diplomatic co-operation on security issues - in particular NATO's non-proliferation in Ukraine.

The President of Iran has arrived in Moscow

 

 Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has arrived in Moscow on an official visit to Russia. This was announced by the press service of the Iranian government, quoted by TACC.

"Raisi, who went to Russia at the official invitation of his Russian counterpart (Vladimir Putin) to develop economic, political and cultural co-operation, arrived at Moscow airport a few minutes ago," the statement said.

The Iranian president is scheduled to hold talks with Putin on January 19. On January 20, Raisi is scheduled to address the State Duma of the Russian Federation and will visit the Cathedral Mosque in Moscow.