International
Putin considers a “snonise” a possible attack by Russia against NATO countries
Russian President Vladimir Putin called a possible Russian attack on NATO countries “nonseness” due to the great difference in their military potential.
“It’s nonsense (…) Have you seen the potential of Russia and NATO?” Putin said during an interview with the main international news agencies, including EFE, within the framework of the St. Petersburg Economic Forum.
Addressing the representatives of 16 international media, the head of the Kremlin asked not to create an image that Russia is the enemy.
“It has been invented that Russia wants to attack NATO. Who invented it? It’s nonsense, do you understand? A delirium,” he insisted, adding that Russia has no “imperial ambitions.”
According to Putin, such statements are made to “deceive the population” of Western countries and justify the sending of weapons to Ukraine.
The Russian leader’s interview with leaders of the world’s leading news agencies lasted for more than three hours, in which Putin answered more than 20 questions.
On the other hand, the Russian president warned that the tactical nuclear weapons in his country’s arsenal have 70-75 kilotons of power, more than three times those launched by the United States against Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
“The United States is the only country that used nuclear weapons. It was during World War II, in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 20 kilotons. Our tactical nuclear weapons are 70-75 kilotons,” Putin said during the interview with heads of the main international news agencies, including EFE.
Therefore, he added: “We do not take the situation not only to its use, but even the threat of use” of nuclear weapons.
While he highlighted that it is the West that always brings this issue to light and then accuse Russia of “shaking the nuclear mallet,” he recalled what the Russian military doctrine says.
“For some reason the West believes that Russia will never use them. We have a nuclear doctrine. Look at what is written on it. If someone’s actions threaten our sovereignty and territorial integrity, we consider it possible to use all the means at our disposal,” he said.
Putin also stressed that in this matter you have to behave like professionals and not “lightly, superficially.”
“I hope that everyone in the world also takes that position,” he said.
Putin also assured the agencies that the fighting in Ukraine will cease in two or three months if the United States suspends the supply of weapons to Kiev.
“And these military actions will conclude in two or three months at most,” Putin said during an interview with the main international news agencies, including EFE, within the framework of the St. Petersburg Economic Forum.
The head of the Kremlin indicated that in a response letter to the President of the United States, Joe Biden, he wrote to him: “If you want the combat actions in Ukraine to end, stop supplying him with weapons.”
He assured that the West prevented the signing of a peace treaty between Russia and Ukraine a few months after the outset of the fighting and convinced the Ukrainian authorities to fight until a strategic defeat was done to Moscow.
The Russian president recalled that the then British Prime Minister, Boris Jonhson, traveled especially to Kiev for that purpose.
“And I’m sure, I have no doubt, that it had the support of the United States Administration,” he added.
According to Putin, the so-called Istanbul treaty to end the conflict had been agreed by the Ukrainian side, so only its signature was missing.
“The Ukrainian side and its official positions publicly declared that if they had signed this treaty, the war would have ended by the end of 2022. We didn’t say it, official charges in Kiev said it, publicly,” Putin emphasized.
International
FBI Says It Disrupted Alleged Plot Targeting White House During UFC Event
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced Tuesday that it had disrupted an alleged plot to attack the White House during a major Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event held in Washington over the weekend.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the threat was identified on June 10 through a joint investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies. According to Patel, swift action by authorities led to the arrest of several suspects before the alleged plan could be carried out.
“On June 10, the FBI and our law enforcement partners became aware of a potential threat targeting UFC America 250 in Washington. Thanks to the rapid response of the FBI and our partners, multiple individuals are now in custody, and the alleged attack plans were stopped before they could be executed,” Patel said.
He emphasized that the operation demonstrated the ability of security agencies to detect and prevent potential threats at large public gatherings. Patel added that the investigation remains ongoing and that additional details will be released as court proceedings move forward.
According to reports from U.S. media outlets, five individuals have been arrested so far. The suspects were identified as Tycen Proper of Ohio, Daniel Eskridge of Missouri, Abraham Hermosillo Álvarez of Nebraska, and Bryan Omar Roa and Michael Alan Thomas, both from California. Authorities are also investigating the possible involvement of 18 additional individuals.
Investigators allege that the plot involved the use of drones equipped with explosives to target buildings near the sporting event. The plan reportedly sought to trigger a mass evacuation and direct attendees toward areas where snipers were allegedly positioned. Authorities further claim that a second phase of the operation included an attempted assault on the White House.
The U.S. Secret Service confirmed that it worked closely with the FBI throughout the operation. Secret Service Director Sean Curran stated that security teams conducted extensive efforts to identify those involved and eliminate any threat to attendees and protected facilities.
The investigation reportedly uncovered communications conducted through the messaging application Signal, where several suspects allegedly discussed details related to the planned attack. A forensic analysis of one of the seized mobile phones revealed at least 23 users participating in conversations connected to the alleged planning activities.
Court documents also indicate that some of the suspects allegedly intended to target U.S. political figures. Among the reported targets were members of Congress who had received contributions from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Investigators further stated that one of the primary suspects had posted antisemitic messages and expressions of support for Adolf Hitler on social media, evidence that is now part of the ongoing judicial investigation.
International
Brazil helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro kills six, including pilots and international figures
The Rio de Janeiro Civil Police confirmed on Monday the identities of three of the six victims killed in a helicopter collision that occurred the previous morning in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighborhood.
All three identified victims are Brazilian nationals: the pilots of the aircraft, Charles Marsillac and Alexandre Souza, and music producer Lucas Brito.
The identities of the three foreign victims have not yet been officially confirmed. They include U.S. singer Oliver Tree, Argentine YouTuber Gaspar Prim—known online as “Gaspi”—and Argentine producer Lucas Vignale, all of whom were listed on the flight manifest.
According to police, forensic experts from the Legal Medical Institute have already collected DNA samples in order to identify the foreign victims, whose bodies were severely burned.
One of the helicopters crashed into a private parking lot, triggering a fire that destroyed around twenty electric vehicles. That aircraft was carrying the pilot and four passengers, including the three foreign nationals.
The second helicopter, which had only the pilot on board, crashed approximately 100 meters away from the first impact site.
Rio de Janeiro’s deputy mayor, Eduardo Cavaliere, stated that both helicopters were operating transport flights toward Angra dos Reis on the Rio coastline and toward the mountainous region of the state.
Oliver Tree, 32, was in Brazil as part of an international tour. The artist, known for songs such as “Life Goes On” and “Miss You,” had performed to a large audience in São Paulo a week earlier and was scheduled to continue his tour in Europe.
Argentine content creator Gaspar Prim, 23, had built a following of more than two million on social media platforms, gaining popularity for humorous and often controversial video productions that had occasionally been removed by hosting platforms.
International
Mexico and U.S. Launch New Bilateral Security Group to Combat Fentanyl and Organized Crime
The governments of Mexico and the United States officially launched the Bilateral Implementation Group (BIG) on Friday, a new initiative aimed at strengthening cooperation on security issues and enhancing joint efforts against transnational crime.
In a statement, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson announced that he and Deputy Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco addressed officials from both countries who will lead what he described as a “new phase of bilateral cooperation.” The initiative seeks to curb the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs, illegal firearms, and human trafficking across the shared border.
Earlier this week, Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had confirmed that senior security officials from both nations would meet in Mexico City on June 12 to review and advance existing cooperation agreements.
Through social media, Ambassador Johnson explained that the new bilateral group is designed to improve coordination between the two governments by placing greater emphasis on implementation, accountability, and measurable results. The effort will also focus on combating transnational criminal organizations operating across North America.
“The participation of 15 U.S. government agencies, working alongside their Mexican counterparts, reflects the seriousness of this effort and our shared commitment to delivering measurable results,” Johnson said.
The ambassador also highlighted several achievements that he attributed to ongoing bilateral cooperation. According to Johnson, maritime drug trafficking into the United States has declined by more than 95 percent, while overdose deaths have fallen by 35 percent.
He further noted that Mexican authorities have seized more than 400 metric tons of illegal drugs and dismantled over 2,300 clandestine laboratories as part of their efforts to combat organized crime and narcotics production.
The launch of the Bilateral Implementation Group marks the latest step in the security partnership between Mexico and the United States, as both countries seek to address shared challenges related to drug trafficking, arms smuggling, human trafficking, and the activities of criminal networks operating across the region.
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