Vladimir Putin health – 'Sickly' despot HUMILIATED as he's awkwardly kept waiting for meeting with Turkish leader | The Sun
VLADIMIR Putin cut a solitary figure this week as Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan left him waiting as dozens of photographers looked on.
The Russian dictatorlooked seriously awkward as he stood alone, shifting from one foot to the other.
This must have come as a shock for Vlad, who has gained a reputation in recent years for making world leaders wait for him.
Joyce Karam, senior correspondent at Middle Eastern media organisation National News, highlighted this moment in a Twitter post.
“Those 50 seconds that Erdoğan made Putin wait, looking frazzled in front of cameras say plenty of how much has changed after Ukraine,”she said.
It is likely that Erdogan did this on purpose, after Putin did the same to him in 2020.
Read our Ukraine war live blog below for the latest up-to-date news…
- henry moore
‘Moscow is a superpower’
An Iranian official told Associated Press: “We need a strong ally, and Moscow is a superpower.”
Mr Putin’s foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said: “The contact with Khamenei is very important.
“A trusting dialogue has developed between them on the most important issues on the bilateral and international agenda.
“On most issues, our positions are close or identical.”
- henry moore
EU to cut gas usage by 15% amid Ukraine crisis
As Russia continues to block the EU's supply of natural gas, the trading block is set to decide on cutting its usage, reports the Kyiv Independent.
This will be a voluntary option available to all member states.
It comes as Russia continues to halt the supply of natural gas across Europe.
- henry moore
Russia has ‘already lost the Ukraine war’ UK army chief claims
Russia will fail in its attempts to invade Ukraine Head of the Armed forces Sir Tony Radakin told the BBC this morning.
“What you’re seeing is a Russia, if we focus on the Donbas, that is less than 10 per cent of the territory of Ukraine and we are approaching 150 days,’ he told the BBC,” he said.
“Russia is struggling to take that territory, and it is struggling because of the courage and determination of the Ukrainian armed forces.”
- Louis Allwood
Humiliating moment Russia ‘shoots down its OWN $36m fighter jet’
Russia has shot down one of its $36 million Su-34 jets over Ukraine's eastern Luhansk region, Ukrainian media outlets have claimed.
The Sukhoi Su-34, a medium-range fighter-bomber, was accidentally downed near Alchecvsk, which is currently under occupation by Kremlin-backed separatist forces.
Various videos of the incident have been shared on the Telegram messaging app, Tiktok and on Twitter.
Russian war correspondent Yevgeny Poddubny published a video over night which he claimed shows Russian/Luhansk People's Republic air defenses destroying a target over Alchevsk.
Pro-Russian former commander Igor Girkin, who is critical of Moscow's approach to the invasion, also posted apparent evidence of the friendly-fire strike.
Indeed, Girkin, who is a self-described Russian nationalist who orchestrated the annexation of Crimea in 2014, posted a video showing charred remains of a Su-34 on TikTok.
An inscription on the plane, which is still visible, shows that the jet belongs to Russia's Air Force.
Local media claim the plane was shot down by Russia's own air defense in a case of friendly fire.
A Telegram user called Ruslan allegedly wrote: "The jet is ours unfortunately. Sometimes it happens. I heard the info from a friend, I thought bulls**t, but it was confirmed."
- Louis Allwood
'Our positions are close or identical'
Putin has described Western sanctions as a declaration of economic war – and is also attempting to build bridges with China and India.
Yuri Ushakov, Mr Putin's foreign policy adviser said: "The contact with Khamenei is very important.
"On most issues, our positions are close or identical."
An Iranian official said: "We need a strong ally, and Moscow is a superpower."
- Louis Allwood
Putin HOBBLES along red carpet with his arm hanging limp
Vladimir Putin hobbled along the red carpet with his arm hanging limp by his side as he arrived in Iran today.
Footage of the Russian leader's arrival showed him shuffling down the steps of his jet as he landed in Tehran to meet with fellow global terror master Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
With his right arm limp by his side, Putin, 69, was seen hobbling down a long red carpet rolled out for the dictator at the capital's Mehrabad airport.
The Russian president is right-handed – but there's speculation he's ambidextrous as he wears his watch on his right hand.
He briefly waved to the gathered crowds before being whisked into his presidential convoy to the city.
- Louis Allwood
UK Ministry of Defence latest update
The Ministry of Defence have said that the Russian army are "struggling to sustain" their combat power as the war progresses.
The UK's Ministry of Defence said: "Russia continues to commit what are nominally six separate armies to its Donbas offensive. At full strength, before the invasion, these formations were established for around 150,000 personnel.
"In recent weeks, Russia has often operated with company-sized groupings of around 100 personnel when undertaking offensive operations in any one sector at a time.
"Russia has struggled to sustain effective offensive combat power since the start of the invasion and this problem is likely becoming increasingly acute."
- Louis Allwood
Russia's independent TV channel returns from abroad
The show, Rain, was forced to close down four months ago around the same time the war in Ukraine kicked off.
But the channel's broadcast has picked up again, but from Riga, Latvia.
According to the BBC, it received an EU license to broadcast.
However, it might prove difficult for Russian's to access the channel from home, as it will likely be blocked by Kremlin forces.
- Louis Allwood
Unexplained incident reportedly kills Russian soldiers in Ukrainian power plant
Reports have surfaced that troops at Zaporizhzhia had to be hospitalised.
The mayor of Enerhodar, Dmytro Orlov, said that troops were "so scared they ran around in a panic" and had to be taken to hospital.
Russian troops were using the power plant to store weapons and missile systems.
- Louis Allwood
Russia fines internet giant Google over banned content
Google is reported to have fined to restrict access to "prohibited" material.
The country's communications regulator Roskomnadzor, said the information that was allowed to slip through Russia's tight net was "fake," according to Reuters.
This included "fake" reports that urged people to protest.
Google is yet to comment, but it did remove commercial services in Russia.
However it did not remove search, maps and YouTube, in order to provide Russians access to "global information and perspectives."
- Louis Allwood
Russia’s top female tennis star Daria Kasatkina in tears as she slams Ukraine war
Russia's top female tennis player has bravely come out as gay – and tearfully slammed Vladimir Putin's ongoing war with Ukraine.
Daria Kasatkina, 25, is the world No12 and reached the semi-final of the French Open earlier this year.
Russian law forbids the discussion of LGBTQ relationships which "promotes non-traditional sexual relations" to minors.
There are even discussions within the nation's parliament over making the rules even more strict.
Yet Kasatkina – who lives and trains in Barcelona, Spain – has bravely come out as gay and even shared a snap of her with her significant other on social media.
When asked if she was dating a woman, Kasatkina replied, "Yes", before admitting "living in the closet" would not be sustainable.
Click here to read more.
- Louis Allwood
European Union to sanction against Russian gold exports
President Zelenskiy has called on European powers to "do everything to strengthen" sanctions.
While the EU freezes oligarch finances and places embargos on Russia, Politico writer Jamie Dettmer believes Ukrainian officials think this is not enough.
He wrote: "Ukrainians push for a gas embargo, of course, and they remain frustrated with the recent Canadian-German agreement to waive restrictions on a key component – a turbine – needed for Nord Stream, Russia's natural gas pipeline running to Germany."
- Louis Allwood
Shelling kills six in eastern Ukraine
A collapsed two storey building is thought to have trapped civilians.
The town of Toretsk was heavily shelled by Russian artillery.
Reports have said that emergency services had recovered five bodies from the rubble.
One was alive when pulled out, but later passed away in hospital, according to Agence France-Press.
- Louis Allwood
Odesa in flames, Russian shelling: In pictures
Firefighters are working tirelessly to put out relentless flames in Odesa after Russia shells the city.
Ukrainian firefighters are pictured working hard at a scene after shelling in Odesa.
The city was hit by missiles, three days ago on 16 July, Russian missiles allegedly ruined the Ukrainian army's warehouse, full of anti-ship missiles, according to Russian reports.
However, Ukrainian press insists that Russia actually hit a civilian manufacturing and trading company warehouse.
Reports were made by Ukrinform.
- Louis Allwood
Russian journalist who protested Ukraine invasion detained
Marina Ovsyannikova was reportedly arrested by police after making a protest during a live broadcast.
“Marina has been detained,” her team posted an update on the journalist’s Telegram page: “There is no information on where she is.”
Hours later, she updated her Facebook: “I’m home. Everything is okay,” she wrote on her Facebook page. “But now I know it’s always best to bring a suitcase and passport if you go out.”
- Louis Allwood
Russia's struggles
Russia – one of the largest and most technologically sophisticated in the world – has so far struggled to win control over Ukrainian skies.
W an estimated 4,000 combat aircraft and vast experience bombing targets in Syria, Georgia and Chechnya, Russia was expected to gain air supremacy.
Experts have suggested flawed logistics operations and a lack of regular and realistic training have blighted the recent "modernisation" of the Russian Air Force.
The Su-34 – which spent decades in development – is hailed by Russia for its allegedly advanced technology.
But the air force faced ridicule when it emerged pilots rely on shop-bought Garmin satnavs taped to the dashboard to find their way.
- Louis Allwood
Ukraine's First Lady receives award
The first lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, accepted a human rights award on behalf of the people of Ukraine on Tuesday.
The award was given in recognition of their fight against Russia’s invasion of their country.
The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation recognised the Ukrainian people with its Dissident Human Rights Award.
“It is an honour to be here and accept this award in the name of every Ukrainian man and woman fighting Russian aggression today,” she said, speaking through a translator.
- Louis Allwood
Cuts to wheat harvest this year, if Russia continues to blockade the Black Sea
Exports from Ukraine have been majorly hindered after Russia prevents any ships containing exports from leaving ports.
Ukrainian agricultural minister has spoken out about the global shortage that the situation could cause.
Mykola Solskyi said farmers will be reducing their winter sowing of seeds by up to two thirds.
The Financial Times reported that the shortage has left poorer countries in African and the Middle East struggling to secure wheat, and that the blockade is preventing “cash flow” to farmers in Ukraine.
Ukraine is having talks with Turkey and Russia over resuming exports, as more than one hundred ships are stuck in the Black Sea.
- Louis Allwood
Missile strikes hit multiple Ukrainian cities
Shells have his Sumy, Odesa and Mykolaiv.
Reuters reported that cluster bombs have hit Mykolaiv, missile strikes hit Odesa and shelling in Sumy.
Ukraine has accused Russia of killing many civilians, while Russia insists it has hit military bases.
- Louis Allwood
Putin meets Khamenei
Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Iran on Tuesday, the Kremlin leader's first trip outside the former Soviet Union since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
Footage of Putin's meeting with Khamenei showed the Russian leader and the Iranian president sat together a few metres from the Supreme Leader, in a spartan white room.
Only an Iranian flag and a portrait of revolutionary leader Ayatollah Khomeini could be seen in the background.
- Louis Allwood
'Moscow is a superpower'
An Iranian official told Associated Press: "We need a strong ally, and Moscow is a superpower."
Mr Putin's foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said: "The contact with Khamenei is very important.
"A trusting dialogue has developed between them on the most important issues on the bilateral and international agenda.
"On most issues, our positions are close or identical."
- Louis Allwood
Humiliating moment Russia ‘shoots down its OWN $36m fighter jet’
Russia has shot down one of its $36 million Su-34 jets over Ukraine's eastern Luhansk region, Ukrainian media outlets have claimed.
The Sukhoi Su-34, a medium-range fighter-bomber, was accidentally downed near Alchecvsk, which is currently under occupation by Kremlin-backed separatist forces.
Various videos of the incident have been shared on the Telegram messaging app, Tiktok and on Twitter.
Russian war correspondent Yevgeny Poddubny published a video over night which he claimed shows Russian/Luhansk People's Republic air defenses destroying a target over Alchevsk.
Pro-Russian former commander Igor Girkin, who is critical of Moscow's approach to the invasion, also posted apparent evidence of the friendly-fire strike.
Indeed, Girkin, who is a self-described Russian nationalist who orchestrated the annexation of Crimea in 2014, posted a video showing charred remains of a Su-34 on TikTok.
An inscription on the plane, which is still visible, shows that the jet belongs to Russia's Air Force.
Local media claim the plane was shot down by Russia's own air defense in a case of friendly fire.
A Telegram user called Ruslan allegedly wrote: "The jet is ours unfortunately. Sometimes it happens. I heard the info from a friend, I thought bulls**t, but it was confirmed."
- Louis Allwood
'Our positions are close or identical'
Putin has described Western sanctions as a declaration of economic war – and is also attempting to build bridges with China and India.
Yuri Ushakov, Mr Putin's foreign policy adviser said: "The contact with Khamenei is very important.
"On most issues, our positions are close or identical."
An Iranian official said: "We need a strong ally, and Moscow is a superpower."
- Louis Allwood
Putin and Khamenei set to discuss war plans
Putin – who is rumoured to have Parkinson's or terminal cancer – and hardline Islamist tyrant Khamenei are set to discuss war plans and weapon exchanges in their coordinated campaign against the West.
It's Putin’s first trip outside the boundaries of the former Soviet Union since the invasion of Ukraine in February.
Khamenei – sworn enemy of the US, UK and Israel – is one of only a handful of world leaders still willing to do business with blood-soaked outcast Putin.
Turkey’s strongman president Recep Tayyip Erdogan – blasted over human rights abuses and strained relations with NATO allies – was also expected to join the pair for talks.
- Louis Allwood
Putin HOBBLES along red carpet with his arm hanging limp
Vladimir Putin hobbled along the red carpet with his arm hanging limp by his side as he arrived in Iran today.
Footage of the Russian leader's arrival showed him shuffling down the steps of his jet as he landed in Tehran to meet with fellow global terror master Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
With his right arm limp by his side, Putin, 69, was seen hobbling down a long red carpet rolled out for the dictator at the capital's Mehrabad airport.
The Russian president is right-handed – but there's speculation he's ambidextrous as he wears his watch on his right hand.
He briefly waved to the gathered crowds before being whisked into his presidential convoy to the city.
Source: Read Full Article