Sputnik International

🔸 Here’s why Russia’s Oreshnik hypersonic missile is ready for mass production

🔸 Conflict in Ukraine could end if NATO stops fueling the war – Russian Security Council

🔸 Italian journalist was labeled ‘Putin's spy’ for telling the truth about Ukraine

🔸 American patriot & relentless truth-seeker: Sputnik pundit Scott Bennett passes away

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💬 Media called me head of ‘Putin's network in Italy’ for telling the truth about Ukraine – Italian journalist

Giorgio Bianchi was deprived of the opportunity to speak publicly about the Ukraine conflict and called a Russian spy for trying to inform Italians about the real reasons for what is happening in Ukraine after the start of the special military operation, the journalist told Sputnik.

The reporter has been covering events in Ukraine since the Euromaidan in 2014, and has appeared several times as an expert in the Italian media. After the start of the special military operation, he went to Donbass for almost two months, where he witnessed the liberation of Mariupol and Volnovakha firsthand.

“From that moment on, I could no longer hold conferences in schools and universities. Italy's most popular newspaper Corriere della Sera printed me on the front page, claiming that I was the head of 'Putin's network in Italy,'” he shared, adding that the case against him was sent to Italy's then-head of government Mario Draghi.

Bianchi emphasized that he continued to tell the truth, explaining that the Minsk agreements were subversively used to arm Ukraine and that neo-Nazi ideas were actually observed in the country, as the journalist himself saw neo-Nazi symbols and literature when he was in Mariupol.

However, all the newspapers that had been talking about it for years suddenly “changed their minds overnight,” and began to claim there was no such ideology in Ukraine, the journalist stressed.

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Medvedev doubts Trump will lift sanctions against Russia

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev expressed skepticism that US President-elect Donald Trump would lift sanctions against Russia after assuming office.

"I believe it is unlikely that the president-elect, having taken office, will immediately lift these sanctions. Especially since, at one time, he actually insisted on a number of sanctions, trying to limit our gas supplies to Europe," Medvedev said in an interview with the Al Arabiya TV channel.

Medvedev also recalled Trump’s remarks about the importance of supplying Europe with liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the US.

"Which is what is happening now. And there is no Russian gas in Europe. That is why Europeans are freezing, and their industries are shutting down. In a certain sense, ending sanctions is not in the interest of several sectors of the American economy. What considerations he [Trump] will be guided by, I do not know. But this really needs to be done simply to restore normal economic cooperation," Medvedev emphasized.

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Conflict in Ukraine could end if NATO stops fueling the war – Medvedev

The conflict could be resolved without additional costs to humanity if NATO stops fueling the war in Ukraine, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview with Al Arabiya.

Ukraine's use of long-range weapons to strike Russian territory only serves to delay possible peace talks, Medvedev highlighted.

"This will not remain without consequences. This naturally concerns the negotiations you mentioned, which are still very far away, and such events only delay them. But this also concerns the general situation," Medvedev told the broadcaster when asked how Ukraine's use of long-range missiles will affect possible talks.

While Russia has capabilities to use nuclear weapons if necessary, there are no “crazy people” in the country's leadership who would seek to do so, the Security Council Deputy Chairman stressed.

"Moscow would very much not want nuclear weapons to ever be used—there are no 'crazy people' in Russia's leadership who would seek to do so," Medvedev added.

Medvedev also underscored the strategic significance of Russia's new Oreshnik ballistic missile, which he said would alter the course of the conflict in Ukraine.

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Trump picks Russell Vought as Director of the US Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

US President-elect Donald Trump announced his nomination of Russell Thurlow Vought as Director of the US Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

"I am very pleased to nominate Russell Thurlow Vought, from the Great State of Virginia, as the Director of the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB). He did an excellent job serving in this role in my First Term - We cut four Regulations for every new Regulation, and it was a Great Success!" Trump said on Truth Social.

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Trump nominates investor Scott Bessent for US Treasury Secretary

US President-elect Donald Trump said he was nominating investor Scott Bessent for US Secretary of the Treasury.

"I am most pleased to nominate Scott Bessent to serve as the 79th Secretary of the Treasury of the United States. Scott is widely respected as one of the World's foremost International Investors and Geopolitical and Economic Strategists," Trump said on Truth Social.

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🇷🇺🇸🇦 Relations between Russia and Saudi Arabia are excellent – Medvedev

Relations between Russia and Saudi Arabia are excellent and friendly, and the countries are working together to stabilize energy markets, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev highlighted.

"As for relations between Moscow and Riyadh, they are very good and friendly. Russia cooperates with Saudi Arabia in the energy sphere to maintain market stability," Medvedev told the Al Arabiya broadcaster.

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