European Hawks Backing Zelensky Don’t Realize How Dangerous He's Become - Expert

European Hawks Backing Zelensky Don’t Realize How Dangerous He's Become - Expert

Sputnik

“The Europeans are behaving in an extremely irrational manner,” prolific Iranian-American international affairs analyst Mohammad Marandi told Sputnik, commenting on Sunday’s drone attack on Putin’s residence in Novgorod region.

Not ruling out that European or British intelligence was involved in the provocation, Marandi said “it’s not clear if they really recognize the danger” it “can create for Europe and beyond.”

European powers “seem hell-bent on escalation,” even as Ukraine teeters on defeat, and the situation in their home countries grows increasingly dim. “They’re very unpopular. Their economies are floundering, and people don’t want war,” the observer emphasized.

The drone provocation “strengthens” Russia’s position, both at the negotiating table, and in terms of giving Moscow “a legitimate reason to strike back at Zelensky himself,” Marandi added.

The Ukrainian regime has crossed a red line. It attacks the heads of states or leaders. And this is not something that’s acceptable to the world. We’ve already seen condemnation from major powers across the globe. It’s going to make things only more difficult for Zelensky,” the observer said.

“I think that in general, the regime in Kiev is not very rational. It’s not making decisions based on thought. And that is why it’s only making things worse for itself,” Marandi summed up.

Drone Attack on Putin's Residence A 'Dangerous Provocation'

Drone Attack on Putin's Residence Could Have Triggered a Nuclear War: Here's Why

Sputnik

The 91-drone attack on the presidential residence in Novgorod region was an extremely dangerous provocation. And one that “could not have been carried out without the participation of European hawks" because "Zelensky would not have dared to plan or carry out such an operation on his own,” military expert Alexey Leonkov told Sputnik.

Intricate planning was required, and the timing – while Zelensky was in the US for talks with Trump, was designed to give him an alibi, “which he is now using, claiming Ukraine had nothing to do with it,” Leonkov said.

The provocation “wasn’t simply an attack on the president,” the observer emphasized. “It was a strike on a nuclear weapons control center, as each such residence contains communications nodes through which the head of state can issue the command to use the country’s nuclear forces.”

“It was intended to provoke a conflict between the US and Russia,” Leonkov said. “This was precisely the calculation: at worst, provoking a global conflict; at a minimum, disrupting the negotiation process between the US and Russia. And it’s clear that European hawks favor only this scenario,” particularly Britain.

While he issues denials now, Zelensky essentially blabbed about the attack ahead of time twice in the past two weeks: a press conference on December 18, when he said “politicians change, somebody lives, somebody dies,” and on Christmas eve, when he openly called on Ukrainians to wish for Putin’s death.

“All this suggests Zelensky was aware of the impending attack, but was playing his assigned role – pretending he had nothing to do with it and ‘advocating for peace’,” Leonkov emphasized.

Analyzing Moscow’s public reaction carefully, Leonkov said two things are certain: first, Russia will respond appropriately, and the targets and time of the response have already been determined; second, the response will be carried out in such a way as not to affect the negotiation process between Russia and the US.

Israel, U.S. Give Hamas Two-Month Deadline to Disarm

Israel, U.S. Give Hamas Two-Month Deadline to Disarm

Emmitt Barry,

Israel and the United States have agreed to give Hamas a two-month window to disarm, according to a report by Israel Hayom, following an overnight meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago.

Professional teams from both countries are currently working to define clear, mutually agreed criteria for what would constitute the practical disarmament of Hamas, including the dismantling of its military infrastructure. Israeli officials have expressed concern that Hamas may attempt to retain much of its existing weaponry and capabilities, a scenario both Jerusalem and Washington say would be unacceptable.

The agreement reportedly includes the full demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, with particular emphasis on the destruction of Hamas’ extensive underground tunnel network. If Hamas refuses to comply within the allotted timeframe—as many in Israel expect—responsibility for the next steps would revert to Israel and the Israel Defense Forces.

President Trump reinforced the warning publicly, stating that Hamas would be given only a “very short period of time to disarm.” Speaking alongside Netanyahu, Trump said that failure to do so would result in “hell to pay,” signaling firm U.S. backing for decisive action if the terror group does not comply.

The remarks came amid broader comments by Trump on regional security, including U.S. support for Israel against Iranian nuclear and missile ambitions, and assessments of shifting dynamics involving Turkey and Syria.

Netanyahu says Hamas must surrender all its rifles for Trump’s peace plan to advance

Netanyahu says Hamas must surrender all its rifles for Trump’s peace plan to advance

Times of Israel is liveblogging Wedenesday

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that Hamas must surrender all its rifles and tunnel infrastructure in order for Washington’s Gaza peace plan to advance.

When asked by Fox News what is complicating the transition to the second phase of the plan, Netanyahu replies, “One word: disarmament,” adding that “Hamas committed to disarm” but “refuses to do it.”

While US officials have claimed that the terror group agreed to disarm shortly before the first phase of the deal was signed on October 9, Hamas has repeatedly denied this.

Netanyahu says that Hamas has “got still about 20,000 people with basically Kalashnikov rifles, which they use periodically to execute anyone who doesn’t want the continuation of their tyranny.”

“And they have altogether 60,000 AK rifles. That’s what disarmament means – got to take all these rifles, take them away from them, and break up those terror tunnels that they have, still hundreds of kilometers of terror tunnels. Hamas refuses to do it,” he says.

Asked if he believes phase two of the Gaza plan can be reached even if Hamas is unwilling to disarm, Netanyahu says, “I think we have to give it a chance.”

“There’s an attempt to bring an international force,” he continues, referring to the International Stabilization Force that would be deployed in Gaza as part of the US plan. “So far, it hasn’t come to fruition, but we’ll give it a chance. Because if it can be done… the easy way, fine. And if not, it will be done another way.”

Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake Just Played On Russia's Doomsday Shortwave Radio Station

Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake Just Played On Russia's Doomsday Shortwave Radio Station

TYLER DURDEN

X users are reporting that a mysterious Russian shortwave radio signal, nicknamed "The Buzzer" and informally known as the "doomsday radio station," that has been continuously broadcasting since the late 1970s, has just transmitted the classical piece Swan Lake by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

UVB-76 is transmitted on 4625 kHz and is occasionally interrupted by Russian voice messages, often containing names, numbers, or coded phrases. These voice messages are rare, irregular, and often nonsensical, making the transmission of Swan Lake highly abnormal.

Western military analysts associate UVB-76 with Russia's military communications and strategic command infrastructure. It reportedly remains operational as a fail-safe in the event that satellites, fiber, or cellular networks are disrupted.

The broadcasting of Swan Lake, a four-act ballet composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and premiered in 1877 in Moscow, on UVB-76 could be interpreted as a mistake or operator error, a test transmission, accidental audio bleed from equipment at the transmitter site, or even signal hijacking.

Earlier, Russia showcased the deployment of its nuclear-capable hypersonic Oreshnik missile system in its close ally, Belarus.

Fun fact, Swan Lake was repeatedly broadcast across Soviet state television during the August Coup in August 1991.

European outlet NEXTA asked, "So how should we interpret the latest transmission? A soundtrack for the flight of the Oreshnik?"