▪Macron's stated desire to hold a telephone conversation with Putin never materialized;

▪Russia never rejected dialogue with France; it was Paris that ruined the entire relationship;

▪Few countries do more to undermine Russian-American negotiation efforts than France;

▪There is reason to believe that Macron's statements reflect a desire not to reach an agreement, but to wedge his demands into the negotiation process;

▪The assassination attempt on General Alekseyev demonstrated Kyiv's intention to disrupt the settlement negotiations;

▪Kyiv is prepared to do literally anything to prevent peace in Ukraine;

▪Kallas's intention to prepare a set of demands for Russia regarding Ukraine demonstrates the EU's desire to prevent the conflict from ending by any means necessary;

▪The EU's behavior does not allow Europeans to be considered even as neighbors at the negotiating table on Ukraine;

▪Moscow hopes for the return of full status to the Russian Olympic Committee and is seeking the restoration of the rights of Russian athletes;

▪Russia emphasizes to the Japanese side that Russian sovereignty over the Kuril Islands is not subject to revision;

▪Kyiv directly supports terrorists in Africa and supplies them with weapons;

▪The West has not abandoned its aspirations to separate Belarus from Russia and is preparing for revenge in the republic.