sputniknews (2022-02-19). Ukraine's NATO Membership Not on Agenda, Won't Happen in Foreseeable Future, German Chancellor Says. sputniknews.com Ukraine's ambassador to Germany has adamantly demanded membership in the Western alliance for his country, warning that Kiev may be forced to pursue nuclear weapons if its membership bid is declined. Last week, German media reported that officials in Berlin were consciously avoiding the "pain in the a**" diplomat over his "undiplomatic contact."
Staff (2022-02-19). Putin launches nuclear war drills (VIDEOS). rt.com 
The exercise is taking place amid tensions with the West over Ukraine | Russian President Vladimir Putin launched strategic drills on Saturday, and is following the exercises from the situation center in Moscow, along with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. | The drills involve both nuclear and non-nuclear weapons, and are being held amid the escalation in eastern Ukraine and continuing tensions with NATO. The Russian Defense Ministry said ahead of the maneuvers that they would include the "launching of ballistic and cruise missiles." The air force is set participate along with the country's Northern and…
sputniknews (2022-02-19). Russian Military Fires Kinzhal Hypersonic Missiles, Yars ICBM, Kalibr & Zircon During Drills – Video. sputniknews.com The Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aircraft-deployed hypersonic cruise missile system is nuclear capable, and is one of several hypersonic weapons rolled out by Russia in the late 2010s in a bid to preserve global strategic stability amid US efforts to build a missile defence shield.
Staff (2022-02-18). Putin to take part in nuclear war drills. rt.com 
The strategic weapons exercises are scheduled to take place on Saturday | Russian President Vladimir Putin will take direct command of scheduled ballistic missile training on Saturday, which will see the country's military test its nuclear capabilities, Moscow has confirmed. | Officials released a statement on Friday, writing, "on February 19, under the supervision of the supreme commander-in-chief of the Russian Armed Forces Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, a planned exercise of the forces of strategic deterrence will take place, during which ballistic and cruise missiles will be launched." | The statement goes…
Staff (2022-02-18). Iran ready to help resolve crisis in Ukraine peacefully. en.mehrnews.com Referring to the crisis in the relations between Ukraine and Russia, the Iranian Foreign Minister said that Iran is ready to provide any necessary assistance and take any necessary action to resolve the crisis peacefully.
Staff (2022-02-18). A Call for Peace: Russian & U.S. Women Push for Diplomacy, Not Military Action, to Resolve Crisis. democracynow.org 
U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov have agreed to meet next week as tension remains high over Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia has announced plans to stage massive drills on Saturday of its nuclear forces, including multiple practice missile launches. We speak with Russian journalist Nadezhda Azhgikhina, one of a group of two dozen independent Russian and American women who released an open letter this week calling for peace. The letter reads, "We are united in the belief that diplomacy, dialogue, engagement and exchange are urgently needed to end the current crisis an…
TASS (2022-02-18). Demand for Russian grain growing in Iran — business council. tass.com "Fruits and vegetables of high quality from Iran are slowly but steadily consolidating their hold on shelves of stores, competing increasingly with products from Turkey, Egypt and Azerbaijan," Vladimir Obydenov said…
Jason Ditz (2022-02-18). Khamenei: Iran Wants Nuclear Energy, Not Nuclear Arms. news.antiwar.com It's far from the first time he's said so, but Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, said Thursday that Iranian leadership has been saying this for years, but factions hostile to Iran in the region, notably Israel, continue to push the myth of Iran seeking nuclear arms, and have been doing it so much that the reality of Iran's intentions…
Staff (2022-02-18). Iran rejects report on deal in Vienna talks. en.mehrnews.com Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh rejected fake news carried by certain western media about the ongoing JCPOA negotiations in Vienna.
Ali Abootalebi (2022-02-18). Foes of a new Nuclear Agreement Demonize Tehran, but what is Iranian Society really Like Today? juancole.com Eau Claire, Wi. (Special to Informed Comment) — The nature and the parameters of power relations in the state-society relations in Iran since the 1978-79 revolution have radically changed. The revolution ended the twenty-five-hundred-year-old monarchical rule in Iran and gave rise to a Shi'a 'ulema-dominated rule. The demise of the old Pahlavi regime saw the …
Dave DeCamp (2022-02-18). Report: Draft Iran Nuclear Deal Outlines Mutual Steps for Return. news.antiwar.com On Thursday, Citing unnamed diplomats, the report said the first phase of the draft deal includes the release of Western prisoners in Iran.
Dave DeCamp (2022-02-18). Over 160 House Republicans Threaten to Sabotage Iran Deal. news.antiwar.com Over 160 House Republicans sent a letter to President Biden threatening to do everything they can to sabotage an agreement with Iran if it is not approved by Congress. Iran is seeking guarantees that the next president won't withdraw from the nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA. But since the JCPOA is not a treaty, …
Staff (2022-02-18). Nuclear watchdog will get Fukushima water checked. rt.com 
Scientists in Austria and Monaco are to verify if samples from Japan's nuclear facility are safe | Some 50 liters of treated water used to cool down the Fukushima melted nuclear reactors will be sent for analysis to "independent" laboratories in Austria and Monaco, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a
_____ (2022-02-18). From Trotskyism to Radical Positivism: How Albert Wohlstetter Became the Leading Authority on Nuclear Strategy for America. strategic-culture.org 
The Fabian Society See A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing: the F…