"The most dangerous moment" Western efforts to contain the Ukraine crisis, Russia begins military exercises

The British Prime Minister describes the Ukraine crisis as "the biggest security crisis for Europe in decades", and demands a combination of sanctions and military resolution in addition to diplomacy in dealing with Russia, while Moscow carries out military exercises in Belarus and the Black Sea.

Britain said on Thursday that the West could face "the most dangerous moment" in its confrontation with Moscow in the next few days, while Russia carried out military exercises in Belarus and the Black Sea after massing its forces near Ukraine.

Amid rising tensions, Ukraine is also holding military exercises, but leaders on both sides have indicated they hope diplomacy will succeed to end what British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called "Europe's biggest security crisis in decades".

In a new round of diplomacy, British Foreign Secretary Lise Truss publicly exchanged sharp words with her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, during talks in Moscow. Johnson visited NATO headquarters in Brussels and is due to meet officials from Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France in Berlin to discuss the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Russia, which has massed more than 100,000 troops near Ukraine's border, denies Western accusations that it is planning to invade the ex-Soviet neighbour, although it says it may take unspecified military action if its security demands are not met.

"Frankly, I don't think a decision has been taken (by Moscow) yet," Johnson said at a news conference with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels. But that does not mean that something catastrophic can't happen very soon and I regret to say that our intelligence is still Not promising."

"This is perhaps the most dangerous moment, and it can be said that in the next few days, in the midst of the biggest security crisis that Europe has faced in decades, we must understand the situation carefully. I think the combination of sanctions and military resolution in addition to diplomacy is the right thing," he added. .

Stoltenberg said at the joint press conference with Johnson that Russia must choose between a diplomatic solution to the Ukrainian crisis or economic sanctions from the West and an increase in the military presence of NATO forces in the eastern alliance countries.

He added: "There will be economic sanctions. There will be a greater military presence of NATO in its eastern countries and Britain is actually an important part of that."

"A deaf and dumb person"

The British Foreign Secretary expressed her dissatisfaction with her Russian counterpart at the joint press conference in Moscow, in which he accused her of arrogance and refusal to listen.

"Honestly, I am disappointed in a situation in which we find ourselves in front of a deaf and mute person," Lavrov, 71, told reporters. "Our very detailed explanations fell on deaf ears."

US officials have warned that Russia could attack Ukraine after massing troops near its border and accused Moscow of escalating tension by holding joint military exercises in Belarus, which NATO described as Russia's largest military build-up in the country since the Cold War.

Stoltenberg said last week that Russia is expected to deploy 30,000 troops to Belarus, in addition to special operations forces, Sukhoi Su. S-35 fighter jets, S-400 missile defense systems and nuclear-capable Iskander missiles.

The Ukrainian forces participating in the exercises, whose number was not mentioned, are scheduled to use Bayraktar drones and Javelin and NLAW anti-tank missiles provided by foreign partners. Kiev is expected to receive another shipment of US military aid later on Thursday.

Liz Truss warned Moscow against attacking Ukraine. "Basically, a war in Ukraine would have disastrous consequences for the peoples of Russia and Ukraine and for European security. NATO has made it clear that any incursion into Ukraine will have serious consequences and a high cost."

Europe Solidarity

Britain hopes to use Johnson's visit to NATO to underscore Europe's solidarity, while Moscow demands guarantees that Ukraine will not be allowed to join NATO.

After French President Emmanuel Macron met his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday, Russian experts said there were signs that Putin wanted to avoid an escalation of the Ukraine crisis.

The United States and the European Union have threatened sanctions against Russia if it attacks Ukraine, building on steps taken when Russia annexed Crimea and backed separatists fighting government forces in eastern Ukraine in 2014.

Dmitry Kozak, the Kremlin's envoy for negotiations on Ukraine, is due to meet officials from Ukraine, Germany and France in Berlin for the latest talks on the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the talks would be important and he hoped to get the tripartite contact group on the conflict in eastern Ukraine to work again. The group includes Russia, Ukraine and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said an agreement in the talks to continue discussions would be a positive sign.

Russian officials said six Russian fighter jets had arrived in Sevastopol in Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014 to bolster Moscow's forces in the Black Sea ahead of scheduled naval exercises.

For 15 billion euros, Al-Khelaifi finishes the last remaining "Super League" project

The European Club Association is close to concluding a contract worth 15 billion euros for the television and marketing rights of the Champions League, and the expected deal to sell the rights to the Champions League between 2024 and 2027 is one of the steps to eliminate the Super League project.

The president of French club Paris Saint-Germain, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, confirmed, on Thursday, that the European Club Association is close to concluding a historic deal to sell the rights to broadcast the Champions League.

The European Club Association is close to concluding a contract worth 15 billion euros, for the television and marketing rights of the Champions League.

What is the upcoming deal?

The European Club Association continues its war on the project to establish a "Super League", and the expected deal to sell the rights of the Champions League during the period between 2024 and 2027 is one of the steps to eliminate the project.

And it seems that the European Champions League is heading towards an economic revolution, as the English newspaper “The Times” and the French network “RMC Sport” obtained a letter written by Nasser Al-Khelaifi, in which he acknowledges that he is about to complete a marketing and television broadcasting rights agreement, worth 15 billion euros over three years. seasons.

What did Al-Khelaifi say?

In his speech, Al-Khelaifi said that the impending agreement represents a fundamental shift in the role that clubs now play, thanks to the European Club Association and in partnership with UEFA, in the decisions that shape football in the old continent.

Al-Khelaifi considered the agreement: "It represents a new dawn of financial stability and an opportunity for European clubs, as the way we market our club competitions will be changed."

He added, "The rights will relate to the new format of the Champions League, which will see 36 teams participate in the group stage instead of the 32 teams, where the clubs will play 10 matches in the group stage, against different opponents depending on the order, before the knockout stages begin."

The president of Paris Saint-Germain also confirmed that this would lead to a significant increase in the money paid to clubs in European competitions.

He said he was "exploring other untapped sources of income" and this may indicate the growth of crypto-related products, which have already been adopted in other sports, and by a number of clubs.

"With the clubs being equal partners with UEFA in this process, we will collectively maximize our value and reduce our costs," Al-Khelaifi noted.

He concluded his message: “We have gone a long way to ensuring financial stability and sustainability, while introducing new ideas, influences, cultures and innovations. The European Club Association and UEFA have achieved more than we could have done separately, and the whole of European football is now stronger.”