Free Republic

The purpose of the visit is to discuss the situation in Jerusalem On Tuesday night, a delegation of Hamas leaders arrived in Moscow to hold “important” talks with Russian officials, according to the pro-Fatah website Ma'an News. Among the delegation were Hamas’ Deputy Chairman Mousa Mohammad Abu Marzook, and two other leaders, Fathi Hammad and Hussam Badran. The purpose of the visit is to discuss the situation in Jerusalem, as clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian worshippers erupted on the Temple Mount during the holy month of Ramadan, Jerusalem Post reported.

Russia will attempt to open up a new front against Ukraine from Moldova, according to Ukrainian military sources. One said there were a “number of indicators” pointing to an attack in the near future on the former Soviet state, which has only 3,250 soldiers in its army. A successful takeover would lead to Russian troops moving into the Black Sea port of Odesa, in Ukraine, from the west. “We believe the Kremlin has already taken the decision to attack Moldova. The fate of Moldova is very crucial. If the Russians start to take control, we will, militarily, be an easier...

Vladimir Putin is leading Russia towards a 'total collapse' and 'civil war', according to a Federal Security Service (FSB) agent. The FSB insider also claimed that the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov will exploit the ensuing political chaos to create an "Emirate of the Caucasus" on Russian territory. In a letter to the Russian human rights campaigner, Vladimir Osechkin, the FSB agent predicts Putin's army will fail in achieving its objectives in the Battle for the Donbas. This in turn will have serious political and security consequences for Putin and ultimately could lead to the breakup of Russia as a unified...

In a New York Times op-ed, Russian President Vladimir Putin takes issue with President Obama's reference to American exceptionalism during his speech on Syria on Tuesday, calling the notion "extremely dangerous "It is alarming that military intervention in internal conflicts in foreign countries has become commonplace for the United States," Putin wrote. "Is it in America’s long-term interest? I doubt it. Millions around the world increasingly see America not as a model of democracy but as relying solely on brute force, cobbling coalitions together under the slogan 'you’re either with us or against us.' "We must stop using the language...

An ex-KGB agent who defected to the West has said 'paranoid' and 'insane' Putin is likely to be suffering from Parkinson's and early stage dementia, but added that members of his inner circle may be kept in the dark about his physical state. Boris Karpichkov former KBG agent who defected from Russia, told The Sun that Putin was 'insane' and becoming 'obsessed by paranoid ideas'. 'He sees literally everyone, including those inside the Russian security services and even inside his close inner circle, to be "traitors"', he said. Putin may be keeping those closest to him unaware of his health...