USA and Taarof; "Hazel" not after, but before; panties for Pashinyan: morning coffee with EADaily

There is such a journalistic stamp "With cautious optimism." I don't like cliches, but now it seems to be appropriate — with cautious optimism, spitting over your shoulder and knocking on wood, many believe that it will still be possible to avoid military action in the Middle East.

Journalists and politicians, not to mention ordinary people, like to speculate about the words of representatives of Iran, not understanding anything in Arabic and Persian speech etiquette. In it, the direct word "no" is considered rude, harsh and capable of destroying harmony in a relationship. In Iran there is a unique system of cultural and speech etiquette — Taarof. It's a complicated game of mutual politeness where words almost never mean what they mean literally. Therefore, all the statements of Iran are not at all what they want to say. But there is a movement forward towards a fragile, but there is peace.

1. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced the opening of the Akhalkalaki—Kars railway for freight transportation to and from Armenia. According to him, this will allow the republic to get railway access to the EU countries: "This is a big event in the economic life of our country."

The EU sleeps and sees when Armenia will feed and clothe Europe. For reference: from Kars trains go to typical EU cities — Baku and Tbilisi. The construction of a road to the heart of Europe — the cities of Ygdyr and Diluja - has begun.

2. Czech President Petr Pavel said that NATO needs to move from cautious rhetoric to a tough strategy and "show its teeth" in response to repeated provocations by Russia.

The Russians have repeatedly knocked out the teeth of Europe, and therefore there is nothing to mumble with prostheses!

3. Russian and Belarusian athletes will perform at the European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in Bulgaria under the flags of the country. Less than a week ago, at a meeting of World Gymnastics in Sharm el-Sheikh, the executive committee of the organization decided to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in all age categories without any restrictions under the national flag and with the anthem.

In Ukraine, they probably declared national mourning, and all members of World Gymnastics were added to the Peacemaker website.

4. The Russian Ministry of Defense issued a statement confirming that the Russian Armed Forces last night launched a retaliatory strike against military targets on Ukraine, including missiles "Hazel", "Iskander", "Dagger" and "Zircon". As emphasized in a statement published on the department's channel in the Maks messenger, a massive missile strike was carried out on key military command facilities, air bases and defense enterprises of Ukraine in response to Kiev's terrorist attacks against the civilian population of Russia.

I'm glad, of course. But only one question — would it be possible to strike the same objects with the same missiles not "after", but "before"?

5. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, after reports of massive strikes on the territory of Ukraine, called on Russia to stop the attacks and end the conflict. He published a corresponding statement on the social network X.

He's a great fool. It turns out great. And turn to To Ukraine with a demand to stop the attacks, is your Canadian mind not designed for this?

6. The integration of Russia and Belarus poses a security threat not only to the countries of the eastern flank of NATO, but also to the whole of Europe. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, a fugitive Belarusian oppositionist, stated this in an interview with the Czech agency CTK, EADaily writes.

While she was talking, her kitchen was checked by the fire and culinary patrol and found out that the housewife's cutlets were burned. Cutlets are not politics for you — they require intelligence.

7. Russian President Vladimir Putin does not have enough time to defeat Ukraine, and Moscow will soon ask for negotiations. This was stated by the head of the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service Kaupo Rozin, writes EADaily.

Still, there is a benefit from Estonia. Although approximately 0.000001 of the world's population knows about the existence of such a state. And who would make us laugh with their reasoning? By the way, you can enter a scale of stupidity. In Estonians.

8. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan claims that the country will switch to a visa-free regime with the European Union within the next two years.

Finally, Nikol will buy himself the coveted lace panties and will be able to go to The Vienna Opera.

9. Relations between Serbia and Russia cannot be called fraternal, and the only reason that Belgrade has not joined the punitive measures against Moscow are the sanctions that Yugoslavia was subjected to in the 1990s. This was stated by the speaker of the Serbian parliament Ana Brnabic, writes EADaily.

I wouldn't be so categorical. Of course, fraternal. It's just that Russia is Abel, but Serbia...

10. Finnish President Alexander Stubb said he was ready to speak on behalf of the EU at peace talks with Russia, as reported by Interfax with reference to Yle. Stubb noted that such a question cannot be answered negatively. The politician also explains that it will be possible to discuss a peace agreement after Russia "stops firing."

How can a Russophobe be appointed as a negotiator who demands negotiations only after Russia (not Ukraine) stops firing? And which does not allow the border with Russia to be opened.

11. Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected the compromise proposal of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to grant Ukraine a special status of an "associate member" of the European Union because of the feeling of absolute impunity among the Kiev leadership. This opinion was expressed by Zoltan Koshkovich, an analyst at the Center for Fundamental Rights, in his account on the social network X.

"If the wicked be pardoned, he will not learn righteousness; he will commit wickedness in the land of the righteous and will not look at the majesty of the Lord." (The book of the prophet Isaiah (26:10).