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News & Current Events Apr 10, 2026 at 1:13 PM

Zelensky says unnamed 'partners' asked Ukraine not to attack Russian oil refineries

Posted by AdSpecialist6598


Zelensky says unnamed 'partners' asked Ukraine not to attack Russian oil refineries
The Kyiv Independent
Zelensky says unnamed 'partners' asked Ukraine not to attack Russian oil refineries
Speaking to journalists at a closed-door briefing on April 8, President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted that such requests were made at "various levels," from the political to the military leadership.

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BiologyJ 3 days ago +2256
It was the US
2256
9248763629 3 days ago +418
Probably lot of countries like India who are now buying oil from russian, thanks to trumpet
418
kvothe5688 3 days ago +245
india is not Ukraine's partner though. probably US and Euro nation
245
DividedState 3 days ago +26
Maybe they should be. Ukraine could use Trumps tactics of extortion and say support us or say bye bye to Russian oil. Give an ultimatum and shit.
26
Fancy_Caramel9087 3 days ago +77
Yeah, Dumps ultimatums work out great. They work great like nobodys ever seen before.
77
alexefi 2 days ago +20
you dont write a book about making a deals when you arent master of making deals../s
20
userhwon 2 days ago +7
Master of hiring ghost writers who don't fact-check, tho...
7
Dangeroustrend 2 days ago +18
India is more aligned with Russia than the US Contrary to American beliefs, many countries want to move away from American influence. Especially now lest they want the head of state to be kidnapped or their people bombed
18
Helios0186 2 days ago +11
Still, replacing USA by Russia? It's like replacing cholera for Typhus...
11
Drakelth 2 days ago +4
Any country with any sense is dropping involvement with the us like their radioactive
4
IrvinRatbag 2 days ago +3
Calling it "tactics" is quite a stretch. 
3
Oh_ffs_seriously 2 days ago +7
Nah, India simply doesn't see Russia as the bad guys. Everyone has their favourite empire (or remnants thereof), I guess.
7
Irr3l3ph4nt 2 days ago +7
Yeah nah. It's just oil and gas. C**** oil and gas rule the world.
7
systonia_ 2 days ago +3
Two weeks!!
3
ZumboPrime 2 days ago +1
That's a poor attitude and only a long-term strategy for superpowers that can back up threats with force. Ukraine is more in a position where they can make long-term agreements through partnership. Why alienate potential partners when business-like approach works just fine?
1
NinjaCupcake_ 2 days ago +1
And kill the remaining dwindling public support of the countries which fund ukraine? This whole do what we say or else!!! Sht hasnt worked for the US, what on earth makes you think that it works for that massive money sink that is the Ukraine defense. Theres a reason hes not calling specific countries out, and thats not because hes such a nice guy. He knows he cant allow ukraine to end up on the bad side of them. But a more hush hush statement will make the pro ukraine crowd in those countries louder, because now they can just guess who it is, theres no attack against them or against their country, but the general perception of "Who the f*** wants to suck off russia now!?"
1
Hipsthrough100 3 days ago +5
India is still buying oil from Iran
5
SandVir 2 days ago +2
Not eu, they can't buy Russian oil
2
OtherwiseDrinkMore 2 days ago +2
They can’t buy it directly, but they still buy it.
2
AnAncientBog 3 days ago +10
The term "partner" suggests that the request comes from a nation that is giving support to Ukraine and therefore it's one that merits consideration.
10
BringBackAoE 2 days ago +4
India has been buying oil from Russia, delivered through Iran, since forever.
4
boraam 3 days ago +6
~~Triumph~~ himself likely asked them. Damn autocorrect
6
cxmmxc 2 days ago +5
You might want to check that typo.
5
RursusSiderspector 2 days ago +2
Ttump. By the orange misfit's own spelling.
2
Tasmosunt 2 days ago +1
Triumph is a good ironic nickname for him
1
KerashQSA 2 days ago +4
Ukraine has blamed India for funding Russia a plenty of times, why would they suddenly call it 'an unnamed partner' ?
4
paco_in_ut 2 days ago +1
Rusty Trumpet?
1
GatorNator83 2 days ago +1
Yeah no, it was the US
1
twitterfluechtling 3 days ago +57
I hope it was not the EU, but I wouldn't bet. Global oil supply affects all countries negatively, even those not directly buying from Russia. Some countries just see Russia earning money as worse than higher oil prices.
57
Draano 3 days ago +29
UK's Starmer said recently that he's sick of countries like the US and Russia screwing up oil prices.
29
twitterfluechtling 3 days ago +11
Well, that's a sentiment I'm sure all his EU pendants share, and a quite understandable one. The problem is blaming/approaching Ukraine about it. As Ukraine allies, we should imo agree that Russia earning big oil-money is worse than higher oil prices due to less supply.
11
albertohall11 2 days ago +8
That wasn’t his point. His point was that the U.K. needs to become energy self-sufficient instead of being dependent on overseas sources that can be interrupted by third parties.
8
Glittering-Quote-635 3 days ago +25
I think most countries dont see it that way, in reality. I personally want Russia to lose and I am willing to pay more at the pump or for goods to see that reality happen as I think its in our strategic interests. Having said that, most people I know could care less about Ukraine.. I mean they nominally support them, but if you tell them its going to cost them another $.50c/Gallon, that support will evaporate. Same thing I think goes for our Government in general (Including Biden Administration). they want to help but not at any cost to their own economy. So, the trick is getting Russia to lose w/o taking any sort of Economic hit. Not agreeing with it, but I think that is the reality..
25
twitterfluechtling 2 days ago +4
I think Biden (and politicians in general) are most interested in public perception of costs. Higher gas prices are immediately noticed, that's bad for the election. Higher national debt is not necessarily that easily felt. The Democratic government cares about getting elected, but I think they do see strategic value worth paying for in devastating Russia. Republicans, on the other hand... In the EU, I think there is a tiny bit more willingness to accept higher prices in order to help Ukraine, but that's mainly because we are geographically closer, and Russia does a lot of provocative shit here, so it gets more personal for us. (Still, if you'd put more emphasize on the cost due to Ukraine war, I'm pretty sure quite a lot of people would be OK to leave them hanging if it just means lower prices.)
4
Corpus76 2 days ago +2
> Having said that, most people I know could care less about Ukraine.. Probably depends on where you live. In my country at least, support for Ukraine is almost a given. People look at you strangely if you suggest not supporting them 100%. (I was a bit cautious about this topic at first since I didn't want to step on any toes, but everyone I've met have been confused by my apparent reticence.) Of course, I can totally see things being different in the US. Our country shares a land border with Russia so it seems more urgent.
2
iDareToDream 2 days ago +4
The flip side is Ukraine should keep doing it since higher gas prices might be the thing that convinces enough Americans to vote Democrat in the mid terms. 
4
joelfarris 2 days ago +3
Oh please tell us this is not the plan, cause in the U.S., we're not even close to the last administration's peak gas prices, so if that's gonna work as a motivating factor for voting, prices would pretty much have to more than double from where they are now, or people won't truly care enough, especially if prices stop spiking, or even slightly head down by that point. There's gotta be a better plan than relying on the price of a gallon six months from now, yeah?
3
iDareToDream 2 days ago +2
I don't think Ukraine is relying on this as some grand strategy. I'm saying it's a happy accident if their military strategy has a helping hand in swaying the midterms.  But they have no incentive to stop striking Russian energy infrastructure since it's helping them with the actual war.
2
Gh0sth4nd 3 days ago +3
Could be US and EU both. And frankly while it would hurt me too i would say f*** it and bomb the shit out of them. We are humans we only change in the hour of need and when that need has passed we go back to being convenient. We need to cut our dependency on Oil as a whole. It will hurt a lot of lives but its either now or never.
3
Special_Street_2922 2 days ago +1
I totally agree! Let the refineries and ports burn! It probably is also the most cost effective way (instead of giving weapons (nobody seems to have anymore) to Ukraine) to cause Russia some serious challenges in long run. With oil money, they can keep on producing weapons, but without the money, who knows? In addition, very high oil prices just might encourage previously neutral countries to finally take interest and perhaps even put some pressure on Putin. Because of the US war, now is the best time for Ukraine to act!
1
big_daddy68 3 days ago +13
Always the ones you most expect.
13
thirdeyeballin 2 days ago +5
Couldn’t be more obvious that Donald is compromised by Russia. Yet so many people still don’t see it
5
ReddFro 2 days ago +3
Maybe, but the US has choked off aid since Trump came to power and plenty of partners use Russian oil. So, if the US says not to I doubt it carries the weight it did under Biden, whereas if say a major European country said this it’d be a different story.
3
anachronistic_circus 2 days ago +3
little doubt US is in there, but partners... plural
3
WayAdmirable150 2 days ago +3
they dont sound like "partners"
3
MayorMcCheezz 2 days ago +2
Witkoff asked for Putin.
2
4gotAboutDre 2 days ago +2
And I wonder if the US even said thank you to Zelensky.
2
taisui 2 days ago +2
"I can't say who it is, but he is huge and orange."
2
Money_Do_2 2 days ago +2
It was half the world, desperate for oil.
2
mpgd 3 days ago +1
> “I don't know if we'll be able to do that. I don't know if we're willing to do that" >“They're not fools. They're very smart, in a certain way. I say they're lousy fighters, but they're great negotiators"
1
EDM_DeathMatch 2 days ago +1
To be fair a good chunk of Europe is still using Russian oil, they are just paying the India tax on it.
1
qatanah 2 days ago +1
men in suits.
1
Shadowlance23 3 days ago +124
As we say in Australia, "Yeah, Nah."
124
Commercial_Radio2919 2 days ago +19
Wadiyatalkinabeet?
19
Gerard-Gerardieu 2 days ago +4
Ukraine should hire Scott Ryan to deliver this
4
unematti 2 days ago +2
"that's not a war, THIS is a war" - Ukraine to US, probably.
2
SheevShady 2 days ago +1
Yeahnahyeah, nah
1
ArchCerberus 1 day ago +1
As we say in Austria, "Yeah, Nein."
1
Shadowlance23 1 day ago +1
I visited Austria about 15 years ago. Absolutely loved it.
1
Slippery-ape 3 days ago +320
Cool, give them the firepower to attack everything else then
320
Chaiboiii 3 days ago +112
They will not because the US wants Russia to win
112
Transkei_Daisy 3 days ago +24
I think they prefer the forever war. Keeps Russia occupied.
24
Chaiboiii 3 days ago +47
Not Trump and his kind. They think they can carve up the world for themselves.
47
O_PLUTO_O 2 days ago +5
Unfortunately, it’s Ukraine who is occupied.
5
Notorious_Junk 3 days ago +6
Not US, Trump. Trump is the asset. His supporters are just too f****** dumb to see it.
6
TheModWhoShaggedMe 3 days ago +21
Trump is not alone. The 285 Republicans in Congress are also compromised for they will not impeach and remove him for ten years despite having infinite reasons to do so for the sake of the public common good and safety.
21
OreillyAddict 3 days ago +3
The US *Government* wants Russia to win
3
Jellicent-Leftovers 1 day ago +1
Nope Europe / US goal has always been a stalemate that drains Russian resources.
1
TheDarthSnarf 3 days ago +216
The reason 'partners' is in quotes is that when named they are likely: Donald Trump, JD Vance, Viktor Orbán, and Robert Fico.
216
unematti 2 days ago +2
I feel uninformed, I know 3, but who's Fico?
2
Kaltias 2 days ago +4
PM of Slovakia, who's aligned with Orban and shields him from most consequences on the EU side (Because the procedure to suspend the voting rights of a member requires every other member to agree) which he has been doing ever since PiS was voted out of the Polish government
4
The_Grinning_Reaper 3 days ago +222
Name & shame all of them.
222
Eckes24 3 days ago +102
D. Trump. Not that is too obvious. Donald T.
102
Winterplatypus 2 days ago +4
> without naming which countries or how the request was communicated. I won't name names but it was communicated by a long incoherent post on truth social.
4
mccirus 2 days ago +3
I understood that reference 
3
Noreng 3 days ago +6
I think it's more likely that it was some of the bigger EU countries, like Germany. Trump doesn't really care about the oil supply to countries that aren't the US.
6
KooZ2 2 days ago +7
> Trump doesn't really care about the oil supply to countries that aren't the US. Well, with the surge in oil prices the US lifted the sanctions on RU Oil so....
7
Toads_Of_Fun 3 days ago +5
Might be Belgium.
5
Eckes24 3 days ago +10
He cares what his buddy Putin tells him.
10
Ultra_Metal 3 days ago +9
He can't because he might lose support and Ukraine cannot afford that.
9
Several-Opposite-746 3 days ago +6
The only support from the U.S. is that they are dealing/profiting in weapon sales to Europe, who in turn donate those weapons to Ukraine. But they still wouldn't want to endanger that supply.
6
tegat 2 days ago +3
That would be a very stupid move from him. The same partners are very likely giving him money and other support (cough... Germany). He has nothing to gain by naming and shaming. Only alienation.
3
BestFriendWatermelon 2 days ago +1
I'll give you a clue. It starts with "U" and ends with "nited States of America"...
1
clamorous_owle 3 days ago +104
Ukraine should increase attacks on Russian oil infrastructure until Putin stops bombing apartment blocks, maternity hospitals, and school playgrounds in Ukraine. It wasn't Ukraine which started this war. If you have leverage, use it.
104
Astralsketch 2 days ago +12
they have been very good at doing just that recently. Sure, that hurts the global economy, but I don't blame ukraine for doing what they gotta do.
12
dirtyasseating 3 days ago +69
Ukraine should be doubling down on refinery attacks. The war in Iran has really been a gift to Russia. Hitting them as prices are increasing will stop them from taking advantage of the situation.
69
UnoriginalStanger 2 days ago +11
Ukraine could but Ukraine also relies on western nations supplying them with money, goods, arms and intel so they have find the right line to walk.
11
AleXstheDark 2 days ago +5
I doubt there is more than 1 country in Europe against Ukraine attacks at Russian refineries.
5
Gackey 2 days ago +4
Hungary and Slovakia make at least 2 European countries against. You can probably throw Germany on the list as well if we're going to be honest.
4
CoffeePlzzzzzz 2 days ago +2
Could you explain where you get that idea about Germany from? We are a pretty staunch supporters of Ukraine...?
2
latentnomrn 3 days ago +38
Zelenskyy’s response was actually pretty fair: he basically said he’d stop hitting their energy if they stopped hitting ours. It’s hard to listen to "partners" tell you to hold back when your own power grid is being turned into scrap metal every other night. Diplomacy is a lot easier when you’re not the one sitting in the dark.
38
I_call_Shennanigans_ 3 days ago +8
Not to mention all the "partners" that forced Ukraine to fight with one hand tied to their back. This is on them as musmch as it is on Ukraine.  Everything from starlinkn suddenly not working close to Russia, to missiles not beeing able to strike Russia. It's been a disgrace all along. 
8
SgtPretty 3 days ago +85
The hypocrisy is real. Give ‘em hell Ukraine! 🇺🇦 thank you for your continued support of all of Europe’s freedom. We owe you everything. 
85
Vlad_TheImpalla 3 days ago +15
Hungary, Slovakia, USA.
15
Possible-Fudge-2217 1 day ago +1
I just hope my country (Germany) wasn't part of it. He should have name dropped them, so we know what bs our leaders do.
1
skinnnymike 3 days ago +14
He who shall not be named. ^(Unless he was name thousands of times in the Epstein files)
14
SwedeLostInCanada 3 days ago +28
F*** those guys
28
MotanulScotishFold 3 days ago +19
Funny that they ask the victim to not fight back instead of asking the aggressor to stop. I'm 100% sure that the unnamed partners are US.
19
H0163R 3 days ago +34
We need oil, but do it anyway. The oil crisis will sooner or later be fixed and we need to end the Ukraine war now, so f*** em up.
34
JrYo15 3 days ago +12
Invest jn renewables like we do oil and it fixes itself. The whole oil and dollar gambit altogether is nonsense. The sun and wind make more than enough energy. Oil just gives rich pricks the ability to f*** up everyone else's day
12
Oniriggers 3 days ago +7
You cause the Russian government as much pain as you need President Zelensky, all freedom loving Americans support the Ukrainian struggle for Independence. Slava Ukraini!!!!!!!
7
Elegant_Emu952 3 days ago +9
Trump is working on Putin's behalf as usual.
9
Maximum-Diet-6976 3 days ago +5
Putler and Trumpler, same stage of H*tler
5
Nim0y 3 days ago +6
Definitely my county, Trump loves Russia
6
LayneLowe 3 days ago +5
" I'm sorry but this is a war, it's existential for us. We're going to do everything we can to defend our sovereignty. You can either help or you can get it out of the way, we are going to bomb their oil industry into the stone age"
5
z01z 3 days ago +6
sorry, all i heard was "attack oil refineries", got it!
6
kritikally_akklaimed 2 days ago +6
"Unnamed"... obviously the US, Hungary, and Slovakia.
6
Mumbert 2 days ago +5
"Stop doing things to win your war, please! You are making our decisions look bad!"
5
Haru1st 3 days ago +4
Ok, so how do we screw Russia out of receiving payments for these exports then. The proceeds need to make their way back into Russia one way or another, even if they are elusive while liquid.
4
UnoriginalStanger 2 days ago +2
Easiest way is to re-open the strait of hormuz.
2
I_call_Shennanigans_ 3 days ago +3
Hope the told them "suure". And how weird about those refineries exploding all by themselves. Typical Russian construction 🤷 
3
CaptainMagnets 2 days ago +5
Zelensky is like "We don't actually have to say who it was who asked because everyone on the planet will know who we are talking about"
5
YarpsDrittAdrAtta 2 days ago +3
Were they wearing suits? Did they say thank you? Did Zelensky say they didn't have any cards?
3
Confident-Spirit-680 2 days ago +4
Nah. Keep going. If Europe and the US had taken the invasion as seriously as they should have, this entire thing would be wrapped up already and we'd be able to lean on Russian oil to help get through this crisis. These are the consequences of inaction. Keep bombing.
4
Dilosaurus-Rex 3 days ago +12
America. Probably America
12
bard329 3 days ago +5
No probably about it. We all know who it was.
5
Boys4Ever 3 days ago +8
Who could that possibly be 🤔
8
cxmmxc 2 days ago +6
Unnamed orange partners.
6
ComprehensiveCake463 3 days ago +3
Seems like Ukraine should get some major help in exchange for not blowing up Russian oil
3
Teddy_Pocketwatch 3 days ago +3
His name was Tronald Dump
3
Shills_for_fun 3 days ago +2
Donal Tronk
2
Foodspec 3 days ago +3
Attack them harder
3
User_extraordinar 3 days ago +3
I would bet on Hungary.
3
Cyzax007 3 days ago +3
It is working then... More attacks needed..
3
ThePlasticSturgeons 3 days ago +3
The United States (Trump) is unnamed partners, and he’s asking on behalf of one of his two owners.
3
Stennan 2 days ago +3
But were the partners speaking on their own behalf, or on Russia's behalf? Either way, keep offering Russia an "energy system truce". As long as they keep attacking civilian infrastructure, Ukraine will keep up with "Kinetic Sanctions on Russia's War Economy".
3
Unlikely-Complex3737 2 days ago +3
100% the US
3
Intrepid_Top_2300 2 days ago +3
Let me guess….
3
Altruistic-Medium-23 2 days ago +3
Starts with U ends with S.A
3
InevitableAvalanche 2 days ago +3
I wonder who...is he incompetent and orange?
3
AliceLunar 2 days ago +3
You would be inclined to say the US, but you can hardly call them partners.
3
HotFartore 2 days ago +3
Ukraine has all the rights to attack any military Russian target and anything that feeds, supplies, touches the Russian army. Thousands of drones daily is the target and Czarist Putin will break down.
3
Rathalos-487 2 days ago +3
And I say the “partners” can piss off.
3
darokrol 2 days ago +3
Was that partner mumbling about an autopen?
3
Sedulas 2 days ago +3
Agent Krasnov
3
kirillah 2 days ago +6
Well, how about these "partners" to ask Russians not to bomb Ukraine every goddamn day?
6
sigmund14 3 days ago +2
I like the transparency, if you can call it that.  Saying what was requested, but not by whom. Nobody accused.  If anybody would get angry publicly, they would just reveal that it was them. Should be a more popular tactic.
2
demon_of_laplace 3 days ago +2
If the US self chosen war with Iran isn't solved soon, which is hard, people are going to starve to death. Trump and the Iranian leadership is going to rightfully be compared to Stalin, and probably surpass by an order of magnitude, in the amount of death they caused.
2
momoenthusiastic 3 days ago +2
Did they say thank you, btw?
2
Dreamgirl1654 3 days ago +2
At the beginning of the war, Russians said they would take Kyiv in three days, but now they’re taking it in the mouth
2
[deleted] 2 days ago +2
Did they say "Fixin" or "Y'all" at all?
2
homebrew_1 2 days ago +2
Art of the deal?
2
ScottOld 2 days ago +2
Just say it was Trump and be done with it
2
Shyface_Killah 2 days ago +2
"Un-indicted Co-conspirators", you mean?
2
readthatlastyear 2 days ago +2
Don't these "Partners" know Ukrainians are dying every day to a war of invasion?
2
Vanthan 2 days ago +3
I’d rather walk and take my bike than ask Ukraine to stop attacking Russian refineries. 🇺🇦
3
Rusty3414 2 days ago +2
i.e. the US
2
RealisticEntity 2 days ago +2
Nope. Ukraine needs to do what it can to survive. Hitting Russia's main source of income supporting its military and its invasion efforts in Ukraine is a good thing.
2
Harbinger2001 2 days ago +3
Time for new partners. The Arab oil states have plenty of money and Ukraine has lots of anti-drone technology.
3
T4whereareyou 2 days ago +2
Someone who is bothered by the Epstein files.
2
New-History7971 2 days ago +2
Ukraine, don't stop! You're doing the right thing!
2
Patient-Ordinary-359 2 days ago +2
Go faster, Ukraine. Burn that rotten place to the ground.
2
PanneKopp 3 days ago +3
Agent Krasnov leading officer unsatisfied ?
3
Ultra_Metal 3 days ago +2
It is becoming increasingly clear that most world leaders care more about oil prices than about the lives of Ukrainians who are being murdered by Russia or Iranians who are being murdered by their own government.
2
martmart75 3 days ago +1
Hilarious!
1
islandsimian 3 days ago +1
It was John Barron
1
M8753 3 days ago +1
Idiots, build your own refineries. This is a long term opportunity!
1
Combat_Orca 3 days ago +1
Better not have been Starmer
1
faithOver 3 days ago +1
It’s probably every Western country. EU, US, UK. Trumps and BB’s lockdown of the Strait is disastrous.
1
Doowoo 3 days ago +1
Old news ?
1
Intruder313 2 days ago +1
One of the Axis of Evil then: USA
1
M4rth1988 2 days ago +1
One more reason to strike them
1
MaybeTheDoctor 2 days ago +1
What will this unnamed partner do in return ?
1
idee2 2 days ago +1
Do it. Attack them!
1
PassionInitial7487 2 days ago +1
Sounds like it's working then.
1
Tobias---Funke 2 days ago +1
Tell partners to f*** off.
1
UsagiTsukino 2 days ago +1
Please don't let it be Germany!
1
Meowser02 2 days ago +1
It was Hungary wasn’t it
1
Albahith1 2 days ago +1
As we say in Austria, "Ja klar ne"
1
outofgulag 2 days ago +1
I bet there non-partners asking him to keep doing it ( the Gulf Countries ??)
1
SandVir 2 days ago +1
Is America actually paying for this service from Ukraine? That would be only fair.
1
SandVir 2 days ago +1
American wanted to put China to the test by taking their oil... how does that suit him?
1
DaySecure7642 2 days ago +1
It must be Iceland I guess lol....
1
satanzhand 2 days ago +1
Consequences of Iran war: world at the brink of mass famine. So yeah a difficult request to reduce global issues... and oddly predictable for the world's greatest military
1
98VoteForPedro 2 days ago +1
What are the odds that they destroy enough oil refineries that force people to use more electric cars and greener energy
1
IndependentReal5788 2 days ago +1
Funny ! Time to tell stops invading !
1
kataflokc 2 days ago +1
Nice of them to identify the most important targets 😂
1
grannyte 2 days ago +1
Blow them the f*** up they had 25 years to move away from oil they brought that onto them selves.
1
MeduseYahoo 2 days ago +1
Il est encore vivant lui ?
1
Skairex 2 days ago +1
Asked? So? How about no?
1
Dov1z 1 day ago +1
Sure, once they leave Ukraine
1
Puzzleheaded-Heat446 1 day ago +1
When in doubt ....... Attack Attack Attack !
1
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