Here we go again-Ukraine once again

[Jimbuna]

Russia's Vladimir Putin is using winter as a weapon of war in Ukraine, Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg says.

Moscow is increasing "waves of brutality", he says, ahead of a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Bucharest.

The defence alliance has promised unwavering support to Ukraine as Russia continues to target Ukraine's infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned Russia's strikes on the recently liberated Kherson region.

Over recent weeks Russia has launched extensive attacks that have left Ukrainians without water and electricity supplies.

Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska is visiting the UK and is due to address MPs later.

Speaking to the BBC, she says the British people should not forget the "tragedy" of the Russian invasion during the festive season.

[Jimbuna]

G7 justice ministers to discuss war crimes in Ukraine

Separate from the meeting of Nato foreign ministers, justice ministers from the G7 group of wealthy democracies are meeting in Germany this morning to discuss how best to investigate war crimes in Ukraine.

The meeting will discuss ways to "coordinate investigation of core crimes under international criminal law" more effectively, in light of the Russian invasion, according to the G7.

Justice ministers from the US, UK, France, Germany, Japan, Italy and Canada are set to be be joined by their Ukrainian counterpart Denys Maliuska and the country's prosecutor general Andriy Kostin.

Ahead of the meeting, Maliuska called for a "compensation mechanism", as "Russia must pay the Ukrainian people for the damage it caused in this war".

He said the costs amount to about $150bn (£125bn) - not even including the damage to Ukraine's economy, or to the wounded and the families of victims who have been killed.

[Jimbuna]

Russia hits out as Pope labels minority ethnic soldiers 'cruel'

Russia has hit out at comments from the Pope that some minority groups of soldiers have behaved worse than others in the invasion of Ukraine.

The "cruellest" troops are generally Chechens and Buryats, Pope Francis told a US magazine.

He also labelled the Holodomor famine caused by the Kremlin in Ukraine in the 1930s a genocide.

Russia called the remarks a "perversion", and said national groups were "one family".

In an interview with America, a Jesuit magazine, Pope Francis was asked about his apparent reluctance to directly condemn Russia for the war.

In response he said he received "much information about the cruelty of the troops".

"Generally, the cruellest are perhaps those who are of Russia but are not of the Russian tradition, such as the Chechens, the Buryats and so on," he said.

The Pope added that "the one who invades is the Russian state".

Chechens, an ethnic group originating in Chechnya, in the south-west of Russia, are mostly Muslim.

Buryats, a Mongol ethnic group indigenous to Buryatia, in eastern Siberia, traditionally follow Buddhist and shamanic belief systems.

Russia contains many republics with distinct ethnic and religious groups. The majority religion is Orthodox Christianity.

The Pope said he had spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky several times by phone, and communicated with Russian President Vladimir Putin through the ambassador to the Holy See.

In apparent response to accusations of not directly condemning President Putin, he said: "Sometimes I try not to specify so as not to offend and rather condemn in general, although it is well known whom I am condemning. It is not necessary that I put a name and surname."

Later in the interview the Pope added: "Everyone knows my stance, with Putin or without Putin, without naming him."

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned the comments, state-controlled news outlet RT reports.

"This is no longer Russophobia, it's a perversion on a level I can't even name," she said.

"We are one family with Buryats, Chechens and other representatives of our multinational and multi-confessional country," Ms Zakharova later wrote on Telegram.

Pope Francis also said he wanted to mark the anniversary of the Holodomor, calling it a genocide and a "historical antecedent" of the current conflict.

As many as four million Ukrainians died in this famine in 1932-33, caused by the collectivisation of farms under Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63789475

[Jimbuna]

[Jimbuna]

[Skybird]

A bit misplaced here, but nevertheless I post it here to not open a new thread, and indirectly it is linked to the Ukraine war. Sweden, and Turkey:

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/2...ce-from-turkey

[Jimbuna]

US could send Ukraine new bombs with twice the range of Himars


The US could send Ukraine cheap new precision bombs capable of hitting targets 100 miles away, allowing Kyiv to strike targets deep behind Russian lines.

The Pentagon is considering a proposal by Boeing to send the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) system as the West struggles to meet Ukraine's demand for more arms.

The weapons, which are relatively quick and cheap to produce, have about twice the range of standard Himars missiles and could be deployed in Ukraine as early as next spring, according to a document seen by Reuters.

While Washington has declined requests for the ATACMS missile, which has a range of 185 miles, the GLSDBs would still allow Ukraine to hit valuable military targets that have hitherto been out of reach.

The small, GPS-guided bombs are fitted onto abundantly available rockets that can be fired from Himars and M270 launchers, with fold-out wings to extend their range.

They are reportedly capable of hitting targets as small as 3ft across and can take out armoured vehicles and buildings.

With Western military inventories depleted due to the war in Ukraine, Boeing's proposal is one of roughly half a dozen plans for getting new munitions into production for Ukraine and Washington’s other European allies.

Doug Bush, the US Army's chief weapons buyer, said last week that the Army was also looking at accelerating production of munitions currently only manufactured at government facilities by allowing defence contractors to build them.

Mr Bush added that Russia's invasion of Ukraine drove up demand for American-made weapons and ammunition, not just from Kyiv.

US allies in Eastern Europe are "putting a lot of orders" in for a range of arms as they supply Ukraine, he said.

The GLSDB combines the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) with the M26 rocket motor, both of which are common in American inventories.

"It's about getting quantity at a cheap cost," said Tom Karako, a weapons and security expert at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

Mr Karako said concerns over depleting US stockpiles are behind the production rush. Current levels are "getting low relative to the levels we like to keep on hand," he said.

Pentagon spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Tim Gorman declined to comment on the production of GLSDBs for Ukraine but said the US and its allies "identify and consider the most appropriate systems" that would help Kyiv.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...408213d7a3c95f

[mapuc]

Originally Posted by Skybird

A bit misplaced here, but nevertheless I post it here to not open a new thread, and indirectly it is linked to the Ukraine war. Sweden, and Turkey:

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/2...ce-from-turkey

As mentioned before-Is Erdogan helping Putin here ?

Markus

[les green01]

Originally Posted by mapuc

As mentioned before-Is Erdogan helping Putin here ?

Markus

pretty much wouldn't be surpise if putin wasnt paying him under the table

[Jimbuna]

US is pushing EU to tougher stance on China, - FT

The U.S. is pushing European allies to take a tougher stance toward Beijing, trying to use its leadership in helping Ukraine to win more support from NATO nations in its efforts to counter China in the Indo-Pacific region.

FT writes about this, Censor.NET reports with reference to Zn.ua.

According to people briefed on talks between the US and its NATO allies, Washington has been lobbying the alliance members in recent weeks to step up their rhetoric on China and begin working on concrete actions to rein in Beijing.

US President Joe Biden identified countering China as his main foreign policy goal early in his tenure, but his efforts have been hampered by a focus on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

However, even against the backdrop of the Russian Federation's war against Ukraine, Washington made a concerted effort to bring China back onto NATO's agenda, the publication's sources said.

According to them, the US is trying to use the actions it is taking on Ukraine - including being the largest supplier of arms and aid to Kyiv - to more specifically support its policy in the Indo-Pacific region.

"The movement on the part of the Americans in this matter has been noticeable. It is quite clear that they have decided that now is the time to move on," one of the interlocutors told the FT on condition of anonymity.

When asked about such a push, a senior US official noted that in June, NATO countries agreed on a new strategic concept aimed at addressing systemic challenges posed by China.

"Our conversations on these issues are ongoing," the official added.

Referring to the fact that 30 NATO allies approved the new concept at a summit in Madrid in June, a representative of the US State Department noted that the foreign ministers of the Alliance countries will consider ways to strengthen stability and respond to challenges from China at a meeting in Bucharest.

"We deeply appreciate and encourage a united European approach to China," the official added.

Coordination of NATO countries' approaches to China is high on the list of topics to be discussed at the two-day meeting of foreign ministers.

"What we have begun to do within NATO is to think about how the Alliance can respond to this challenge [from China] in concrete terms. Allies will seek to implement what they signed up to, to move from what we call assessment of the problem, before its solution," said US Ambassador to NATO Julianna Smith.

The heads of foreign affairs of the NATO countries will discuss a new report on China, designed to strengthen the position of the Alliance, which at the summit in June for the first time identified Beijing as a "challenge" to its "interests, security and values".

According to officials, the report will examine China's military development, its efforts to influence NATO and third countries, and Beijing's relationship with Moscow.

But many European allies worry that such discussions could distract from what they see as the more pressing need to cement unwavering support for Ukraine.

In addition, while the EU is also evaluating ways to strengthen its trade relations with China, a number of NATO countries, including Germany and France, are reluctant to fully align their position on Beijing with that of Washington.

"Let's put it this way, the United States has a certain tendency to be prescriptive, not just about China, but about everything. Are we going to be, say, completely isolated and in the middle between China and the United States? I don't think so," said a senior EU official. which suggested that Europe would eventually move closer to the US position.

While Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has forced the White House to increase its commitment to European defense, the US has made clear that this is a temporary reprieve on the way to a long-term transition to countering China as its main strategic defense and security policy.

Last month, the Biden administration released its national security strategy, which made clear that China is a priority, even in the face of an "imminent and continuing" threat from Russia.

Canada recently announced its first Indo-Pacific strategy, outlining new spending to counter China's aggressive actions.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said last week that Beijing is "not an adversary," but stressed that the alliance must respond to China's military modernization, Beijing's cooperation with Russia and its attempts to "control critical infrastructure in Europe."

"So all this forces the allies to solve this issue together. And this is exactly what we will do when we meet in Bucharest," Stoltenberg emphasized.

China is not satisfied with the current system of the world order, where Western values ​​and standards prevail, global institutions "subordinate to the USA" function. Beijing offers its own, according to its claims, a fairer alternative to the current US-dominated world order - "building a human society with a shared future." However, China's rhetoric does not always match its actions. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3383706

[Jimbuna]

"In response to Russia’s aggression, NATO is increasing its presence from Baltic to Black Sea," - Stoltenberg

NATO is strengthening its presence from the Baltic to the Black Sea.

This was announced by Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary General of the Alliance, Censor.NET reports.

"Today, at our meeting, we discussed security in the Black Sea region, which is of strategic importance for all of NATO. And the challenges created by Russia's illegal war in Ukraine.

In response to Russia's aggression, NATO is increasing its presence from the Baltic to the Black Sea. We have created new battle groups, including the one led by France here in Romania. Fighter jets from Canada also help keep your skies safe. And American Patriot missiles strengthen your defense," he said at a meeting with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3383708

Ministers of NATO countries will look for ways to integrate Ukraine into Alliance, - Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky

NATO foreign ministers meeting on November 29 in Bucharest will consider aid to Ukraine as winter approaches, given Russian attacks on critical infrastructure, and will look for ways to integrate Ukraine into the Alliance.

This was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Jan Lipavsky before the start of the meeting of the North Atlantic Council, Censor.NET reports with reference to Ukrinform.

"The topic of Ukraine will dominate during our debates. We have to demonstrate that our resolve is strengthening. We need to do everything so that Ukraine does not freeze in winter. Winter is coming, and we cannot allow Putin to turn it into a weapon," the government official said.

Answering journalists' questions about the validity of the decisions of the 2008 Bucharest Summit on Ukraine's future membership in NATO, he noted that this topic will be raised during the ministerial meeting.

"By definition, we intend to discuss this topic today. I hope that we will be able to reach at least a new approach to Ukraine's future membership in NATO, which I fully support," Lipavsky said.

As reported, on Tuesday, November 29, a two-day meeting of the foreign ministers of NATO countries begins in Bucharest, at which the allies will discuss the most important issues of Euro-Atlantic security. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba will take part in the meeting. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3383715

[Jimbuna]

Great Britain will increase support for Ukraine, will provide air defense systems, - Sunak

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised to maintain and increase military aid to Ukraine next year.

As Censor.NET informs with reference to "Euro integration", he said this in his speech at the banquet of the Lord Mayor of London.

"We will support Ukraine as long as necessary. Next year, we will maintain or even increase our military assistance. We will provide new support for air defense to protect the Ukrainian people and the critical infrastructure they rely on. By protecting Ukraine, we are protecting ourselves." , - said Sunak.

He called the actions of Russia and China the main challenges for Britain, and helping Ukraine is one of the ways to counter them.

"First, by supporting Ukraine, we are also strengthening our European relationship to address challenges such as security and illegal migration. Second, we are looking at China in a more long-term perspective, strengthening our resilience and protecting our economic security," said the British prime minister

Sunak emphasized the terrorist methods used by Russia in the war against Ukraine.

"In Kyiv, I saw how Russia's attention shifted from the bloody clashes on the battlefield to the brutal treatment of the civilian population. This was recorded in the destroyed buildings and piles of debris lying on the streets, in the stories of the first rescuers I met in liberated Kherson, from torture chambers to mine traps left in children's toys.
As the world gathers to watch the World Cup, I saw an explosive device hidden in a children's soccer ball - with the intention of turning it into a weapon of war," said the British prime minister.

Britain said in September that it was Ukraine's second-largest military donor after the United States, having provided 2.3 billion pounds ($2.8 billion) in aid this year.

It will be recalled that during his first visit to Kyiv on November 19, Sunak promised to strengthen the air defense of Ukraine with 125 anti-aircraft guns, and earlier in November they announced an additional 1,000 surface-to-air missiles.

SOURCE: HTTPS://CENSOR.NET/EN/N3383740

Europe must prepare for new wave of refugees from Ukraine, because Putin is using "winter as weapon in the war", - Stoltenberg

The NATO Secretary General has warned that Putin will continue attacks on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure due to failures on the battlefield. And this will lead to a new wave of refugees from Ukraine to Europe.

Jens Stoltenberg said this in his speech before the start of a two-day meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Bucharest, the main topic of which is the war in Ukraine, Censor.NET informs with reference to the BBC.

The head of the alliance noted that Russia was forced to retreat from the territories around Kyiv, Kharkiv and Kherson, which, according to Stoltenberg, is "a sign of its weakness."

"Russia is defeated on the battlefield. In response, they attack civilian cities because they cannot conquer new territories of Ukraine, as well as avoid the gradual liberation of the occupied territories by the Ukrainian military," Stoltenberg said.

A new wave of refugees to Europe is possible due to Russia's massive missile attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, Stoltenberg believes.

"The latest data show that from February 24 to September 22, more than 7.4 million refugees fled from Ukraine to Europe. But we must be prepared for the fact that more refugees will arrive in Europe," he explained.

According to Stoltenberg, Putin uses "winter as a weapon in war." Source: https://censor.net/en/n3383749

[Jimbuna]

[Jimbuna]

EU should be faster and create new package of sanctions against Russian Federation in near future - Estonian Foreign Minister Reinsalu

Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu commented on the work on the ninth package of sanctions against Russia, which is currently underway in the European Union.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to Radio Liberty.

According to him, the Baltic countries have made their proposals to this package.

"They (proposals. - Ed.) affect the energy sector. Also - the financial sector, they also affect banks. We still have a large list of Russian banks that are not cut off from the SWIFT system," the minister said.

"And what is very important (we also emphasized this during the ongoing negotiations around the oil price cap) - the European Union should be faster and signal that this package of sanctions will be created in the near future," Reinsalu added. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3383764

There will be no peace in Europe if Ukraine does not restore sovereignty and territorial integrity, - Polish Foreign Minister Rau

Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau believes that Ukraine has the right to return all its territories within the 1991 borders.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to LIGA.net.

According to him, there will be no peace in Europe if Ukraine does not restore sovereignty and territorial integrity. He noted that NATO has no alternative but to jointly support Ukraine to the end.

"If this was not observed, then Russia would have won the biggest political victory, namely, it would have succeeded in dividing us," he said.

Rau is convinced that Ukraine has every right to return its territories within internationally recognized borders.

"NATO consistently pursues a policy of containment and strengthening of the eastern flank, including the zone of the Baltic states, Poland is in the first place here," the minister said.

He emphasized that Russia cannot achieve any success on the battlefield, so it attacks the energy infrastructure and thus wants to break the fighting spirit of Ukrainians. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3383772

[mapuc]

We are in late Jan. - 23 The winter is very harsh-The death toll here in Europe has reached 78.000 dead due to the very cold weather.

If such a scenario should happen-would our politician change their mind-If so in which direction-Peace under any circumstances or boots on the ground/no-fly zone ??

I know it's speculation

Markus