Russian Invasion of Ukraine | A War in Europe After Hours

[Tom]

Is this a significant change of posture from the US?

Ukraine war latest: Russia points finger at UK over Ukrainian strike on missile plant

Ukraine says it has hit a missile plant in a Russian border region, with Storm Shadows used in the attack. The Kremlin claimed it was "clear" the attack would not have been possible without UK involvement. A Russian official said six people were killed in the strike.

news.sky.com

The secretary of state said the US was "intensely focused" on providing patriots and other forms of air defence systems, which Volodymyr Zelenskyy has persistently asked allies for.

He said support was coming from the US at a critical time for Ukraine - which is facing fierce levels of fighting in the north - as Moscow targets the region of Kharkiv.

When asked if he would support US weapons being used to strike places inside Russia, he said: "We don't encourage this, but Ukraine has to make the decision for itself."

 

[Best]

Is this a significant change of posture from the US?

Ukraine war latest: Russia points finger at UK over Ukrainian strike on missile plant

Ukraine says it has hit a missile plant in a Russian border region, with Storm Shadows used in the attack. The Kremlin claimed it was "clear" the attack would not have been possible without UK involvement. A Russian official said six people were killed in the strike.

news.sky.com

The secretary of state said the US was "intensely focused" on providing patriots and other forms of air defence systems, which Volodymyr Zelenskyy has persistently asked allies for.

He said support was coming from the US at a critical time for Ukraine - which is facing fierce levels of fighting in the north - as Moscow targets the region of Kharkiv.

When asked if he would support US weapons being used to strike places inside Russia, he said: "We don't encourage this, but Ukraine has to make the decision for itself."

If that is true, it begs the question, why didn't Ukraine cluster bomb the shit out of them when they were building up on the border?

Part of me believes that they want Russia to expend time, energy men and equipment on this route, rather than strengthen the more contentious areas in the Donbas. Russia Also don't seem to be taking it that seriously, letting their men walk through relatively unaided.

 

[Best]

Could NATO troops be invited into Ukraine by their government, on a purely defensive basis, stationed and protecting the western and north-western (Belarussian) borders? This would free up tens of thousands more Ukranian troops and surely deter the Russians from military action in those areas?

 

[Legion]

Could NATO troops be invited into Ukraine by their government, on a purely defensive basis, stationed and protecting the western and north-western (Belarussian) borders? This would free up tens of thousands more Ukranian troops and surely deter the Russians from military action in those areas?

I believe that Lithuania and Estonia have said they may send troops in non combat roles. The longer it continues, more countries will become open to this. A Russian victory will see them invaded anyway.

 

[Bandit]

Could NATO troops be invited into Ukraine by their government, on a purely defensive basis, stationed and protecting the western and north-western (Belarussian) borders? This would free up tens of thousands more Ukranian troops and surely deter the Russians from military action in those areas?

Should've been done months ago.

I don't know why the West is tiptoeing around Putin, they are dragging their heels and now Russia and China are becoming "stronger" as a partnership.

 

[Steve]

 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1796355882030403935

Blinken has confirmed US weapons for use inside Russia. Things should get interesting in the coming weeks.

Germany has also confirmed Ukraine can use German supplied weapons to strike targets in Russia

Berlin has announced Ukraine can now use German weapons to strike inside Russia, following the US and NATO allies in loosening rules on Kyiv.

In line with the US, a government spokesperson says Ukraine can use military supplies to strike targets behind the border, but only to defend Kharkiv from attacks from the north.

"We are jointly convinced that Ukraine has the right, guaranteed under international law, to defend itself against these attacks," government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said.

"To do so, it can also use the weapons supplied for this purpose in accordance with its international legal obligations; including those supplied by us."

 

[Scotty G]

The Netherlands say Ukraine can hit military targets inside Russia using the F-16s that they provide.

This is all very well but it is ridiculous to continue to place any restrictions whatsoever on Ukraine when Russia has none.

The West needs to stand up to Putin and put him in his place.

 

[Sad Professor]

Some major developments this week.

Ukraine and US sign 10-year security agreement

Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelenskyy have signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement aimed at providing support for Kyiv as it defends itself against the Russian invasion.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of today's G7 summit.

It establishes that the two governments will meet within 24 hours at senior levels to discuss any response in the event of an armed attack against Ukraine.

It's also seen as "supporting a bridge to Ukraine's eventual membership in the NATO alliance," the text said.

Ukraine and Japan sign security agreement worth £3.5bn

Ukraine and Japan have signed a security agreement on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy.

"In 2024, Japan will provide Ukraine with $4.5bn (£3.5bn) and will continue to support us throughout the agreement's entire 10-year term," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, announcing the deal.

"This includes security and defence assistance, humanitarian aid, technical and financial cooperation, as well as joint efforts on the peace formula," he added.

"Additionally, the agreement implies sanctions against the aggressor and efforts to hold the aggressor accountable."

G7 agrees $50bn loan for Ukraine from Russian assets

The G7 has agreed to use frozen Russian assets to raise $50bn (£39bn) for Ukraine to help it fight invading Russian forces.

US President Joe Biden said it was another reminder to Russia "that we're not backing down", but Moscow has threatened "extremely painful" retaliatory measures.

The money is not expected to arrive until the end of the year but is seen as a longer-term solution to support Ukraine's war effort and economy.

Some $325bn worth of assets were frozen by the G7, alongside the EU, following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The pot of assets is generating about $3bn a year in interest.

Under the G7 plan, that $3bn will be used to pay off the annual interest on the $50bn loan for the Ukrainians, taken out on the international markets.

 

[Bandit]

 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1801563357985529893

IMHO Ukraine should be given everything they need to finish this now, not at some undetermined point in the future when thousands more are dead.

 

[Dylan]

Arrest warrants for Shoigu & Gerasimov.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants Tuesday for Russia's former defense minister and its military chief of staff for attacking civilian targets in Ukraine.

The court is accusing former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and chief of staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov of war crimes and the crime against humanity of inhumane acts.

International court seeks arrest of Russian officials over attacks on Ukrainian power plants

The International Criminal Court says it has issued arrest warrants for Russia’s former defense minister and its military chief of staff for attacks on Ukraine’s power plants.

apnews.com