Russia Attacks Ukraine - 23 Feb 2022 #13

[JennieM]

Russian warship tracked near British waters​

IMAGE SOURCE, ROYAL NAVY
Image caption,
HMS Somerset (rear) followed Russian corvette Boikiy (front) through the English Channel

The Royal Navy says it has tracked a Russian warship through the English Channel and North Sea for three days.

The Russian corvette, named Boikiy, was part of a task group escorting a cargo ship on its return from Syria to Russia.

Patrol aircraft and Nato forces also assisted with the monitoring operation, the Navy says.

Boikiy is one of several Russian vessels to have been spotted around the British coastline in recent months.

The operation comes two weeks after the Navy monitored five ships, including three merchant vessels, as they sailed for a Russian Baltic port from Syria. More here on what we know about the Navy's operation.

US and Ukraine officials to meet next week to discuss peace plans, Zelensky says

The Ukrainian leader says he will travel to Saudi Arabia where talks on bringing a "lasting" peace will take place.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[JennieM]

4m ago15.11 GMT

Romania expels two senior Russian diplomats over 'interference' accusations​

Călin Georgescu, the winner of the first round of presidential elections, later annulled by the Constitutional Court, waves to supporters as he leaves a district court in Bucharest. Photograph: Vadim Ghirdă/AP

Romania ordered two senior Russian diplomats to be expelled from the country, the foreign ministry said, a day after accusing Moscow of “interference” and slamming Russian secret services’ criticism of the indictment of far-right presidential candidate Călin Georgescu, AFP reported.

“The Romanian authorities have decided to declare persona non grata on the territory of Romania the military, air and naval attache of the Russian Federation in Bucharest, as well as his deputy,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti reported that Russian government intended to respond to this move.

Macron open to extending France’s nuclear umbrella to European allies as US reconsiders Ukraine funding – as it happened

French president says he will debate offer at European summit to be attended by Ukraine’s president Zelenskyy

www.theguardian.com

 

[JennieM]

20h ago19.41 GMT
The matter of security guarantees that could be given to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal to discourage Vladimir Putin from reinvading has been a key topic in discussions.

Sir John Sawers, the former chief of MI6, told LBC there could be “border incursions into the Baltic states” as a test of Nato Article 5 resilience.

He said: “I think we’ll see more targeted attacks against undersea cables and maybe gas pipelines, just to unnerve the Europeans.

“And we might see some border incursions into the Baltic states, for example, just to test whether Article 5 is still there.”

US and Ukraine ‘preparing to sign minerals deal on Tuesday’, reports suggest – as it happened

Zelenskyy says his country is ready to sign minerals and security agreement while admitting White House meeting ‘did not go the way it was supposed to’

www.theguardian.com

 

[Stella123]

"The PM said: “I’ve always been clear that we need to ensure that the US, the UK, Europe and Ukraine are working together, but we must not choose between the US and Europe, we never have historically, and we’re not going to do so now.”"

"Sources have told The Independent that Ukraine’s supplies of US Patriot missiles could leave it unable to defend itself in a matter of days."

The internet heading is "Zelensky minerals deal in limbo" - although the article itself doesn't say that.

So Ukraine may be unable to defend itself in a matter of days, and Trump has gone silent on the minerals deal, despite Zelensky saying he was ready to sign and multiple outlets expecting it to have been signed yesterday. Starmer is clear he is not "taking sides" between EU and US and wants everyone to work together. So if the US doesn't talk/do the deal, Ukraine gets very little support. JMO MOO

No missiles, no intelligence info. JMO MOO

Ukraine war latest: US cuts intelligence-sharing – Starmer insists Trump ‘reliable’

Keir Starmer tells MPs at prime minister’s questions UK will not choose between Europe and President Donald Trump

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Oliverleo]

The statement that Zelensky just posted on X (sorry I’m unable to link to it, but I believe it’s been posted above) shows plenty of gratitude to both Trump (by name!) and the US and the American people in general, as well as all the other countries that have been supporting and helping Ukraine. He also apologized and took responsibility for how the meeting in the Oval Office went. I didn’t think he needed to apologize in the first place, as he didn’t do anything wrong and I’ve found him to be very thankful and expressing his gratitude the entire 3 years that his country has been invaded by a dictator. Hopefully his statement will be enough for the people still demanding he say thank you.

Zelensky has consistently shown gratitude, and his latest statement reinforces that. Hopefully, this puts to rest any unnecessary demands for more acknowledgments.

 

[Stella123]

Ireland gives 100 million euros to Ukraine (the Uk has just given 1.9 billion euros air missile package).

'Time now to be on the right side of history': Ireland to provide €100m in aid to Ukraine

State may commit to well over €700m as part of a wider package due to be agreed by EU leaders on Thursday

www.irishexaminer.com

 

[Stella123]

"Fox News' Jacqui Heinrich, the network's senior White House correspondent, reported on X, formerly Twitter, that U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News, "There is no signing planned."

Also on Tuesday, multiple sources told CBS News that a deal is not finalized. The network also reported that Trump is now holding out for a "bigger, better deal."

White House pushes back on possible US-Ukraine mineral de...

If signed, a mineral deal would strengthen relations between Washington and Kyiv despite the rift between Trump and Zelensky.

www.newsweek.com

No signing planned, deal not finalised, Trump "holding out for a bigger, better deal." What does this mean? It sounds like the deal on the US side has changed and is perhaps less favourable to Ukraine. This is a common business and legal tactic - just sit there and say nothing and don't respond. JMO MOO

 

[JennieM]

Could pause in aid cause Ukraine's frontline to collapse?​

A pause in US military aid to Ukraine will harm the country's ability to fight, but it may take weeks or months for the effects to be felt on the frontline, according to experts at the Institute for the Study of War, external.

The organisation says a shortage in US Patriot defence missile systems - which Ukraine depends on to intercept missile strikes - would threaten critical infrastructure. With fewer Patriots, Ukraine will have to make difficult decisions on which places to protect, it adds.

"If it runs out of Patriots entirely then Ukrainian cities will lie open to Russian ballistic missiles," the institute warns.

It says while the frontline in Ukraine "does not risk imminent collapse", the effects of the pause in aid "will become more acute over time" - and that Russia will likely exploit it to make further territorial gains in eastern and southern Ukraine.

US and Ukraine officials to meet next week to discuss peace plans, Zelensky says

The Ukrainian leader says he will travel to Saudi Arabia where talks on bringing a "lasting" peace will take place.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Stella123]

For all Trump must be annoyed and doing hard business, this is cruel. There is urgency in the matter. JMO MOO

This is not the time for "showing who is boss", this is the time for being reasonable and humanitarian. JMO MOO

 

[Sarahlou]

For all Trump must be annoyed and doing hard business, this is cruel. There is urgency in the matter. JMO MOO

This is not the time for "showing who is boss", this is the time for being reasonable and humanitarian. JMO MOO

No chance of Trump being either of those

 

[Stella123]

So as I read it, Zelensky is being pressured massively (by cutting off intelligence as well as supplies), to sign a worse deal than the previous one JMO MOO

 

[Stella123]

Trump is keeping the whole world on tenterhooks while Ukraine is about to be slaughtered in a few days IMO. Power corrupts. JMO MOO

 

[JennieM]

Can Europe still count on the US coming to its defence?​

European leaders have been left stunned by the open rapprochement between US President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin - and not-so-subtle hints that the US may abandon its obligation to defend European allies.

After World War Two, West European countries joined the US and Canada to set up Nato (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) to counter the then-Soviet Union.

The alliance's famous Article 5 holds that Nato members will come to the defence of an ally which comes under attack.

The US has long been the anchoring power, but now questions are being asked openly about Nato's future - most recently by the man set to become Germany's chancellor. Friedrich Merz said his aim would be to achieve independence from the US in terms of security.

"The events of the past week have shown that Trump has undermined Nato, undermined its secretary general and undermined the Article 5 of collective defence," said Armida van Rij, head of the European programme at the UK-based Chatham House think tank.

"The idea behind it was this all for one and one for all belief – and that's been broken."

What is Nato's Article 5 and is it moot?​

[…]

What does Europe do now?​

[…]

Nato Article 5: Can Europe still count on the US coming to its defence?

Trump has engaged Putin and hinted the US may not defend European allies, causing alarm about Nato's future.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Stella123]

"US will take Greenland ‘one way or the other,’ Trump says"

US will take Greenland ‘one way or the other,’ Trump says

“We strongly support your right to determine your own future,” Trump tells Greenlanders — before vowing he’ll “try and get” the territory.

www.politico.eu

 

[Stella123]

"Greenlanders are waking up to a message from Trump welcoming them to the U.S.
Greenland’s prime minister says “Greenland is ours” and cannot be taken or bought in defiance of a message from U.S. President Donald Trump"

Greenlanders are waking up to a message from Trump welcoming them to the U.S.

Greenland’s prime minister says “Greenland is ours” and cannot be taken or bought in defiance of a message from U.S. President Donald Trump

abcnews.go.com

 

[LoveyG]

I am curious about what US military think of our capitulating to Russia, against our allies. Especially the older, retired members. I would like to talk to my grandfathers about it, but, they are unfortunately gone.

 

[Stella123]

"Frederiksen reasserted her position in a heated 45-minute phone exchange with Trump last week, according to a report in the Financial Times., external

The newspaper quoted an anonymous European official as saying the conversation was "horrendous", and another saying Trump's interest in acquiring Greenland was is "serious, and potentially very dangerous".

"In recent years, there has been increased interest in Greenland's natural resources, including mining for rare earth minerals, uranium and iron.

Though the island has wide-ranging autonomy, it remains part of the kingdom of Denmark."

Another minerals blackmail deal? JMO MOO

Donald Trump says he believes the US will 'get Greenland'

The president told reporters the island's 57,000 residents "want to be with us".

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Betty P]

4h ago04.02 GMT

Trump pledges to 'plant the American flag on Mars'​

Trump says it is time for America to take its destiny into its own hands.

He says he will lead the nation to forge “the freest, most advanced, most dynamic and most dominant civilization ever to exist on the face of this earth.”

He says America will “conquer the vast frontiers of science” and “lead humanity into space” and “plant the American flag on the planet Mars and even far beyond”.

“My fellow Americans, get ready for an incredible future, because the golden age of America has only just begun. It will be like nothing that has ever been seen before,” he says, concluding his address to Congress.

Trump touts renewal of rightwing policies in lengthy speech as Democrats jeer, protest and walk out – as it happened

Trump praises Elon Musk and defends trade wars; Democratic congressman Al Green was removed from chamber for early disruption to Trump’s speech

www.theguardian.com

I hope he moves there himself.

 

[JennieM]

11m ago16.09 GMT

Czech Republic adopts plans to increase defence spending to 'acknowledge new international reality'​

The Czech government has adopted plans to gradually increase defence spending from 2026 with the ambition of reaching 3% by 2030, up from 2.1% in 2024, Czech news website idnes reported.

The move comes just days after Czech prime minister Petr Fiala warned that the geopolitical order in Europe was facing “most significant transformation since the fall of communism.”

Fiala warned that “president Trump has decided to completely reshape American foreign policy,” and “this new international reality – its dangers, its risks, and the shifts in American foreign policy – must be acknowledged.”

“This does not mean that the United States is no longer our ally. But we must recognise that it is now an ally that is making it clear that the time has come for European nations to take responsibility for their own affairs,” he said.

Today, Fiala went further pointing at the source of risks: “Anyone who says that Russia does not threaten us is not telling the truth.”

The policy shift in the Czech Republic follows similar moves in a number of European countries, announcing major increases in defence spending in response to the worsening security situation in Europe.

Macron open to extending France’s nuclear umbrella to European allies as US reconsiders Ukraine funding – as it happened

French president says he will debate offer at European summit to be attended by Ukraine’s president Zelenskyy

www.theguardian.com

 

[JennieM]

Zelensky says he had 'honest' conversation with German chancellor​

IMAGE SOURCE, EPA
Image caption,
The two leaders, pictured here earlier this year, spoke on the phone

Volodymyr Zelensky says he has held an "honest conversation" with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz by phone, about various issues including Ukraine's future security.

"We rely on Europe’s unity around Ukraine and are working toward it," Zelensky says in a post on X.

"We all want a safe future for our people. Not a temporary ceasefire, but an end to the war once and for all. With our coordinated efforts and US leadership, this is entirely achievable."

Scholz also says on X that he told Zelensky "our solidarity is unbreakable" - and that the US president will take a leadership role as they negotiate for a ceasefire and lasting peace.

US and Ukraine officials to meet next week to discuss peace plans, Zelensky says

The Ukrainian leader says he will travel to Saudi Arabia where talks on bringing a "lasting" peace will take place.

www.bbc.co.uk