Russia Attacks Ukraine - 23 Feb 2022 **Media Thread** NO DISCUSSION

[PommyMommy]

3m ago19:59

Several presidents of EU member states have published an open letter calling for Ukraine’s swift candidacy into the EU.

The letter reads as follows:
(see link)

The open letter follows an appeal earlier today from Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskiy for Ukraine to be granted EU membership immediately under a special procedure, with Ukraine formally applying for membership.

Russia-Ukraine war latest news: Turkey will limit Russian warship access to Black Sea, says Erdoğan – live

eta: the letter
Open letter by Presidents in support of Ukraine’s swift candidacy to the European Union
2/28/2022

We, the Presidents of the EU member states: the Republic of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Poland, the Slovak Republic, and the Republic of Slovenia strongly believe that Ukraine deserves receiving an immediate EU accession perspective.

Therefore, we call on the EU Member States to consolidate highest political support to Ukraine and enable the EU institutions to conduct steps to immediately grant Ukraine a EU candidate country status and open the process of negotiations.

In this critical moment, we reiterate our full solidarity with Ukraine and its People.

Jiri Ovcacek, Director of the Press Department and Spokesman for the President

 

[PommyMommy]

Russia-Ukraine war: What is Putin’s endgame?

This article offers some sense of hope, if Putin can be persuaded not to vaporize Kyiv. This is a very interesting discussion

Russia-Ukraine war: What is Putin’s endgame?

"Accordingly, placing a Russian-friendly government in Kyiv is most likely the main objective of the Kremlin’s military intervention, said Nitoiu.

However, given the low likelihood of this being widely accepted among the Ukrainian population, Putin would have more success if the current government, perhaps stripped of some members but continuing to be led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, was retained in office and able to negotiate with the Russians, Gill added.

“I think Putin’s options are quite limited. Russia is now trapped in achieving some sort of victory in Ukraine. Countries like China, India or Iran are watching closely, and not being able to declare victory will definitely undermine its image of a strong military power,” Nitoiu said.

 

[PommyMommy]

The International Criminal Court’s prosecutor is seeking the court’s approval to investigate alleged war crimes in Ukraine, reports Reuters.

Prosecutor Karim Khan spoke on Friday, expressing his concerns about Russia’s war on Ukraine and saying that the court could investigate war crimes arising from the invasion.

“The next step is to proceed with the process of seeking and obtaining authorisation from the Pre-Trial Chamber of the Court to open an investigation,” said Khan today about seeking approval to investigate.

Lithuania previously called on the ICC to open an investigation into war crimes committed by Russia and Belarus in Ukraine, with Lithuania’s prime minister, Ingrida Simonyte, telling the Washington Post: “What Putin is doing is just a murder and nothing else, and I hope he will be in The Hague.”

Russia-Ukraine war latest news: Turkey will limit Russian warship access to Black Sea, says Erdoğan – live

 

[margarita25]

Dbm wrong thread

 

[PommyMommy]

China and Russia's Friendship in Ukraine Is Without Benefits

At least Putin waited until after Beijing’s Winter Olympics ended on Feb. 20 before unleashing the dogs of war.

In fact, Xi and Putin’s friendship isn’t exactly overflowing with trust. Beijing and Moscow have been herded together partly because both are autocratic regimes—and partly because Biden sees each as a rival. Since 2018, Xi has called Putin his “best friend,” but the friendship remains a wary one. “Even if China privately advised the Russians not to invade, they wouldn’t have listened,” Shi said. “China’s influence on Putin actually is quite limited.

Medeiros said. “Despite Chinese claims of neutrality, the Biden administration likely will see Beijing as a co-conspirator with Moscow. And if any Chinese companies try to provide sanctions relief to Russia, they’ll be hit hard.”

“It’s complicated” is the mantra many Chinese analysts repeat when asked about Beijing’s predicament. Despite the fact that Xi and Putin vowed a strategic partnership without limits, there clearly are limits to their relationship. It’s not an alliance, and the Ukraine crisis has heightened Beijing’s nervousness about perceived analogies between Ukraine and Taiwan.

 

[PommyMommy]

The United States has ordered twelve members of Russia’s mission to the United Nations to leave America for engaging in non-diplomatic activities.

“Those diplomats that have been asked to leave the United States were engaged in activities that were not in accordance with their responsibilities and obligations as diplomats,” Deputy US Ambassador Richard Mills told the UN Security Council, without elaborating further.

Guterres says Ukraine-Russia dialogue must remain open

 

[PommyMommy]

‘Yes, He Would’: Fiona Hill on Putin and Nukes

Hill said. “Every country in the world should be paying close attention to this.”

We’ve seen pressure being put on Kazakhstan to reorient itself back toward Russia, instead of balancing between Russia and China, and the West. And just a couple of days before the invasion of Ukraine in a little-noticed act, Azerbaijan signed a bilateral military agreement with Russia. This is significant because Azerbaijan’s leader has been resisting this for decades. And we can also see that Russia has made itself the final arbiter of the future relationship between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Georgia has also been marginalized after being a thorn in Russia’s side for decades. And Belarus is now completely subjugated by Moscow.

But amid all this, Ukraine was the country that got away. And what Putin is saying now is that Ukraine doesn’t belong to Ukrainians. It belongs to him and the past.
Basically, if Vladimir Putin has his way, Ukraine is not going to exist as the modern-day Ukraine of the last 30 years.

 

[PommyMommy]

"On the fifth day of fighting, Ukrainian forces claim Russian troops have slowed their advance but are still aiming for Kyiv, while Russia reported progress in the south.

Naval battles were raging around the Black Sea port of Odessa as well as near Ochakiv and Chornomorsk. Russia was still trying to organise a naval landing at Mariupol on the shores of the southern Sea of Azov.

Ukraine said it was still is holding Kharkiv, 500 kilometres east of Kyiv, despite Russian bombardments. The Ukrainian army said three Russian missiles targeted Kyiv. One was intercepted.

Russia said it was besieging the cities of Kherson and Berdyansk close to Crimea. Ukraine confirmed Berdyansk has been occupied by Russian soldiers.

Guterres says Ukraine-Russia dialogue must remain open

 

[PommyMommy]

Which countries are sending military aid to Ukraine?

Australia to help send weapons to Ukraine via NATO

Finland sends weapons and ammunition to Ukraine in policy shift

Efforts to supply weapons to Ukraine face multiple obstacles

 

[PommyMommy]

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter
Starlink hardware arrives in Ukraine.

@elonmusk activated the Starlink satellite internet service in Ukraine following an appeal from @FedorovMykhailo, Ukraine's minister of digital transformation.

 

[PommyMommy]

Toronto residents allegedly targeted for flying Ukraine flag | CP24.com
Feb 28 2022

''Multiple Toronto residents say they have been targeted for flying the Ukrainian flag on their vehicles, with one person saying an assailant broke their car window while two children were sitting in the back seat.''

''Abrosimov said he has since heard from multiple other people who say they have been targeted for supporting Ukraine, specifically incidents involving individuals who approach vehicles with flags and tear them off. He said he hopes people continue to report these incidents to the police''.

York Regional Police confirmed late Monday that a 32-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the case.''

''Moskal said his family returned from a rally in Toronto on Friday night and found the flag in the exhaust pipe. When they woke up in the morning, Moskal says the tires on two family vehicles were deflated.

“This is not the city we live in. We all moved here because of the peace and tranquillity of living in Canada not this kind of violence to be brought over. It's uncalled for,” he said.''

 

[PommyMommy]

1. A huge convoy of Russian armour, nearly 17 miles long, is advancing on Ukraine's capital Kyiv, satellite images show
2. Air raid sirens are once again heard in Kyiv with reports of a Russian strike on the outskirts of the city

Ukraine live updates: Huge convoy of Russian armour advances on Kyiv - BBC News

Putin’s ‘deeply irrational’ nuclear threat must not deter West: Rae

 

[PommyMommy]

Live reporting: A huge convoy of Russian armour, nearly 17 miles long, is advancing on Ukraine's capital Kyiv, satellite images show

(...)

Russia has used vacuum bomb, says Ukraine envoy

Russia used a banned thermobaric weapon during fighting in Ukraine on Monday, the Ukrainian ambassador to the US told American lawmakers in a briefing.

"They used the vacuum bomb today, which is actually prohibited by the Geneva convention," Oksana Markarova told reporters after emerging from the congressional briefing. This claim has not been verified by the BBC.

Thermobaric weapons do not use conventional ammunition.

They are instead filled with a high-pressure explosive, and suck in oxygen from the surrounding environment to generate an extremely powerful explosion and pressure wave.

Their use has been seen before in the Russian republic of Chechnya, according to Human Rights Watch.

On Saturday, CNN reported seeing a thermobaric rocket launcher near the Russian town of Belgorod.

Ukraine live updates: Huge convoy of Russian armour advances on Kyiv - BBC News

 

[PommyMommy]

Isolated Russia Defends Ukraine War At UN General Assembly

Representatives of more than 100 countries were expected to speak as the global body decides if it will support the resolution that demands Russia immediately withdraws its troops from Ukraine.

The resolution is non-binding but will serve as marker of how isolated Russia is.

The wording of the resolution was watered down to try to attract maximum support, according to drafts seen by AFP. It no longer "condemns" in the strongest terms, Russia's aggression but rather "deplores" it.

A vote is expected on Wednesday. Its authors hope they may exceed 100 votes in favor -- though countries including Syria, China, Cuba and India are expected to either support Russia or abstain.

 

[PommyMommy]

Ukrainian sailor caught trying to sink Russian boss’s yacht, has no regrets

Russia threatens retaliation after 'hostile' Ottawa protest

Worst-case — 'World War III and I am not being hyperbolic': David Rosenberg

IIHF, NHL lead hockey world into growing sanctions against Russia

Russia’s cyber warfare is a problem for ‘everyone,’ experts warn

How much is Vladimir Putin worth? Almost no one knows for sure

 

[PommyMommy]

Ukrainian pilots arrive in Poland to pick up donated fighter jets

Ukrainian pilots have arrived in Poland to begin taking control of fighter planes donated by European countries, a Ukrainian government official told POLITICO.

The impending transfer of older Russian-made planes to be used in combat against Russian forces is the most significant moment yet in a wave of promised arms transfers over the past 24 hours that includes thousands of anti-armor rockets, machine guns, artillery and other equipment.

EXCLUSIVE Russian news agency in Berlin faces staff exodus over Ukraine invasion

BERLIN, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Ruptly, a Russian state-owned news agency based in Berlin, is facing a staff exodus after President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine that is part of a broader contraction of Russia's global news empire.

Employees complained on an all-staff call that they were being prevented from describing the invasion as such, amongst other editorial objections, according to a recording of the call heard by Reuters. Russia says its military deployment in Ukraine is a "special operation" and has cautioned local media to use that terminology.

 

[PommyMommy]

To get the message out, Anonymous hacker group is suggesting....

Go to Google Maps. Go to Russia. Find a restaurant or business and go to 'review' then write about what is really happening in Ukraine.

Hacking attacks launched across Europe to help stop Russian invasion

 

[PommyMommy]

Switzerland breaks neutral status to sanction Russia over Ukraine invasion

Russia's invasion of Ukraine — the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II — has prompted many historically neutral countries in the West to impose sanctions or send weapons.

Sweden said on Sunday that it was sending military aid, including anti-tank weapons, to Ukraine, breaking its decades-long tradition of not sending weapons to countries in armed conflict. The last time Sweden did so was in 1939, when the Soviet Union invaded Finland, Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson told reporters.

Also on Sunday, the EU announced plans to purchase and deliver weapons to Ukraine, marking the first time the bloc has ever bought and sent weapons to a country under attack.

 

[PommyMommy]

Putin puts Russia's nuclear deterrent forces on high alert in response to 'illegitimate Western sanctions'

Putin blamed the move on statements from member nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and on statements from western nations.

Putin:

"Dear colleagues, as you see, Western countries are not only taking hostile actions toward our country in the economic sphere—I am talking about the illegitimate sanctions everybody knows about," Putin said to his top advisors.

"But more importantly, senior officials of leading NATO countries make aggressive statements against our country. That is why I order the Minister of Defense and the Chief of the General Staff to put the deterrent forces of the Russian army in a special regime of duty," he added.

The move means the Russian president has ordered the country's nuclear weapons to be prepared for the increased possibility of launch, The Washington Post reported.

 

[PommyMommy]

Franak Viačorka on Twitter

The Statue of Liberty stands with Ukraine!