Inside the White House, a Debate Over Letting #Ukraine Shoot #US Weapons Into #Russia
After a sobering trip to #Kyiv, Secretary of State Antony J. #Blinken is urging the president to lift restrictions on how Ukraine can use American arms.
After a sobering trip to #Kyiv, Secy of State Antony J. #Blinken is urging #POTUS#Biden to lift some restrictions on how Ukraine can use American arms.
Western allies are taking too long to make key decisions on military support for #Ukraine, President Volodymyr #Zelenskiy told Reuters.
He also said he was pushing partners to get more directly involved in the war by helping to intercept Russian missiles over Ukraine and allowing #Kyiv to use Western weapons against enemy military equipment amassing near the border.
"Every decision to which we, then later everyone together, comes to is late by around one year"
#Washington’s #G7 allies are warming to a #US plan to rush tens of billions of dollars in funding to #Ukraine before Donald #Trump’s potential return to the White House.
Under the plan, set to be discussed at a June summit, #Kyiv would receive money upfront from a G7 loan. The loan would be backed by future profits generated from around $350bn of Russian assets which have been immobilised in the west in response to Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Day 814 of Full Scale Russian Invasion/ Day 3,740 Since Russia’s Invasion of Crimea Ukraine.
After 10 years of Russia’s war criminals bombing of Ukraine and hundreds of billions of dollars spent destroying Ukraine's power plants, hydroelectric dams and energy infrastructure, tonight putin's Russian war criminals have finally succeeded in cutting electricity to almost all of #Ukraine, blackouts across whole country.
Please, speak up for Ukrainians. #EU and #Nato must close the sky over Ukraine. We must stop Putin's war of aggression.
❗️Update from #Kyiv Friday night-Saturday early:
Blackouts here last for four hours each day.
We're having blackouts every day here. Putin bydlo. B Y D L O.
They turned off electricity in our houses in Kyiv due to Russian shelling. We’re on a saving energy mode..
Photo sent by mom. She put out candles and Christmas lights because life goes on and they need to get ready for work. When does this all end.. #Kyiv#Ukraine
Russian authorities have moved to seize the #Russia-based assets of a major vodka producer whose Ukrainian founder was previously accused of funding #Kyiv's armed forces.
The Kommersant business daily, citing anonymous sources, reported that the Russian authorities want to transfer the shares and stakes of the distillers to the state, as well as to ban their owners from working in Russia.
#Russia are succeeding in their assault on #Kharkiv due to: delayed #US aid, poor fortifications and #Russia battlefield tactics and #russia is benefitting from the US preventing #Ukraine from using #US weaponry on Russia territory, Max Boot writes for the Washington Post.
Last night Blinken played Neil Young's song 'Rocking' in the Free World' in a #Kyiv bar with the #Ukrainian band 19.99. While a 19.99 band member said the performance was important, many in #Ukraine feel the performance was disrespectful given the situation on the front.
Russian attacks in #Kharkiv region are pushing Ukrainian forces to the brink, Ukr intelligence head #Budanov said in a video call from a bunker in Kharkiv, writes the NYT.
“We don’t have anyone else in the reserves,” he said.
65-year-old Serhii Kotsar, a resident of #Vovchansk, has little left after his childhood home was struck by a Russian bomb, #Kyiv Independent writes.
As a result of the Russian attack, his cat Elia was burned, she survived, but was badly injured. Apart from her, Serhii has other pets, which unfortunately had to be evacuated by volunteers.
Facing Russian Advance, a Top Ukrainian General Paints a Bleak Picture
#Ukraine’s forces are stretched thin & have minimal reserves to draw on, the chief of #military#intelligence said, in addition to shortages of #weapons.
#Ukraine’s military is confronting a “critical” situation in the country’s northeast, facing troop shortages as it tries to repel a Russian offensive that has been advancing for several days, a top Ukrainian general said on Monday.
Russian troops surged across the border last week to open a new line of attack near #Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city after #Kyiv, capturing at least 9 settlements & villages & forcing thousands of #civilians to flee.
The European Union has drawn up pledges of long-term security support for #Ukraine, assuring #Kyiv of more weapons, military training and other aid for years to come, according to a draft document.
In the event of "future aggression", the document says the #EU and Ukraine intend to consult within 24 hours on Kyiv’s needs and "swiftly determine" next steps in line with the commitments.
#Ukraine is to start recruiting prisoners to fight against #Russia under a new law designed to bolster its frontline forces, including with men convicted of murder or fraud.
Using a tactic #Moscow has relied on to fill ranks since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, #Kyiv would begin to offer certain convicts a path to freedom if they are willing to join a combat unit.
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Operator Starsky is an officer of the National Guard of #Ukraine, who joined during the war in #Donbass in 2014.
He partecipated in the successful defense of the #Hostomel Airport of #Kyiv in February 2022.
"We are witnessing a historic process -- Russians are leaving for the first time in two centuries," independent Azerbaijani analyst Elhan Shahinoglu told AFP.
For the past year Shyshak’s brigade, the 241st, has scoured the heavens for Russian flying objects. Its task is to shoot them down before they can reach the capital. A machine-gun post has been set up on the 12th floor of a residential apartment block on the edge of the city. Nearby is a thermal power plant. This spring, #Russia has relentlessly targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.