The Kremlin accuses the Baltic countries of having an “extremely aggressive position” on Ukraine
Lithuania’s calls to supply fighter jets to Ukraine are proof of the Baltic states’ “extremely aggressive stance”, the Kremlin said on Tuesday, adding that “big European countries” should counterbalance this stance .
The news comes as Ukrainian officials have stepped up calls for allies to send fighter jets.
Air alerts heard across Ukraine
As Kyiv Post reports, air alerts sounded across Ukraine on Tuesday.
“The air alert is related to the activity of a potential hypersonic missile carrier ‘Kinzhal’ – MiG-31K in Belarus”, explains the Ukrainian media.
Russian court fines Twitch 52,000 euros for ‘false news’ about Ukraine
A Russian court on Tuesday fined streaming service Twitch 4 million rubles (52,000 euros) for failing to remove what it called “false information” about Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine, reports Reuters.
Norway pledges to deliver tanks to Ukraine ‘as soon as possible’
Norwegian Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram has pledged to deliver tanks to Ukraine “as soon as possible”, the latest of many Western countries to confirm such deliveries.
He said the number of tanks has not yet been determined, but the transfer should include German-made Leopard 2s.
Croatian president blasts Western decision to send tanks to Ukraine
The Croatian president described as “crazy” the decision of NATO allies to supply tanks to Ukraine.
“I am against sending lethal weapons there. It prolongs the war,” said Zoran Milanovic.
He also claimed that despite Volodymyr Zelensky’s aim to recover this annexed province in 2014, “it is clear that Crimea will never again be part of Ukraine”.
Emmanuel Macron will meet the Ukrainian Minister of Defense in Paris this Tuesday
Emmanuel Macron will receive Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov at the Elysee Palace on Tuesday, the French presidency announced.
The purpose of this meeting is “to reiterate its full support for Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion and to recall France’s readiness to meet the needs of the Ukrainian armed forces”, specifies a press release.
He will also meet the president of the Rada, the parliament of Ukraine, Rouslan Stefantchouk, who must speak before the National Assembly at 3 p.m., then on Wednesday before the senators.
Human Rights Watch calls on Kyiv to investigate use of landmines
Human Rights Watch invited this tuesday Ukrainian authorities to investigate their army’s use of rocket-scattered anti-personnel landmines in and around Izium, in the east of the country, while Russian forces occupied the area.
“Ukrainian forces appear to have widely dispersed landmines around the Izium area, causing civilian casualties and posing constant risk,” said Steve Goose, arms director at Human Rights Watch.
“Russian forces have repeatedly used anti-personnel mines and committed atrocities across the country, but this does not justify Ukraine’s use of these banned weapons,” he added.
Russia and Belarus launch week-long military training
Russia and its ally Belarus have begun a week-long training session for their regional grouping of armed forces, reports SkyNews.
This training is part of the preparation for the joint exercises that the two countries will organize in Russia in September, explained the Belarusian Ministry of Defense.
The Belarusian is not directly involved in the conflict in Ukraine, but Russian troops have been taking part in training in the country for months. In addition, Moscow and Minsk have formed a grouping of joint forces.
A Franco-Australian agreement to deliver arms to Ukraine
The French and Australian Ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs announced on Monday the delivery to Ukraine of 155 mm shells manufactured jointly.
“The idea is to provide significant assistance, and an effort that is continuous over time,” said Sébastien Lecornu.
Richard Marles, Australian Minister of Defence, for his part hailed an Australian “multi-million dollar project” and “new cooperation between the Australian and French defense industries”, after the fiasco of the submarines.
The United States will not deliver F-16 fighter jets, Macron believes that “nothing is forbidden”
This Monday, Joe Biden assured this evening that the Americans were not going to deliver combat aircraft to Ukrainethus sweeping away the appeal of Volodymyr Zelensky.
For his part, Emmanuel Macron did not close the door to him. “In principle, nothing is forbidden,” he said during a trip to The Hague, adding that this should not weaken the French army or touch Russian soil.
Hello everyone!
Welcome to this direct dedicated to the war in Ukraine this Tuesday, January 31, 2023.