by Oui
Thu Mar 13th, 2025 at 11:31:49 AM EST
Putin in Army fatigues just picked Zelensky's last card before talks to cease hostilities ... to the victor the spoils of three years of foolish warfare ... 20% of Ukrainian territory.
Ukraine's territorial gains in Kursk under pressure amid Russian counteroffensive
Kursk Falls To Russia, Ukraine Sacks Defeated General Amid Calls For Ceasefire | GRAVITAS |
Russia makes Military advances in Kursk as world awaits Russia's decision ceasefire decision on proposal by defeated NATO-Ukraine coalition | U.S. negotiator Witkoff arrived for talks in Kremlin today |
US team lands in Moscow for Ukraine talks as Russia retakes key town | BBC News - 1 hr ago |
As Biden exits, European allies huddle on joint drills, Ukraine aid | Defense News - 13 Jan. 2025 |
WARSAW, Poland -- The leaders of five key European NATO members envision joint military drills in 2026, while advancing their defense industries' cooperation with Ukraine, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz announced today.
The European defense boost - spearheaded by Poland, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, collectively dubbed the E5 - comes in anticipation of President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20. Analysts expect Trump to pursue a less pronounced trans-Atlantic agenda than the outgoing president, Joe Biden.
Defense ministers of the five-nation group met here today, with their Ukrainian counterpart, Rustem Umerov, participating via teleconference.
The talk of joint military exercises among Europeans suggests the countries are envisioning some drills without logistics and command-and-control support often provided for such events by the most powerful NATO member, the United States.
"E5 is a format which complements our relations within NATO and the EU. We are here today to coordinate our actions for defense, but also to coordinate our support to Ukraine," Kosiniak-Kamysz was quoted in a statement released by his ministry. "I think that, in 2026, joint drills, of course with the alliance's major role, because nothing will take place without it, will take place."
Replacing the United States with rare metals empire of the Ukraine ... must return to full sovereignty including the Donbas and the Crimean peninsula ... no,peace with the authoritarian regime in Moscow.
Rustem Umerov: The future of European security is a responsibility that belongs to Europe | MDU - 25 Feb. 2025 |
The Defence Minister thanked the allies for their unwavering support. Rustem Umerov pointed out that three years ago, Ukraine resisted the first attacks by russian forces using anti-tank systems provided by allied nations. Today, thanks to the tanks, aircraft, and artillery received from our partners, our country persists in its fight.
"Enhancing military cooperation is of critical importance. The aggressor is strengthening its capabilities, posing a threat to Ukraine and Europe as a whole. The future of European security is a responsibility that belongs to Europe," the Minister of Defence of Ukraine emphasized.
During the meeting, Rustem Umerov outlined Ukraine's critical needs:
- Ammunition: additional funds for the procurement of ammunition.
- Strengthening air defense: providing air defense systems to protect our skies.
- Training of military personnel: extension of training programs, particularly in Ukraine.
- Defense industry investment projects: the production capacity of Ukraine's defense industry is estimated at $35 billion, but it requires funding.
"Our path to EU and NATO membership remains unwavering. Ukraine requires clear and reliable security guarantees, with the support of its allies playing a pivotal role in this process. Through our joint efforts, we will contribute to a safer Europe," summarized the Minister of Defence of Ukraine.
Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's Defence Minister, participated in a video conference meeting that united representatives from the E5 Group (Poland, Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom), the Nordic-Baltic Eight, the Netherlands, the EU, and NATO.
Active cooperation between the Baltic States and Nordic countries began alongside the process of restoration of the independence of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. Our countries are linked by common cultural, historical, political and economic ties. They share an interest in the provision of stability, security and welfare in the Baltic Sea region and beyond.
A regular political dialogue and practical cooperation has been established between the Baltic and Nordic countries, with a potential for further development. For the most part, cooperation takes place within the NB8 and NB6 formats; an active dialogue with the Nordic Council of Ministers is ongoing.
Alliances within the European Union can undermine the essence and founding to cooperate with all members ... inclusion through exclusion? WTF
UK Responsible for Ukraine War Position
The new slogan "the ball is now in Russia's court" doesn't do right to the terrible position Ukraine military is in, and de hundreds of thousands of victims of the last years. A war of choice that should not have happened. All parties are in a worse position ... in war there are no victors only losers and graveyards filled with "heroes" on both sides.
This article of British chest-beating is so damning ... British intelligence sharing and logistics with UA armed forces at sea, on land and in the air escalated and expanded the war theatre and prolonged the horror. The war crimes by the intelligence arm SBU could only be so effective with close cooperation of MI6 and the CIA. Terror operations to save "democracy" ... for decades post 9/11 both America and Britain undermined the international order, Geneva conventions and UN Security Council resolutions. They all but destroyed the UNGA, ICJ and ICC. Have they ever read and lived by the essence of the UN Charter directive to MAKE peace, NOT war.
UK helped Ukraine and US reach ceasefire deal - government sources | BBC News |
Labour MP Dame Emily Thornberry, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said Britain has played a "big part" in where things currently stand in the war in Ukraine, including proposals for a halt in fighting.
"I think we need to just pause this moment and appreciate the calm and optimism and hope," she told the BBC's Today programme.
"We might have peace in Ukraine, this is a step along that road, it could happen and I think we need to at this stage kind of appreciate what it is that we have achieved and I think that Britain has played a big part in that."
She also said that Powell had "earnt his money", noting that the work he has done in helping Ukraine and the US reach an agreement over a proposed ceasefire deal with Russia is an "achievement".
[...]
One aim of the European teams working behind the scenes has been to ensure that it is now Russia that is in the spotlight: does it want peace?
A UK source said "the ball is firmly in the Russian court."
Hundreds of thousands of people, most of them soldiers, are believed to have been killed or injured on both sides, and millions of Ukrainian civilians have fled as refugees ...
No cards ...⁉️. Bal in your court ...⁉️ Don't do stupid wars -- President Barack Obama. His VP refused to listen and went rogue .... a modern day American traitor, not a hero or courageous leader. Same for former PM Boris Johnson.
Ukraine Ceasefire: "The ball is now clearly in the Russian court," Macron said on X, adding that progress had been made in the Jeddah talks "in particular on the idea of a possible 30-day ceasefire".
Ukraine Ceasefire Deal -- What Does it Mean? | CEPA |
CEPA Fellows explain the US-Ukraine agreement on a ceasefire. The Trump administration says, "the ball is in Moscow's court."
The ball is in Putin's court. Finally.
So far, Western interaction with the Kremlin has resembled a game of tennis, but with a few tweaks. One player -- the Russian -- always serves. The court is unevenly shaped. The Ukrainian has his shoelaces tied together.
Now it is the other way round. The Kremlin can reject the ceasefire offer. After all, it is winning (albeit at immense cost) the war of attrition. Ukraine is running out of soldiers, and Russia is not. How far is Donald Trump really ready to confront Russia then? The chance is small, but not zero, that he would feel just as stung by Vladimir Putin's rejection as he did by Volodymyr Zelenskyy's argumentativeness.
Keir Starmer welcomes Ukraine ceasefire 'breakthrough',
says ball is in Russia's court
Donald Trump's USAID cuts damaging humanitarian operations on Ukraine's front line | Sky News |
As peace talks to end the conflict continue, aid workers tell Sky News' data and forensics team they feel let down by the US.
'Reckless' Trump USAID cuts damaging humanitarian operations on Ukraine's frontline | Sky News |
Oleksiy Kliuiev has had to get used to working under fire. He leads a group of volunteers helping civilians caught in the fighting on Ukraine's frontline.
Last September, he and his team were nearly hit in a drone strike as they rushed to help residents under bombardment in the Sumy region, close to Ukraine's northeastern border with Russia.
Trump has resumed arms delivery to Ukraine and intelligence sharing to bridge the ceasefire period.
Proposal to Exempt Defense Industry EU Red Tape
Europe's military heavyweights call for defense industry deregulation | Politico |
PARIS -- France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom want to cut regulations on weapon-makers to help them boost production.
"We are calling for the defense industry to no longer be treated as just another industry," France's Sébastien Lecornu told reporters, speaking after a meeting with defense ministers of the so-called E5 format in Paris.
"The five of us want to keep the [Ukraine Defense Contact Group] alive," Pistorius said, referring to the U.S.-led grouping that organizes military aid for Kyiv. There are fears Washington will stop sending arms to Ukraine once Trump takes office. -- Politico 26 Nov. 2024
[...]
The call from Europe's largest military powers comes as the continent attempts to rapidly rearm in the face of Russian President Vladimir Putin's expansionism and concerns the United States may lessen its military presence in Europe.
Wednesday's gathering -- at which ministers discussed Ukraine as well as European defense -- comes on the heels of a Tuesday meeting of 37 chiefs of the defense staff from the EU, NATO and beyond (minus the U.S.) to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine. It also follows an American proposal, accepted by Kyiv, for a 30-day truce in the war-torn country if Russia agrees.
In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the five ministers called for an assessment of EU regulations and national laws that could "hinder or slow down" weapons production and procurement.
"We need to reduce red tape within the EU to come up with practical headways for European defense," Italy's Guido Crosetto told reporters. Germany's Boris Pistorius doubled down: "We want to deregulate, at a European level, but also in our nation states," he said.
The push will resonate at EU level. Last month, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented a proposal exempting most companies from EU corporate sustainability reporting -- an effort also designed to benefit arms-makers. EU leaders also want the Commission to present a simplification package dedicated to the defense industry.
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