Britain’s defense minister said it was not right “for now” to send British fighter jets to Ukraine, but said he “never ruled anything out. “
Ben Wallace added that the UK had made a “solid decision” on whether to send the F-16 fighters to Zelensky’s forces.
Asked why Britain wouldn’t send the planes, Ben Wallace said: “I’ve been worried about this for a long time. And I learned two things: never exclude anything and never exclude anything. “
He added: “At the moment, I don’t think that’s the right approach. . . What will move in this confrontation this year is the option for Ukrainians to deploy Western tanks opposed to Russia. “
It comes as madman Vladimir Putin intends to rally at least 200,000 troops for a new attack in the Ukraine war: with the NATO leader “no signs” that the tyrant is “preparing for peace. “
Read our blog about the war in Ukraine below for the latest news. . .
Dmitry Peskov claimed that the West could not “change the course of events” in Ukraine after it continued in Kyiv.
The spokesman said: “Ukraine is not easy more and more weapons.
“The West encourages such demands and declares that it is in a position to obtain such weapons,” he added.
“This is a dead-end situation: it leads to significant escalation, it leads NATO countries to become increasingly directly involved in the confrontation, but it has no chance of replacing the course of events and will not. “
The Ministry of Defense (MoD) has released its latest intelligence update on Ukraine.
The Defense Ministry tweeted: “In recent days, some of the most intense shelling of the fighting has been positioned along the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine. This included the continuous Russian bombardment of the town of Kherson with artillery fire from the east of the river.
“On January 29, 2023, the local government reported the deaths of 3 more civilians in Kherson, while two foreign boats moored in the river were damaged and led to an oil spill.
“Kherson remains the most bombed major Ukrainian city outside Donbass. The exact justification for Russia spending its stockpiles of extended munitions here is unclear. “
“However, the commanders aim to deteriorate civilian morale and deter any Ukrainian counterattack through the Dnipro. “
During the assembly in Kyiv with Alexander Van der Bellen, the couple discussed in detail the problems of energy, economy, humanitarian cooperation, progress of Ukrainian communities.
After the assembly, Zelensky told an assembly with media representatives: “We also discussed the problems of our political cooperation in Europe and on other foreign platforms. “
Ukrainian Defense Minister Olesksii Reznikov had a “very frank and productive” verbal exchange with Emmanuel Macron.
The minister said the two men from Ukraine have “urgent operational needs of self-defense” in the face of Russian aggressors.
He then thanked the other French for their “leadership and unwavering support. “
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said they will have to order new tanks temporarily to upgrade those sent to Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters from a tank battalion in the western town of Augustdorf, he said: “For me, the fact is that we want to order new tanks, not in a year, but quickly, so that production can start. “
British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace has yet to make a “solid decision” on sending planes to Ukraine.
Ben Wallace told reporters: “I’ve been worried about this for a long time. And I learned two things: never exclude anything and never exclude anything. “
He added that no “solid decision” had been made.
“What will move in this confrontation this year is for the Ukrainians to deploy Western tanks opposed to Russia,” he added.
Rishi Sunak praised Boris Johnson for his stance on the war in Ukraine, but insisted the former prime minister “acted in his own capacity. “
Sunak’s official spokesman said: “The prime minister welcomes all his colleagues for Ukraine and is pleased that the former prime minister continues to strongly support the UK’s efforts to help Ukraine secure a lasting peace. “
But he said Mr. Johnson “acted in his own capacity. “
Asked about sending planes, the official said: “Lately it is not practical to send British planes. We will continue to work hard with the Ukrainians to understand their wishes and how allies can follow them. “
“Given the complexity of British fighter jets and the time required to exercise them, lately we don’t think it’s practical to do so. “
Joe Biden has ruled out sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine despite Western caution about the Russian air force’s prospect.
U. S. President Joe Biden asked through a reporter Monday if he would supply the F-16s, to which he simply replied “no. “
The refusal comes after analyst professor Michael Clarke claimed that when Russia “returns for its spring offensive . . . It will be much more effective in the air. “
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the Atlantic Council in Washington DC, speaking of the importance of Western unity and the desire to supply arms to Ukraine, and urged leaders to “step up” their support.
Johnson said, “Give them the deep chimney and artillery systems. Give them the tanks. Give them the planes. Because they have a plan. They know what they have to do. “
“Every time we have been asked to step up our support, we have faced the same argument that we are escalating from Putin.
“How can we seriously worry about provoking him when we have realized what he is going to do, the slightest provocation?
He added: “We want to avoid attacking Putin and Ukraine completely, because they are fighting for all of us. “
“They fight for our values, and they reminded us that those values of freedom and democracy are values that are defended. So there is no explanation for delaying. “
According to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Russia lost another 920 soldiers, bringing the total casualties to 128,420.
Ukraine tweeted: “‘Hate him or love him, the underdog win. ‘ Curtis Jackson”
A senior U. S. official said Ukraine’s ability to exercise temporarily means Western tanks can be used before Russia launches its planned offensive in the spring.
US Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith told Sky News: “The only thing there has been in the last year is the ability of the Ukrainian army to exercise on the aircraft and use it in real time.
“The way they’ve condensed the era of education that’s required for the systems we’ve given them is simply remarkable. “
Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said what the former prime minister said was not true, or “more precisely, a lie. “
This comes after the former minister revealed to the BBC that Putin had threatened to kill him.
He recalls: “I put Putin on the fan again. He said, ‘Boris, you say Ukraine is not going to join NATO anytime soon. ‘What is ‘Coming Soon’?
“And I said, ‘Well, he’s not going to join NATO for the foreseeable future. You know that very well.
“He threatened me at one point and said, ‘Boris, I don’t need to hurt you, but with a missile, it would only take a minute,’ or something.
“I think because of the very relaxed tone he took, the kind of air of indifference he seemed to have, he was just playing with my attempts to get him to negotiate. “
Latvia will not send athletes to participate in the Paris Olympics in 2024 if Russia and Belarus can participate.
A spokesman for the Latvian Olympic Committee said: “If we have to make a resolution now, of course, we will move on to that competition. But the Paris Games are a year and a half away. “
“We will see what happens in Ukraine: we hope that the other Ukrainians will win this war and we will be in a new situation. “
The International Olympic Committee said last week it is bidding to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the Games.
Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish president, will not accept Sweden’s candidacy for NATO membership.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Sweden and Finland implemented the signing of the Transatlantic Defense Pact.
Erdogan: “Sweden should not bother to withdraw at this stage. We will not say ‘yes’ to their NATO candidacy as long as they allow the Koran to burn. “
The only countries that have yet ratified the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO are Turkey and Hungary.
Ukrainians have announced plans to spend more than $500 million on drones this year.
Much of this investment will go towards the acquisition of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
“In 2023, we are expanding the acquisition of drones for the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov wrote in a Facebook post.
A U. S. -based tank has warned that the West’s delay in sending aircraft to Ukraine is to blame for the country’s lack of progress since November.
The think tank at the Institute for the Study of War said “the West’s inability to supply the material” is to blame for Ukraine’s lack of profits.
This comes as Putin continues to gain ground in the east.
Britain’s defense minister showed Monday that the tank squad promised to Ukraine would be delivered “by the summer. “
Addressing Parliament on Monday, Ben Wallace said: “It will be in this aspect of summer or in May, it will be around Easter. “
He went on to say that more main points may be provided for security reasons.
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry posted a video on social media showing the destruction of a Russian command post and ammunition depot.
Defense of Ukraine tweeted: “Artillerymen of the 28th Brigade, as aerial reconnaissance of the 4th Brigade of the National Guard, destroyed the command post and ammunition depot of the occupiers. “
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg delivered a speech at Keio University in Tokyo, warning of the risk posed to Europe by the development of relations between Russia and China.
Stoltenberg said: “Working with components from all over the world, in the Indo-Pacific, is one component of the reaction to a more harmful and unpredictable world.
“The war in Ukraine shows how interconnected security is. It shows that what happens in Europe has consequences for East Asia, and what happens in East Asia is for Europe. “
He added: “The fact that Russia and China are getting closer and China’s significant investments and complex new military functions underscore that China poses a threat, it also poses a challenge to NATO allies.
“Security is regional but global. “
Washington had accused North Korea of supplying arms to Russia.
On Sunday, the director general of the U. S. Department of Foreign AffairsU. S. Secretary of State Kwon Jong Gun said: “Trying to tarnish (North Korea’s) symbol by manufacturing something that doesn’t exist is a serious provocation that can never be allowed and can cause your reaction. “
The statement, published through Korea’s official Central News Agency, added that the United States would face “an unintended factual outcome” if it continues to spread the “self-made rumor. “
The Ministry of Defense (MoD) has released a map showing the scenario related to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
The Defense Ministry tweeted: “The unprovoked invasion of Ukraine continues.
“The map below is the latest defense intelligence update on the scenario in Ukraine: February 1, 2023.
“Read about the UK government’s response: http://ow. ly/zYCv50MGq4Z
“#StandWithUkraine”
Russian forces have surrounded Bakhmut in Ukraine’s Donbass region, according to Yan Gagin, an aide to a senior Russian official in Ukraine.
Gagin told Russian state television: “Bajmut is now operationally surrounded, our forces are at the end of the circle around the city.
“The fight for the Chasiv Yar-Bakhmut road is now underway. “
The claims have been independently verified.
The Ministry of Defense (MoD) has released its latest intelligence update on Ukraine.
The Defense Ministry tweeted: “In recent days, some of the most intense shelling of the fighting has been positioned along the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine. This included the continuous Russian bombardment of the town of Kherson with artillery fire from the east of the river.
“On January 29, 2023, the local government reported the deaths of 3 more civilians in Kherson, while two foreign boats moored in the river were damaged and led to an oil spill.
“Kherson remains the most bombed major Ukrainian city outside Donbass. The exact justification for Russia spending its stockpiles of extended munitions here is unclear. “
“However, the commanders aim to deteriorate civilian morale and deter any Ukrainian counterattack through the Dnipro. “
Boris Johnson has called for fighter jets to be sent to Ukraine, despite reluctance from Western leaders.
Johnson told Sky News: “Every time we said it would be a mistake to give this or that weapon, we end up doing it and it ends up being the right thing for Ukraine. “
“All I say is save time, save money, save lives. Give Ukrainians what they want as soon as possible. “
French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said France would send another 12 Caesar truck-mounted howitzers as well as air defense aircraft to Ukraine, according to Le Monde.
Lecornu told a news conference in Paris that this would be in addition to the 18 already delivered in the country and would be financed with a 200 million euro fund created by France to send weapons to Ukraine.
He added: “We have reached a mass [of Caesar cannons] that must be overlooked. “
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