Russia’s allied state Belarus has warned the West that it can join Putin’s brutal war at any time.
Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Belarus, said he was in a position to order his troops to fight across Russia.
Speaking to a media group, Lukashenko said: “I am in a position to wage war, together with the Russians, from the territory of Belarus. But only if someone, even a single soldier, enters our territory from there (Ukraine) with weapons to kill my people. “
This comes as Russian casualties continue to rise, with the British Defense Ministry saying the Kremlin would likely have lost up to 200,000 troops.
Of the 200,000 casualties, 40,000 infantrymen may have died, the Defense Ministry shared on Twitter today.
Read our blog about the war in Ukraine below for the latest news. . .
Keir Starmer shared his opinion on the British across Ukraine.
Speaking on BBC Radio 2, he said: “I think many Britons are going to offer all kinds of support.
Then the union leader gave some recommendations saying: “Obviously, if other people faint to fight, it must be done with great awareness because the Ukrainian forces are there.
“They’re disciplined, they’re professional, they paint according to a strategic plan and nothing is done to stop them. “
French President Emmanuel Macron has suggested allies step up the military for Ukraine as Russia carries out its new offensive.
“It is imperative that we accentuate our effort and the resilience of other Ukrainians and their army and help them launch a counteroffensive that alone can lead to credible negotiations, decided through Ukraine, its government and its other peoples. “Reuters quoted Reuters as saying.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, the German chancellor said allies who can send tanks to Ukraine do so.
He added that Germany would facilitate this resolution by offering Ukrainian logistics and soldiers.
He said: “For me, this is an example of the kind of leadership that other people can expect from Germany. “
The leader of the Russian mercenary organization Wagner said Putin’s forces could take the city of Bakhmut by March.
“It will be (in) March or April,” said Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin.
“To take Bakhmut, you must cut off all origin routes. This is a task.
“Progress is going as fast as we would like. “
Prigozhin added that the city would have fallen faster than the “bureaucracy” of the Russian army.
He said: “Bajmut would have been taken before the New Year, our monstrous military bureaucracy. “
President Zelensky again called the West to arms Ukraine.
Speaking at a news conference with Dutch leaders, Zelensky said there is “no taboo” on sending Ukrainian equipment.
“There is no taboo on supplying and supporting weapons to our army, to our Ukraine, because it supports and protects our sovereignty,” he said.
A Russian official accused the United States of escalating violence in Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the United States and its allies are pressuring Kiev to attack Russian territory.
“Now the American warmongers have even more: they are inciting the Kiev regime to further escalate the war,” Zakharova told reporters.
“They supply weapons in massive quantities, provide intelligence and participate in drawing up plans for combat operations,” he added.
World leaders arrive in Munich this afternoon as they prepare for three days of war-dominated talks in Ukraine.
Forty will be present, in addition to Rishi Sunak, Ben Wallace and Emmanuel Macron.
Airstrike sirens sounded across Ukraine this afternoon as Russia continues to bomb the country.
On Thursday alone, Russia introduced more than 40 missile movements in Ukrainian regions.
A British embassy guard who spent years spying for Russia has been sentenced to thirteen years in prison.
David Ballantyne Smith, 58, of Scottish origin, amassed documents and data for the Kremlin while serving in the Berlin embassy.
Smith pleaded guilty to 8 counts of the Official Secrets Act.
The British Ministry of Defense (MoD) shared a map detailing that it controls certain regions 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 17, 2023. “
A political adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Russia to withdraw its troops from the four Kremlin-occupied regions of Ukraine.
He wrote: “For the decriminalization of global politics and true global security, the war will have to end with the victory of Ukraine.
“Negotiations can begin when FR withdraws its troops from Ukrainian territory. Other features give RF time to regroup forces and resume hostilities at any time. “
This comes ahead of a speech by Mr. Zelensky, where he will speak to world leaders in Munich.
Ukraine and Russia will begin negotiations next week for the extension of the Black Sea grain initiative, Kiev reports.
“Negotiations on the extension of the grain room will begin in a week, and then we will know the positions of all parties,” Ukraine’s Deputy Infrastructure Minister Yuriy Vaskov said.
“I think common sense will triumph and the room will expand,” he added.
The grain deal, which was negotiated through Turkey, allowed Ukraine to export products around the world over the past year.
Russian losses have exceeded 141,000, according to Ukrainian army sources.
The Kremlin reportedly lost 800 troops on Thursday, bringing the total casualties to 141,260.
Russia bombed Ukraine with more than missile movements on Thursday, as Putin continued his bloody invasion.
Russian shelling in the disputed town of Bakhmut killed five other people and wounded nine others.
Meanwhile, two Ukrainians were killed in Kherson, as Russia continued its movements in the liberated city.
Speaking in his evening speech, President Zelensky said Ukraine’s first priority is to prepare for Russia’s close offensive.
“Keeping the stage on the front and for any enemy escalation, this is the priority in the near future,” he said.
This comes as reports across Ukraine suggest that Putin is sending large numbers of new troops into battle, considering the loss of life.
President Zelensky will be the first speaker at a summit of world leaders in Munich today.
Participants will come with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Defense Secretary Ben Wallace.
The leader of the Russian mercenary organization Wagner said Putin’s forces could take the city of Bakhmut by March.
“It will be March or April,” said Wagner conductor Yevgeny Prigozhin.
“To take Bakhmut, you must cut off all origin routes. This is a task.
“Progress is going as fast as we would like. “
Prigozhin added that the city would have fallen faster than the “bureaucracy” of the Russian army.
He said: “Bajmut would have been taken before the New Year, our monstrous military bureaucracy. “
The UK Ministry of Defence has shared its Intel update.
The Defense Ministry reports that Russia most likely suffered between 175,000 and 200,000 casualties, with up to 60,000 dead.
This figure is almost 100,000 less than that of the Ukrainian army.
In a letter to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe received through The Associated Press, Ukraine said it would not participate in the Feb. 23-24 Vienna assembly if Russia allowed it to participate.
The Ukrainian delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Mykyta Poturayev, said in the letter dated February 10: “We are in a position to attend the winter assembly if Russia participates.
“We have no doubt that the Russian delegation will use the OSCE. . . to justify the aggression against my country, as well as to cover up the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against the Ukrainian people.
British Brigadier Ben Barry has warned that Ukraine faces a “bloody and unpredictable” year in which the West intensifies its support.
Barry told The Sun Online: “We can get a glimpse into the bloody year with an unpredictable dynamic of action and reaction as both sides fight for initiative.
“As long as sufficient ammunition and apparatus are provided, political and battlefield leaders, as well as Western weapons, are likely to give Ukraine a tactical advantage.
“But it is transparent that Kiev has enough fighting force to temporarily expel Russian forces. On a strategic level, the war has been at a standstill lately with little movement from the front.
“Ukraine is making counter-offensive plans to drive out Russian forces. For this, they need to have at least 10 armored brigades in fashionable Western armor, hence their request for a thousand fashionable armored fighting vehicles.
“Current statements through Ukraine’s allies would provide about 25 percent of that over the summer, restricting Ukraine’s combat power. “
According to the head of the U. S. State Department’s Office of Sanctions Coordination. According to U. S. Secretary of State James O’Brien, the United States is imposing sanctions on more banks with ties to Russia.
O’Brien: “We have immobilized about 80% of the Russian banking sector.
“We are in other banks and monetary establishments to see how Russia relates to the outside world.
“It’s very imaginable that there will be more action. “
He added: “We have yet to see which corporations and parties can gain advantages from Russia-related monetary transactions. “
Yesterday, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
At a joint press conference, Zelensky said: “I thank Sweden for the package.
“Archer is one of the world’s artillery pieces.
“Sweden is one of the five most sensible suppliers in Ukraine and I thank Sweden for this matrix.
“It’s a transparent message about how Sweden views human rights. “
And Kristersson said: “I’m here to show Sweden’s steadfastness for Ukraine.
“It is vital to come here and see with my own eyes the terrible Russian destruction.
“I did it today. “
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin fully supports the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO and needs it as soon as possible.
At a news conference in Brussels where NATO defense ministers are holding a two-day meeting, Austin said: “They are in a position to register for now and they are two very capable countries, which brings a lot of price to the alliance. “
He added: “Putin’s blatant aggression has replaced the security environment for each and every member of this alliance and for countries around the world. “
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