Newsletter 14/03/2024
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Sweden joining Czech initiative, donating EUR 30M for Ukraine-bound ammo
Sweden will join the initiative of the Czech Republic to purchase ammunition for Ukraine from third countries, allocating EUR 30 million to this end.
NATO Allies should immediately increase military aid to Ukraine - Stoltenberg
"The Ukrainians are not running out of courage. They are running out of ammunition. Together, we have the capacity to provide Ukraine with what it needs. Now we need to show the political will to do so. All Allies need to dig deep and deliver quickly. Every day of delay has real consequences on the battlefield in Ukraine. So, this is a critical moment. And it would be a grave, historic mistake to allow Putin to prevail," said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Allies not planning to send troops to Ukraine’s battlefields - Norway's top diplomat
"I think that it was made very clear by almost all NATO governments after the discussion that came out of the Paris meeting that we are not considering having troops taking part in actually fighting on the ground in Ukraine. This is Ukraine fighting, we support Ukraine’s fight because it is also our fight, but we think there’s also a massive distinction between supporting with arms, training, equipment, and technologies, and being there on the ground ourselves. This is not something that we’re planning to do. There are good reasons not to do that given the nature of this war," Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide emphasized.
Ukraine at OSCE: Russians can be expelled, but it depends on ammo stocks
Russian troops can be stopped and driven out of Ukrainian territory, but this depends on artillery shells and missiles available to Ukraine.
Ukraine calls on OSCE to condemn Russia’s “presidential elections” in occupied territories
The OSCE and the entire international community should condemn the holding of the so-called "presidential elections" on the sovereign territory of Ukraine, temporarily occupied by Russia.
Russian authorities blocking evacuation of civilians from Belgorod region - defense intel
Russian officials are blocking the evacuation of civilians attempting to flee the areas in Belgorod region where active hostilities are underway after ethnic Russian units that sided with Ukraine breached the border.
War
Ukraine proves Russia can be beaten on battlefield - Stoltenberg
"With courage and creativity, Ukraine has shown that Russia’s military can be beaten (on the battlefield - ed.). Russia is paying a very high price for marginal gains. On land, Putin's war has already cost Russia over 350,000 military casualties. At sea, Ukrainian attacks sank or disabled a significant part of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. In the air, Ukraine is shooting down key Russian assets, including high-value surveillance aircraft," said Jens Stoltenberg.
In Mariupol, on eve of "elections", Russians conduct searches and look for "saboteurs"
In the temporarily occupied Mariupol, on the eve of the Russian presidential election, the invaders began conducting searches, stopping cars, and detaining people for "espionage."
U.S. sees no signs Russia preparing to nuke Ukraine - White House
President Joe Biden is aware of Vladimir Putin's latest statements regarding nuclear weapons, made in an attempt to blackmail the West, but the U.S. is currently seeing no signs that Russia is preparing to use such weapons, in particular, in Ukraine.
Politics
Berlin realizes imperialist nature of Putin’s plans – Baerbock
"Putin's imperialist plans extend far beyond the borders of Ukraine. If he is not stopped by the Ukrainians in the east of their country, the war will be right on our doorstep," Baerbock said.
This must be prevented by joint efforts, and therefore, by increasing aid to Ukraine, which, according to the German minister, protects peace in Poland, Romania, the Baltic States, Finland, as well as Norway – countries that border directly with either Russia or Ukraine.
Defense
Bundestag discussing transfer of Taurus missiles to Ukraine
Members of the German parliament, the Bundestag, are discussing an item put on the session's agenda entitled "Consistently continue support for Ukraine - the delivery of the Taurus cruise missile."
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