Developments in Ukraine|Kiev’s complete dependence on financial and military aid from the West/difficult situation for Ukraine on the eastern front

According to the international group Tasnim news agency, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a press conference In Riga, the capital of the Republic of Latvia, the Republican Party of the United States, and in particular the presidential candidate, accused Florida Governor Ron DeSantis of endangering the welfare of Ukrainian pensioners and preventing them from paying their salaries.

A few days ago, the “Washington Post” newspaper reported that the cessation of US financial aid to Ukraine would have disastrous results, and the most important effect of Washington’s withdrawal of support would be a significant increase in the disparity in combat capabilities between the Ukrainian armed forces and the military. It will be Russia.

Previously, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmitry Koleba, also admitted that Kiev does not have a plan to support the country if the Western financial aid stops. For his part, the head of the National Bank of Ukraine, Andriy Pishniy, said that the country is highly dependent on financial aid from the West.

Next, you can follow the developments related to the 688th day of the war in Ukraine. Please:

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The European Union agrees with the annual allocation of aid to Ukraine because of Hungary

Newspaper “Financial Times” reported this morning, Friday, that the European Commission is ready to agree to some of Hungary’s conditions in order to agree on a four-year financial aid package for Ukraine in the amount of 50 billion euros.

According to the publication, the European Union is ready to create an annual audit to determine the cost of the budget in this area, as well as to adopt measures on the “emergency brake”, according to which any country in the community can decide on how to continue helping Ukraine at the summit. The heads of the European Union put forward.

At the same time, a news source in Budapest told this newspaper that Hungary is “committed to carrying out negotiations in this regard”. Yesterday, the Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbán, announced that the European Commission is preparing Plan B to allocate aid to Ukraine outside of the EU budget for the extraordinary summit of the Union, which is scheduled to be held on February 1.

Politico previously reported that Hungary may agree to an EU aid plan for Ukraine if it is subject to an annual review and vote.

EU leaders are trying to get Prime Minister Convince Hungary to cancel Budapest’s decision to veto the allocation of 50 billion euros in aid to Kyiv before February 1st. /strong>

John Kirby, the coordinator of strategic communications at the White House National Security Council, announced last night that since Washington does not have the budget to provide further aid, the United States will supply weapons and military equipment to has temporarily suspended Ukraine.

He said at his regular news conference in response to a question about it: “That’s right, we have the last available aid package that we had the funds to support. We have transferred to Kiev and now the process has been interrupted.” Kirby also emphasized that it is now necessary for the US government to pass the double budget and this action will allow Washington to Continue to help Ukraine. He emphasized: “The need to provide new American weapons to Kiev is essential now, especially during the harsh winter months.” The Pentagon’s problem in tracking weapons sent to Kiev /p>

The New York Times quoted Pentagon Inspector General Robert Storch as reporting that tracking unannounced weapons sent to Kiev will reduce the risk of them being stolen and falling into third hands. This military official pointed out that the American authorities do not properly supervise the military aid to Ukraine, we are talking about about 40 thousand pieces of missiles, drones and night vision devices with a total value of more than one billion dollars.

Inspector The Pentagon concluded that even with the best methods, it would be very difficult to track military aid because of its scale. Sent by the West to Ukraine, they come from countries in the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Latin America. According to him, this is a serious threat because it has spread uncontrollably and about 20 percent of the Western military weapons sent to Kiev go to the black market.

Edgars Rinkovic, the president of Latvia last night in a conversation with the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Riga, announced that the country will continue to support Ukraine and self-propelled guns, artillery ammunition and drones will be provided to Kiev.

According to the president of Latvia, Ukraine received a total of 600 million euros from this country, which is approximately one percent of the gross domestic product of the republic. Rinković emphasized: “We must support Ukraine until the complete victory.” In addition, according to him, Latvia is ready to help Ukraine in its efforts to join the European Union and to take measures to strengthen sanctions against Russia. will continue

Estonia’s 1.2 billion euro aid to Ukraine until 2027

Estonian President Alar Karis last night at a press conference with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy In Tallinn, he announced that the country will provide a military aid package worth 1.2 billion euros to Kyiv until 2027.

Furthermore, Karis stressed that Western countries should increase production to support Kyiv. increase their military industries.

Zelensky: The situation in Ukraine will be difficult without the help of the European Union

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi on Thursday during the conference A joint press release with Estonian Prime Minister Kaia Kalas after bilateral talks in Tallinn warned that it would be difficult for Ukraine to survive without EU financial aid. At the beginning of 2023, they did not receive what they promised. In addition, he called for putting pressure on some European Union countries that had promised Kiev these ammunitions.

Alexander Sirsky, the commander of the ground forces of the Ukrainian army, admitted on his Telegram channel that the situation of the armed forces in several directions in the eastern regions is still difficult.

He pointed out that “the operational environment in The eastern front is still challenging,” he added: “It has become difficult for the Ukrainian armed forces in the directions of Artemovsk, Kopiansk and Limansk.” For example, in the Kharkov region, the offensive actions of the Russian armed forces have continued and the situation is still difficult for the Ukrainian forces.

Recruitment of more than 500,000 new people in the Russian forces in 2023

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, announced yesterday that in 2023, more than 500,000 people will be added to the country’s armed forces, of which 420,000 will join the army under contract.

In the working group meeting of the Military Industry Commission in the field of control of military products and special equipment, he added, citing data from the Russian Ministry of Defense, that out of about half a million citizens, more than 80 thousand people joined the ranks of the Russian army as volunteers. /p>

Medvedev also announced the successful increase of the armed forces by the order of President Vladimir Putin and added: The tasks set by the Commander-in-Chief to complete the armed forces were completed completely and within the specified time frames.

The Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia emphasized that in 2023, the planned delivery of weapons to the armed forces was carried out according to the plan. According to him, the effective work of the Russian military industrial complex is confirmed by the intensification of attacks on military targets in Ukraine. Russian Ambassador: The transfer of Russian equipment by Ecuador to the United States is an unfriendly act.

Vladimir Sprinchan, the Russian ambassador in Quito, announced in a television interview last night that the possible transfer of Russian military equipment by Ecuador to the United States would be an unfriendly act.

The ambassador explained: “The authorities Ecuador learned from Russia’s position that the Americans do not need to send this equipment, especially since they are called scrap metal. Only those who know how to work with Russian-made equipment (i.e. Ukrainians) need them, and we have warned the authorities that this will be an unfriendly move. They are watching, he emphasized: Of course, the military-technical cooperation of the two countries is “a closed matter” and should not be disclosed to another country. The Russian ambassador added: Considering that Daniel Nuboa, the president of Ecuador, has announced his country’s peaceful stance towards the conflict in Ukraine, sending weapons will be considered as aid to one of the parties to the conflict.

Sprinchan added that Moscow Warned Ecuador’s president that transferring Russian-made weapons to the United States in exchange for new American equipment would be seen as an unfriendly act toward Russia with all the consequences that would follow. Because these weapons were actually sent to our enemies in a military conflict and could be used against Russian military personnel, which contradicts President Daniel Noboa’s statement that his country is pacifist.

According to Vladimir Sprinchan, the transfer of Russian weapons to the United States can seriously affect bilateral relations between Russia and Ecuador. Yesterday, Daniel Noboa expressed his readiness to exchange old Russian equipment with the United States and receive new American equipment worth 200 announced a million dollars. It is not clear what kind of equipment is being talked about.

Seymour Hersh: America’s cold war with Russia and China is Biden’s losing policy

Seymour Hersh, newspaper The famous American writer and researcher believes that the United States is currently engaged in several military conflicts in the world and has launched a cold war against Russia and China, which will certainly have a negative impact on the results of the American presidential election for Joe Biden.

Hersh wrote: “The United States is currently engaged in two military operations, providing arms, financial aid, and military advice to both Ukraine and Israel. And at the same time, they seem to be running a long-term cold war with Russia and China. <...> This is a losing policy for which Biden and the Democrats will pay a heavy price in the upcoming elections.”

CNN: The West delivers some equipment left over from the war in Afghanistan to Ukraine.

CNN network, citing the words of Ukrainian military officials, reported that the Western countries used the old “Stinger” portable anti-aircraft missile systems, which were used during the Afghan Mujahideen war against the Soviet Union. The armed opposition has sent it to Ukraine.

The Stinger missile system was used by the US Army in 1981, and the total number of models of this weapon exceeded 700,000 pieces. In the second half of the 1980s, the United States sent them to the Mujahideen who were fighting against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan.

Earlier, the German magazine Focus reported that Ukraine had a serious problem with supplying the missiles needed for the systems. Air defense is facing. Yuriy Ignat, the spokesman of the Air Force Command of Ukraine, has also admitted that the country has not independently produced ammunition for air defense and needs large quantities of them to shoot down Russian missiles and drones. United Nations to provide $3.1 billion for Ukraine’s humanitarian needs

A senior United Nations official has informed members of the Security Council that the organization will next week request $3.1 billion in financial aid to Ukraine this year. did “As the military conflict in Ukraine continues unabated and causes high humanitarian needs, countries’ financial support must be sustained,” said Adam Vasorno, director of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. In 2024, we ask all donors to step up again and help the people of Ukraine.” According to him, the UN Response Plan for 2024 together with the UN Refugee Agency on Monday 15 January in Geneva will be presented, with the aim of collecting 3.1 billion dollars to help 8.5 million Ukrainians.

Previously, in late December, the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denis Shmygal, requested an emergency meeting of donors. in January because the country is experiencing a “very high” budget shortfall. He emphasized that the aid should be sent in January; These funds will be allocated to the basic needs of Ukraine’s budget.

Ukrainian Navy talks with NATO on protection of the “Grain Corridor”

Alexei Nizhpapa, Commander Ukraine’s navy said on Thursday that it is in talks with NATO member states to involve coalition warships in escorting cargo ships in the so-called temporary corridors that Kiev has established in the Black Sea after the end of the grain agreement.

He said: Regarding the escort that President Volodymyr Zelensky talked about, I must say that such negotiations are underway, including the possibility of NATO ships participating to ensure the safety of civilian shipping in Ukrainian ports.

However, the commander of the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine noted that there is currently no information about the outcome of these negotiations. According to him, this issue is of a political nature, so the office of the president is working on it.

This claim is despite the fact that Turkey does not allow any type of military ship to pass through the internal waterways of this country in order to enter the region. It has banned military conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Washington Post: Putin feels Russia’s victory in Ukraine is close

Newspaper ” The Washington Post wrote in an analysis that Russian President Vladimir Putin feels that his country’s victory in the military conflict in Ukraine is imminent. Moscow’s strategic defeat should not be ignored. The fact is that Putin feels that he is close to victory and this issue is clear in his words. Western sanctions have changed and even grown. Moreover, while the United States and Ukraine’s European allies are weary of continuing financial and military aid to Kiev, the Russian military’s weapons needs are fully met, and they have even increased the intensity of their attacks on Ukraine.

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