EU partners getting ready to militarily confront Russia following their illegal invasion of Ukraine 2 years ago

More and more voices are being heard from inside and outside Europe,  about the US political confusion in dealing with Ukraine's  military support, and ready to take matters in their own hands,   specially now Putin is under lots of pressure at home by democratic forces.

Ukraine war: Will Putin be able to survive a negotiated peace or loss ?

When Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his three-pronged invasion of neighboring Ukraine in February 2022, his goal was to erase Ukraine as a sovereign nation in a matter of days. At the time, it seemed a plausible goal, in Russia and in the West. More than a year later, Ukraine's survival is a much safer bet than Putin's.

Ukraine has systemically and strategically taken back half the territory Russia seized, inflicting humiliating loss after debilitating setback. As Ukraine's battlefield victories pile up, the U.S. and its NATO allies are giving it increasingly sophisticated weapons.

Russia's 'catastrophic' missing men problem Why Western tanks might help Ukraine beat Russia What would actually happen if Putin hit Ukraine with tactical nukes?

"If 2023 continues as it began, there is a good chance Ukraine will be able to fulfill President Volodymyr

 Zelenskyy's New Year's pledge to retake all of Ukraine by the end of the year — or at least enough territory to definitively end Russia's threat," Liz Sly suggested at The Washington Post.

Read more at:       https://theweek.com/russo-ukrainian-war/1020161/will-putin-survive-his-catastrop and

https://www.cato.org/blog/can-putin-survive-settlement-war-ukraine

EU provides EURO 1.5 billion financial aid to Ukraine

The EU is supporting Ukraine with a further €1.5 billion (roughly $1.6 billion). The aim is to help the country affected by the Russian war of aggression to rebuild critical infrastructure such as roads or bridges and to maintain necessary public facilities such as hospitals or schools.

"Today, we've disbursed another €1.5 billion in macro-financial Assistance to Ukraine. Month after month, we continue to play our part in rebuilding a modern and prosperous country, while helping to cover the country's needs," the European Commission announced.

Read more at: https ://dw.com.

Ukraine War: the war could suddely come to an end if Putin, who is rumored to have Parkenson, is removed from power

SICK Vladimir Putin's "days are numbered" as the tyrant faces being carted off to hospital in a "sudden end" to his rule, the former head of MI6 has warned. 

Rumours have swirled for months about the 70-year-old Russian leader's reportedly failing health - fuelled by his bloated face and trembling legs.

 Read more at: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/21212116/putin-days-numbered-parkinsons-spy-chief/

Ukraine conflict: Putin's decision to store nuclear weapons in Belarus brings world closer to nuclear war than ever before, says United Nations

Many UN Speakers Condemn Russian Federation’s Dangerous Rhetoric, as Veiled Threats

The Russian Federation’s recent announcement of plans to station non-strategic nuclear weapons in Belarus represents the first “nuclear sharing” agreement made since the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons entered into force in 1970, the senior United Nations disarmament official told the Security Council today, emphasizing that — against the backdrop of the Ukraine conflict — the risk such arms will be used is higher today than at any time since the end of the cold war.

Read more at: https://www.un.org/en/

Ukraine Russian invasion: Ukraine hits Russia back where It hurts

Russian warship was seriously damaged in an overnight Ukrainian naval drone attack on Russia's Black Sea navy base at Novorossiysk, the first time the Ukrainian navy has projected its power so far from the country's shores.

The port, which handles two per cent of the world's oil supply and also exports grain, temporarily halted civilian ship movement before resuming normal operations, according to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium which operates an oil terminal there.

Read more at" https//www.cbc.com

Ukraine War - Ukraine negotiating with USA to get a security arrangement against Russian aggression

Ukraine and the United States are to begin talks on security guarantees while the country's accession to NATO is pending. Meanwhile, Russian missiles have hit the city of Kryvyi Rih.

Read more at;

https://www.dw.com

Russia: organizing African sumit and playing Russian roulette with Ukraine grain shipments to Africa

After blocking Ukraine's grain exports, Moscow will try to portray itself as Africa's friend at the summit. But some African leaders consider the suspension "a stab in the back." 

See more at ; https://www.dw.com

Ukraine Russian Invasion: Russia blocks grain shipment deal after it blames Ukraine for attack on bridge into the Island of Crimea which they occupied from Ukraine.

Russia has accused Ukraine of attacking a vital bridge that links Russia and Crimea, with the help of the US and UK. Traffic was earlier halted on the route due to an "emergency situation." Follow DW for the latest.

Read more at:https://www.dw.com

Ukraine war: US sending controversial cluster bombs to Ukraine

The United States confirmed that it will send cluster munitions to Ukraine to help its military push back Russian forces entrenched along the front lines. 

President Joe Biden "approved it... after unanimous recommendation," US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said, adding that this "difficult" decision was made after consultation with "allies and partners,"

Read more at: https://www.dw.com

Ukraine war: Framce supplies Ukraine with armoured vehicles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thanked French counterpart Emmanuel Macron for the shipment of light combat tanks to Kyiv, though some Ukrainian military officials have challenged their practicality.

Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov was filmed riding in a highly mobile AMX-10 RC infantry fighting vehicle.

However, a Ukrainian battalion commander strongly criticized the tanks, describing them to the French AFP news agency as "impractical" due to their "thin armor."

The commander told AFP at one instance, a crew of four were killed when a shell exploded near the vehicle, piercing the armor due to its thin quality.

Read more at: https://www.dw.còm

Ukraine war: the Ukrainian offensive has begun

Ukraine has nevertheless claimed that it has recaptured eight villages so far in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia and the eastern region of Donetsk.  

To better grasp the evolving situation, FRANCE 24’s Gwendoline Debono and Amar Al Hameedawi travelled to the village of Blahodatne, which lies on the road to the port city of Mariupol. Recently recaptured from Russian forces by the Ukrainian military’s 68th brigade, Blahodatne has become one of the new fronts in the war. 

READ MORE AT: https://www. france24.com

China--Germany relations: Germany meeting wirh China on Ukraine, climate change, and trade.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said direct talks between world leaders was more important than ever after high-level talks with China's Premier Li Qiang in Berlin onTuesday.

Scholz said keeping the communication lines open was more vital that ever.

"Direct dialogue, face-to-face talks, a real exchange — all this is even more important than usual in these extraordinary times full of global challenges and crises," said Scholz.

Read more at: https://www.dw.com

EU blocks Ukraine grain imports to 5 countries, including Poland

The European Union has again extended a ban on Ukrainian grain imports to five countries, including Poland.

The move follows anger and protests from Polish farmers who were left with unsold grain or forced to sell it cheaply when faced with lower Ukrainian prices.

Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Krzysztof Ciecióra explained: "We have fulfilled their main demand, i.e. stopping the pressure of grain imports from Ukraine. 

"Today there is no such permission. It is not legal until September 15 at least. These grains will not flow to Poland. Only transit is possible."

Although the decision of the EU, supported by the government, brings temporary relief, it was not met with much approval from Polish farmers, who fear that in a few months, they will face the same problems again.

Read more at: https://www.euronews.com

Russia - Ukraine war: "Blessed are the peacemqkers for they will be called sons of God"

Isn't it high time for BOTH Russia and Ukraine to  "swallow their pride" and stop having more and  more innocent people on both sides of this conflict getting killed every day, and start negotiating instead, under the auspices of the EU, which is not only bordering the warring parties, but also the best qualified to do so. 

This, instead of having war mongers, corrupt politicians, and the weapons industry "laugh all the way to the bank". 

Who knows, maybe these negotiations could eventually result in both Ukraine and Russia both becoming members of the EU, and another benefit, no more need for NATO or Russian Millitary Alliances.

 Sounds crazy ?  Not at all - it's called PEACE. And if you do  not believe that, check out Mathew 5, verse 9

https://www.eu-digest.blogspot.com

Ukraine: Russia moves nukes into Belarus

Russia advanced its plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, signing a deal on Thursday to facilitate a special warhead establishment in the neighbouring nation. 

The plan to deploy nukes beyond Russia's boundaries was announced by President Vladimir Putin in a TV interview on March 25. 

Kremlin has not specified the exact date of deployment, yet expects the new facility to be ready in just over a month's time in Belarus. 

Moscow has not kept its nuclear weapons outside of the Russian borders since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. 

The Iskander-M missiles, with warheads carrying capabilities, have already been handed to the Belarusian armed forces, Russia's defence minister Sergei Shoigu said.

Read more at: https://www.euronews.com

Ukraine invasion by Russia : Is a new cold war brewing ?

Russia is just one rubber stamp vote away from formally leaving a key Cold War-era security deal designed to de-escalate potential east-west conflicts by drawing down troop numbers and stocks of conventional weapons.

The upper house of Russia’s parliament, the Federation Council, will consider Russia’s pull-out on Wednesday, 24 May, more than a week after the Duma approved the legislation.

State Duma speaker Leonid Slutsky said on Tuesday the treaty “had only existed on paper”.

President Vladimir Putin introduced a draft bill on 10 May "denouncing" the Treaty of Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, which was signed in Paris in November 1990 by 34 representatives of NATO states and members of the Warsaw Pact, and ratified two years later.

So, what is the significance of the move by Moscow and what implications does it have for European security?

Read more at: https://www.euronews.com

United Nations: China and India have voted in favour of a UN resolution that explicitly acknowledges "the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

In a surprising diplomatic move, China and India, two countries that have carefully avoided condemning Moscow for launching the full-scale invasion of Ukraine despite repeated pleas from Western allies, have voted in favour of a United Nations resolution that explicitly acknowledges "the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine."

The reference is found in just one paragraph of a broader resolution that calls for closer cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe, the Strasbourg-based human rights organisation. 

The text, promoted by a wide group of European countries, together with Canada and the United States, received 122 votes in favour and 18 abstentions.

Read more at: https://www.euronews.com

China--Ukraine relations: Presidents XI and Zelenskyy hold productive telephone conversation as China promises to send a special envoy to Ukraine

More than 14 months after Russia invaded Ukraine, Chinese President Xi Jinping held his first phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday.

China emphasized that its core position is promoting peace talks while promising to send a special envoy to Ukraine and hold talks with all parties in the ongoing conflict.

Zelenskyy characterized the talks with Xi as "long and meaningful."

"I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraine's ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations," Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter.

Read more at: https://www.dw.com

Brasil - Russia relations: President Lula recomments negotiations with Ukraine instead of disasterous war

Lula is fresh off a trip to China and the United Arab Emirates, during which he raised eyebrows in the West by accusing the United States of "encouraging the war" in Ukraine.

He also said the United States and Europe "need to start talking about peace," and that Kyiv shares the blame for the conflict, which began in February 2022 when Russian forces poured into Ukraine in an attempt to overthrow the democratically elected government and annex swaths of the pro-Western country.

His remarks echoed a line frequently used by Moscow and Beijing, which blame the West for the war.

Sergei Lavrov, Russia's top diplomat, thanked Lula on Monday for his offer to mediate peace talks on the 14-month war.

Read more at: https://www.france24.com