Newsweek
"Biden Warns US Military May Get Pulled Into Direct Conflict With Russia"
Story by Kaitlin Lewis
30 DECEMBER 2023
President Joe Biden warned that the United States is at risk of being pulled into a direct conflict with Russia if the Kremlin succeeds in its war against Ukraine.
Biden's statement follows Russia's massive aerial attack across Ukraine on Friday.
Kyiv air force officials said that about 110 missiles struck Ukraine, hitting hospitals, residential buildings and a shopping center.
At least 31 citizens were killed in the attack and another 120 wounded, according to Ukraine officials cited by Reuters.
"Overnight, Russia launched its largest aerial assault on Ukraine since this war began," Biden said in a statement released Friday.
"It is a stark reminder to the world that, after nearly two years of this devastating war, Putin's objective remains unchanged."
"He seeks to obliterate Ukraine and subjugate its people."
"He must be stopped."
The 22-month-long war has raised tensions between Russia and members of the NATO alliance, who have supported Ukraine's fight through billions of dollars in military aid and weaponry.
Support for Kyiv, however, has started to waver in countries like the U.S., where Republican lawmakers have blocked sending additional funding to Ukraine unless a deal can be reached that also boosts aid for America's immigration system.
Biden said Friday that Ukraine's forces successfully intercepted a number of the missiles and drones launched by Russia thanks to the American-provided air defense systems at Kyiv's disposable.
He added, however, that unless congressional lawmakers take "urgent action in the new year," the U.S. will not be able to continue to provide Ukraine with "weapons and vital air defense systems."
Biden previously warned Republicans that withholding aid for Ukraine could pose a security threat for the NATO alliance and, subsequently, the U.S.
The White House's final aid package for Kyiv, which totaled $250 million, was announced this week.
"The stakes of this fight extend far beyond Ukraine," Biden reiterated Friday.
"They affect the entirety of the NATO alliance, the security of Europe, and the future of the transatlantic relationship."
"When dictators and autocrats are allowed to run roughshod in Europe, the risk rises that the United States gets pulled in directly."
"And the consequences reverberate around the world."
"We cannot let our allies and partners down."
"We cannot let Ukraine down."
"History will judge harshly those who fail to answer freedom's call."
Biden has asked Congress to pass a $110 billion aid package that would go toward Ukraine, support for Israel and other national security needs.
The request has been repeatedly struck down by GOP lawmakers.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said at a news conference this month that Republicans' "hill to die on" in negotiations with Democrats over providing additional aid to Ukraine is to establish sweeping changes to U.S. border policy.
Johnson has indicated that providing additional funding to Ukraine is still a priority.
When reached for comment, Johnson's office directed Newsweek to a statement following the speaker's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier this month, during which the speaker told Zelensky "that we stand with him and against Putin's brutal invasion."
"The American people stand for freedom and they're on the right side of this fight."
"I have asked the White House since the day that I was handed the gavel as Speaker for clarity."
"We need a clear articulation of the strategy to allow Ukraine to win," Johnson added.
"What the Biden Administration seems to be asking for is billions of additional dollars with no appropriate oversight, no clear strategy to win, and none of the answers that I think the American people are owed."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/bi ... 1f3c&ei=26
RUSSIA
Re: RUSSIA
Newsweek
"Russia Responds to Report About War With NATO"
Story by Brendan Cole
16 JANUARY 2024
Moscow has mocked an article in a German newspaper which says Berlin is preparing for an armed conflict between NATO and Russia.
Bild said a classified document it had seen showed how the German armed forces, the Bundeswehr, were preparing for an attack by Moscow on the alliance's eastern flank and outlined a "path to conflict" between Russia and NATO, according to a translation.
The document seen by the mass-circulation tabloid, which appears to be a training scenario, has not been independently verified.
Newsweek has contacted the German Defense Ministry and NATO for comment.
Russian foreign affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova dismissed the predictions as the kind you would find in a "horoscope."
Central to the case for continued military support among Ukraine's allies to fight Russian aggression is the argument that it is fighting for all the West.
In December 2023, President Joe Biden said that if Vladimir Putin won in Ukraine, Russia would attack an alliance member, a claim dismissed by the Russian president as "complete nonsense."
Zakharova derided the reported scenario in a post on Telegram.
"I read the German 'secret plan' leaked into the Bild information gutter."
"It's like a mighty horoscope from last year for Pisces in Cancer," she said.
"I suppose that the analysis was undertaken by the German Foreign Ministry headed by [Annalena] Baerbock."
Under Article 5 of NATO's treaty, an armed attack on an alliance member is considered an attack on all and would force a collective response.
Kyiv's allies have tried to provide aid without getting directly involved in the war.
Bild said the document "Alliance Defense 2025" outlined a scenario in which escalation could start as early as February, when Russia would launch another wave of mobilization.
The article said that the report it had seen outlined a scenario where, emboldened by faltering Western support for Kyiv, Moscow would launch a spring offensive that could push back the Ukrainian army.
By July, Russia could start conducting cyberattacks and other forms of hybrid warfare, mainly in the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, where they would incite ethnic Russian minorities.
Russia could use these clashes as a pretext to deploy troops to the region via its Zapad 2024 exercise involving 50,000 troops in western Russia and Belarus from September.
Medium-range missile systems deployed to its exclave of Kaliningrad could allow Russia to exploit the interim period after the U.S. election and repeat its 2014 invasion of Crimea, but this time on NATO territory.
Border conflicts" and "unrests with numerous casualties" were possible in the "Suwalki corridor" between Belarus and Kaliningrad along the Polish-Lithuanian border by December and Russia, according to the report which predicted the deployment of hundreds of thousands of NATO troops and an "outbreak of war in the summer of 2025."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ru ... 2b5a&ei=18
"Russia Responds to Report About War With NATO"
Story by Brendan Cole
16 JANUARY 2024
Moscow has mocked an article in a German newspaper which says Berlin is preparing for an armed conflict between NATO and Russia.
Bild said a classified document it had seen showed how the German armed forces, the Bundeswehr, were preparing for an attack by Moscow on the alliance's eastern flank and outlined a "path to conflict" between Russia and NATO, according to a translation.
The document seen by the mass-circulation tabloid, which appears to be a training scenario, has not been independently verified.
Newsweek has contacted the German Defense Ministry and NATO for comment.
Russian foreign affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova dismissed the predictions as the kind you would find in a "horoscope."
Central to the case for continued military support among Ukraine's allies to fight Russian aggression is the argument that it is fighting for all the West.
In December 2023, President Joe Biden said that if Vladimir Putin won in Ukraine, Russia would attack an alliance member, a claim dismissed by the Russian president as "complete nonsense."
Zakharova derided the reported scenario in a post on Telegram.
"I read the German 'secret plan' leaked into the Bild information gutter."
"It's like a mighty horoscope from last year for Pisces in Cancer," she said.
"I suppose that the analysis was undertaken by the German Foreign Ministry headed by [Annalena] Baerbock."
Under Article 5 of NATO's treaty, an armed attack on an alliance member is considered an attack on all and would force a collective response.
Kyiv's allies have tried to provide aid without getting directly involved in the war.
Bild said the document "Alliance Defense 2025" outlined a scenario in which escalation could start as early as February, when Russia would launch another wave of mobilization.
The article said that the report it had seen outlined a scenario where, emboldened by faltering Western support for Kyiv, Moscow would launch a spring offensive that could push back the Ukrainian army.
By July, Russia could start conducting cyberattacks and other forms of hybrid warfare, mainly in the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, where they would incite ethnic Russian minorities.
Russia could use these clashes as a pretext to deploy troops to the region via its Zapad 2024 exercise involving 50,000 troops in western Russia and Belarus from September.
Medium-range missile systems deployed to its exclave of Kaliningrad could allow Russia to exploit the interim period after the U.S. election and repeat its 2014 invasion of Crimea, but this time on NATO territory.
Border conflicts" and "unrests with numerous casualties" were possible in the "Suwalki corridor" between Belarus and Kaliningrad along the Polish-Lithuanian border by December and Russia, according to the report which predicted the deployment of hundreds of thousands of NATO troops and an "outbreak of war in the summer of 2025."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ru ... 2b5a&ei=18
Re: RUSSIA
REUTERS
"Ukraine's defences under strain as war enters its third year"
By Olena Harmash
February 23, 2024
Summary
* Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago
* The war has cost tens of thousands of lives, billions in damage
* Kyiv badly needs military and other aid from allies
* Moscow has the upper hand in battle, for now
* Putin casts war as standoff between Russia and a hostile West
KYIV, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Ukraine marks the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion on Saturday looking more vulnerable than at any time since the early days of Europe's most deadly conflict since World War Two.
The former Soviet republic's 40 million people defied expectations - and the Kremlin's best-laid plans - by repelling a much larger enemy and preventing outright defeat in the days and weeks after Russian tanks and soldiers rolled towards Kyiv.
But as the war enters its third year, international aid and military supplies have slowed, impacting the battlefield where Kyiv's summer counteroffensive floundered and Moscow is grinding out territorial gains.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy still has plenty of friends.
On Saturday he welcomes Western leaders to discuss security guarantees, sanctions against Russia and other pressing issues.
U.S. President Joe Biden remains a staunch ally, although $61 billion in aid is being held up by political bickering in Washington.
Looking to the end of 2024, U.S. elections could bring a change in president and in policy towards Ukraine and its war with Russia, clouding the outlook for the coming years.
During a trip to the United States in November, Zelenskiy invited Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump - a vocal critic of U.S. support for Kyiv - to Ukraine to see for himself the damage wrought by Russia's war.
Zelenskiy also told U.S. politicians that Russia, led by President Vladimir Putin, may not stop at Ukraine's borders if it emerges victorious.
Putin dismisses such claims as nonsense.
He casts the war as a wider struggle with the United States, which the Kremlin elite says aims to cleave Russia apart.
The West sees the invasion as an unjustified act of aggression that must be repelled.
OLD WAR AND NEW
As well as hosting foreign dignitaries, Zelenskiy will take part in a call with G7 leaders on Saturday.
There will be events across Ukraine including a commemoration service for those who died in Bucha, north of Kyiv - scene of some of the worst alleged war crimes of the conflict.
Ukraine's prosecutor general said on Friday it had launched investigations into more than 122,000 suspected war crimes cases in the last two years.
Russia denies carrying them out.
The initial shock of the invasion gradually morphed into familiarity and then fatigue, as the world watched initial Russian gains and a stunning Ukrainian counteroffensive in late 2022 slow into grinding, attritional trench warfare.
In scenes reminiscent of the battlefields of World War One, soldiers under heavy artillery fire are dying in their thousands, sometimes for a few kilometres of land.
Meanwhile, both sides have developed huge and increasingly sophisticated fleets of air, sea and land drones for surveillance and attack, an unprecedented use of unmanned vehicles that could point the way to future conflicts.
Russia, with a much bigger population to replenish the army's ranks and a larger military budget, might favour a drawn-out war, although the costs have been huge for Moscow as it seeks to navigate sanctions and a growing reliance on China.
Ukraine's position is more precarious.
Villages, towns and cities have been razed, troops are exhausted, ammunition is running low and Russian missiles and drones rain down almost daily.
Earlier in February, Russia registered its biggest victory in nine months when it captured the eastern town of Avdiivka, ending months of deadly urban combat.
Yet Zelenskiy remained defiant ahead of the anniversary.
"I am convinced that victory awaits us," he told diplomats in Kyiv this week in an emotional address.
"In particular, thanks to unity and your support."
Tens of thousands of troops have been killed on both sides and tens of thousands more wounded, while thousands of Ukrainian civilians have perished.
Moscow says it only aims at military and strategic targets.
RISING COSTS
The scale of devastation in Ukraine is staggering.
A recent World Bank study said that rebuilding Ukraine's economy could cost nearly $500 billion.
Two million housing units have been damaged or destroyed, and nearly 6 million people have fled abroad.
In addition to raising money and arms to continue the war, Zelenskiy is pushing legislation through parliament allowing Ukraine to mobilise up to half a million more troops - a target some economists say could paralyse the economy.
Russia's finances have proved resilient so far to unprecedented sanctions.
While natural gas exports have slumped, shipments of oil have held up, thanks largely to Indian and Chinese buying.
Russia's GDP expanded 3.6% in 2023, although some Russia-based economists warned that this was driven by a leap in defence spending and that stagnation or recession loom.
That will not jeopardise Putin's victory in elections in March, which he is set to win by a landslide amid broad support for his performance and for the war, described by the Kremlin as a "special military operation".
In the last two years, authorities have cracked down hard on any form of dissent over the conflict.
On Feb. 16, Putin's most formidable domestic opponent, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic penal colony where he was serving a 30-year sentence.
On Friday, Putin addressed troops fighting in Ukraine as Russia marked Defender of the Fatherland Day, hailing them as heroes battling for "truth and justice."
He laid a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier at the foot of the Kremlin wall to honour those who have died in battle.
Additional reporting by Andrew Osborn and Mike Collett-White; Writing by Mike Collett-White; Editing by Ros Russell
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/uk ... 024-02-23/
"Ukraine's defences under strain as war enters its third year"
By Olena Harmash
February 23, 2024
Summary
* Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago
* The war has cost tens of thousands of lives, billions in damage
* Kyiv badly needs military and other aid from allies
* Moscow has the upper hand in battle, for now
* Putin casts war as standoff between Russia and a hostile West
KYIV, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Ukraine marks the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion on Saturday looking more vulnerable than at any time since the early days of Europe's most deadly conflict since World War Two.
The former Soviet republic's 40 million people defied expectations - and the Kremlin's best-laid plans - by repelling a much larger enemy and preventing outright defeat in the days and weeks after Russian tanks and soldiers rolled towards Kyiv.
But as the war enters its third year, international aid and military supplies have slowed, impacting the battlefield where Kyiv's summer counteroffensive floundered and Moscow is grinding out territorial gains.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy still has plenty of friends.
On Saturday he welcomes Western leaders to discuss security guarantees, sanctions against Russia and other pressing issues.
U.S. President Joe Biden remains a staunch ally, although $61 billion in aid is being held up by political bickering in Washington.
Looking to the end of 2024, U.S. elections could bring a change in president and in policy towards Ukraine and its war with Russia, clouding the outlook for the coming years.
During a trip to the United States in November, Zelenskiy invited Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump - a vocal critic of U.S. support for Kyiv - to Ukraine to see for himself the damage wrought by Russia's war.
Zelenskiy also told U.S. politicians that Russia, led by President Vladimir Putin, may not stop at Ukraine's borders if it emerges victorious.
Putin dismisses such claims as nonsense.
He casts the war as a wider struggle with the United States, which the Kremlin elite says aims to cleave Russia apart.
The West sees the invasion as an unjustified act of aggression that must be repelled.
OLD WAR AND NEW
As well as hosting foreign dignitaries, Zelenskiy will take part in a call with G7 leaders on Saturday.
There will be events across Ukraine including a commemoration service for those who died in Bucha, north of Kyiv - scene of some of the worst alleged war crimes of the conflict.
Ukraine's prosecutor general said on Friday it had launched investigations into more than 122,000 suspected war crimes cases in the last two years.
Russia denies carrying them out.
The initial shock of the invasion gradually morphed into familiarity and then fatigue, as the world watched initial Russian gains and a stunning Ukrainian counteroffensive in late 2022 slow into grinding, attritional trench warfare.
In scenes reminiscent of the battlefields of World War One, soldiers under heavy artillery fire are dying in their thousands, sometimes for a few kilometres of land.
Meanwhile, both sides have developed huge and increasingly sophisticated fleets of air, sea and land drones for surveillance and attack, an unprecedented use of unmanned vehicles that could point the way to future conflicts.
Russia, with a much bigger population to replenish the army's ranks and a larger military budget, might favour a drawn-out war, although the costs have been huge for Moscow as it seeks to navigate sanctions and a growing reliance on China.
Ukraine's position is more precarious.
Villages, towns and cities have been razed, troops are exhausted, ammunition is running low and Russian missiles and drones rain down almost daily.
Earlier in February, Russia registered its biggest victory in nine months when it captured the eastern town of Avdiivka, ending months of deadly urban combat.
Yet Zelenskiy remained defiant ahead of the anniversary.
"I am convinced that victory awaits us," he told diplomats in Kyiv this week in an emotional address.
"In particular, thanks to unity and your support."
Tens of thousands of troops have been killed on both sides and tens of thousands more wounded, while thousands of Ukrainian civilians have perished.
Moscow says it only aims at military and strategic targets.
RISING COSTS
The scale of devastation in Ukraine is staggering.
A recent World Bank study said that rebuilding Ukraine's economy could cost nearly $500 billion.
Two million housing units have been damaged or destroyed, and nearly 6 million people have fled abroad.
In addition to raising money and arms to continue the war, Zelenskiy is pushing legislation through parliament allowing Ukraine to mobilise up to half a million more troops - a target some economists say could paralyse the economy.
Russia's finances have proved resilient so far to unprecedented sanctions.
While natural gas exports have slumped, shipments of oil have held up, thanks largely to Indian and Chinese buying.
Russia's GDP expanded 3.6% in 2023, although some Russia-based economists warned that this was driven by a leap in defence spending and that stagnation or recession loom.
That will not jeopardise Putin's victory in elections in March, which he is set to win by a landslide amid broad support for his performance and for the war, described by the Kremlin as a "special military operation".
In the last two years, authorities have cracked down hard on any form of dissent over the conflict.
On Feb. 16, Putin's most formidable domestic opponent, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic penal colony where he was serving a 30-year sentence.
On Friday, Putin addressed troops fighting in Ukraine as Russia marked Defender of the Fatherland Day, hailing them as heroes battling for "truth and justice."
He laid a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier at the foot of the Kremlin wall to honour those who have died in battle.
Additional reporting by Andrew Osborn and Mike Collett-White; Writing by Mike Collett-White; Editing by Ros Russell
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/uk ... 024-02-23/
Re: RUSSIA
CNBC
"NATO countries scramble to deny ground troops will go into Ukraine after Moscow warns of ‘inevitable’ conflict"
Holly Ellyatt @HOLLYELLYATT
PUBLISHED TUE, FEB 27 2024
KEY POINTS
* France’s suggestion that Ukraine’s allies have not “ruled out” sending ground troops into Ukraine has caused indignation and outrage in Russia.
* Moscow officials warned that it could provoke a direct conflict between Russia and NATO member states.
* Eyebrows were raised Monday when French President Emmanuel Macron suggested that European heads of state and Western officials had discussed the possibility of sending their ground troops into the war.
* Several European nations rowed back on Macron’s comments, saying they had no plans to send troops into Ukraine.
France’s suggestion that Ukraine’s allies could potentially send ground troops into Ukraine has caused indignation and outrage in Russia, with officials warning it could provoke a direct conflict between Russia and NATO member states.
Eyebrows were raised Monday when French President Emmanuel Macron suggested that European heads of state and Western officials, who met in Paris on Monday, had talked about the possibility of sending ground troops into Ukraine.
“There is no consensus today to officially, openly, and with endorsement, send troops on the ground."
"But in terms of dynamics, nothing should be ruled out."
"We will do everything necessary to ensure that Russia cannot win this war,” Macron said at a news conference Monday evening.
Moscow was quick to seize on the comments, with the Kremlin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, telling reporters Tuesday that if European NATO members sent troops to fight in Ukraine it would make a conflict between Russia and NATO inevitable.
“In this case, we need to talk not about probability, but about inevitability, and that’s how we evaluate it,” he said, news agency Tass reported, when asked about the likelihood of a direct conflict between Russia and the Western military alliance if its troops crossed the border.
Peskov added that NATO countries “must also evaluate” the consequences of such actions and “ask the question whether this corresponds to their interests, and most importantly, to the interests of the citizens of their countries.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also weighed in, advising any countries considering sending troops to Ukraine to “use their heads,” news agency Tass added.
“It seems to me that those who not only express such thoughts, but even admit them in their heads, should still use that head for more rational thoughts, [as it’s] safer for Europe,” Lavrov said at a news conference Tuesday.
European allies row back on the idea
European allies have been quick to play down the comments, with Germany issuing a hasty denial Tuesday that it had any plans to put “German troops on Ukrainian soil.”
The U.K. and Spain also publicly rejected the idea, which would see troops from NATO member states in direct conflict with longtime nemesis and nuclear power Russia.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz insisted there was no consensus on deploying ground troops among European leaders and officials from the U.K., Canada and U.S. who met in Paris on Monday.
“Once again, in a very good debate, it was discussed that what was agreed from the outset among ourselves and with each other also applies to the future, namely that there will be no ground troops, no soldiers on Ukrainian soil sent there by European countries or NATO states,” Scholz said on the sidelines of an event.
Germany’s vice chancellor, Robert Habeck, also commented with “advice” for France, saying it would be more helpful for the country to send weaponry and tanks to Ukraine, Reuters reported.
He likewise said that there would be “no German soldiers on Ukrainian soil.”
A spokesman for the U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the country had no plans for a “large-scale” deployment of troops to Ukraine, separate from the small number of personnel that were already in the country to support Ukraine’s armed forces.
Madrid has also publicly refuted the notion, with government spokesperson Pilar Alegria saying Spain does not agree with a French proposal to send European ground troops to Ukraine.
She added that Spain wanted to limit aid to sending more weapons and other materials to Kyiv.
“Unity has been and is the most effective weapon Europe has to face up against [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s attack,” Alegria said, according to comments translated by Reuters.
Later Tuesday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told The Associated Press news agency that NATO has no plans to send combat troops into Ukraine.
Stoltenberg said that “NATO allies are providing unprecedented support to Ukraine."
"We have done that since 2014 and stepped up after the full-scale invasion."
"But there are no plans for NATO combat troops on the ground in Ukraine.”
NATO membership obliges member states to commit to protect each other if any one of them is attacked.
“Article 5 provides that if a NATO Ally is the victim of an armed attack, each and every other member of the Alliance will consider this act of violence as an armed attack against all members and will take the actions it deems necessary to assist the Ally attacked,” the group states.
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/27/moscow- ... -idea.html
"NATO countries scramble to deny ground troops will go into Ukraine after Moscow warns of ‘inevitable’ conflict"
Holly Ellyatt @HOLLYELLYATT
PUBLISHED TUE, FEB 27 2024
KEY POINTS
* France’s suggestion that Ukraine’s allies have not “ruled out” sending ground troops into Ukraine has caused indignation and outrage in Russia.
* Moscow officials warned that it could provoke a direct conflict between Russia and NATO member states.
* Eyebrows were raised Monday when French President Emmanuel Macron suggested that European heads of state and Western officials had discussed the possibility of sending their ground troops into the war.
* Several European nations rowed back on Macron’s comments, saying they had no plans to send troops into Ukraine.
France’s suggestion that Ukraine’s allies could potentially send ground troops into Ukraine has caused indignation and outrage in Russia, with officials warning it could provoke a direct conflict between Russia and NATO member states.
Eyebrows were raised Monday when French President Emmanuel Macron suggested that European heads of state and Western officials, who met in Paris on Monday, had talked about the possibility of sending ground troops into Ukraine.
“There is no consensus today to officially, openly, and with endorsement, send troops on the ground."
"But in terms of dynamics, nothing should be ruled out."
"We will do everything necessary to ensure that Russia cannot win this war,” Macron said at a news conference Monday evening.
Moscow was quick to seize on the comments, with the Kremlin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, telling reporters Tuesday that if European NATO members sent troops to fight in Ukraine it would make a conflict between Russia and NATO inevitable.
“In this case, we need to talk not about probability, but about inevitability, and that’s how we evaluate it,” he said, news agency Tass reported, when asked about the likelihood of a direct conflict between Russia and the Western military alliance if its troops crossed the border.
Peskov added that NATO countries “must also evaluate” the consequences of such actions and “ask the question whether this corresponds to their interests, and most importantly, to the interests of the citizens of their countries.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also weighed in, advising any countries considering sending troops to Ukraine to “use their heads,” news agency Tass added.
“It seems to me that those who not only express such thoughts, but even admit them in their heads, should still use that head for more rational thoughts, [as it’s] safer for Europe,” Lavrov said at a news conference Tuesday.
European allies row back on the idea
European allies have been quick to play down the comments, with Germany issuing a hasty denial Tuesday that it had any plans to put “German troops on Ukrainian soil.”
The U.K. and Spain also publicly rejected the idea, which would see troops from NATO member states in direct conflict with longtime nemesis and nuclear power Russia.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz insisted there was no consensus on deploying ground troops among European leaders and officials from the U.K., Canada and U.S. who met in Paris on Monday.
“Once again, in a very good debate, it was discussed that what was agreed from the outset among ourselves and with each other also applies to the future, namely that there will be no ground troops, no soldiers on Ukrainian soil sent there by European countries or NATO states,” Scholz said on the sidelines of an event.
Germany’s vice chancellor, Robert Habeck, also commented with “advice” for France, saying it would be more helpful for the country to send weaponry and tanks to Ukraine, Reuters reported.
He likewise said that there would be “no German soldiers on Ukrainian soil.”
A spokesman for the U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the country had no plans for a “large-scale” deployment of troops to Ukraine, separate from the small number of personnel that were already in the country to support Ukraine’s armed forces.
Madrid has also publicly refuted the notion, with government spokesperson Pilar Alegria saying Spain does not agree with a French proposal to send European ground troops to Ukraine.
She added that Spain wanted to limit aid to sending more weapons and other materials to Kyiv.
“Unity has been and is the most effective weapon Europe has to face up against [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s attack,” Alegria said, according to comments translated by Reuters.
Later Tuesday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told The Associated Press news agency that NATO has no plans to send combat troops into Ukraine.
Stoltenberg said that “NATO allies are providing unprecedented support to Ukraine."
"We have done that since 2014 and stepped up after the full-scale invasion."
"But there are no plans for NATO combat troops on the ground in Ukraine.”
NATO membership obliges member states to commit to protect each other if any one of them is attacked.
“Article 5 provides that if a NATO Ally is the victim of an armed attack, each and every other member of the Alliance will consider this act of violence as an armed attack against all members and will take the actions it deems necessary to assist the Ally attacked,” the group states.
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/27/moscow- ... -idea.html
Re: RUSSIA
RBC Ukraine
"Zelenskyy responds to Macron's statement on sending Western troops to Ukraine"
Story by Daria Shekina
29 FEBRUARY 2024
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to the statement of his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron regarding the deployment of troops from Western countries to Ukraine.
However, the head of state could not provide a detailed comment, as he is not aware of all the details of this issue, according to a statement of Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a joint press conference with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.
"I wasn't at that summit (in Paris - Ed.)."
"He (French President Emmanuel Macron - Ed.) said he would talk about certain new ideas on how to strengthen Ukraine."
"And he said he would share information with me when he arrives in Ukraine."
"He will be here in mid-March," Zelenskyy said.
The president noted that he would be happy to respond to such questions when he personally discusses the matter with Macron.
After all, he will then be "deep into the details."
"But the most important thing to understand is that when we share different initiatives, they are all like the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th step."
"And the first step is to protect and remain strong."
"This is important."
"Because now we have questions about aid packages with our European partners and the USA," Zelenskyy added.
Background
On February 26, a working meeting of about 20 European leaders took place at the Élysée Palace in Paris.
Conference participants discussed ways to counter Russia and possible ways to help Ukraine confront the aggressor in the context of the escalation on the front lines in recent weeks.
During the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron did not rule out NATO deploying troops to assist Ukraine.
According to him, the main problem lies in the absence of consensus on this issue at the moment.
Several NATO countries have already spoken out against this idea, including the United States, Germany, Czechia, Bulgaria, Spain, and Italy.
At the same time, there are countries willing to consider such a possibility, such as Lithuania.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg was categorical, stating that "there are no plans for NATO combat troops on the ground in Ukraine."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ze ... 2652&ei=64
"Zelenskyy responds to Macron's statement on sending Western troops to Ukraine"
Story by Daria Shekina
29 FEBRUARY 2024
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to the statement of his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron regarding the deployment of troops from Western countries to Ukraine.
However, the head of state could not provide a detailed comment, as he is not aware of all the details of this issue, according to a statement of Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a joint press conference with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.
"I wasn't at that summit (in Paris - Ed.)."
"He (French President Emmanuel Macron - Ed.) said he would talk about certain new ideas on how to strengthen Ukraine."
"And he said he would share information with me when he arrives in Ukraine."
"He will be here in mid-March," Zelenskyy said.
The president noted that he would be happy to respond to such questions when he personally discusses the matter with Macron.
After all, he will then be "deep into the details."
"But the most important thing to understand is that when we share different initiatives, they are all like the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th step."
"And the first step is to protect and remain strong."
"This is important."
"Because now we have questions about aid packages with our European partners and the USA," Zelenskyy added.
Background
On February 26, a working meeting of about 20 European leaders took place at the Élysée Palace in Paris.
Conference participants discussed ways to counter Russia and possible ways to help Ukraine confront the aggressor in the context of the escalation on the front lines in recent weeks.
During the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron did not rule out NATO deploying troops to assist Ukraine.
According to him, the main problem lies in the absence of consensus on this issue at the moment.
Several NATO countries have already spoken out against this idea, including the United States, Germany, Czechia, Bulgaria, Spain, and Italy.
At the same time, there are countries willing to consider such a possibility, such as Lithuania.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg was categorical, stating that "there are no plans for NATO combat troops on the ground in Ukraine."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ze ... 2652&ei=64
Re: RUSSIA
CNBC
"‘Alarm bells are ringing’: Poland’s president says NATO must urgently ramp up defense spending"
Karen Gilchrist @_KARENGILCHRIST
PUBLISHED TUE, MAR 19 2024
KEY POINTS
* Polish President Andrzej Duda said Monday that NATO must urgently ramp up its defense spending to ensure it does not become the next target of Russian aggression.
* Duda reiterated calls to increase NATO’s spending target to 3% amid concerns that Moscow may be readying to attack the alliance within the coming years.
* Poland now spends 4% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defense — more than even the U.S.
Polish President Andrzej Duda said Monday that NATO must urgently increase its defense spending to ensure it does not become the next target of a Russian attack.
Speaking to CNBC, Duda reiterated his calls for NATO members to increase their military contributions to 3% amid new reports that Moscow could be readying to target the military alliance within two to three years.
Citing unspecified German research, Duda said new evidence suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin is doubling down on his shift toward a war economy with a view to attacking NATO in 2026 or 2027.
It follows Danish intelligence reports from February which suggested that Moscow could launch an attack on NATO within three to five years.
CNBC was unable to verify the contents of either report.
“The alarm bells are ringing,” he told CNBC’s Steve Sedgwick, according to a translation.
Duda said it was therefore more critical than ever to ramp up the alliance’s military investment, describing his increased spending targets as “common sense.”
“We have two or three years in which we can increase our efforts, stockpile ammunition and produce weapons to maximize European security, get ready and make sure the invasion does not happen,” he said.
“All this needs to be done in order not to have to get involved in a fight."
"The point is to create such a deterrent that ensures we are not attacked."
"This is the whole point because none of us want war,” he added.
The Polish president, whose country shares a land border with Ukraine, has spearheaded calls to supply weapons to Kyiv since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Poland has also bolstered its own military capabilities, ramping up its defense spending in 2023 to almost 4% of gross domestic product (GDP) — ahead of even the U.S. in percentage terms.
During a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden last week, Duda called for NATO to raise its minimum military spending target to 3% of GDP to further strengthen the alliance’s defenses.
Currently, NATO allies are expected to contribute 2% of GDP to defense, a threshold that 18 member states are on track to meet this year.
Sweden became the 32nd member of the transatlantic military alliance earlier this month.
Duda was visiting the U.S. with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, marking a rare show of unity between the political adversaries, who remain deeply divided on domestic issues despite their shared calls for improved European security.
Tusk warned that failure by the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a $60 billion aid package for Ukraine could put “thousands of lives” at risk and further embolden Putin’s offensive in Ukraine and beyond.
Asked Monday whether the holdup in Congress was providing a boost to Putin, Duda would not be held.
However, he said that “every dollar” donated to Ukraine staves off a Russian victory.
“This Russian aggression has to be stopped at all cost."
"If it’s not stopped it will spill over and then, I fear U.S money won’t be enough to stop Russia, U.S. soldiers will have to step in and no one wants that,” he added.
Duda and Tusk have been embroiled in a months’ long political spat since the latter was returned to office late last year after nearly a decade out of power.
Since entering office in December, Tusk, a centrist, has embarked on a series of pro-EU reforms and a purge of staff associated with the former nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, which Brussels has accused of undermining the rule of law.
That has sparked backlash from Duda, a former PiS member who was brought to office with the party’s backing and who has offered presidential pardons to jailed PiS lawmakers.
However, Duda said that in matters pertaining to Poland’s security, he and Tusk must speak with one voice.
“It’s obvious to me that we must speak with one voice and that our aspirations must be the same."
"We want Poland to be as safe as possible,” he said.
In Poland, the prime minister is responsible for government decision-making, while the president is the head of state and supreme representative of Poland internationally.
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/19/russia- ... nding.html
"‘Alarm bells are ringing’: Poland’s president says NATO must urgently ramp up defense spending"
Karen Gilchrist @_KARENGILCHRIST
PUBLISHED TUE, MAR 19 2024
KEY POINTS
* Polish President Andrzej Duda said Monday that NATO must urgently ramp up its defense spending to ensure it does not become the next target of Russian aggression.
* Duda reiterated calls to increase NATO’s spending target to 3% amid concerns that Moscow may be readying to attack the alliance within the coming years.
* Poland now spends 4% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defense — more than even the U.S.
Polish President Andrzej Duda said Monday that NATO must urgently increase its defense spending to ensure it does not become the next target of a Russian attack.
Speaking to CNBC, Duda reiterated his calls for NATO members to increase their military contributions to 3% amid new reports that Moscow could be readying to target the military alliance within two to three years.
Citing unspecified German research, Duda said new evidence suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin is doubling down on his shift toward a war economy with a view to attacking NATO in 2026 or 2027.
It follows Danish intelligence reports from February which suggested that Moscow could launch an attack on NATO within three to five years.
CNBC was unable to verify the contents of either report.
“The alarm bells are ringing,” he told CNBC’s Steve Sedgwick, according to a translation.
Duda said it was therefore more critical than ever to ramp up the alliance’s military investment, describing his increased spending targets as “common sense.”
“We have two or three years in which we can increase our efforts, stockpile ammunition and produce weapons to maximize European security, get ready and make sure the invasion does not happen,” he said.
“All this needs to be done in order not to have to get involved in a fight."
"The point is to create such a deterrent that ensures we are not attacked."
"This is the whole point because none of us want war,” he added.
The Polish president, whose country shares a land border with Ukraine, has spearheaded calls to supply weapons to Kyiv since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Poland has also bolstered its own military capabilities, ramping up its defense spending in 2023 to almost 4% of gross domestic product (GDP) — ahead of even the U.S. in percentage terms.
During a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden last week, Duda called for NATO to raise its minimum military spending target to 3% of GDP to further strengthen the alliance’s defenses.
Currently, NATO allies are expected to contribute 2% of GDP to defense, a threshold that 18 member states are on track to meet this year.
Sweden became the 32nd member of the transatlantic military alliance earlier this month.
Duda was visiting the U.S. with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, marking a rare show of unity between the political adversaries, who remain deeply divided on domestic issues despite their shared calls for improved European security.
Tusk warned that failure by the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a $60 billion aid package for Ukraine could put “thousands of lives” at risk and further embolden Putin’s offensive in Ukraine and beyond.
Asked Monday whether the holdup in Congress was providing a boost to Putin, Duda would not be held.
However, he said that “every dollar” donated to Ukraine staves off a Russian victory.
“This Russian aggression has to be stopped at all cost."
"If it’s not stopped it will spill over and then, I fear U.S money won’t be enough to stop Russia, U.S. soldiers will have to step in and no one wants that,” he added.
Duda and Tusk have been embroiled in a months’ long political spat since the latter was returned to office late last year after nearly a decade out of power.
Since entering office in December, Tusk, a centrist, has embarked on a series of pro-EU reforms and a purge of staff associated with the former nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, which Brussels has accused of undermining the rule of law.
That has sparked backlash from Duda, a former PiS member who was brought to office with the party’s backing and who has offered presidential pardons to jailed PiS lawmakers.
However, Duda said that in matters pertaining to Poland’s security, he and Tusk must speak with one voice.
“It’s obvious to me that we must speak with one voice and that our aspirations must be the same."
"We want Poland to be as safe as possible,” he said.
In Poland, the prime minister is responsible for government decision-making, while the president is the head of state and supreme representative of Poland internationally.
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/19/russia- ... nding.html
Re: RUSSIA
Business Insider
"The US secretly slipped ATACMS to Ukraine with more to come, putting high-value Russian targets in danger"
Story by jepstein@businessinsider.com (Jake Epstein)
25 APRIL 2024
* US lawmakers have finally cleared the way for Ukraine to receive additional security assistance.
* Officials say as part of the influx in weaponry, Ukraine will receive a fresh batch of ATACMS.
* Kyiv used these long-range missiles to batter Russian helicopters in multiple strikes last year.
The US is slated to send Ukraine more of the powerful long-range tactical ballistic missiles that Kyiv's forces have used to devastate Russian airfields in strikes deep behind the front lines.
President Joe Biden on Wednesday cleared the last obstacle for Ukraine to receive additional aid, including MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems, also known as ATACMS, as part of a crucial influx of military aid to the country.
Ukraine secretly received a shipment of ATACMS earlier this year and recently used them in long-range strikes, according to multiple reports, and US lawmakers have suggested that more of the deadly missiles could be on their way to Kyiv within a matter of days.
Ukraine has previously demonstrated it could effectively target Russia's high-value assets in the rear with ATACMS, which experts say presents a significant dilemma for Moscow.
More such missiles could allow Kyiv to continue this trend.
"This is going to cause the Russians to change a lot of their strategy and tactics," Dan Rice, a former US Army artillery officer, told Business Insider.
Throughout the war, Ukraine has routinely pressed Washington to provide ATACMS so it could hit high-value Russian targets deep behind enemy lines.
After secretly obtaining a small number of the missiles from the US, Kyiv eventually debuted them last fall by striking two Russian airfields in occupied areas of eastern Ukraine.
Kyiv used the M39 ATACMS variant in those attacks.
A highly lethal cluster missile with a range of around 100 miles, the M39 is packed with 950 anti-personnel and anti-materiel M74 bomblets, which are released mid-flight and dispersed over a large area, giving the weapon the ability to cause significant damage.
The two strikes destroyed more than a dozen Russian helicopters, assets critical to Moscow's operations, as well as an air-defense missile launcher, vehicles, and ammunition depots, according to Western intelligence.
After the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remarked that ATACMS had "proven themselves."
Since last fall, there has not been any public confirmation from Kyiv or Washington of additional Ukrainian strikes involving the missiles.
But on Wednesday, The New York Times and Reuters reported that the Biden administration had secretly shipped long-range ATACMS variants to Ukraine earlier this month as part of a $300 million security assistance package announced in March.
Kyiv then immediately used the missiles to strike a Russian military airfield in the occupied Crimean peninsula last week, US officials told the outlets.
Over the weekend, House lawmakers passed legislation that requires the transfer of additional ATACMS to Ukraine as part of a crucial $61 billion aid package for the war-torn country that has spent months in limbo.
With this legislation having finally cleared its toughest hurdle, Sen. Mark Werner, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday that he hoped ATACMS would be in transit by the end of this week.
And after speaking with Biden on Monday, Zelenskyy said, with regards to an agreement on ATACMS, that "all the details have been finalized."
It is unclear exactly which ATACMS variants Ukraine will receive going forward.
Beyond the 100-mile-range M39, the US has two other versions that can both travel up to 190 miles; one ATACMS variant scatters some 300 little bomblets, while the other has a unitary warhead.
Ukraine has repeatedly pressed Washington for the longest-range versions of the missile, which were reportedly used in last week's strikes in Crimea.
It's unclear if Kyiv used the cluster missile variant or the one with a unitary warhead in the attack to hammer Russian air-defense systems and radar stations.
All of the ATACMS can be fired from Ukraine's existing inventory of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, and M270 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems, but different ATACMS variants could be used to go after different targets, said Rice, who previously served as a special advisor to Ukrainian military leadership.
The cluster variants, which are known as area weapons, can be used to target large troop concentrations — exposed or in trenches — while also destroying fuel, ammunition, and armored vehicles kept in the immediate vicinity.
The unitary warheads, on the other hand, can be used to go after targets like bridges, command and control facilities, supply depots, or well-protected bunkers because they release one large explosion instead of dispersing submunitions over a broader area.
"Having the combination just makes these HIMARS launchers more lethal [and] puts more pressure on the Russians in all of the areas within 300 kilometers of the front lines," Rice, a longtime advocate for sending various cluster munitions to Ukraine and now the President of American University Kyiv, said.
Regardless of the variant, the arrival of additional ATACMS will likely compel Moscow to change its strategy and tactics.
Experts previously assessed that Russia's military leadership will have to balance how to protect and relocate vulnerable assets that are within range of the missiles without actually reducing their combat value.
Rice said the anticipated arrival of more ATACMS could force the Russians to push its supply depots, command and control nodes, and attack helicopters even farther from the front lines.
By doing this, he added, Ukraine is going to make it "very difficult" for Moscow to wage war against Kyiv's forces.
The passage of additional funding for Ukraine this week comes at a critical time for Kyiv's forces, who have been facing an increasingly grim outlook on the battlefield as they run low on much-needed artillery ammunition and air-defense munitions.
Russia, meanwhile, has made notable advances over the past few months.
US, Ukrainian, and Western officials, as well as war experts, have warned that without additional security assistance from Washington, Kyiv may continue to lose ground.
Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters at a Tuesday briefing that with the passage of the Ukraine aid package, the US can at last "surge life-saving security assistance" to Kyiv "as quickly as possible."
"Much more to follow in the days ahead," he added, "but needless to say we understand the importance and the urgency and are doing everything we can to be poised to respond quickly."
After Biden signed the legislation into law on Wednesday, the Pentagon immediately announced a $1 billion security assistance package for Ukraine.
While the statement did not specifically mention ATACMS, it said the package contains "additional ammunition" for the HIMARS, which could include ATACMS.
This massive military aid package also includes air-defense interceptors, artillery ammunition, armored vehicles, anti-tank weapons, and other lethal equipment.
If Russian President Vladimir Putin "triumphs in Ukraine, the next move of Russian forces could very well be a direct attack on a NATO ally," Biden said on Wednesday.
"That's why we're supporting — and surging support now to — Ukraine, to stop Putin from drawing the United States into war in Europe and in the future."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/th ... 0009&ei=57
"The US secretly slipped ATACMS to Ukraine with more to come, putting high-value Russian targets in danger"
Story by jepstein@businessinsider.com (Jake Epstein)
25 APRIL 2024
* US lawmakers have finally cleared the way for Ukraine to receive additional security assistance.
* Officials say as part of the influx in weaponry, Ukraine will receive a fresh batch of ATACMS.
* Kyiv used these long-range missiles to batter Russian helicopters in multiple strikes last year.
The US is slated to send Ukraine more of the powerful long-range tactical ballistic missiles that Kyiv's forces have used to devastate Russian airfields in strikes deep behind the front lines.
President Joe Biden on Wednesday cleared the last obstacle for Ukraine to receive additional aid, including MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems, also known as ATACMS, as part of a crucial influx of military aid to the country.
Ukraine secretly received a shipment of ATACMS earlier this year and recently used them in long-range strikes, according to multiple reports, and US lawmakers have suggested that more of the deadly missiles could be on their way to Kyiv within a matter of days.
Ukraine has previously demonstrated it could effectively target Russia's high-value assets in the rear with ATACMS, which experts say presents a significant dilemma for Moscow.
More such missiles could allow Kyiv to continue this trend.
"This is going to cause the Russians to change a lot of their strategy and tactics," Dan Rice, a former US Army artillery officer, told Business Insider.
Throughout the war, Ukraine has routinely pressed Washington to provide ATACMS so it could hit high-value Russian targets deep behind enemy lines.
After secretly obtaining a small number of the missiles from the US, Kyiv eventually debuted them last fall by striking two Russian airfields in occupied areas of eastern Ukraine.
Kyiv used the M39 ATACMS variant in those attacks.
A highly lethal cluster missile with a range of around 100 miles, the M39 is packed with 950 anti-personnel and anti-materiel M74 bomblets, which are released mid-flight and dispersed over a large area, giving the weapon the ability to cause significant damage.
The two strikes destroyed more than a dozen Russian helicopters, assets critical to Moscow's operations, as well as an air-defense missile launcher, vehicles, and ammunition depots, according to Western intelligence.
After the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remarked that ATACMS had "proven themselves."
Since last fall, there has not been any public confirmation from Kyiv or Washington of additional Ukrainian strikes involving the missiles.
But on Wednesday, The New York Times and Reuters reported that the Biden administration had secretly shipped long-range ATACMS variants to Ukraine earlier this month as part of a $300 million security assistance package announced in March.
Kyiv then immediately used the missiles to strike a Russian military airfield in the occupied Crimean peninsula last week, US officials told the outlets.
Over the weekend, House lawmakers passed legislation that requires the transfer of additional ATACMS to Ukraine as part of a crucial $61 billion aid package for the war-torn country that has spent months in limbo.
With this legislation having finally cleared its toughest hurdle, Sen. Mark Werner, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday that he hoped ATACMS would be in transit by the end of this week.
And after speaking with Biden on Monday, Zelenskyy said, with regards to an agreement on ATACMS, that "all the details have been finalized."
It is unclear exactly which ATACMS variants Ukraine will receive going forward.
Beyond the 100-mile-range M39, the US has two other versions that can both travel up to 190 miles; one ATACMS variant scatters some 300 little bomblets, while the other has a unitary warhead.
Ukraine has repeatedly pressed Washington for the longest-range versions of the missile, which were reportedly used in last week's strikes in Crimea.
It's unclear if Kyiv used the cluster missile variant or the one with a unitary warhead in the attack to hammer Russian air-defense systems and radar stations.
All of the ATACMS can be fired from Ukraine's existing inventory of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, and M270 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems, but different ATACMS variants could be used to go after different targets, said Rice, who previously served as a special advisor to Ukrainian military leadership.
The cluster variants, which are known as area weapons, can be used to target large troop concentrations — exposed or in trenches — while also destroying fuel, ammunition, and armored vehicles kept in the immediate vicinity.
The unitary warheads, on the other hand, can be used to go after targets like bridges, command and control facilities, supply depots, or well-protected bunkers because they release one large explosion instead of dispersing submunitions over a broader area.
"Having the combination just makes these HIMARS launchers more lethal [and] puts more pressure on the Russians in all of the areas within 300 kilometers of the front lines," Rice, a longtime advocate for sending various cluster munitions to Ukraine and now the President of American University Kyiv, said.
Regardless of the variant, the arrival of additional ATACMS will likely compel Moscow to change its strategy and tactics.
Experts previously assessed that Russia's military leadership will have to balance how to protect and relocate vulnerable assets that are within range of the missiles without actually reducing their combat value.
Rice said the anticipated arrival of more ATACMS could force the Russians to push its supply depots, command and control nodes, and attack helicopters even farther from the front lines.
By doing this, he added, Ukraine is going to make it "very difficult" for Moscow to wage war against Kyiv's forces.
The passage of additional funding for Ukraine this week comes at a critical time for Kyiv's forces, who have been facing an increasingly grim outlook on the battlefield as they run low on much-needed artillery ammunition and air-defense munitions.
Russia, meanwhile, has made notable advances over the past few months.
US, Ukrainian, and Western officials, as well as war experts, have warned that without additional security assistance from Washington, Kyiv may continue to lose ground.
Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters at a Tuesday briefing that with the passage of the Ukraine aid package, the US can at last "surge life-saving security assistance" to Kyiv "as quickly as possible."
"Much more to follow in the days ahead," he added, "but needless to say we understand the importance and the urgency and are doing everything we can to be poised to respond quickly."
After Biden signed the legislation into law on Wednesday, the Pentagon immediately announced a $1 billion security assistance package for Ukraine.
While the statement did not specifically mention ATACMS, it said the package contains "additional ammunition" for the HIMARS, which could include ATACMS.
This massive military aid package also includes air-defense interceptors, artillery ammunition, armored vehicles, anti-tank weapons, and other lethal equipment.
If Russian President Vladimir Putin "triumphs in Ukraine, the next move of Russian forces could very well be a direct attack on a NATO ally," Biden said on Wednesday.
"That's why we're supporting — and surging support now to — Ukraine, to stop Putin from drawing the United States into war in Europe and in the future."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/th ... 0009&ei=57
Re: RUSSIA
REUTERS
"Yellen says US economy strong, all options open on China's overcapacity"
By Alessandra Galloni, David Lawder and Andrea Shalal
April 25, 2024
Summary
* Yellen: Q1 GDP data may be revised up; spending, investment strong
* Inflation to continue to ebb despite Q1 flare-up, Yellen says
* Yellen: tapping interest on Russian assets can win G7 support
WASHINGTON, April 25 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Reuters on Thursday that U.S. economic growth was likely stronger than suggested by weaker-than-expected data on first-quarter output and said the Biden administration was keeping all options open to respond to threats from China's excess industrial capacity.
In a wide-ranging Reuters Next interview, Yellen also said that a U.S. proposal for using the interest earnings from $300 billion in frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine could win broad support from G7 allies.
Yellen said U.S. GDP growth for the first quarter could be revised higher after more data is in hand and inflation will ease to more normal levels after a clutch of "peculiar" factors held the economy to its weakest showing in nearly two years.
"The U.S. economy continues to perform very, very well," Yellen said in an interview with Reuters, responding to the Commerce Department's report showing that U.S. gross domestic product grew at a 1.6% annualized rate last quarter.
That was below the 2.4% estimated by economists and less than half the pace in the fourth quarter of 2023 - thanks to substantial drags from trade and private inventories.
The report also showed a worrisome surge in inflation, with the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index excluding food and energy rising at a 3.7% annual rate after a 2.0% pace in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Yellen downplayed the inflation jump and said she did not see that as indicating that unemployment needed to increase or other areas of the economy needed to cool to return inflation to the Fed's 2% target.
"The fundamentals here are in line with inflation continuing back down to normal levels," Yellen said.
Fighting inflation remained President Joe Biden's top priority, Yellen said, highlighting his administration's efforts to reduce healthcare, energy and housing costs.
But Biden, a Democrat, has struggled to translate U.S. economic strength into voter support ahead of the November presidential election.
Republican challenger Donald Trump led Biden by seven percentage points in a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll when voters were asked which candidate would be better for the economy.
"What I focus on most is the strength of consumer spending and investment spending," Yellen said.
"Those two elements of final demand came in in line with last year's growth rate ... so this is the underlying strength of the U.S. economy that showed continuing robust strength."
"The headline figure was off a little bit but for reasons that are peculiar and not really indicative of underlying strength," she added.
Indeed, a number of private economists said the GDP data likely overstated any weakness in an economy that had grown at above the rate most see as its potential for nearly two years, despite aggressive interest rate hikes over that span by the U.S. Federal Reserve aimed at quashing inflation.
Yellen said dollar strength has been another byproduct of U.S. growth and tight monetary policy.
She acknowledged that this has put some pressure on other countries, but said currency interventions should occur only in "very rare and exceptional circumstances," when markets are disorderly with excessive volatility.
She declined to comment on the Japanese yen's value when asked whether it was out of line with fundamentals.
Last week, the U.S., Japan and South Korea agreed to consult closely on currencies, acknowledging concerns from Tokyo and Seoul over their currencies recent sharp declines against the dollar.
CHINA OVERCAPACITY
Yellen told Reuters no option was "off the table" for dealing with one threat to the U.S. economy - overproduction in China, which was hurting manufacturers in numerous countries.
She said that while Chinese policymakers have acknowledged they have a problem with excess industrial capacity for electric vehicles, solar panels and other clean energy goods, they need to address it.
The issue was "discussed intensively" last week at a U.S.-China meeting on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings in Washington, she said.
Asked about potential for new tariffs or other actions to protect U.S. producers from an expected flood of Chinese exports, Yellen said she would not eliminate any options as a possible response.
She said Chinese overproduction threatens the viability of manufacturers in the U.S., Europe, Japan, Mexico and India but the problem won't be resolved "in a day or a week."
"So it's important that China recognize the concern and begin to act to address it," Yellen said.
"But we don't want our industry wiped out in the meantime, so I wouldn't want to take anything off the table."
The Biden administration is completing a review of the "Section 301" unfair trade tariffs on Chinese imports imposed by former President Donald Trump in 2018, which U.S. officials have said could lead to higher tariffs on some products.
Biden last week called for the review to triple the Section 301 duties on Chinese steel to 25%.
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai also told senators that the U.S. needed to take "early action, decisive action" to protect the fledgling American EV sector from Chinese imports.
U.S. tariffs on Chinese vehicle imports are now about 27.5%, and few Chinese EVs are sold in the U.S. at the moment.
RUSSIAN ASSET PLANS
Yellen said that a proposal under discussion by finance ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) industrial democracies to harness earnings from frozen Russian central bank assets to aid Ukraine can be achieved without an outright confiscation of those assets, allaying the concerns of some countries.
Yellen welcomed what she called a "very constructive step" taken by the European Union to segregate the proceeds from assets held by Brussels-based Euroclear and transfer them to Ukraine, noting future interest could also be pulled forward to back loans to Ukraine.
"This is an approach that could be broadly supported by countries that are concerned about the seizure of assets, and some of the interest could be brought forward through, for example, a loan," Yellen said.
Yellen said the approach was among several options being discussed by G7 countries ahead of a leaders summit in June, adding, "it certainly belongs on the list."
The U.S. approach, led by deputy national security adviser Daleep Singh, is gaining momentum among the G7 nations, two officials from the group told Reuters earlier on Thursday.
Most of the Russian assets held by Euroclear have now been converted to cash, Yellen told Reuters. G7 officials say the assets could generate around $5 billion a year in interest.
Reporting by Alessandra Galloni, David Lawder and Andrea Shalal; Additional reporting by Dan Burns and Lindsay Dunsmuir; Writing by David Lawder, Andrea Shalal and Dan Burns; Editing by Andrea Ricci
https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/yell ... 024-04-25/
"Yellen says US economy strong, all options open on China's overcapacity"
By Alessandra Galloni, David Lawder and Andrea Shalal
April 25, 2024
Summary
* Yellen: Q1 GDP data may be revised up; spending, investment strong
* Inflation to continue to ebb despite Q1 flare-up, Yellen says
* Yellen: tapping interest on Russian assets can win G7 support
WASHINGTON, April 25 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Reuters on Thursday that U.S. economic growth was likely stronger than suggested by weaker-than-expected data on first-quarter output and said the Biden administration was keeping all options open to respond to threats from China's excess industrial capacity.
In a wide-ranging Reuters Next interview, Yellen also said that a U.S. proposal for using the interest earnings from $300 billion in frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine could win broad support from G7 allies.
Yellen said U.S. GDP growth for the first quarter could be revised higher after more data is in hand and inflation will ease to more normal levels after a clutch of "peculiar" factors held the economy to its weakest showing in nearly two years.
"The U.S. economy continues to perform very, very well," Yellen said in an interview with Reuters, responding to the Commerce Department's report showing that U.S. gross domestic product grew at a 1.6% annualized rate last quarter.
That was below the 2.4% estimated by economists and less than half the pace in the fourth quarter of 2023 - thanks to substantial drags from trade and private inventories.
The report also showed a worrisome surge in inflation, with the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index excluding food and energy rising at a 3.7% annual rate after a 2.0% pace in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Yellen downplayed the inflation jump and said she did not see that as indicating that unemployment needed to increase or other areas of the economy needed to cool to return inflation to the Fed's 2% target.
"The fundamentals here are in line with inflation continuing back down to normal levels," Yellen said.
Fighting inflation remained President Joe Biden's top priority, Yellen said, highlighting his administration's efforts to reduce healthcare, energy and housing costs.
But Biden, a Democrat, has struggled to translate U.S. economic strength into voter support ahead of the November presidential election.
Republican challenger Donald Trump led Biden by seven percentage points in a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll when voters were asked which candidate would be better for the economy.
"What I focus on most is the strength of consumer spending and investment spending," Yellen said.
"Those two elements of final demand came in in line with last year's growth rate ... so this is the underlying strength of the U.S. economy that showed continuing robust strength."
"The headline figure was off a little bit but for reasons that are peculiar and not really indicative of underlying strength," she added.
Indeed, a number of private economists said the GDP data likely overstated any weakness in an economy that had grown at above the rate most see as its potential for nearly two years, despite aggressive interest rate hikes over that span by the U.S. Federal Reserve aimed at quashing inflation.
Yellen said dollar strength has been another byproduct of U.S. growth and tight monetary policy.
She acknowledged that this has put some pressure on other countries, but said currency interventions should occur only in "very rare and exceptional circumstances," when markets are disorderly with excessive volatility.
She declined to comment on the Japanese yen's value when asked whether it was out of line with fundamentals.
Last week, the U.S., Japan and South Korea agreed to consult closely on currencies, acknowledging concerns from Tokyo and Seoul over their currencies recent sharp declines against the dollar.
CHINA OVERCAPACITY
Yellen told Reuters no option was "off the table" for dealing with one threat to the U.S. economy - overproduction in China, which was hurting manufacturers in numerous countries.
She said that while Chinese policymakers have acknowledged they have a problem with excess industrial capacity for electric vehicles, solar panels and other clean energy goods, they need to address it.
The issue was "discussed intensively" last week at a U.S.-China meeting on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings in Washington, she said.
Asked about potential for new tariffs or other actions to protect U.S. producers from an expected flood of Chinese exports, Yellen said she would not eliminate any options as a possible response.
She said Chinese overproduction threatens the viability of manufacturers in the U.S., Europe, Japan, Mexico and India but the problem won't be resolved "in a day or a week."
"So it's important that China recognize the concern and begin to act to address it," Yellen said.
"But we don't want our industry wiped out in the meantime, so I wouldn't want to take anything off the table."
The Biden administration is completing a review of the "Section 301" unfair trade tariffs on Chinese imports imposed by former President Donald Trump in 2018, which U.S. officials have said could lead to higher tariffs on some products.
Biden last week called for the review to triple the Section 301 duties on Chinese steel to 25%.
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai also told senators that the U.S. needed to take "early action, decisive action" to protect the fledgling American EV sector from Chinese imports.
U.S. tariffs on Chinese vehicle imports are now about 27.5%, and few Chinese EVs are sold in the U.S. at the moment.
RUSSIAN ASSET PLANS
Yellen said that a proposal under discussion by finance ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) industrial democracies to harness earnings from frozen Russian central bank assets to aid Ukraine can be achieved without an outright confiscation of those assets, allaying the concerns of some countries.
Yellen welcomed what she called a "very constructive step" taken by the European Union to segregate the proceeds from assets held by Brussels-based Euroclear and transfer them to Ukraine, noting future interest could also be pulled forward to back loans to Ukraine.
"This is an approach that could be broadly supported by countries that are concerned about the seizure of assets, and some of the interest could be brought forward through, for example, a loan," Yellen said.
Yellen said the approach was among several options being discussed by G7 countries ahead of a leaders summit in June, adding, "it certainly belongs on the list."
The U.S. approach, led by deputy national security adviser Daleep Singh, is gaining momentum among the G7 nations, two officials from the group told Reuters earlier on Thursday.
Most of the Russian assets held by Euroclear have now been converted to cash, Yellen told Reuters. G7 officials say the assets could generate around $5 billion a year in interest.
Reporting by Alessandra Galloni, David Lawder and Andrea Shalal; Additional reporting by Dan Burns and Lindsay Dunsmuir; Writing by David Lawder, Andrea Shalal and Dan Burns; Editing by Andrea Ricci
https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/yell ... 024-04-25/