Washington and its partners are considering additional sanctions if the parties do not observe a ceasefire, with political and technical negotiations between Europe and the U.S. intensifying since last week, Reuters' source said.
The Kyiv Independent’s contributor Ignatius Ivlev-Yorke spent a day with a mobile team from the State Emergency Service in Nikopol in the south of Ukraine as they responded to relentless drone, artillery, and mortar strikes from Russian forces just across the Dnipro River. Nikopol is located across from the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the city of Enerhodar.
Peter Szijjarto's announcement came after Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) allegedly dismantled a Hungarian military intelligence network operating in Zakarpattia Oblast.
Moscow and Washington discuss the potential resumption of Russian gas supplies to Europe, among other issues related to the peaceful settlement of Russia's war in Ukraine, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed to the Russian state-run Interfax news agency.
"This is a historic decision, as weapons for Ukraine will be purchased at the expense of the proceeds from frozen Russian assets through the European Peace Fund," Denys Shmyhal said.
The approval marks a key step in international efforts to hold Moscow accountable for what is considered the gravest violation of international law committed against Ukraine.
Although Moscow declared on April 28 that it would halt all military actions from May 8 to midnight on May 11 to mark Victory Day, strikes on civilian areas have continued.
Russia's illegally built Crimean Bridge, Oct. 14, 2022. Occupation authorities closed the bridge on Jan. 5 amid reports of explosions in occupied Crimea. (Stringer / AFP via Getty Images)
Russian air defense units intercepted four guided missiles flying over occupied Crimea on Jan. 6, the Russian Defense Ministry alleged.
The ministry claimed that Ukraine launched four missiles at the Russian-occupied peninsula shortly after midnight local time, and that all targets were shot down.
Earlier, local media outlets reported explosions in occupied Crimea the night of Jan. 5. Residents said they heard up to 10 explosions near the city of Yevpatoriia. Occupation authorities also reportedly shut down traffic on the Crimean Bridge.
The Russian Defense Ministry gave no details about damage or casualties resulting from the missile strike.
Ukrainian forces reported striking Russian ammunition warehouses in the Crimean village of Pervomaiske on Jan. 4.
In recent months, Ukraine has increased its attacks against targets in Russian-occupied Crimea in an attempt to disrupt Russian logistics and derail their southern defenses.
Alexander Khrebet
