WSJ: EU creates fresh plan for $22 billion in military support for Ukraine
The proposed plan is designed with Hungary's likely obstruction in mind, avoiding the regular disbursement of aid that can be blocked by a single member state.
Nate Ostiller
Articles
Reuters renames 'Ukraine crisis' section to 'Russia and Ukraine at war'
Reuters, one of the world's largest news agencies, changed the name for its section on Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine from "Ukraine crisis" to "Russia and Ukraine at war."
Estonia allocates more than $15 million in additional annual development aid for Ukraine
The bulk of the additional aid announced on Jan. 19 would be used for development through the Estonian Center for International Development (ESTDEV), while one million euros ($1.09 million) would be set aside for humanitarian aid, said Mariin Ratnik, Estonia's Undersecretary for Development Aid.
NATO official warns of 'all-out war' with Russia within next 20 years
“We have to realize it’s not a given that we are in peace. And that’s why we [Nato forces] are preparing for a conflict with Russia," said Lieutenant Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of the NATO Military Committee.
US warns of Russian efforts to turn public opinion against Ukraine in upcoming European elections
Jamie Rubin, the special envoy and coordinator for the U.S. State Department's Global Engagement Center (GEC), did not specify which countries he was particularly concerned about, but said that the primary targets would likely be in Europe.
Russian official: Debris from drone strike allegedly causes fire at oil depot in Bryansk Oblast
Bryansk Oblast Governor Alexander Bogomaz said that the drone was intercepted using electronic jamming methods over the city of Klintsy, some 100 kilometers north of Ukraine's Chernihiv Oblast.
Russian attacks over the past day kill 1, injure 5
Russian forces also attacked Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, and Donetsk oblasts, causing damage to buildings, but no casualties.
White House: Military cooperation between Russia, North Korea has potential to 'drastically' change security threat
"What we're seeing between Russia and North Korea is an unprecedented level of cooperation in the military sphere," said Pranay Vaddi, the White House's senior director for arms control.
Bulgaria has yet to send Ukraine pledged armored vehicles
Bulgarian Defense Minister Todor Tagarev said the delay in delivering the vehicles was related to shipping costs.
Energy giant DTEK presses international partners to encourage flow of private capital to Ukraine
"Defending our economy is one of the crucial ways to win this war. Ukraine has the companies in place to do that, with large-scale, bankable projects. But now we need the capital to execute and this is where we need help from governments and international financial institutions," DTEK CEO Maksym Timchenko said.
Protests break out in Russia's Bashkortostan republic
The protests broke out as supporters came to the town of Baymak to demonstrate against the authorities' sentencing of local rights activist Fail Alsynov to four years in prison on charges of "inciting ethnic hatred."
House Speaker Johnson says no deal on border, Ukraine aid currently possible ahead of meeting in White House
Even as U.S. President Joe Biden and top congressional leaders from both parties are set to meet on Jan. 17, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said that the time is not right for a deal on immigration and border issues that could pave the way for approval of new aid for Ukraine.
Media: Organization that shared personal videos, calls of Ukrainian investigative outlet likely fake
The footage was shared by a supposed "investigative news organization" called Narodna Pravda. Svidomi's investigation into Narodna Pravda found no evidence of its actual existence.
Reuters: No risk of default for holders of Russian bonds in case of confiscation
Some Western countries, even those that support confiscating the assets, have expressed concerns over the wider implications of the seizure.
RFE/RL journalist wounded in Russian mortar attack in Zaporizhzhia Oblast
RFE/RL said that Yevchyn, who has worked with the outlet since 2018, was injured in the leg by shrapnel from a Russian mortar strike while filming a video near the the front-line city of Robotyne.
Former NATO chief: Democrats should compromise with Republicans to secure Ukraine aid
U.S. Democrats should negotiate a deal with Republicans to reach a compromise on aid for Ukraine as a Russian victory would ultimately weaken the U.S., former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in an interview with Politico released on Jan. 17.
Media: Sanctions forcing Russian companies out of Cyprus
Russian companies have been increasingly leaving Cyprus as Western sanctions impact their ability to operate, the Russian state-controlled media outlet Kommersant wrote on Jan. 16.
Media: Belarus prepares new military doctrine allowing use of nuclear weapons
According to the AP, Belarusian Security Council Secretary Alexander Volfovich said that the change in doctrine was a reaction to perceived aggression from Poland.
Biden invites congressional leaders to White House to discuss Ukraine aid, spending priorities
Top congressional leaders are expected to attend the Jan. 17 meeting, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
PM Shmyhal: Government allocates almost $21 million in reserve funds for 'urgent' military needs
The funds will go towards purchasing items such as ammunition, thermal imagery devices, and drones.
Pentagon: Next Ramstein-format summit to be held on Jan. 23
The announcement came after U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his counterpart Rustem Umerov talked on the phone on Jan. 16 about the upcoming summit and other battlefield updates.
Fico says Slovakia backs Hungary, will fight any attempt to restrict voting rights
The meeting came days after Petri Sarvamaa, a senior member of the EU's parliament, began circulating a petition to revoke some of Hungary's membership rights, including voting, due to the country's "erosion of the rule of law" and obstructive behavior in the face of EU consensus building.
Ukraine amends conscription rules for military industry workers
The changes in the conscription rules for military industry workers are "aimed at strengthening the potential of the defense industry and enabling defense companies to operate steadily and increase production," said Deputy Economy Minister Ihor Fomenko.
Israel participates in Ukraine's peace formula discussions for first time
The deputy head of Israel's National Security Council participated in the talks, said Israel's ambassador to Ukraine, Michael Brodsky, which occurred ahead of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.
Estonia arrests professor on suspicion of spying for Russia
The professor, Viacheslav Morozov, worked at Estonia's premier higher education institute, the University of Tartu, studying and teaching political theory. He was arrested on Jan. 3, but Estonian authorities only made the detention public on Jan. 16.
Ukraine's parliament votes for law to create electronic conscription registry
The bill passed on Jan. 16 does not address the larger issue of mobilization, but aims to improve the digitalization of Ukraine's army.
UN asks for $4.2 billion in humanitarian aid for Ukraine, Ukrainian refugees
The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA estimated that some 14.6 million Ukrainians, approximately 40% of the population, need humanitarian assistance. This figure does not include the estimated 6.3 million Ukrainians forced to flee abroad.
Justice Ministry to fight reinstatement of ex-official who obtained Russian passport
Although the Justice Ministry did not mention her by name, Ukrainska Pravda reported, citing sources, that the ex-official in question was Maryna Prylutska, a former civil servant who worked for the Justice Ministry itself. Prylutska was dismissed in 2021 on the grounds that she had citizenship of a foreign country while holding public office, which she later appealed.
NGO: Belarusian man who lived abroad for 15 years detained after returning home for holidays
Mazets has lived in Poland since 2009 and has a Polish residence permit. He visited Belarus around Christmas and was detained for "spreading extremist materials."
Canada shares draft plan for security assurances for Ukraine
Cmoc said the document contained Canada's plan for "security assurances," not "guarantees."
Ukraine's air defense notches a string of successes against Russian air power
The sharp uptick in downing planes in recent weeks emerges as a bright spot for Ukraine among a lack of progress on the battlefield.
Reuters: Houthis accidentally target cargo ship carrying Russian oil
Reuters reported, citing sources from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) organization, that Houthis had fired a missile at the ship, which landed in the water some distance away and caused no damage or casualties.
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