Latest news on Russia and the war in Ukraine

Mention of the war in Ukraine was notably missing from an interview held by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin after their talks Monday.

Lukashenko appeared to attempt to relax worries that Belarus might be taken in by its bigger, dominant next-door neighbor Russia, and stated Belarus gain from its close relationship with Russia in regards to energy and market as the leaders promised to deepen ties.

“With regard to someone is absorbing anyone … The question arises, for what? Russia has always met us halfway. There is not a single issue that has remained unresolved today. We are meeting the Russian Federation halfway in the most difficult moment,” Lukashenko stated, according to Belarusian state news firm BelTA.

“If somebody is hatching up strategies to tear us apart, to drive a wedge in between us, they will not prosper. In 2020, it was not Russia that assaulted us around the border. It was notRussia Russia extended an assisting hand to us. We were assaulted from there[from the West] They wished to deny us of both self-reliance and sovereignty,” he declared.

Belarus saw mass demonstrations in 2020 after an election that numerous observers think was rigged to keep long-lasting leader Lukashenko in power. The demonstrations were met a severe reaction from Belarus’ security services. Lukashenko baselessly blamed the West for prompting the presentations. Russia stated it was all set to assistance Lukashenko’s management must the demonstrations get “out of control.”

Following months of increased joint military workouts and conferences, issues have actually grown that Belarus might go into the Ukraine war to help Russia (it has actually currently enabled Moscow to introduce attacks from its area). On Monday, Lukashenko stated absolutely nothing would have the ability to “break our relationship” with Russia however did not point out the possibility of Belarus helping Russia in the war in Ukraine.

“So what is there to say? Just one more time: they will not be able to break our relationship. It will only strengthen. Today, in fact, together with the president and our colleagues, we have created a base for the future rapid progress,” Lukashenko stated.

— Holly Ellyatt

The city of Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk area of Ukraine stays a location in the dispute– the most popular, according to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“Bakhmut remains the hottest point on the entire front line — more than 1,300 km of active hostilities. Since May, the occupiers have been trying to break our Bakhmut, but time goes by — and Bakhmut is already breaking not only the Russian army, but also the Russian mercenaries who came to replace the lost army of the occupiers,” Zelenskyy stated on Telegram Tuesday night.

“I thank all our fighters who are heroically holding the Bakhmut direction, Soledar, Avdiyivka, Maryinka, Kremensky direction and the entire Donbas region, which before the arrival of Russia was one of the strongest in Ukraine and which Russia is destroying to the ground. Even such cruelty will not give the enemy anything.”

The president declared Russia had actually lost practically 100,000 soldiers in Ukraine and stated the loss was for absolutely nothing.

“They wage a war and waste people’s lives – other people’s lives, not their loved ones, not their own lives, but others – and only because some small group in the Kremlin does not know how to admit mistakes and is terribly afraid of reality,” Zelenskyy stated.

Estimates of Russian casualties in Ukraine vary from one source to another other sources although the majority of put Russia’s death toll as lower than Ukraine’s quotes. Russia itself has actually not launched any information on casualties in numerous months.

— Holly Ellyatt

European Union energy ministers accepted a “dynamic” cap on gas rates Monday after 2 months of extreme settlements.

Introducing a limitation on gas rates has actually been questionable for European authorities. While numerous EU member states have actually argued that the procedure is necessary to lower sky-high energy expenses for customers, others have actually fretted about the possible market ramifications of the policy.

“We did our job, we have the deal. Another mission impossible accomplished,” Jozef Sikela, market minister of the Czech Republic, which holds the presidency of the Council of the EU, stated in an interview.

Energy ministers conquered their distinctions and accepted what they’re calling a market correction system. It will be immediately triggered under 2 conditions: If front-month gas agreements go beyond 180 euros ($191) per megawatt hour on the Dutch Title Transfer Facility– Europe’s primary standard for gas rates– for 3 working days in a row; and the rate is 35 euros greater than a recommendation rate for liquid gas on international markets for the very same duration.

The procedure will use fromFeb 15. When used, it will set a “dynamic bidding limit” on gas futures deals for 20 working days.

Read the complete story here.

–Jenni Reid

President Vladimir Putin stated the scenario in 4 locations of Ukraine that Moscow has actually stated become part of Russia was “extremely difficult” and bought security services to step up security to protect its borders and fight brand-new hazards.

Putin’s remarks made on Security Services Day, extensively commemorated in Russia, came as Kyiv restored require more weapons after Russian drones struck energy targets and as worries grow that Moscow’s ally Belarus might open a brand-new intrusion front versus Ukraine.

Putin bought the Federal Security Services (FSB) to step up security of Russian society and the nation’s borders to fight the “emergence of new threats” from abroad and traitors in your home.

In an unusual admission of the intrusion of Ukraine not going efficiently, Putin warned about the tight spot in Ukraine’s areas that Moscow transferred to annex in September and bought the FSB to make sure the “safety” of individuals living there.

“The situation in the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions is extremely difficult,” Putin stated late on Monday in remarks equated by Reuters.

— Reuters

U.S.-Poland relations are impacting the Russian federal government’s capability to perform its unprovoked war in Ukraine, U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo stated.

During a conference with Anna Moskwa, Polish minister of environment and environment, in Brussels on Monday, Adeyemo applauded the countries’ combined assistance for Ukraine and condemnation of Russia through sanctions, export controls and the $60 rate cap on Russian seaborne oil created by the G-7 nations, according to a readout.

The procedures have actually efficiently closed down Russian tank factories and compromised its financial resources and financial outlook, the authorities stated. Adeyemo likewise admired Poland’s dedication to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and highlighted each country’s promise to offer more help to Ukraine.

— Chelsey Cox

Moldova’s spy chief cautioned of a “very high” danger of a brand-new Russian offending towards his nation’s east next year and stated Moscow still intended to protect a land passage through Ukraine to the breakaway Moldovan area of Transdniestria.

The remarks by Alexandru Musteata, head of the Information and Security Service, echo current messages out of Ukraine where leading army generals have actually cautioned in current days of the hazard of a significant brand-new Russian offending early next year.

“The question is not whether the Russian Federation will undertake a new advance towards Moldova’s territory, but when it will do so,” Musteata informed the TVR-Moldova tv channel.

He stated his firm thought Russia was taking a look at numerous situations to reach Moldova which it was possible an offensive would be introduced in January-February or later on in March-April

— Reuters

Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in Minsk for talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Russian state media reported Monday afternoon.

The conference, Putin’s initially to the Belarusian capital considering that 2019, comes amidst increasing worries that Moscow might be pressing its ally to increase its military participation in the war.

Speaking to Russian news companies previously Monday, Kremlin representative Dmitry Peskov called Belarus Russia’s “number one ally,” however stated that tips that Moscow wished to pressure Minsk into signing up with the dispute were “stupid and unfounded fabrications.”

–Karen Gilchrist

The Kremlin on Monday turned down tips that President Vladimir Putin’s check out to Belarus indicates an increase of Minsk’s participation in the war.

Russia’s RIA Novosti news firm reported Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as stating the reports were “groundless” and “stupid,” hours prior to Putin was because of get here in the Belarusian capital.

Putin’s see Monday afternoon marks his very first to the ex-Soviet ally in more than 3 years, and comes as Belarus’ defense ministry stated it had actually completed a series of evaluations of its militaries’ military readiness.

–Karen Gilchrist