Any Ukrainian riders?

[Paul A]

https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3483194-g7-to-never-recognize-borders-redrawn-by-russia-statement.html

Saturday, 14 May 2022

G7 to never recognize borders redrawn by Russia - statement

The Group of Seven has called on Russia to immediately withdraw its troops from the Ukrainian territory, vowing to never recognize any new borders, except for those internationally recognized, adding they will provide as many weapons as required to help the country defend its territory and sovereignty.

That’s according to a joint statement by G7 foreign ministers, posted on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany, which is presiding in the group at the moment.

“We will never recognize borders Russia has attempted to change by military aggression, and will uphold our engagement in the support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, including Crimea,” the statement reads.

G7 has also rejected any notion of spheres of influence and any use of force that is not in compliance with international law.

[Paul A]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/05/14/india-wheat-ban-ukraine/

By Gerry Shih and Niha Masih

 

Updated yesterday at 7:20 a.m. EDT

India bans wheat exports amid soaring global prices

After Russia invaded Ukraine — two countries that together accounted for nearly a third of the world’s wheat supply — and sent food prices to record highs, India was supposed to step in to fill the void. Not anymore.

 

The world’s second-largest wheat producer on Friday banned exports of the grain amid its own food security concerns, potentially exacerbating the steep rise in global food prices that is affecting billions of people and threatening food security around the world.

In a Commerce Ministry order, Indian officials said they made the decision after considering India’s own needs and those of neighboring countries. India’s food security was “at risk” due to surging international prices, the ministry said.

 

The announcement marked an abrupt reversal weeks after Indian officials and international analysts talked up the possibility of India significantly ratcheting up exports to fill the gap created partly by the war in Ukraine.

International food prices have soared to record highs in recent months, putting pressure on billions of people, particularly the world’s poorest, United Nations officials have warned.

But a record-breaking heat wave this spring — March was India’s hottest month on record — damaged Indian crops and reduced wheat output by as much as a quarter in some cases.

 

Edited May 14, 2022 by Paul A
Authors, date

[Freeforester]

 

[Wolverine]

 

[Paul A]

A column of US armored vehicles in Finland

117K views · 3 days ago

Ukraine Leaks
98K subscribers

 

 

[Paul A]

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/nkorea-reports-21-deaths-amid-covid-outbreak-kcna-2022-05-14/

May 14, 2022

North Korea's Kim says COVID 'great turmoil', 21 new deaths reported

 

SEOUL, May 14 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said on Saturday the spread of COVID-19 had thrust his country into "great turmoil" and called for an all-out battle to overcome the outbreak, as 21 daily deaths were reported among people with fever.

 

The numbers probably represent a fraction of total cases, given North Korea's limited testing capabilities, and could lead to thousands of deaths in one of only two countries without a vaccination campaign, experts have said. 

The outbreak could also deepen a dire food crisis, with the lockdown hampering anti-drought efforts and mobilisation of labour. 

 

Since late April, 524,440 people have shown signs of fever including 174,440 new cases on Friday, KCNA said.

About 243,630 have been treated but KCNA has not said how many people have been tested or confirmed the total number of COVID cases.

[Wolverine]

Zelenskyy: Macron asked Ukraine to make concessions to help Putin save face

https://www.politico.eu/article/zelenskyy-macron-asked-ukraine-concession-help-putin-save-face/

[Paul A]

 

[Paul A]

https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3483680-russia-unlikely-to-accelerate-rate-of-advance-over-next-30-days-british-intel.html

15.05.2022

Russia unlikely to accelerate rate of advance over next 30 days - British intel

 

Russia’s advance in Donbas has lost its pace and fallen significantly behind schedule, Britain’s defense intelligence stated.

That’s according to the agency’s latest tweet, Ukrinform reports.

 

“Russia’s Donbas offensive has lost momentum and fallen significantly behind schedule. Despite small-scale initial advances, Russia has failed to achieve substantial territorial gains over the past month while sustaining high levels of attrition,” the report reads.

 

The agency says Russia has now likely suffered losses of one third of the ground combat force it committed in February.

 

These delays will “almost certainly” be exacerbated by the loss of critical enablers such as bridging equipment and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance drones.

 

Russian bridging equipment has been short in supply throughout the conflict, slowing and restricting offensive maneuver. Russian UAVs are believed to be vital for tactical awareness and directing artillery, but have been vulnerable to Ukrainian anti-air capabilities.

 

“Russian forces are increasingly constrained by degraded enabling capabilities, continued low morale and reduced combat effectiveness,” the report says.

 

Many of these capabilities cannot be quickly replaced or reconstituted, British intelligence analysts believe and are likely to continue to hinder Russian operations in Ukraine.

 

“Under the current conditions, Russia is unlikely to dramatically accelerate its rate of advance over the next 30 days,” the report concludes.

[Paul A]

https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3483755-nato-says-ukraine-can-win-war-started-by-russia.html

15.05.2022 

NATO says Ukraine can win war started by Russia

 

The bravery of the Ukrainian people, practical and financial assistance from allies and partners, and the immense public support all over Europe and around the world will help Ukraine win the brutal war started by the Russian Federation.

NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană said this ahead of the informal meeting of NATO ministers of foreign affairs in Berlin on Sunday, May 15, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

 

"Today we will be focusing on the latest developments in Ukraine. The brutal invasion of Russia is losing momentum. And with significant support from Allies and partners in billions of dollars, in military support, in financial support, humanitarian support, we know that with the bravery of the Ukrainian people and army and with our help Ukraine can win this war," he said.

 

He also congratulated Ukraine on winning the Eurovision Song Contest.

 

"I would like to congratulate Ukraine for winning the Eurovision contest. And this is not something I'm making in a light way. Because we have seen yesterday the immense public support all over Europe and Australia for the bravery… Of course the song was beautiful, it is beautiful. So the message we want to send to Mr. Putin is that they've started the most brutal and cynical war since the Second World War, that probably he would, he was sincerely surprised by the bravery of the Ukrainian people and by the unity of the political West. So I'm saying that we are united. We are strong, will continue to help Ukraine in winning this war," Geoană said.

Edited May 15, 2022 by Paul A
Formatting

[Paul A]

https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-economy/3483771-kuleba-blinken-to-find-ways-to-circumvent-blockade-of-ukrainian-seaports.html

15.05.2022 

Kuleba, Blinken to find ways to circumvent blockade of Ukrainian seaports

 

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken have agreed to work closely to ensure that Ukrainian food exports reach consumers in Africa and Asia.

Kuleba said this on Twitter, Ukrinform reports.

 

Due to Russia's blockade of Ukrainian seaports, 7 million tonnes of wheat, 14 million tonnes of corn, 3 million tonnes of sunflower oil and 3 million tonnes of sunflower meal and other crops did not get to the world market.

Edited May 15, 2022 by Paul A
Formatting

[Paul A]

https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3483801-g7-countries-back-idea-of-transferring-seized-russian-assets-to-ukraine-kuleba.html

15.05.2022

G7 countries back idea of transferring seized Russian assets to Ukraine - Kuleba

 

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said that the Group of Seven (G7) countries are positive about the idea of transferring seized Russian assets to Ukraine to rebuild the country.

 

Additionally, he noted that the G7 had reaffirmed its readiness to join efforts to rebuild Ukraine, including cities, infrastructure and regions affected by the war.

[Paul A]

https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3483832-nato-countries-must-immediately-provide-ukraine-with-artillery-truss.html

15.05.2022

NATO countries must immediately provide Ukraine with artillery - Truss

 

NATO countries have agreed to continue to support Ukraine to help it contain Russia.
UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said this in Berlin on Sunday, Ukrinform reports, citing the BBC.

 

"Putin must face a sustained defeat in Ukraine, Russia must be contained and such aggression must never happen again. […] Ukraine's security must come from it being able to defend itself. Allies must support Ukraine's move to NATO-standard equipment, immediately providing artillery, training and the required expertise," she said.

 

She also noted that NATO must maintain its "open door" policy towards admitting new members.

"NATO's open door policy is essential and if Finland and Sweden decide to apply to join, it is clear that they would strengthen the alliance and European security as a whole," Truss said.

[Paul A]

Shocking Discovery In Russian Technology!

139K views · 1 month ago

Ukraine's Truth
361 subscribers

 

[Paul A]

https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3484252-nyt-growing-evidence-of-military-disaster-pierces-prorussian-bubble.html

Monday, 16 May 2022

NYT: Growing evidence of military disaster pierces pro-Russian bubble

The losses of Russian troops on the Siversky Donets River in Luhansk region are one of the deadliest known engagements of the war.

The estimates based on publicly available evidence now suggesting that well over 400 Russian soldiers were killed or wounded, The New York Times reports.

 

On May 11, the Russian command reportedly sent about 550 troops of the 74th Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 41st Combined Arms Army to cross the Donets River at Bilohorivka, in the eastern Luhansk region, in a bid to encircle Ukrainian forces near Rubizhne.

Satellite images reveal that Ukrainian artillery destroyed several Russian pontoon bridges and laid waste to a tight concentration of Russian troops and equipment around the river,” the article says.

 

The Institute for the Study of War indicated that there could have been as many as 485 Russian soldiers killed or wounded and more than 80 pieces of equipment destroyed.

As the scale of what happened comes into sharper focus, the NYT writes, the disaster appears to be breaking through the Kremlin’s tightly controlled information bubble.

 

In particular, pro-Russian war bloggers start to speak about Russia’s failures on the battlefield, doubting the competence of Russia’s military leaders.

 

If the estimates that hundreds of soldiers were killed or injured on Siversky Donets River prove accurate, it would be one of the deadliest known engagements of the war, the NYT notes.

[Paul A]

https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-economy/3484297-germany-plans-to-stop-russian-oil-imports-regardless-of-eu-sanctions-yermak.html

Monday, 16 May 2022

 

Germany plans to stop Russian oil imports regardless of EU sanctions – Yermak

Germany is planning to stop Russian oil imports regardless of EU sanctions.

The relevant statement was made by Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“Germany is planning to stop Russian oil imports regardless of EU sanctions. Talks with alternative suppliers are underway.

According to Bloomberg, the country will put an end to this issue by the end of the year,” Yermak wrote.

In his words, an oil embargo is very important, and Ukraine is calling on the EU to include a Russian oil embargo in the sixth sanctions package.

[Paul A]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/05/15/finland-nato-blinken-ukraine-turkey/

Updated today at 1:38 p.m. EDT

Ruling parties in Sweden, Finland back NATO membership in historic shifts

BERLIN — Sweden’s ruling party dropped the country’s historic military nonalignment on Sunday and agreed to join NATO, shortly after Finland’s leaders officially announced they would do the same.

The moves were major steps in ending decades of military neutrality for the two Nordic nations, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continued to dramatically shift security considerations in Europe.

 

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said their accession would be a “turning point for security” in Europe.

“Their membership in NATO would increase our shared security, demonstrate that NATO’s door is open, and that aggression does not pay.”

 

The decision still needs to be ratified by the parliaments of both countries, but that is considered largely a formality.

Once formal requests are submitted, each of NATO’s 30 member nations must approve, a process that could take months or longer.

Edited May 16, 2022 by Paul A
date

[Paul A]

https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_195250.htm

Last updated: 13 May. 2022 13:08

 

Long-planned NATO exercises across Europe get underway

Troops from NATO Allies and partners are taking part in a series of long-planned military exercises stretching from the High North to the Balkans to enhance the readiness and interoperability of NATO forces.

 

Two of the biggest drills, with around 18,000 troops from twenty countries, are “Defender Europe” and “Swift Response”.

Currently taking place in Poland and eight other countries, they also include parachute drops and helicopter assaults in North Macedonia.

In Estonia, 15,000 troops from 14 countries are involved in exercise “Hedgehog”, one of the largest military drills in the country since 1991 and involving the US navy Wasp-class landing ship Kearsarge.

Meanwhile, exercise “Iron Wolf” in Lithuania involves 3,000 Allied troops and around 1,000 vehicles, including German Leopard 2 tanks. 

 

In Germany, 7,500 troops are involved in “Wettiner Heide”, a NATO Response Force exercise.

In the Mediterranean, the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group will be placed under NATO command for the second time this year during the “Neptune series” of naval drills.

This marks only the second transfer of a U.S. carrier group to NATO since the end of the Cold War.

 

Next month’s “Ramstein Legacy” in Poland and the Baltic countries will be Europe’s largest integrated air and missile defence exercise and involve 23 countries.

“Baltops”, also in June, has been held annually for over 50 years and will see amphibious training across the Baltic region. 

 

NATO partners Finland and Sweden will be involved in several Allied exercises over the coming weeks.

Currently, U.S., British, Estonian and Latvian forces are participating alongside their Finnish hosts in exercise “Arrow 22”, and involving UK Challenger 2 tanks and US Stryker armoured fighting vehicles. 

[Jswizzy84]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-12/ten-more-european-gas-buyers-open-ruble-accounts-for-payments

[Paul A]

https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3484625-defeat-near-bilohorivka-enemy-lost-almost-1000-soldiers-and-100-vehicles.html

Monday, 16 May 2022

Defeat near Bilohorivka: Enemy lost almost 1,000 soldiers and 100 vehicles

Russian invaders, trying to cross the Siverskyi Donets River in Bilohorivka, Luhansk region, lost almost 1,000 soldiers and about 100 military vehicles.

Serhii Haidai, head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration, said this in a video address published on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

 

"The disgraceful operation that they [the invaders] conducted in Bilohorivka will go down in the history of this war between Russia and Ukraine as their defeat in the Luhansk region.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces defeated almost 100 units of equipment there.

Two battalions were killed there, which is almost a thousand soldiers.

Also, several pontoons were destroyed.

All of their attempts to cross [the river] and create a bridgehead in Bilohorivka [failed], they were all defeated," Haidai said.

 

[Paul A]

https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3484230-territorial-defense-forces-reach-border-with-russia-in-kharkiv-region.html

Monday, 16 May 2022

Territorial Defense forces reach border with Russia in Kharkiv region

In Kharkiv region, Ukrainian defenders of one of the Territorial Defense battalions pushed back the Russian military and reached a section of Ukraine–Russia state border.

As reported, Ukrainian defenders continue pursuing a successful counter-offensive north of Kharkiv towards the border with Russia.

[Paul A]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/05/16/russia-ukraine-war-news-live-updates-putin/#link-7Y5XHOZEAVD5BERWMFNXTVY7GI

By Bryan Pietsch 10:12 a.m.

 

Russia using mercenaries to replace troops as losses mount, analysts say

Russia has probably run out of reservists to make up for heavy losses in Ukraine, leading it to use private military companies and proxy militias instead, in a sign of how severely Moscow is struggling to keep up its fight, according to military analysts.

 

The D.C.-based Institute for the Study of War said in an analysis Sunday evening that Russia was “denaturing elite airborne units with mercenaries,” calling the move “shocking.”

The analysts said it was “the clearest indication yet that Russia has exhausted its available combat-ready manpower reserves.”

 

It noted that newly formed and regrouped units were unlikely to be effective in combat, and that even the first Russian units deployed to Ukraine struggled with incompetence, lack of training and low morale in the early weeks of the war.

[Jswizzy84]

 

[Wolverine]

Now we’re talking!

Finnish brewery launches Nato branded beer:

https://yle.fi/news/3-12447932

 

[RockyTop]

1 hour ago, Jswizzy84 said:

 

Ok fellers, …  this is the plan! First we build a fence so no one can get over there and buy their gas. That will hurt them bad. Then to keep from starving to death we are going to dig a tunnel under the fence so people can buy the gas. … See problem solved. 

Edited May 16, 2022 by RockyTop