The G7 сould take 10 years to catch up with Russian nuclear fuel output
US President Joe Biden and his G7 have vowed to end imports of Russian nuclear fuel, but leading Western economies still lag behind Moscow in innovative atomic technologies, Rosatom Corporation Public Council member Valery Menshikov told Sputnik.
Russia maintains leadership in global uranium enrichment services, Sputnik's commentator stressed, adding that neither US nor European scientists have been able to achieve enrichment capacities matching those of their Russian peers. In addition, Russian nuclear fuel is comparatively cheaper, Menshikov pointed out.
Presently Russia supplies around 44 percent of global uranium enrichment services and 20 to 30 percent of enriched uranium products used in the US and Europe, according to the US Office of Nuclear Energy. The Bellona Environmental Foundation reports that the EU almost doubled its purchases of Russian nuclear fuel in 2023, while US imports also saw a 19 percent increase.
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US President Joe Biden and his G7 have vowed to end imports of Russian nuclear fuel, but leading Western economies still lag behind Moscow in innovative atomic technologies, Rosatom Corporation Public Council member Valery Menshikov told Sputnik.
"Can they walk the talk?" Menshikov asked. "We'll see, because large investments will be required. What's more, it’s not just a matter of financial investments, because new technologies are needed. We have these new technologies. Can they catch up with us? They are likely to make an effort during the next eight to 10 years."
Russia maintains leadership in global uranium enrichment services, Sputnik's commentator stressed, adding that neither US nor European scientists have been able to achieve enrichment capacities matching those of their Russian peers. In addition, Russian nuclear fuel is comparatively cheaper, Menshikov pointed out.
Presently Russia supplies around 44 percent of global uranium enrichment services and 20 to 30 percent of enriched uranium products used in the US and Europe, according to the US Office of Nuclear Energy. The Bellona Environmental Foundation reports that the EU almost doubled its purchases of Russian nuclear fuel in 2023, while US imports also saw a 19 percent increase.
"We are building a lot of nuclear power plants abroad today," Menshikov said. "These countries are Turkiye, Egypt, India, China and Bangladesh. In general, the projects are very diverse. And most importantly, we are the absolute leaders in the construction of new stations abroad. And under all construction contracts we will provide completely fresh nuclear fuel."
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🇦🇺🇷🇺 ‘Spectacular backlash’: Ordinary Australians rally to defeat Russophobic campaign against local politician
The Australian political establishment and mainstream media has for weeks been going after Adrian McCrae, a councillor from the western town of Port Hedlund, who travelled to Russia in March to take part in the 2024 presidential election as an international observer.
McCrae infuriated Australian elites by going on national television and declaring that Russian President Vladimir Putin won his landslide victory fair and square. On Monday, the Mayor of Port Hedlund attempted to oust McCrae from office via a no confidence vote. However, the motion was defeated after local residents rallied to McCrae’s defense.
Sputnik contributor Simeon Boikov (@AussieCossack) breaks down the controversy.
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The Australian political establishment and mainstream media has for weeks been going after Adrian McCrae, a councillor from the western town of Port Hedlund, who travelled to Russia in March to take part in the 2024 presidential election as an international observer.
McCrae infuriated Australian elites by going on national television and declaring that Russian President Vladimir Putin won his landslide victory fair and square. On Monday, the Mayor of Port Hedlund attempted to oust McCrae from office via a no confidence vote. However, the motion was defeated after local residents rallied to McCrae’s defense.
Sputnik contributor Simeon Boikov (@AussieCossack) breaks down the controversy.
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Sputnik International
At the Moldovan airport in Chisinau, unidentified individuals are preventing Moldovan citizens who have arrived from Moscow after the opposition congress from entering the country. Eyewitnesses report that they refuse to identify themselves. "Everyone here…
Some passengers who returned from the opposition congress in Moscow and were detained at Chisinau airport needed medical assistance, Ilan Shor, leader of the Moldovan opposition 'Shor' party, said
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Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from their positions and fled from the village of Ocheretino in the Donetsk People's Republic, Vladimir Rogov, head of the regional civic movement "We Are Together with Russia," told Sputnik.
According to him, Ocheretino is a dominant height and is a key settlement on the Ukrainian army' defense line north of Avdeyevka.
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"Good news has come from our military. The enemy left their positions in the village of Ocheretino northwest of Avdeyevka in the DNR and fled. Our guys have entered the village, our flags have been raised in the center," Rogov said.
According to him, Ocheretino is a dominant height and is a key settlement on the Ukrainian army' defense line north of Avdeyevka.
"The liberation of Ocheretino will create not just a threat to the Ukrainian soldiers, but also an opportunity for our army to strike at this section of the front," Rogov said.
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Natalia Parasca, leader of the Revival Party, which is part of the Victory political bloc, has said that officers of the Moldovan Information and Security Service (ISS) threatened her with criminal liability for her visit to Moscow.
According to her, intelligence officers wanted to know details about all meetings between opposition members and Russian officials and politicians. They also asked her about the goals of the political bloc and why it was created exactly in Moscow.
She emphasized that she had no complaints against the ISS officers, except that she was not allowed to answer calls from her family and lawyer. Parasca considers this conversation an "instruction" from above, as all questions were read out to her on paper.
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"Immediately after the plane landed, I was met by an ISS officer, asked to go to a separate conversation with him. The conversation lasted two hours with three ISS officers, the questions they asked, in my opinion, were not very correct, [they asked me] 'why did you fly to Russia... there will be penal responsibility for this'", said Parasca.
According to her, intelligence officers wanted to know details about all meetings between opposition members and Russian officials and politicians. They also asked her about the goals of the political bloc and why it was created exactly in Moscow.
"People were intimidated, I was taken separately, and people - about 200 people - are still being held without water, without food, without explanations. Psychological pressure and illegal actions," Parasca added, noting that on the same plane to Chisinau from the US arrived three deputies of the ruling Action and Solidarity party, who were not detained.
She emphasized that she had no complaints against the ISS officers, except that she was not allowed to answer calls from her family and lawyer. Parasca considers this conversation an "instruction" from above, as all questions were read out to her on paper.
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Tucker Carlson confronted US House speaker Johnson about persecution of Christians in Ukraine
US journalist Tucker Carlson said in a newly published interview with international lawyer Robert Amsterdam that he confronted House Speaker Mike Johnson following the Saturday vote on the foreign aid packages to express his indignation over the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) by Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government.
Carlson emphasized that he finds it disgraceful that US Christian lawmakers are willing to spend billions of dollars to build a tyranny in Ukraine while turning a blind eye to the unlimited attacks on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Amsterdam says some elements within the Ukrainian government have declared war on the UOC and have mercilessly persecuted priests, clerics, and parishioners.
Amsterdam also said that Zelenskyy’s government has spent about $3.5 million to persuade the US public that Russia is persecuting Christians rather than Ukraine.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said in a report in March that the Ukrainian authorities continued the practice of intimidating the priests and worshipers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from December 2023 to February 2024.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said in December that actions of the Ukrainian authorities against the UOC and the bill proposing the dissolution of religious organizations associated with Russia are contrary to freedom of religion and international law.
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US journalist Tucker Carlson said in a newly published interview with international lawyer Robert Amsterdam that he confronted House Speaker Mike Johnson following the Saturday vote on the foreign aid packages to express his indignation over the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) by Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government.
"I've expressed it directly to the Speaker of the House, who says he is a Christian. How can you pay for the persecution of Christians with US tax dollars?" Carlson said.
Carlson emphasized that he finds it disgraceful that US Christian lawmakers are willing to spend billions of dollars to build a tyranny in Ukraine while turning a blind eye to the unlimited attacks on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Amsterdam says some elements within the Ukrainian government have declared war on the UOC and have mercilessly persecuted priests, clerics, and parishioners.
"After ten days in Ukraine, I can tell you that there is not a hint of democracy. The country is run by an organization called the SBU [Security Service of Ukraine]," Amsterdam told Carlson. "All of this talk of democracy is a complete farce."
Amsterdam also said that Zelenskyy’s government has spent about $3.5 million to persuade the US public that Russia is persecuting Christians rather than Ukraine.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said in a report in March that the Ukrainian authorities continued the practice of intimidating the priests and worshipers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from December 2023 to February 2024.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said in December that actions of the Ukrainian authorities against the UOC and the bill proposing the dissolution of religious organizations associated with Russia are contrary to freedom of religion and international law.
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Russia's Lavrov Discusses Security With Nicaragua's Presidential Envoy
Russian FM Sergey Lavrov has discussed issues pertaining to security with Laureano Ortega Murillo, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's Special Representative for Cooperation with Russia, who had arrived in Russia to participate in a forum in St. Petersburg, according to a trannoscript of the conversation published by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The Russian minister added that "history is inevitably moving forward" and that "the unipolar world is ending."
The Russian official also wished the Nicaraguan delegation success at the 12th international meeting of high representatives for security issues, which will take place in St. Petersburg.
The 12th international meeting of high representatives for security issues will be held under the auspices of the Russian Security Council in St. Petersburg from Tuesday to Thursday. Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev will be representing Russia at the meeting. The meeting has been held under the auspices of the Russian Security Council since 2010.
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Russian FM Sergey Lavrov has discussed issues pertaining to security with Laureano Ortega Murillo, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's Special Representative for Cooperation with Russia, who had arrived in Russia to participate in a forum in St. Petersburg, according to a trannoscript of the conversation published by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
"It is good to see you together with your team. As far as I understand, many structures of the government and armed forces are present here. Issues pertaining to security are of particular importance today, given the processes unfolding in the world in the environment when our Western counterparts, led by the Americans, want to prove to everyone that they have the right to decide everything and manage everything," Lavrov told a meeting with Murillo on Monday.
The Russian minister added that "history is inevitably moving forward" and that "the unipolar world is ending."
"New centers of power have emerged, including such structures as BRICS, SCO [the Shanghai Cooperation Organization], CELAC [the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States] and the African Union. There is no doubt that the days of colonialism and neocolonialism are passing. Latin America and the Caribbean will become one of the major centers of a multipolar world order," Lavrov said.
The Russian official also wished the Nicaraguan delegation success at the 12th international meeting of high representatives for security issues, which will take place in St. Petersburg.
The 12th international meeting of high representatives for security issues will be held under the auspices of the Russian Security Council in St. Petersburg from Tuesday to Thursday. Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev will be representing Russia at the meeting. The meeting has been held under the auspices of the Russian Security Council since 2010.
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Privacy concerns about TikTok are ‘absurd’
The US Government’s assertion that its potential TikTok ban is designed to protect the privacy of Americans is absurd, journalist and podcaster Peter Coffin told Sputnik’s Fault Lines.
On Saturday, the US House of Representatives passed a bill that requires TikTok parent company ByteDance to sell the app within a year or face a ban in the United States. The primary justification for the proposed ban has been to protect American citizens, particularly children, from the dangers of Chinese data collection and algorithm manipulation.
But that doesn’t hold up to scrutiny, says Coffin.
“Just go back to the Twitter files,” Coffin said. “You have plenty of evidence that they were able to push Twitter to do exactly what they wanted in terms of boosting content or banning content.”
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The US Government’s assertion that its potential TikTok ban is designed to protect the privacy of Americans is absurd, journalist and podcaster Peter Coffin told Sputnik’s Fault Lines.
“If you’re talking about privacy concerns, our [domestic] social networks are not guarding our privacy. That is a silly, silly prospect. It’s absurd. It’s an entirely hypocritical idea, and I can’t stand the whole thing,” Coffin explained.
On Saturday, the US House of Representatives passed a bill that requires TikTok parent company ByteDance to sell the app within a year or face a ban in the United States. The primary justification for the proposed ban has been to protect American citizens, particularly children, from the dangers of Chinese data collection and algorithm manipulation.
But that doesn’t hold up to scrutiny, says Coffin.
“Just go back to the Twitter files,” Coffin said. “You have plenty of evidence that they were able to push Twitter to do exactly what they wanted in terms of boosting content or banning content.”
“I think a lot of this has to do with what is taking place in Israel and Gaza in regards to this push [of] ‘we need more control over this platform.’ But more to the point, they want control. It’s not about protection.”
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Sponsor of TikTok ban & Iran-Palestine sanctions gets 1,400% bump in AIPAC donations
Michael McCaul (R-TX) who sponsored the 21st Century Peace through Strength Act that passed the US House of Representatives and is expected to pass the Senate and be signed into law by US President Joe Biden this week, saw American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) contributions to his campaign increase an incredible 1413% during the 2024 election cycle compared to the 2022 cycle.
Elected in 2004, McCaul received no contributions from pro-Israel groups until the 2020 cycle when another group, Pro-Israel America PAC contributed $32,600 to his campaign, his largest donor that year, according to Open Secrets.
The next cycle, McCaul received $7,900 from AIPAC itself (in addition to another $6,000 from other pro-Israel groups). But it was not until this year that McCaul became the Republican darling for AIPAC in the House of Representatives. In 2024 – so far– he has received $119,550 from AIPAC, by far his largest contributor.
In November, McCaul blamed TikTok for the rise in support among young people for Palestinians.
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Michael McCaul (R-TX) who sponsored the 21st Century Peace through Strength Act that passed the US House of Representatives and is expected to pass the Senate and be signed into law by US President Joe Biden this week, saw American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) contributions to his campaign increase an incredible 1413% during the 2024 election cycle compared to the 2022 cycle.
Elected in 2004, McCaul received no contributions from pro-Israel groups until the 2020 cycle when another group, Pro-Israel America PAC contributed $32,600 to his campaign, his largest donor that year, according to Open Secrets.
The next cycle, McCaul received $7,900 from AIPAC itself (in addition to another $6,000 from other pro-Israel groups). But it was not until this year that McCaul became the Republican darling for AIPAC in the House of Representatives. In 2024 – so far– he has received $119,550 from AIPAC, by far his largest contributor.
In November, McCaul blamed TikTok for the rise in support among young people for Palestinians.
“China controls the algorithms on TikTok, so if you type in Israel or Palestine you are going to get a lot of Pro-Palestinian, Hamas material and videos pop up and that's primarily the source of education for our young people,” he claimed.
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Potential ban on Russian LNG supplies to cost EU one-fifth of imports
Russia is the second largest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the EU, which means that the bloc's potential ban on Russian LNG will cost it a 19% share of its imports, Sputnik estimated based on data from Eurostat.
Earlier in the day, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom told reporters that the EU member states were planning to include a ban on LNG imports from Russia in the 14th package of sanctions against the nation.
In January-February, the EU imported LNG worth a total of 7 billion euros ($7.46 billion) from nine countries, with the US being the major supplier. Washington covered 48% of the EU's total imports compared to 37% a year earlier.
Over the past year, Russia increased its share of the bloc's imports by 5 percentage points to 19%. In the first two months of 2024, it supplied LNG worth 1.3 billion euros to the EU.
Algeria came third, also increasing its share of the EU's total imports to 9% from 6% in 2023.
Meanwhile, Qatar's share, on the contrary, almost halved to 8% from 15%. Nigeria, Norway, Trinidad and Tobago each accounted for a 4% share of the EU's LNG purchases, while the United Kingdom had only a 2% share.
The largest LNG consumers in the EU include France, the Netherlands and Spain, with their LNG imports worth 1.8 billion euros, 1.5 billion euros and 1.2 billion euros, respectively. At the same time, Belgium and Greece are still actively buying Russian gas.
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Russia is the second largest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the EU, which means that the bloc's potential ban on Russian LNG will cost it a 19% share of its imports, Sputnik estimated based on data from Eurostat.
Earlier in the day, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom told reporters that the EU member states were planning to include a ban on LNG imports from Russia in the 14th package of sanctions against the nation.
In January-February, the EU imported LNG worth a total of 7 billion euros ($7.46 billion) from nine countries, with the US being the major supplier. Washington covered 48% of the EU's total imports compared to 37% a year earlier.
Over the past year, Russia increased its share of the bloc's imports by 5 percentage points to 19%. In the first two months of 2024, it supplied LNG worth 1.3 billion euros to the EU.
Algeria came third, also increasing its share of the EU's total imports to 9% from 6% in 2023.
Meanwhile, Qatar's share, on the contrary, almost halved to 8% from 15%. Nigeria, Norway, Trinidad and Tobago each accounted for a 4% share of the EU's LNG purchases, while the United Kingdom had only a 2% share.
The largest LNG consumers in the EU include France, the Netherlands and Spain, with their LNG imports worth 1.8 billion euros, 1.5 billion euros and 1.2 billion euros, respectively. At the same time, Belgium and Greece are still actively buying Russian gas.
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North Korea's leader guides 1st tactical drill simulating nuclear counterattack
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has guided the first combined tactical drill simulating nuclear counterattack with the use of 600 mm "super-large" multiple rocket launchers, North Korean state-run news agency KCNA reported.
The drill held on Monday was aimed at demonstrating the reliability, superiority, might and diverse means of North Korea's nuclear force and strengthening it "both in quality and quantity," the report said, adding that the exercise was "a clear warning signal to the enemies as it was conducted at a time when the enemies' military confrontation racket against the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] is being committed with extremely provocative and aggressive nature."
During the drill, units tasked with a nuclear counterstrike practiced the process and procedure for accomplishing their missions and fired projectiles from "super-large" multiple rocket launchers equipped with simulated nuclear warheads, the report further said.
He also "appreciated with satisfaction" that the drill was successfully conducted and that Pyongyang's plan to build the nuclear force and expand the operational space of a tactical nuclear attack and diversify it "has been translated into reality."
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has guided the first combined tactical drill simulating nuclear counterattack with the use of 600 mm "super-large" multiple rocket launchers, North Korean state-run news agency KCNA reported.
The drill held on Monday was aimed at demonstrating the reliability, superiority, might and diverse means of North Korea's nuclear force and strengthening it "both in quality and quantity," the report said, adding that the exercise was "a clear warning signal to the enemies as it was conducted at a time when the enemies' military confrontation racket against the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] is being committed with extremely provocative and aggressive nature."
The report also said that Pyongyang's "super-large" multiple rocket launchers are "to play an important role in substantially strengthening the prompt counterattack capacity of the state nuclear force and raising a war deterrent under the state's nuclear weapon combined management system 'Haekbangashoe.'"
During the drill, units tasked with a nuclear counterstrike practiced the process and procedure for accomplishing their missions and fired projectiles from "super-large" multiple rocket launchers equipped with simulated nuclear warheads, the report further said.
Kim Jong Un expressed "great satisfaction over the result of the drill," appreciated "the high hit and accuracy of the super-large multiple rocket launchers".
He also "appreciated with satisfaction" that the drill was successfully conducted and that Pyongyang's plan to build the nuclear force and expand the operational space of a tactical nuclear attack and diversify it "has been translated into reality."
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US goes 'slippery slide' with sending its military personnel to Ukraine
Troops from the US and other NATO countries will be in Ukraine fighting Russian troops within a year, security and international relations expert Mark Sleboda argued on Sputnik’s The Critical Hour.
The reports of an increased US presence in Ukraine were presented as “they’re going to be working out of the US embassy,” in Kiev, Sleboda said, but that assertion is far from reality, he argued.
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Troops from the US and other NATO countries will be in Ukraine fighting Russian troops within a year, security and international relations expert Mark Sleboda argued on Sputnik’s The Critical Hour.
“We (The United States) were at trainers and advisers and CIA and special forces [in Ukraine], and now already, we’re at logistics and maintenance personnel. It’s quite clear where this is going,” Sleboda began. “US troops and [troops] from several other NATO member states will most likely be on the ground in Ukraine fighting the Russians within a year.”
The reports of an increased US presence in Ukraine were presented as “they’re going to be working out of the US embassy,” in Kiev, Sleboda said, but that assertion is far from reality, he argued.
“I’m not quite sure how big the US embassy is in Kiev, but I doubt it’s enough to set up a maintenance workshop for, I don’t know, Abrams tanks or something like that,” Sleboda jokes. “So it almost certainly means that these US troops will be out and about in Ukraine, probably not too far from the front line. And you can certainly see the slippery slide.”
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Sunak promises UK largest-ever aid package worth $617mln for Ukraine
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has promised the United Kingdom's largest-ever military support package for Ukraine worth 500 million pounds ($617 million), as well as 400 vehicles, over a thousand weapons and millions of rounds of ammunition, The Guardian has reported.
The report said on Monday that London plans to provide Kiev with 400 vehicles, including 60 boats offshore raiding craft and dive boats, 160 Husky Tactical Support Vehicles and 162 armored vehicles, 1,600 strike and air defence missiles, and nearly 4 million rounds of small arms ammunition, as well as 500 million pounds in military funding, bringing the UK's total aid to Ukraine to 3 billion pounds this financial year.
The report cited officials as saying that the 500 million pound aid package would come from the reserves of the country's Exchequer and would be used to deliver ammunition, air defenses, UK-built drones and engineering support to Ukraine's frontline.
Western countries, including the UK, have been providing military and financial aid to Kiev since the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. The Kremlin has consistently warned against continued arms deliveries to Kiev, saying it would lead to further escalation of the conflict.
In April 2022, Russia sent a diplomatic note to all NATO countries on the issue of arms supplies to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that any cargo containing weapons for Ukraine would become a legitimate target for Russia.
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UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has promised the United Kingdom's largest-ever military support package for Ukraine worth 500 million pounds ($617 million), as well as 400 vehicles, over a thousand weapons and millions of rounds of ammunition, The Guardian has reported.
The report said on Monday that London plans to provide Kiev with 400 vehicles, including 60 boats offshore raiding craft and dive boats, 160 Husky Tactical Support Vehicles and 162 armored vehicles, 1,600 strike and air defence missiles, and nearly 4 million rounds of small arms ammunition, as well as 500 million pounds in military funding, bringing the UK's total aid to Ukraine to 3 billion pounds this financial year.
The report cited officials as saying that the 500 million pound aid package would come from the reserves of the country's Exchequer and would be used to deliver ammunition, air defenses, UK-built drones and engineering support to Ukraine's frontline.
Western countries, including the UK, have been providing military and financial aid to Kiev since the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. The Kremlin has consistently warned against continued arms deliveries to Kiev, saying it would lead to further escalation of the conflict.
In April 2022, Russia sent a diplomatic note to all NATO countries on the issue of arms supplies to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that any cargo containing weapons for Ukraine would become a legitimate target for Russia.
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Ukraine, Israel aid bill 'abomination' that will prolong suffering
The $95 billion aid bill that Congress passed on Friday is an "abomination" that will only prolong the suffering caused by the Ukraine war and the Israeli onslaught in the Gaza Strip, former US diplomat and State Department consultant James Carden said on Monday.
The bill is expected to quickly be approved by the US Senate starting on Tuesday. The measure will provide funds to send Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's regime $60.84 billion, including $23 billion for new US weapons and ammunition; $26 billion to Israel; and another $8.12 billion to the Indo-Pacific region.
Close to $30 billion in its provisions will go directly to refill US weapons and ammunition inventories which have been largely emptied over the past two years to primarily arm Ukrainian forces, Carden added.
The bill was approved earlier by 311 votes to 112 in the House of Representatives. No Demcorats voted against the bill and most of them waved Ukrainian flags inside Congress.
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The $95 billion aid bill that Congress passed on Friday is an "abomination" that will only prolong the suffering caused by the Ukraine war and the Israeli onslaught in the Gaza Strip, former US diplomat and State Department consultant James Carden said on Monday.
"Seems to me the spending bill will only prolong the suffering in Ukraine and Gaza," Carden said. "The parts of the bill having to do with funding Israel are an abomination and make us even more complicit in their crimes."
The bill is expected to quickly be approved by the US Senate starting on Tuesday. The measure will provide funds to send Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's regime $60.84 billion, including $23 billion for new US weapons and ammunition; $26 billion to Israel; and another $8.12 billion to the Indo-Pacific region.
"Some of the bill was probably necessary in the sense that the US needed to 'restock' after having wasted so much over the past couple of years," Carden said.
Close to $30 billion in its provisions will go directly to refill US weapons and ammunition inventories which have been largely emptied over the past two years to primarily arm Ukrainian forces, Carden added.
The bill was approved earlier by 311 votes to 112 in the House of Representatives. No Demcorats voted against the bill and most of them waved Ukrainian flags inside Congress.
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France currently unable to give answer about SAMP/T supplies to Ukraine
France cannot give an answer about new supplies of the SAMP/T anti-aircraft missile system to Ukraine at the moment, French newspaper Le Monde reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.
During the G7 foreign ministers' meeting on the Italian island of Capri last week, Ukrainian FM Dmytro Kuleba reportedly asked his French counterpart, Stephane Sejourne, to provide Ukraine with the new French SAMP/T Mamba system, which is a French-Italian mobile anti-aircraft defense weapon similar to the US Patriot systems.
France supplied Ukraine with a SAMP/T system last year.
The newspaper also reported, citing a German diplomat, that a number of European countries, such as Spain, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland and Romania, have Patriot air defense systems, but are unwilling to send them to Ukraine.
On April 12, French newspaper Le Figaro reported, citing sources, that Kiev had asked Paris to help the Ukrainian military hold the positions on the battlefield that year so that it could launch a new counteroffensive in 2025. Ukraine is in need of the SAMP/T air defense system and missiles compatible with it, the report said.
However, despite pressure from the French government, missile maker MBDA will not be able to supply more Aster 30 missiles for the system in the short term, although the French military also needs them for its own missions, the newspaper added.
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France cannot give an answer about new supplies of the SAMP/T anti-aircraft missile system to Ukraine at the moment, French newspaper Le Monde reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.
During the G7 foreign ministers' meeting on the Italian island of Capri last week, Ukrainian FM Dmytro Kuleba reportedly asked his French counterpart, Stephane Sejourne, to provide Ukraine with the new French SAMP/T Mamba system, which is a French-Italian mobile anti-aircraft defense weapon similar to the US Patriot systems.
"We are working on this in the French administration, as well as with our Italian partners, but no answer can be expected soon," an unnamed French official told Le Monde.
France supplied Ukraine with a SAMP/T system last year.
The newspaper also reported, citing a German diplomat, that a number of European countries, such as Spain, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland and Romania, have Patriot air defense systems, but are unwilling to send them to Ukraine.
On April 12, French newspaper Le Figaro reported, citing sources, that Kiev had asked Paris to help the Ukrainian military hold the positions on the battlefield that year so that it could launch a new counteroffensive in 2025. Ukraine is in need of the SAMP/T air defense system and missiles compatible with it, the report said.
However, despite pressure from the French government, missile maker MBDA will not be able to supply more Aster 30 missiles for the system in the short term, although the French military also needs them for its own missions, the newspaper added.
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Msta-B towed howitzer units of the State Border Defense Group have destroyed an Ukrainian army's positions and observation post in an area bordering Belgorod Region, the Russian Ministry of Defence reported, publishing footage of these units' operations.
It was also reported that mortars of the State Border Defense Group took under fire control all the Ukrainian army's approaches to the Russian border in Kharkov Region.
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It was also reported that mortars of the State Border Defense Group took under fire control all the Ukrainian army's approaches to the Russian border in Kharkov Region.
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Russia manages to capture the most powerful version of the Leopard 2 tank Footage from the special military operation zone has confirmed that Russian forces managed to seize a Leopard 2A6, the most capable variant of the Leopard 2 provided to Ukraine, Military…
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🎥 The Russian Defense Ministry has published footage of the transportation of a Leopard tank that was previously captured by Russian forces near Avdeyevka.
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Two military helicopters collided during a rehearsal for a parade in honor of the Royal Malaysian Navy’s 90th anniversary, local media have reported.
It is believed that an AgustaWestland AW139 medium multirole helicopter and a lighter counterpart, a Eurocopter Fennec collided while reportedly carrying 10 people. According to preliminary data, one of the helicopters crashed at the entrance to the Lumut airbase stadium, while the other fell into a swimming pool at the airbase's sports complex. No casualties have been reported so far.
Photos and videos from social media.
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It is believed that an AgustaWestland AW139 medium multirole helicopter and a lighter counterpart, a Eurocopter Fennec collided while reportedly carrying 10 people. According to preliminary data, one of the helicopters crashed at the entrance to the Lumut airbase stadium, while the other fell into a swimming pool at the airbase's sports complex. No casualties have been reported so far.
Photos and videos from social media.
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
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