US President Donald Trump on Wednesday attacked Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him a “dictator” and further straining their relationship.
Trump’s comments came after Zelensky criticized US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia, which Ukraine was excluded from.
Zelensky suggested that President Trump was “living in a disinformation space” influenced by Moscow.
Speaking at an event in Florida, Trump responded by saying Zelensky was only good at manipulating former US President Joe Biden.
The “dictator” remark sparked backlash from European leaders. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called it “wrong and dangerous” to deny Zelensky’s legitimacy as a democratically elected leader.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed his support for Zelensky in a phone call, backing him as Ukraine’s elected leader.
A Downing Street spokesperson pointed out that suspending elections during wartime, like the UK did during World War II, was “perfectly reasonable.”
Zelensky’s five-year term was set to end in May 2024, but elections are on hold due to the ongoing war with Russia, which began with its invasion in February 2022.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also criticized Trump’s use of the word “dictator,” calling the remarks “absurd.” She said:
<blockquote>
If you look at the real world instead of just firing off a tweet, then you know who in Europe has to live in the conditions of a dictatorship: people in Russia, people in Belarus.
</blockquote>
Speaking in Florida, Trump referred to Zelensky as a “dictator,” just hours after using the same term in a Truth Social post about the Ukrainian president. Said Trump:
<blockquote>
He refuses to have elections. He’s low in the real Ukrainian polls. How can you be high with every city being demolished?
</blockquote>
Trump also mentioned his efforts to secure rare-earth minerals from Ukraine, accusing Zelensky’s government of “breaking the deal.”
His speech echoed a Truth Social post where he criticized Zelensky, saying, “He has done a terrible job, his country is shattered, and MILLIONS have unnecessarily died.”
Trump also claimed that the US was “successfully negotiating an end to the war with Russia.”
A White House official explained that Trump’s post was a response to Zelensky’s “disinformation” comments.
On Tuesday, US and Russian officials held their first high-level face-to-face talks since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Ukraine’s former prime minister, told the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjev2j70v19o">BBC</a> that Russia was likely celebrating Trump’s remarks.
He also defended Zelensky, calling him a “completely legitimate president” and stating that elections can’t be held under martial law.

Pindula News

US President Donald Trump called Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky a "dictator" and criticized their relationship. Zelensky had criticized US-Russia talks and suggested Trump was influenced by Moscow. European leaders, like German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, supported Zelensky. Zelensky's term was to end in 2024, but war with Russia postponed elections. Trump accused Zelensky of not having elections and failing as a leader. Former Ukrainian prime minister defended Zelensky as a legitimate president.US and Russian officials held talks after the invasion. Russia likely celebrated Trump's remarks.

Trump Labels Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky A "Dictator"

Russia’s military on Tuesday announced plans to retaliate against Ukraine after Kyiv launched a major attack involving US-made ATACMS ballistic missiles, UK-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles, and a large number of drones, <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/14/europe/ukraine-fires-us-british-missiles-intl-hnk/index.html">reported CNN</a>.
The Ukrainian offensive struck deep into Russian territory, targeting critical infrastructure in regions such as Bryansk, Saratov, Tula, and Tatarstan.
The escalation follows Ukraine’s initial use of ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles last year, prompting Moscow to launch the new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile “Oreshnik” at Ukraine in November.
In response to the latest attack, Russia’s defence ministry claimed to have intercepted all Western missiles aimed at the Bryansk region and 146 drones outside the war zone, with additional Storm Shadows shot down over the Black Sea. The Russian Defence Ministry:
<blockquote>
The actions of the Kyiv regime, supported by its Western curators, will not go unanswered.
</blockquote>
The Ukrainian General Staff claimed successful strikes on key targets up to 1,100 km inside Russia, hitting oil storage facilities, refineries, chemical plants, and ammunition depots.
These targets included the Kristall Plant and the Bryansk Chemical Plant, known for producing artillery ammunition and components for multiple launch rocket systems.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in November, warned that the conflict in Ukraine was escalating towards a global confrontation, especially after the US and UK allowed Ukraine to strike deep within Russian territory.
The situation remains tense as President-elect Donald Trump calls for a ceasefire and negotiations, casting uncertainty over Washington’s long-term support for Ukraine.
The ongoing war, which began with Russia’s invasion in 2022, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, millions displaced, and the most severe crisis in Russia-West relations since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.
The recent drone attack on Saratov and Engels, cities in the Saratov region, resulted in damage to industrial sites and a shift to remote learning for schools. 
Ukraine’s General Staff claimed responsibility for hitting an oil depot at an airbase for Russian nuclear bombers, causing a fire that lasted five days.
Ukraine’s drone units and military intelligence were credited with hitting a munitions storage facility at the Engels airbase, targeting guided bombs and missiles. The attacks also led to fires at the Saratov Oil Refinery and the Kazanorgsintez plant.
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Ukraine attacked Russia with missiles and drones, targeting important areas. Russia says they will strike back. The conflict started in 2022. Ukraine hit Russian oil and ammo facilities. President Putin warns of global conflict. President-elect Trump wants peace talks. Many people have died. Ukraine hit industrial sites and an airbase. Russia's oil refinery and plant caught fire. Russia and Ukraine are in a serious war.

Russia Vows Retaliation After Major Ukrainian Missile And Drone Attack

A high-ranking general in the Russian armed forces and his assistant have been killed in an explosion in Moscow, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2ek388yxzo">reported BBC</a>.
Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, head of the Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Defence Forces (NBC), was leaving a residential block early on Tuesday when a device hidden in a scooter detonated, according to Russia’s Investigative Committee.
The explosive was reportedly detonated remotely, as confirmed by Russian security sources to the state news agency Tass.
On Monday, Ukraine’s SBU security service charged Kirillov in absentia, saying on Telegram that he was “responsible for the mass use of banned chemical weapons.” The Ukrainian government has yet to comment on the general’s death.
Images from the scene revealed significant damage to the entrance of the building, with scorch marks on the walls and several blown-out windows. Two body bags were also visible on the street.
In October, the UK imposed sanctions on Kirillov, citing his oversight of chemical weapon use in Ukraine and his role as a “significant mouthpiece for Kremlin disinformation.”
Ukraine’s SBU has claimed that Russia utilized chemical weapons over 4,800 times under his leadership, a claim Moscow denies.
Following the explosion, Russia’s Investigative Committee announced it had “opened a criminal case into the murder of two servicemen.” It said:
<blockquote>
Investigators, forensic experts and operational services are working at the scene.
Investigative actions and operational search activities are being carried out aimed at establishing all the circumstances of the crime.
</blockquote>
Russian state news agencies reported that the explosive device, which killed the 54-year-old Kirillov and his aide on Ryazansky Avenue, had an explosive force equivalent to 300 grams of TNT.
Bomb experts and specialized search dogs were deployed to inspect the area, and no additional explosives were found. Under UK sanctions, Kirillov was subject to an asset freeze and travel ban.
Kirillov served in various roles within Russia’s military-related to hazardous materials, including the Directorate of the Chief of the Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Defence Troops, before being appointed head of the NBC in 2017.
His death follows less than a week after the assassination of a prominent Russian weapons expert, Mikhail Shatsky, who was shot dead near his home in Moscow.
Ukrainian media reported that the assassination was carried out by Ukraine’s military intelligence service.
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A top Russian general named Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov was killed in an explosion in Moscow along with his assistant. The explosive was hidden in a scooter and detonated remotely. Ukraine accused Kirillov of using banned chemical weapons many times and charged him in absentia. The UK had already imposed sanctions on Kirillov for overseeing chemical weapon use in Ukraine. The explosion is being investigated as a murder, with no additional explosives found. Kirillov had a history of handling hazardous materials before being head of the NBC. This incident comes shortly after another Russian weapons expert was assassinated.

High-ranking Russian Army General Killed In An Explosion In Moscow

Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at the city of Dnipro, which, if confirmed, would be the first use of such a weapon in any armed conflict.
Western officials, as reported by ABC News, questioned this claim, suggesting that the missile was actually a shorter-range ballistic missile, similar to those previously used by Russia in the war against Ukraine.
According to Ukraine’s air force, nine projectiles were launched from Russia’s Astrakhan region at Dnipro between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. local time. The missile is believed to have travelled about 500 miles (800 km) to reach its target.
The missile reportedly hit its target “without consequences,” though there were no immediate reports of casualties. Six of the nine projectiles were intercepted by Ukraine’s air defence systems.
Russian ICBMs have a range of over 6,200 miles, capable of reaching targets as far as the U.S. east coast.
These weapons are also capable of carrying nuclear warheads, which could make such a launch a symbolic or strategic signal from Moscow, though it has not been officially confirmed, reported <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/21/russia-fired-intercontinental-ballistic-missile-at-dnipro-says-ukraine">The Guardian</a>.
Russia has not acknowledged the use of an ICBM and did not mention it in its daily military briefing.
However, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova appeared to inadvertently reference the missile strike in a phone conversation caught on a hot mic, where an unidentified caller instructed her not to comment “on the ballistic missile strike”. The caller did not use the word intercontinental.
Under an agreement between the U.S. and Russia signed in 2000, each side is supposed to notify the other 24 hours in advance of any missile launch exceeding 500 km. It is unclear whether Russia followed this protocol.
Pavel Podvig, an expert on Russian nuclear weapons, warned that there wasn’t enough information to confirm whether the missile was an ICBM.
He suggested that while using an ICBM in a military context may not make sense due to its high cost and low accuracy, it could serve as a political or strategic signal.
The U.S. and UK have permitted longer-range missiles, like the Atacms and Storm Shadow, to be used against targets in or near Russia’s Kursk region, a development that Russia has warned it would respond to “accordingly.”
The U.S. embassy in Kyiv temporarily closed after receiving a warning of a “potential significant air attack.” The closure was linked to increased concerns over Russia’s missile activities, particularly ICBM threats.
Early reports from Dnipro suggested damage to an industrial enterprise and two fires in the city. Civilian impact remains limited, though full details have not been confirmed.
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Russia fired a big missile at a city in Ukraine. Some say it was a long-range missile, but others think it was a short one. The missile hit the city, but no one got hurt. Ukraine stopped some of the missiles with their defense systems. Russia did not admit to using a big missile. Some people think firing the big missile was just a message, not a real attack. The US and UK have also used long-range missiles near Russia. The US embassy in Ukraine closed because of fears of more missile attacks. Damage was seen in the city, but no details are confirmed yet.

Ukraine Claims Russia Fired Intercontinental Ballistic Missile At Eastern City

The US embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine has temporarily closed after receiving “specific information of a potential significant air attack on 20 November”.
In a statement, the embassy also recommended that US citizens should prepare to shelter in the event an air alert is announced. It said:
<blockquote>
The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv has received specific information of a potential significant air attack on November 20. Out of an abundance of caution, the Embassy will be closed, and Embassy employees are being instructed to shelter in place. The U.S. Embassy recommends U.S. citizens be prepared to immediately shelter in the event an air alert is announced.
</blockquote>
The development comes after Ukraine on Tuesday launched US-supplied long-range missiles into its Bryansk region, marking the first use of the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) against Russia’s internationally recognised territory.
According to Russia’s Ministry of Defence, five missiles were intercepted, and one missile’s fragments caused a fire at a military facility in the region. There were no reported casualties.
The attack hit an ammunition depot near the town of Karachev, around 100 km from the Russian border, causing multiple secondary explosions.
In response, Russia has vowed an “appropriate and tangible response” to any further such attacks.
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The US embassy in Ukraine closed because of a possible big air attack from Russia. US citizens are told to be ready to go inside if needed. Ukraine shot missiles into Russia, but only small damage happened. Russia promises to fight back if there are more attacks. No one was hurt in the missile attack on a Russian military base. The US government is taking steps to protect its people in Ukraine from possible danger.

US Embassy In Ukraine Closes Over Threat of Major Russian Airstrike

Russia’s army has reportedly gained full control of the strategic hilltop town of Vuhledar in eastern Ukraine, according to unconfirmed claims by pro-Russian military bloggers, reported <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/10/2/russia-reportedly-captures-key-town-of-vuhledar-in-eastern-ukraine">Al Jazeera</a>.
The mining town, located in the Donetsk region, is significant for its strategic position and has resisted capture since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022.
The governor of Donetsk reported that Russian troops had reached the centre of Vuhledar shortly before these claims emerged.
Russian authorities have not commented on the reports that it now controls the town.
Vuhledar serves as a supply hub for both Ukrainian and Russian forces, located at the intersection of the eastern and southern fronts.
Its capture is viewed as crucial for Moscow’s efforts to control the entire Donetsk region.
The town’s strategic value is heightened by its closeness to a rail line connecting Crimea to the industrial Donbas region.
While under Ukrainian control, Vuhledar allowed forces to target Russian supply lines.
Russian forces reached the outskirts last week and have intensified their offensive, complicating Ukrainian supplies and troop rotations.
Reports indicate that remaining Ukrainian defenders faced heavy bombardment from aerial glide bombs.
Ongoing fierce fighting since 2022 has devastated much of Vuhledar. Recent footage showed Russian soldiers unfurling flags from bombed buildings, corroborating claims of their presence in the town.
Since August, Russian troops have advanced rapidly in eastern Ukraine, marking their fastest progress in over two years, despite Ukrainian incursions into Russia’s Kursk region.
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Russian forces have taken over a town called Vuhledar in Ukraine. This town is very important because it is a hub for supplies for both Ukrainian and Russian troops. The town is also close to a rail line connecting Crimea to the Donbas region. The Russian troops have been advancing quickly in eastern Ukraine, causing a lot of damage and fighting. The town has been heavily bombed and many Ukrainian defenders are facing attacks. This is part of Russia's efforts to control the Donetsk region in Ukraine.

Russian Forces Reportedly Capture Strategic Town In Ukraine

Lithuania is considering sending 17 fire engines to Ukraine that were originally intended for Zimbabwe.
According to <a href="https://bns.lt/naujiena/lietuva-svarsto-sulaikytus-zimbabvei-skirtus-ugniagesiu-automobilius-perduoti-ukrainai-uqynxekb">BNS</a>, Zimbabwe purchased the vehicles from Belarus last year, but they were impounded in Klaipėda, Lithuania, due to sanctions against Belarus.
Lithuania’s Prosecutor General, Nida Grunskienė, said that they are evaluating the possibility of transferring these fire engines to Ukraine, which is currently under attack from Russia. Said Grunskienė:
<blockquote>
Yes, a pre-trial investigation is being conducted, and the prosecutor has decided if I’m not mistaken, that the 17 vehicles that were to be shipped to Zimbabwe should be confiscated and the issue of their possible delivery to Ukraine is being considered.
We have a decision by the prosecutor in which we are informing the Zimbabwean prosecutor’s office that these 17 fire engines have been confiscated because the company that manufactured these vehicles is subject to sanctions and Zimbabwe itself is also subject to sanctions.
</blockquote>
She said Zimbabwe had also been informed of the decision through diplomatic channels. Added Grunskienė:
<blockquote>
We are waiting to see if they will exercise their right to appeal.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe’s attorney general visited Lithuania this year to request the return of the vehicles.
Meanwhile, Lithuania’s neighbour Latvia regularly donates cars confiscated from drunk drivers to Ukraine.
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Lithuania has 17 fire trucks meant for Zimbabwe, but they got seized and might be given to Ukraine instead. The trucks were bought by Zimbabwe from Belarus last year, but Lithuania stopped them because of sanctions against Belarus. Now, Lithuania is thinking of sending these trucks to Ukraine because they are in need during the war with Russia. Zimbabwe has been told about this decision, and they may appeal. The attorney general of Zimbabwe visited Lithuania this year to ask for the trucks back. Latvia has a habit of giving cars taken from drunk drivers to Ukraine too.

Lithuania May Hand Over Detained Fire Trucks Intended For Zimbabwe To Ukraine

United States President Joe Biden has given Ukraine the green light to use American weapons to strike inside Russia for the limited purpose of defending Kharkiv, reported <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/joe-biden-partially-lifts-ban-on-ukraine-using-us-weapons-in-strikes-on-russian-territory-13145668">Sky News</a>.
Kharkiv is a Ukrainian city close to the border which has been subjected to intense bombing by Russia over the past few weeks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and others have been increasingly vocal in making the case that the restriction was putting Ukrainian forces in an untenable situation.
Russia made advances in the area as the United States and Western Europe delayed supplying Ukraine with the weaponry it needed to defend itself from Russian aggression.
Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, is just 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the Russian border.
However, U.S. officials stated that the U.S. policy calling on Ukraine not to use American long-range missiles and other munitions to strike inside Russia offensively has not changed.
Since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, Biden had barred Ukraine from using American-made weaponry to launch strikes on Russian territory, concerned that the action could be seen as provocative and lead to Moscow widening the war.
Meanwhile, a top Russian official has said Ukraine striking with US weapons inside of Russia could mean war with NATO and warned that Moscow’s nuclear threats are not a bluff.
NATO is an intergovernmental military alliance comprising 30 European states plus the United States and Canada.
NATO adheres to the principle that an attack against one or several of its members is considered an attack against all.
Responding to Biden partially lifting restrictions on how Ukraine can use American-supplied weapons, Dmitry Medvedev issued a series of warnings to the West.
Dmitry Medvedev was President of Russia (2008–2012), Prime Minister of Russia (2012–2020), and is currently deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia since 2020.
Medvedev said “no one can rule out” when tensions with the West will escalate to its “last stage” – and that Moscow will consider any long-range weapons used by Ukraine to strike inside Russia as being controlled by NATO. He said:
<blockquote>
This is no military assistance, this is participation in a war against us. Such actions could well become a casus belli [an act that provokes a war].
</blockquote>
He also said it would be a “fatal mistake” on the part of the West to think that Russia was not ready to use tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine.
Medvedev warned about the potential to strike unnamed hostile countries with strategic nuclear weapons. He said:
<blockquote>
This is, alas, neither intimidation nor bluffing. The current military conflict with the West is developing according to the worst possible scenario.
There is a constant escalation when it comes to the firepower of NATO weapons being used. Therefore, nobody today can rule out the conflict’s transition to its final stage.
</blockquote>
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Biden Allows Ukraine To Hit Russian Targets With U.S. Weapons

Spain has pledged to provide Ukraine with €1 billion in military aid this year. This comes after Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, and Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, met in Madrid on Monday to sign a decade-long defence and security deal.
The precise details of the agreement have not been made public, but Spain said its assistance would “allow Ukraine to prioritise its capacities, including its air defences”.
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/27/spain-to-give-ukraine-1bn-in-military-aid-in-decade-long-defence-deal">The Guardian</a> reported that the bilateral deal was agreed upon two days after a Russian strike in the north-eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv killed 18 people, and as EU leaders grow increasingly exasperated with Hungary’s efforts to block aid to Ukraine.
Speaking at a press conference after the signing of the “enormously important” deal, Sánchez said:
<blockquote>
[This deal] will allow Ukraine to boost its capabilities, including its essential air defence systems to protect its civilians, cities and infrastructure, which are still suffering indiscriminate attacks as seen this weekend in Kharkiv.
</blockquote>
He said Spain had already pledged to supply Patriot missiles and said it would also send “another batch of Leopard tanks and above all ammunition”.
The Patriot is a surface-to-air missile (SAM) system developed to intercept high-flying aircraft and later modified to address the threat of tactical ballistic missiles.
The Spanish government said the agreement would also include other areas, such as intelligence, training, de-mining, reconstruction and humanitarian assistance.
Zelenskiy said he had briefed Sánchez on the situation on the frontline and was grateful to Spain for its “tangible and truly life-saving support”.
He, however, said Ukraine still urgently needed another seven US-made Patriot air defence systems to stop Russia from hitting the power grid and civilian areas.
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Spain Pledges To Give Ukraine €1 Billion In Military Aid

President Volodymyr Zelensky has cancelled all upcoming foreign trips as Ukrainian troops withdraw from several villages in the border region of Kharkiv following an incursion by Russian forces.
As reported by <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1030vvy0mzo">BBC</a>, a Ukrainian military spokesman said soldiers had come under heavy fire in two areas of the northeastern region and moved to “more advantageous positions” language Ukraine has typically used to signify a retreat.
Russia has claimed that its forces have now taken control of two more settlements in the region – Lukyantski and Hlyboke – and the village of Robotyne, in the southern Zaporizhzhia region
Robotyne was one of a few settlements Kyiv retook in its summer counter-offensive last year.
A spokesman for the Ukrainian military said the decision to move troops from the Lukyantsi and Vovchansk areas was taken to “preserve the lives of our servicemen and avoid losses”.
The military spokesman also said that the situation “remains difficult” but asserted that Ukrainian forces were “not allowing the Russian occupiers to gain a foothold”.
Thousands of civilians have fled west in recent days towards Ukraine’s second-largest city of Kharkiv – including from the town of Vovchansk, located 74km away.
Oleksiy Kharkivskiy, Vovchansk’s police chief, said “The situation is extremely difficult. The enemy is taking positions on the streets of the town of Vovchansk”.
Russian troops made incursions into the Kharkiv region on Friday, and the attack is seen as one of Russia’s most significant ground attacks since it launched its full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022.
On Wednesday, President Zelensky’s office said reinforcements have been sent to the wider Kharkiv region.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced an additional US$2 billion in military aid to the Ukrainian war effort while on a visit to Kyiv. He said:
<blockquote>
We’re rushing ammunition, armoured vehicles, missiles, air defences to get them to the front lines.
We’ve been through challenging times together, I have every confidence that together we will get through these difficult moments.
</blockquote>
It comes weeks after the US Congress passed a $61 billion aid package last month.
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Ukraine Troops Pull Back In Kharkiv After Russia Incursion

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North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, has had a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This meeting has attracted significant attention, with concerns from the West that it could lead to an arms agreement supporting Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Following initial discussions and a visit to an eastern Russian spaceport, a state dinner in honour of Kim has now commenced.
<h3>China factor</h3>
According to Fyodor Tertitskiy, an expert on North Korean military and politics, China plays a crucial role in restraining a potential arms deal between Moscow and Pyongyang. The expert suggests that Putin seeks access to North Korean ammunition stockpiles to support Russia’s war in Ukraine. The expert highlights that both leaders have their own interests to pursue and face domestic pressures. However, any agreement between Russia and North Korea would be influenced by China, their largest trading partner and political patron. The expert emphasises that the relationship between Russia and North Korea is characterised by deception and rhetoric, with Moscow supporting China’s approach to Pyongyang. 
</header>
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<h3>Reports about Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin meeting:</h3>
– Putin hints at assistance: Putin showed a willingness to help North Korea develop its space program during a tour of the Vostochny space launch site. He indicated that Russia came to support North Korea in launching its own satellites and rockets.
– Kim praises Russia: Initial talks focused on economic cooperation, humanitarian issues, and regional situations. Kim praised Russia for defending its sovereignty and security against hegemonic forces, likely referring to the US and the West.
– US arms warning: The US government warned of active arms negotiations between Russia and North Korea, raising concerns about the potential violation of UN sanctions and North Korea’s nuclear-capable ballistic missile program.
– Deepening ties: Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton highlighted the significance of the meeting, extending beyond potential arms deals. He emphasized the importance for North Korea to establish significant contact with Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
– North Korea fires missiles: Prior to the summit, North Korea launched short-range ballistic missiles, possibly as a demonstration of military readiness. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff considered it a provocative act.
– No signing of documents: Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that there are no plans for Putin and Kim to sign documents during their meeting at the Russian Space Centre. The leaders held closed-door talks for over an hour at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Far East region. Peskov stated that Russia is open to cooperating with North Korea in sensitive areas, including military interaction.
– Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a cosmodrome in far eastern Russia. Putin mentioned prospects for military-technical cooperation and bilateral cooperation in space and agriculture.
– Talks between Kim and Putin concluded after approximately four to five hours, with reports of a toast to their friendship and close ties. Kim expressed confidence in the Russian army and people’s ability to triumph against “evil.”
– Sanctions on North Korea: Russia’s position on UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea will not hinder the development of relations between Moscow and Pyongyang. Russia initially supported stringent sanctions against North Korea in 2017 but has since expressed concerns about their humanitarian impact. They advocate for a more balanced approach.
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>
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Kim Jong Un's Meeting With Putin Raises Concerns Of An Arms Agreement Amid Russia-Ukraine War

President Emmerson Mnangagwa congratulated Ukraine as the former Soviet Socialist Republic marks 32 years of independence from the Soviet Union.
Ukraine declared independence from the Soviet Union on 24 August 1991.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Mnangagwa wished Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his country a prosperous future. <a href="https://twitter.com/edmnangagwa/status/1694721464275247357?s=20">He said</a>:
<blockquote>
Today, on Ukrainian Independence Day, we all extend our heartfelt congratulations to the people of Ukraine.
@ZelenskyyUa may the spirit of sovereignty and progress continue to guide your nation towards a prosperous future.
</blockquote>
Ukraine celebrates 32 years of independence as it fights for sovereignty and territorial integrity as Russia’s war rages.
In his address marking Ukraine’s 32nd Independence Day, Zelensky rallied his compatriots to continue defending their freedom. <a href="https://kyivindependent.com/zelenskys-address-on-ukraines-32nd-independence-day/">He said</a>:
<blockquote>
Today we celebrate the 32nd anniversary of our independence — the independence of Ukraine. This is a value for each of us. And this is what we are fighting for.
And everyone is important in this fight. Because this is a fight for something that is important to everyone. An independent Ukraine.
In a big war, there are no small deeds. No unnecessary ones. No unimportant ones. This is true of people, deeds, and words.
</blockquote>
Zelensky thanked the Ukrainian fighters who have valiantly defended the country from the Russsian invaders, saying:
<blockquote>
To you, the father of a Ukrainian warrior, and to you, the mother of a Ukrainian defender. To all Ukrainian families who have raised their children to love Ukraine and have the courage to defend it with all their might.
I am grateful to everyone who is waiting for their loved ones from the front line, to everyone who prays for them every day, who calls or texts such an important “How are you?”
… Many Ukrainians lost loved ones because of the war. Heroes who prevented us from losing Ukraine. I thank and bow to each and every one of them…
I am grateful to every Ukrainian mother for whom our country is and will remain home. Despite the fact that they had to leave because of the war.
And when a mother in any country gives her child a book in Ukrainian so that the child does not lose himself or herself, when a mother teaches Ukrainian, when she worries about Ukraine and waits for news from Ukraine, waits to be able to return, this is the most important thing. Because you are important. All Ukrainians! 
</blockquote>
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022. The invasion has killed tens of thousands on both sides.
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Mnangagwa Congratulates Zelensky On Ukraine's Independence Day

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has openly declared his support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
<a href="https://www.news24.com/news24/africa/news/zimbabwes-mnangagwa-comes-out-in-support-of-russias-invasion-of-ukraine-20230728">News24</a> reported that Mnangagwa became the second African leader to openly side with Russia.
Speaking on the sidelines of the two-day Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum in St Petersburg, Mnangagwa said:
<blockquote>
Zimbabwe is in solidarity with the Russian Federation in your country’s special military operation in Ukraine.
</blockquote>
Most African African countries mostly abstain from United Nations resolutions on the matter. Only Eritrea voted in support of the invasion.
Zimbabwean political commentator Alexander Rusero opined that Mnangagwa’s remarks could have dire consequences for his re-engagement efforts. Said Rusero:
<blockquote>
The implications are a contradiction to his effort on re-engagement and appeasement of the West.
They are also not thought out against the realities of a state that wants to be taken seriously on sanctions claims.
Russia is a strong patron but nowhere near as in a position to bail out a country undergoing a veritable economic meltdown as Zimbabwe.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin gave Mnangagwa a helicopter and 50 000 tonnes of grain free of charge.
Putin announced that Zimbabwe will be among the African countries that will receive grain from Russia, free of charge.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Mnangagwa Supports Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said anyone who “chooses the path of evil destroys itself”, and that “Russia’s weakness is obvious”.
Zelensky was responding to reports that the boss of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, claimed that his fighters have seized “all military facilities” in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, in what Russian President Vladimir Putin described as an “armed mutiny”.
Although he does not mention Putin by name, Zelensky appears to criticise the Russian leader for “throwing hundreds of thousands” into war.
Posting on his Telegram account on Saturday, Zelensky warned that the longer Russia keeps its troops and mercenaries in Ukraine, “the more chaos, pain and problems it will have for itself later”. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-66006142">He wrote</a>:
<blockquote>
Russia used propaganda to mask its weakness and the stupidity of its government. And now there is so much chaos that no lie can hide it. And all this is one person… although he is not able to lead to anything else. Russia’s weakness is obvious.
</blockquote>
According to Reuters, as of 24 June 2023, at least 62 295 people have been killed while 60 117 more have been injured since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
At least 15 000 people are reported missing and approximately 17 million people have been displaced from their homes.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Russia's Weakness Is Obvious, Says Ukrainian President Zelensky

A group of both US Democratic and Republican lawmakers has asked the White House to move this year’s African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) summit away from South Africa.
They are accusing the South African Government of deepening its military relationship with Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
AGOA gives duty-free access to 25% of South African exports to the United States of America.
A letter dated 09 June addressed to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Trade Representative Katherine Tai and National Security Advisor Jacob Sullivan, by the group reads:
<blockquote>
Dear Secretary Blinken, Ambassador Tai, and Mr. Sullivan:
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is the cornerstone of the United States’ economic relationship with Sub-Saharan Africa, enabling deeper commercial ties and strengthening U.S. relationships with the region.
We strongly support this program, and support its reauthorization well ahead of its expiration in 2025.
The annual AGOA Forum offers an important opportunity for U.S. and African leaders to bolster economic and diplomatic relations, and we support your continued work to convene a forum in Africa this year.
However, we wish to express serious concerns with the current plans to host this year’s AGOA Forum in South Africa.
South Africa’s government has formally taken a neutral stance on Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine but has deepened its military relationship with Russia over the past year.
Late last year, a Russian cargo vessel subject to U.S. sanctions docked in South Africa’s largest naval port, and intelligence suggests that the South African government used this opportunity to covertly supply Russia with arms and ammunition that could be used in its illegal war in Ukraine.
In February, South Africa held joint military exercises with Russia and China, and in April, authorized a Russian military cargo plane also subject to U.S. sanctions to land at a South African air force base.
On top of this, in August, South Africa will host the BRICS Summit where the government aims to strengthen its ties with China and Russia and is working to facilitate the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite the outstanding arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
We are seriously concerned that hosting the 2023 AGOA Forum in South Africa would serve as an implicit endorsement of South Africa’s damaging support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and possible violation of U.S. sanctions law.
Further, these actions by South Africa call into question its eligibility for trade benefits under AGOA due to the statutory requirement that beneficiary countries “not engage in activities that undermine United States national security or foreign policy interests.”
While we understand that the AGOA eligibility review process for 2024 is underway and that decisions have not yet been made, we question whether a country in danger of losing AGOA benefits should have the privilege of hosting the 2023 AGOA Forum.
Our concerns are shared by many South African citizens and businesses, who are increasingly vocal about deteriorating conditions in the country.
We encourage you to explore other possible locations to host this year’s forum: we believe it is important that the forum takes place this year and that it be held in Africa, continuing the tradition of alternating the forum’s location between the United States and an AGOA-eligible country.
If South Africa continues to demonstrate support for Russia in its unlawful invasion of Ukraine, then hosting the forum in another country in Sub-Saharan Africa would send a clear and important message that the United States continues to stand with Ukraine and will not accept our trading partners provision of aid to Russia’s ongoing and brutal invasion.
Thank you, we appreciate your attention to this issue.
</blockquote>
The letter was signed by Christopher A. Coons, the Chairman, Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Senate Committee on Appropriations, James E. Risch, Ranking Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Gregory W. Meeks, the Ranking Member, House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Miacheal T. McCaul, the Chairman, House Foreign Affairs Committee.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Top United States Lawmakers Demand South Africa Be Punished For Alleged Russian Support

United States (US) ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety has confirmed meeting International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor but stopped short of apologising for his claims that South Africa sold arms and ammunition to Russia in December 2022.
This is despite Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) spokesperson Clayson Monyela saying Brigety had “apologised unreservedly” for his remarks.
In <a href="https://twitter.com/USAmbRSA/status/1657128120640520193?s=20">a tweet posted</a> about two hours after Monyela <a href="https://twitter.com/ClaysonMonyela/status/1657097215150546952?s=20">had tweeted</a> about the meeting on Friday night, Brigety said he had the chance to “correct misimpressions left by his public remarks” reaffirming the strong ties between South Africa and the United States. He wrote:
<blockquote>
I was grateful for the opportunity to speak with Foreign Minister Pandor this evening and correct any misimpressions left by my public remarks.
In our conversation, I reaffirmed the strong partnership between our two countries and the important agenda our Presidents have given us.
</blockquote>
South Africa is the United States’ largest trading partner in Africa, with billions of dollars worth of trade between the two countries.
It is feared that the straining of relations between the two countries could spell economic trouble, especially for South Africa’s emerging markets.
Brigety is yet to provide concrete proof of his claims that South Africa armed Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
If it is proved that South Africa provided arms to Russia to aid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, there are fears that South Africa faces a risk of heavy sanctions by the US.
South Africa has a relatively well-developed defence industry, with a number of companies involved in the design, manufacture and maintenance of military equipment.
Some of the major players in South Africa’s defence industry include:
<ul>
<li>Denel, which is a state-owned company involved in the production of artillery, munitions, and missile technology; </li>
<li>Armscor, which is responsible for the procurement and management of defence equipment for the South African National Defence Force (SANDF);</li>
<li>Paramount Group, which designs and manufactures armoured vehicles, aircraft and unmanned aerial systems.</li>
</ul>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

US Ambassador Hails Meeting With SA's Pandor But Silent On Apology

South Africa has criticised the United States for alleging that a Russian ship, Lady R, was loaded with weapons while docked at Simon’s Town naval base in South Africa in December last year.
In an interview with the SABC News on Friday, minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said if the United States has security concerns, it must go through the correct channels. <a href="https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2023-05-12-we-cannot-be-bullied-by-the-us-says-minister-in-the-presidency/?utm_source=Arena+Holdings&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=%27We+cannot+be+bullied+by+the+US%2C%27+says+minister+in+the+Presidency+%7C+Load-shedding+pushing+some+KZN+municipalities+to+brink+of+collapse+%7C+City+Power+warns+Alex+residents&amp;utm_term=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timeslive.co.za%2Fpolitics%2F2023-05-12-we-cannot-be-bullied-by-the-us-says-minister-in-the-presidency%2F">She said</a>:
<blockquote>
The ambassador has not followed diplomatic channels in terms of dealing with issues in South Africa and this is not the first time this has happened.
</blockquote>
She castigated US ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety’s “megaphone diplomacy” approach.
Addressing the media in Pretoria on Thursday, Brigety alleged that Washington had established the vessel was loaded with weapons while docked at the naval base. Said Ntshavheni:
<blockquote>
It doesn’t work. If the US has concerns about anything in South Africa, they are allowed to raise them — but the channel they need to contact is DIRCO [the Department of international relations and co-operation] to say these are the issues they have problems with because we have a relationship with the US.
… They have not done that. What was worrying is that the embassy once issued a terror alert, not only for the richest square mile in the African continent but at a period when there was a gay pride march scheduled.
If you know that on our continent we are faced with the challenges of homophobia … when you issue a terror alert based on not-ascertained information, you are saying the LGBTQI community are up for being targeted and anybody can do anything to them.
</blockquote>
Ntshavheni said the United States of America should respect South Africa’s sovereignty and not treat it as a client State. She said:
<blockquote>
They don’t gather information to the extent that we gather, and did not compare notes to see whether what they had gathered was the same as ours.
We have co-operation on security matters, to share information, and they want to treat us as if we are one of their states. We are not.
We are a sovereign and republic state and we are not going to co-govern with the ambassador of the US.
</blockquote>
On Thursday, Brigety told a media briefing that the US believed weapons and ammunition had been loaded onto a Russian freighter that docked at a Cape Town naval base in December 2022.
Brigety said, “We are confident that weapons were loaded onto that vessel and I would bet my life on the accuracy of that assertion”.
Ntshavheni also said South Africa has no sanctions against Russia therefore the US should not drag South Africa into its issues with Russia and China.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

South Africa Responds To US Accusations Of Arming Russia

The leader of Russian paramilitary organisation Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin on Tuesday 08 May made a cryptic but profanity-laced comment about those in charge of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/mercenary-chief-makes-cryptic-profane-remark-about-russian-war-leadership-2023-05-09/?rpc=401&amp;">Reuters</a> reported that the remarks risks getting Prigozhin into more trouble with the Kremlin.
“The Kremlin” is the official residence of the President of Russia and has been used as a seat of power for Russian leaders for centuries.
In a long audio complaint about an alleged lack of ammunition for his Wagner fighters in eastern Ukraine, Prigozhin referred to a figure he called “a happy Grandfather” who thought that all was well with the military campaign. He said:
<blockquote>
And the happy grandfather thinks that he is good. If he turns out to be right then may God grant everyone health.
But what will the country do, our children, grandchildren who are the future of Russia, and how can we win this war if – by chance, and I’m just speculating here – it turns out that this grandfather is a complete ****head?
</blockquote>
The identity of the grandfather figure Prigozhin referred to was unclear, but he has previously poured scorn on Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the General Staff.
He has, however, avoided all personal criticism of President Vladimir Putin.
Analysts have said Prigozhin’s volatile outbursts in recent days looks like an attempt to try to deflect blame for a lack of swift battlefield success.
On Friday, he announced that his forces will withdraw from Bakhmut because of the ammunition problem before saying they will stay and then again suggesting they may leave.
In an audio message posted on his Telegram channel on Sunday, Prigozhin said:
<blockquote>
Overnight we received a combat order, for the first time in all this time. We have been promised as much ammunition and weapons as we need to continue further operations.
We have been promised that everything needed to prevent the enemy from cutting us off [from supplies] will be deployed on the flank.
</blockquote>
The battle for Bakhmut has been the most intense of the conflict, costing thousands of lives on both sides in months of grinding warfare.
Russia sees Bakhmut as a stepping stone to capturing other cities in Ukraine’s Donbas region still beyond its control.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Mercenary Chief Criticises Russian War Leadership In Comments Full Of Profanity

Zimbabwe will host United States and Russian Federation envoys at the same time this week.
The visits come a year into the war in Ukraine that has raised tensions between the United States and Russia.
According to <a href="https://www.news24.com/news24/africa/news/balancing-act-zimbabwe-hosts-us-and-russian-envoys-at-the-same-time-20230301">News24</a>, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of African Affairs Robert Scott is expected to land in Zimbabwe a few hours before the Russians land in Harare.
The Zimbabwean government said that Scott will be in the country to review the “reform priorities” of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government, “especially in the last five years”.
On the other hand, Russia’s minister of foreign affairs and economic relations from the Sverdlovsk region of the federation, Yarin Vyacheslav was also expected in Zimbabwe later on Wednesday afternoon.
Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade said Vyacheslav will be accompanied by Igor Zelenkin, the deputy minister of industry and trade in the Sverdlovsk region. The Ministry said:
<blockquote>
During the visit, the delegation will also tour industrial sites specialising in timber processing, the production of rubber and pharmaceutical substances.
</blockquote>
It added that the visit was necessitated by the two countries’ “existing excellent political relations”.
The United States is currently working on a law to sanction African countries that trade with Russia.
The proposed law, Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act, was crafted last year and is yet to reach U.S. President Joe Biden’s desk.
However, some African countries, including Zimbabwe and South Africa, have refused to cut their deep roots with Russia.
In fact, last month, Russia’s close ally, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was Zimbabwe on a State visit.
Lukashenko said last week that his country would take Russia’s side in the Ukrainian war if attacked.
More <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Zimbabwe Hosts US And Russian Envoys At The Same Time

Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, has claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin “sort of threatened” him with a missile attack shortly before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.
According to a new BBC documentary to be aired on Monday evening, the threat was made in a phone call conducted when the Russian attack on Ukraine was increasingly becoming inevitable. Said Johnson:
<blockquote>
He (Putin) sort of threatened me at one point and said, ‘Boris, I don’t want to hurt you, but with a missile, it would only take a minute’, or something like that.
</blockquote>
Johnson and other Western leaders were trying to dissuade Russia from attacking Ukraine and the British PM emerged as one of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s strongest supporters.
Before the invasion, Johnson claimed he was at pains to tell Putin that there was no imminent prospect of Ukraine joining NATO.
He warned the Russian President that any invasion would mean “more NATO, not less NATO” on Russia’s borders. Said Johnson:
<blockquote>
He said, ‘Boris, you say that Ukraine is not going to join NATO any time soon. ‘What is any time soon?’
And I said, ‘well it’s not going to join NATO for the foreseeable future. You know that perfectly well’.
I think from the very relaxed tone that he was taking and the sort of air of detachment that he seemed to have, he was just playing along with my attempts to get him to negotiate.
</blockquote>
The BBC documentary also reveals that Zelensky asked for weapons from NATO countries to stop the Russian invasion. | <a href="https://www.kyivpost.com/post/11628">Kyiv Post</a>

Former UK Prime Minister Claims Putin Threatened To Kill Him In Missile Strike

Russia’s former president Dmitry Medvedev, who is a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, has warned NATO that Moscow’s defeat in Ukraine could trigger a nuclear war.
In a post on the Telegram messaging app on Thursday, Medvedev, who serves as deputy chairman of Putin’s powerful security council, said:
<blockquote>
The defeat of a nuclear power in a conventional war may trigger a nuclear war.
Nuclear powers have never lost major conflicts on which their fate depends.
</blockquote>
Medvedev (57), served as Russia’s president from 2008 to 2012 and once presented himself as a reformer who was ready to work with the United States to liberalise Russia.
The Kremlin was quick to endorse Medvedev’s remarks, saying they were in full accordance with Moscow’s principles.
Russia’s doctrine allows for a nuclear attack after “aggression against the Russian Federation with conventional weapons when the very existence of the state is threatened”.
Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, was quoted by the state news agency RIA <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-ally-medvedev-warns-nuclear-war-if-russia-defeated-ukraine-2023-01-19/">as saying</a>:
<blockquote>
We pray to the Lord that he brings the madmen to reason and help them understand that any desire to destroy Russia will mean the end of the world.
Today is an alarming time. But we believe that the Lord will not leave Russian land.
</blockquote>
Since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022, Medvedev has repeatedly raised the threat of nuclear chaos and used insults to describe the West.
Russia and the United States hold about 90 percent of the world’s nuclear warheads.
According to the Federation of American Scientists, Russia has 5,977 nuclear warheads while the United States has 5,428, China 350, France 290 and the United Kingdom 225. | <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/1/19/medvedev-warns-of-nuclear-war-if-russia-defeated-in-ukraine">Al Jazeera</a>

Putin Ally Warns Of Nuclear War If Russia Is Defeated In Ukraine

Ukraine’s interior minister Denys Monastyrskyy and other top officials were killed when a helicopter crashed near a nursery in Brovary, outside Kyiv.
The helicopter came down on Wednesday, 18 January near a nursery outside the capital, Kyiv, according to emergency services.
At least 14 people, including Monastyrskyy, his deputy Yevhen Yenin and State Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Yurii Lubkovych and one child were killed in the crash.
It was not immediately clear what caused the helicopter to crash in the town of Brovary.
The State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) said in its latest update the death toll at 3 PM local time (1 PM GMT) stood at 14, including one child.
Dozens of people, including children, were wounded.
Deputy head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, said the helicopter was going to one of the “hot spots” of the war with Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the crash “a terrible tragedy”.
Reporting for Al Jazeera from Kyiv, Natacha Butler said the deaths were a “huge blow” for the country “on a government level”. She said:
<blockquote>
This is Ukraine’s interior minister, one of the highest posts in the country; his deputy.
These are key figures in Ukraine’s government at a time when the government is at war with Russia, so this will be a huge blow to the country no doubt.
You can only imagine some of the conversations happening right now, in Kyiv in those government circles as to what’s going to happen next.
</blockquote>
Monastyrskyy (42), responsible for the police and security inside Ukraine, is the most senior Ukrainian official to die since the war began.
He was a trained lawyer and had served as Ukraine’s interior minister since July 2021.
Monastyrskyy was a key member of Zelenskyy’s party Servant of the People and was married, with two children. | <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/1/18/ukraine-interior-minister-others-killed-in-helicopter-crash">Al Jazeera</a>

Ukraine Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskyy Among 14 killed In Helicopter Crash

The British defence ministry says Russian forces are likely to control the eastern Ukrainian town of Soledar, in the Donetsk region.
A daily update by the ministry on Tuesday said capturing Soledar is “likely an effort to envelop Bakhmut”, the highly contested city 10 kilometres away.
Bakhmut has been referred to as “a meat grinder” due to the sheer large number of troops from both sides who have been killed as the battle for the city continues. Reads the update:
<blockquote>
In the last four days, Russian and Wagner forces have made tactical advances into the small Donbas town of Soledar and are likely in control of most of the settlement.
Soledar is 10km north of Bakhmut, the capture of which likely continues to be Russia’s main immediate operational objective.
Russia’s Soledar axis is highly likely an effort to envelop Bakhmut from the north, and to disrupt Ukrainian lines of communication.
Part of the fighting has focused on entrances to the 200km-long disused salt mine tunnels which run underneath the district.
Both sides are likely concerned that they could be used for infiltration behind their lines.
Despite the increased pressure on Bakhmut, Russia is unlikely to envelop the town imminently because Ukrainian forces maintain stable defensive lines in depth and control over supply routes.
</blockquote>
Seizing Bakhmut would allow Moscow’s troops to advance to two more prominent cities, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/1/10/russian-forces-likely-control-soledar-british-defence-ministry">reported Al Jazeera</a>.
In his late-night address on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Soledar and its environs have been completely destroyed. He said:
<blockquote>
Everything is completely destroyed, there is almost no life left.
The whole land near Soledar is covered with the corpses of the occupiers and scars from the strikes.
This is what madness looks like.
</blockquote>

Russia Close To Capturing Ukraine's Soledar - UK Defence Ministry

Ukraine has rejected a 36-hour ceasefire announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin to mark Orthodox Christmas.
Ukraine said there will be no ceasefire until Russia removes all its invading forces from all occupied land.
Putin ordered his defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, to introduce a temporary ceasefire along the entire line of contact in Ukraine for Orthodox Christmas from midday on Friday to midnight on Saturday.
The order, addressed to Shoigu and published on the Kremlin’s website, read in part:
<blockquote>
Taking into account the appeal of his holiness Patriarch Kirill, I instruct the minister of defence of the Russian Federation to introduce a ceasefire regime along the entire line of contact of the parties in Ukraine from 12.00 on 6 January 2023 to 24.00 on 7 January 2023.
Based on the fact that a large number of citizens professing Orthodoxy live in the areas of hostilities, we call on the Ukrainian side to declare a ceasefire and allow them to attend services on Christmas Eve, as well as on Christmas Day.
</blockquote>
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his nightly video address, said Russia had called for a ceasefire in order to re-equip its troops. He said:
<blockquote>
They now want to use Christmas as a cover, albeit briefly, to stop the advances of our boys in Donbas and bring equipment, ammunition and mobilised troops closer to our positions.
</blockquote>
Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine’s national security and defence council, accused Russia of “hiding behind a Christian holiday”. He said:
<blockquote>
There is a simple solution: they pick up their suitcases, pick up their trash and go to Russia. That’s it.
</blockquote>
In a tweet, Danilov said the Kremlin has no moral authority to call for a ceasefire to celebrate Christmas. He said:
<blockquote>
What does a bunch of little Kremlin devils have to do with the Christian holiday of Christmas?
Who will believe an abomination that kills children, shells maternity homes, and tortures prisoners?
</blockquote>
Many Orthodox Christians, including those living in Russia and Ukraine, celebrate Christmas on 6-7 January because they use the Julian calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar that is used in the West. | <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/05/putin-orders-36-hour-truce-in-ukraine-for-orthodox-christmas">The Guardian</a>

Ukraine Rejects Russia’s 36-hour Ceasefire For Orthodox Christmas

Russia suffered its worst military losses since the war in Ukraine in an attack on 1 January.
Russian officials said that 89 servicemen were killed in Makiivka in eastern Ukraine while Ukraine claimed to have killed nearly 400 Russian soldiers in the attack.
On Monday Russia’s defence ministry acknowledged that 63 Russian soldiers had been killed in a strike in Makiivka.
Makiivka is a small city in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, which has been under the control of pro-Russian separatists since 2014.
A senior Russian military official, Lt Gen Sergei Sevryukov, said Ukraine had hit a temporary base in Makiivka at 12:01 am local time on 1 January, using a US-supplied Himars rocket system.
On Wednesday, the ministry revised the death toll upwards to 89 after more bodies were discovered.
The Ukrainian army’s strategic communications department said that nearly 400 soldiers were killed and 300 injured in the strike in Makiivka.
Russia’s defence ministry has blamed the unauthorised use of mobile phones by its soldiers for the deadly Ukrainian missile attack.
In a statement issued just after 1 AM (22:00 GMT Tuesday) on Wednesday, the Russian defence ministry said:
<blockquote>
This factor allowed the enemy to track and determine the coordinates of the soldiers’ location for a missile strike.
</blockquote>
The announcement of the large number of losses caused shock in Russia, with some prominent bloggers criticising the “incompetence” of the Russian high command. | <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/04/makiivka-strike-what-we-know-about-the-deadliest-attack-on-russian-troops-since-ukraine-war-began">The Guardian</a>

89 Russian Soldiers Killed In Single Ukrainian Missile Attack

The head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis on Sunday appealed for an end to the “senseless” war in Ukraine, in his traditional Christmas Day message broadcast around the world.
The Pope addressed thousands of people gathered in St Peter’s Square, some of them holding Ukrainian flags.
Delivering his message from the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, the 86-year-old on Sunday first turned to “our Ukrainian brothers and sisters who are experiencing this Christmas in the dark and cold, far from their homes”. He added;
<blockquote>
May the Lord inspire us to offer concrete gestures of solidarity to assist all those who are suffering, and may he enlighten the minds of those who have the power to silence the thunder of weapons and put an immediate end to this senseless war.
… The war in Ukraine has further aggravated this situation, putting entire peoples at risk of famine, especially in Afghanistan and in the countries of the Horn of Africa.
We know that every war causes hunger and exploits food as a weapon, hindering its distribution to people already suffering.
On this day, let us learn from the Prince of Peace (Christ) and, starting with those who hold political responsibilities, commit ourselves to make food solely an instrument of peace.
</blockquote>
On Saturday evening, the Pope led the traditional Christmas Eve mass at St Peter’s Basilica, using a wheelchair as he continues to struggle with knee pain.
Meanwhile, the Vatican put the crowd Sunday at 70 000, while 7 000 people attended Saturday evening’s mass, with more following the service on screens outside. | <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/12/25/pope-urges-end-to-senseless-ukraine-war-in-christmas-message">Al Jazeera</a>

Pope Urges End To "Senseless" Ukraine War

Time Magazine has named Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and “the spirit of Ukraine” as its 2022 Person of the Year.
The award goes to an event or person deemed to have had the most influence on global events over the past 12 months, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-63890775">reported BBC News</a>.
The magazine’s editor, Edward Felsenthal, said the decision was “the most clear-cut in memory”. He wrote:
<blockquote>
In a world that had come to be defined by its divisiveness, there was a coming together around this cause, around this country.
</blockquote>
Felsenthal added that the “spirit of Ukraine” referred to Ukrainians around the world, including many who “fought behind the scenes”.
The magazine said Zelensky had inspired Ukrainians and was recognised internationally for his courage in resisting the Russian invasion. It said:
<blockquote>
Zelensky’s success as a wartime leader has relied on the fact that courage is contagious.
</blockquote>
<h2>Previous winners over the past decade</h2>
<ul>
<li>2021 – Elon Musk</li>
<li>2020 – Joe Biden and Kamala Harris</li>
<li>2019 – Greta Thunberg</li>
<li>2018 – “The Guardians”, a group of journalists including Jamal Khashoggi</li>
<li>2017 – “The silence breakers”, the women who started the #MeToo movement</li>
<li>2016 – Donald Trump</li>
<li>2015 – Angela Merkel</li>
<li>2014 – “Ebola Fighters”, medics who fought to contain the outbreak in Africa</li>
<li>2013 – Pope Francis</li>
<li>2012 – Barack Obama</li>
</ul>

Ukrainian President Is Time Magazine's 2022 Person Of The Year

A 23-year-old Zambian student has been killed in Ukraine while fighting on the Russian side, a Zambian government official has said.
In a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02geaNav6WCPBc8P1CwBJaX3AdsvrxtCZCojNkZtSCXpFLpuz1p4rmr7Z3NH5KHdqMl&amp;id=100067821382504">statement</a> issued on Monday, Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Stanley Kakubo said Lemekhani Nathan Nyirenda was studying nuclear engineering at the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute (MEPhI).
Kakubo said in 2020, Nyirenda broke Russia’s laws and was subsequently convicted and sentenced to nine years at Tyer medium security facility on the outskirts of the Russian capital in April 2020. Reads the statement by Kakubo:
<blockquote>
PRESS STATEMENT BY HON. STANLEY K. KAKUBO, M.P, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, ON THE DEMISE OF A ZAMBIAN NATIONAL IN UKRAINE
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation regrets to inform the Nation of the untimely demise of Mr. Lemekhani Nathan Nyirenda, a 23-year-old Zambian Government sponsored student, who was pursuing Nuclear Engineering at the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute (MEPHI) in the Russian Federation.
The Ministry is saddened to inform that, on 9th November, 2022, it was notified of the demise of Mr. Nyirenda, at the battlefront of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Through the Embassy of the Republic of Zambia in Moscow, the Ministry immediately proceeded to verify this information where it was established that Mr. Nyirenda indeed passed away on 22nd September 2022, in Ukraine.
The Embassy further established that Mr. Nyirenda’s remains have since been transported to the Russian border town of Rostov in readiness for repatriation to Zambia.
The Ministry wishes to further state that in April 2020, Mr. Nyirenda contravened the laws of the Russian Federation and as such, was subsequently convicted and sentenced to nine years and six months imprisonment. 
He was serving his sentence at Tyer Medium Security Prison on the outskirts of Moscow.
In view of this very sad development, the Zambian Government has requested the Russian authorities to urgently provide information on the circumstances under which a Zambian citizen, serving a prison sentence in Moscow, could have been recruited to fight in Ukraine and subsequently lose his life.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation is deeply saddened by the untimely demise of Mr. Nyirenda under such circumstances and commiserates with the family on their loss.
As minister, I have been personally in touch, and will maintain contact, with the family of the deceased in order to provide an update on more details surrounding their loved one’s death, once official communication is received from the Russian authorities
</blockquote>

Russia Sends Jailed Zambian Student To Fight In Ukraine; Student Killed At Battlefront

Russia’s military has been ordered to withdraw from the Ukrainian city of Kherson, the only regional capital it captured after invading on 24 February this year.
Russia’s commander in Ukraine, Gen Sergei Surovikin, who previously was commander of Russia’s recent operations in Syria, said it was no longer possible to keep supplying Kherson.
The withdrawal means Russian forces will pull out entirely from the western bank of the River Dnipro.
It is a significant blow as Russia faces a Ukrainian counter-offensive, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63573387">reported BBC</a>.
Russia’s military top brass was seen making the decision on Russian state TV. Gen Surovikin told the meeting:
<blockquote>
In these circumstances, the most sensible option is to organise the defence along a barrier line along the river Dnipro.
</blockquote>
Russia’s supply lines across the Dnipro River had become increasingly difficult after the few bridges across were destroyed by Ukrainian missiles.
Before Russia announced the withdrawal, it moved thousands of civilians out of the city by boat, in what Ukraine condemned as forced deportation.
The retreat was announced shortly after Russian media said the deputy leader of Kherson, Kirill Stremousov, had been killed in a car crash.
Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, announced Russia’s annexation of Kherson, and three other occupied regions, at the end of September.

Russia To Withdraw Troops From Key Ukrainian City Of Kherson

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday warned of a “global catastrophe” if NATO troops directly clashed with the Russian army in Ukraine.
Speaking in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana where he attended the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), Putin said:
<blockquote>
In any case, direct contact, a direct clash of (NATO) troops with the Russian army is a very dangerous move which could lead to a global catastrophe.
I hope that those who are saying this are smart enough not to take such a step.
</blockquote>
Earlier, Putin had warned that he would use nuclear weapons to defend Russian territory after annexing four regions of Ukraine last month, a move condemned by the United Nations.
On Tuesday, the Group of Seven (G7) nations (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US) warned that the use of nuclear weapons on Ukraine will have severe consequences.
Leaders of G7 states (the UK, Germany, Italy, Canada, the US, France, and Japan) said:
<blockquote>
We deplore deliberate Russian escalator steps, including the partial mobilization of reservists and irresponsible nuclear rhetoric, which is putting global peace and security at risk.
We reaffirm that any use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons by Russia would be met with severe consequences.
</blockquote>
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022 but has so far failed to capture Kyiv or remove the Ukrainian government which it claimed was run by “Nazis”.
In fact, Ukraine, which has received a wide range of weapons from NATO members, has pushed Russian forces from the outskirts of its capital and recaptured significant territory in the east. | <a href="https://www.khaleejtimes.com/world/putin-warns-of-global-catastrophe-if-nato-russian-troops-clash-directly?_refresh=true">Khaleej Times</a>

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