Joe Biden called the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky before his speech to the nation. Then he told Americans in prime time that the security of Ukraine and Israel was critical to the United States. And if Putin is not stopped, he will not limit himself to Kiev. The issue is the provision of economic and military aid to the two countries at war. And according to several sources, Ukraine could receive 60 billion of the package being voted on in Congress. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian parliament is preparing to vote on a bill to ban the Orthodox Church in Moscow. The bombing in the field continues: two people are injured by the Russians in the Kherson region. Explosions also in Dnipro and Zaporizhia.
The war in Ukraine, what is there to know?
dossier – Warpaths
Live news from the Ukraine-Russia conflict
Important points
05:30
Kiev: “Moscow has lost 290,000 men since the start of the war”
03:30
Biden: “If we don’t stop Putin’s appetite, he won’t limit himself to Kiev”
2:41 p.m
Von der Leyen: “Europe must play a role in Ukraine’s long-term security”
“I want Europe to play a central role in ensuring Ukraine’s long-term security. That’s why we need to increase defense spending and our industrial base. And we have already started with an initial investment to increase our ammunition production capacity.” This was underlined by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in a speech at the Hudson Institute in Washington DC, where she met today with Charles Michel and Josep Borrell meets with President Joe Biden.
“I believe that this work – he added – must be done in synergy with the United States, our oldest and strongest ally. Any solution to this conflict must be permanent and include a just and lasting peace for Ukraine. And for this reason, Ukraine needs long-term security guarantees. Many of you will be familiar with the concept of “deterrence through denial.” It’s about the idea of equipping Ukraine with the military equipment it needs to repel future Russian attacks. I am eternally grateful to the United States “You thank the States for their military support to Ukraine: you have strengthened the courage of Ukrainians,” she concluded.
(afp) 2:15 p.m
Scholz calls Zelenskyy: “Solidarity from Germany to Ukraine”
Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke on the phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and discussed the political, military and humanitarian situation in Ukraine. As the Chancellery reports, “Zelenskyy informed Scholz about the consequences of the recent Russian attacks and thanked the federal government for its military support, especially in strengthening Ukrainian air defense as part of the second winter package.” “Scholz – it goes on to say – reiterated in view of the Russia’s ongoing aggression expresses its continued and unwavering solidarity with Ukraine. The Chancellor assured that Germany will continue to support Ukraine in the military area in close coordination with European and international partners.” Scholz and Zelensky “agreed to continue their constructive exchange with a view to global support for a peace solution and to remain in close contact,” the statement concluded.
1:50 p.m
The Olympic Committee rejects Putin’s allegations of “ethnic discrimination.”
The International Olympic Committee has rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s allegations of “ethnic discrimination” against athletes banned from international competitions. The IOC has decided that Russian athletes can again compete as neutral athletes without a national identity ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, with teams still excluded. Neutral status can be approved for athletes who have not actively supported the war and do not have a contract with the military or state security agencies: “We firmly reject allegations that these measures constitute ‘ethnic discrimination,'” one said IOC statement the day after Putin’s speech. “They are a response to the violation of the Olympic Charter by the governments of Russia and Belarus,” the Olympic body said, referring to the military invasion of Ukraine that began in February 2022, four days after the end of the Winter Games in Beijing. The UN-backed Olympic ceasefire was still in effect. Putin also reportedly complained on Thursday that invitations to the Olympics are not considered a right for top athletes.
1:27 p.m
Kremlin on speech in which Biden called Putin a tyrant and compared him to Hamas: ‘Unacceptable’
The Kremlin condemns US President Joe Biden’s speech in which he compared Russia to Hamas and called Vladimir Putin a “tyrant.” “This is unacceptable for us… We do not accept such a tone towards the Russian Federation, towards our president,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
1:16 p.m
Von der Leyen: Europe and the USA must continue to shape the history of the future
“I believe it is once again our duty as Europe and the United Statescontribute to shaping the history of the future.” This was said by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, speaks at the Hudson Institute in Washington DC, where he meets US President Joe Biden. “I believe it is right,” he continued, “that the United States renews its financial and military support for Kiev. And that’s why I think it’s right for Europe to keep its support high. The people of Ukraine are ready to die for our shared values. They have been doing this for over 600 days. Together we fueled their resistance. And that is the best of the transatlantic partnership. A partnership for freedom, peace and prosperity. A partnership for shared values,” he concluded.
(Image) 12:49
Von der Leyen: “Russia and Hamas are similar”
“Iran, the patron of Hamas, only wants to fan the flames of chaos. Russia, Iran’s military expert, is watching closely. Russia and Hamas are in a similar situation. As the President said.” Volodymyr Zelenskytheir ‘essence is the same.'” This is what European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said last night in a speech at the Hudson Institute, a conservative think tank in Washington DC. “Both – von der Leyen continued – have targeted innocent civilians, including Infants and children wanted to kill or take hostage. It’s a barbaric way to fight. And if left unchecked, this contagion has the potential to spread from Europe throughout the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific. The resolve of the West is tested every day by those who seek every weakness.”
(afp) 12:06
The application for preventive pre-trial detention for the journalist Kurmasheva will be examined in court in Russia today
A Russian court will decide today on a request for pretrial detention against Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, whose case marks the second arrest of an American reporter in Russia this year. The hearing is scheduled to take place in Kazan in Russia’s Tatarstan region, and it is very rare in Russia for a judge to reject a request for detention. Russia has launched a sweeping crackdown on independent media, NGOs, journalists, lawyers and political opponents since the Kremlin began its attack on Ukraine in February 2022. While many Russian activists and reporters have fled their country for fear of arrest, others – famous and anonymous – have been jailed. The Kazan court reported to the press that Kurmasheva, a journalist from the American media Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), was being prosecuted for violating the obligations related to her registration as a “foreign agent” and therefore the investigators are concerned about it had asked for imprisonment.
11:13 a.m
Medvedev on Biden’s speech: “Words of a crazy old man”
“The dementia of a crazy old man” is former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s comment on US President Joe Biden’s speech about supplying tens of billions of dollars worth of weapons to Ukraine and Israel. On his Telegram channel, Medvedev explains that “an accelerated decline in the very fabric of Western society” is underway. “The fact that they are investing in the deaths of unnecessary people,” he adds, “is intelligent and positive. There are no words here. This goes beyond good and evil. And this is not just the dementia of a crazy old man, but the whole philosophy of their lives over the centuries. Regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Medvedev says: “In the West you can express condolences to the Israelis, but not to the Palestinians. You shouldn’t feel sorry for them. They are all terrorists there, let them die in thousands.” . Children, women, the elderly are simply consumer goods.” “The result of such statements – concludes the former Russian president – is obvious. The intifada will last forever.”
10:47 a.m
US support for Zelensky is encouraging for Ukraine and the troops
U.S. bipartisan support is “incredibly encouraging” for Ukraine and its troops, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Biden announced his request to Congress for $100 billion, including $60 for Ukraine and $14 for Israel.
The United States has been the main source of aid to Kiev since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. “The unwavering bipartisan support of Ukraine in the United States is incredibly encouraging for all of our warriors and for the entire nation,” Zelenskiy wrote Friday on X , formerly known as Twitter.
10:01
Putin visits soldiers in Rostov-on-Don
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Russian Armed Forces command post in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, where he was “informed about the special military operation.” This was announced by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. “After returning from Perm, President Putin made a detour to Rostov-on-Don, where he visited the command post of the Russian Armed Forces,” Peskov said. “Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov informed the Russian President about the current situation in the special operations zone. Discussions also took place with other senior military commanders.”
(afp) 09:40
The Russians: Two people killed in Ukrainian attacks on the eastern bank of the Dnieper
Two people have been killed in Ukrainian attacks on the eastern bank of the Dnieper in the southern Kherson region. This was stated by a representative of the regional emergency service. “Two civilians were killed in the attacks on Alyoshki and Pezhanovka,” the representative said. In total, “Ukrainian artillery shelled twelve communities on the eastern bank of the Dnieper in the Kherson region in the last 24 hours.”
09:05
Moscow: The USA benefits from conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East
The United States benefits from wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the fact that US President Joe Biden spoke of “investing” in the security of Americans proves this. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said this in Telegram, commenting on Biden’s address to the nation, in which he defined aid to Israel and Ukraine as “a smart investment for the security of generations of Americans.” Zakharova said that “they call it the ‘fight for freedom and democracy,'” but “now it turns out that these are just calculations. It’s always been that way, they’ve simply deceived the world by using values that Washington never really had.” A spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry says it’s therefore “just business” and “wars were for them “The United States traditionally made ‘smart investments’ because they did not take place on American soil and did not care about the costs incurred by others.”
06:01
Explosions at night in Melitopol
During the night, several explosions occurred in Melitopol, an occupied city in the Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia, said exiled mayor Ivan Fyodorov. The loudest explosion was heard in the Aviamistechka area, where the Russians have set up their military base, at the occupied airport, he said.
05:30
Kiev: “Moscow has lost 290,000 men since the start of the war”
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces says Russia has lost 292,060 soldiers in Ukraine since the invasion began. According to the report, Russia also lost 5,047 tanks, 9,557 armored fighting vehicles, 7,012 artillery systems, 822 multiple rocket systems, 548 air defense systems, 320 aircraft, 324 helicopters, 5,326 drones, 20 ships and boats and one submarine.
04:40
North Korea: We want forward-looking relations with Moscow
North Korea wants to “develop a stable, far-sighted and far-reaching plan for relations with Russia in the new era.” President Kim Jong-un said this at a meeting with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Pyongyang, who was taking part in a two-day mission aimed at preparing for a future visit by Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. This was announced by the official KCNA agency, according to which the North Korean head of state guaranteed that the agreements reached at the summit would be conscientiously implemented.
03:30
Biden: “If we don’t stop Putin’s appetite, he won’t limit himself to Kiev”
In his evening address to the nation, US President Joe Biden linked Israel and Ukraine. “History has taught us that when dictators don’t pay, they can cause more death and destruction. So if we don’t stop Putin’s hunger for power and control over Ukraine, he won’t just limit himself to Kiev.” For Biden, Hamas and the Russian president “pose different threats, but they have one thing in common: they want the democracies that are close to them “We can’t let them win.” I refuse to let that happen.”
The terror and tyranny of Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but both seek to completely destroy a neighboring democracy.
Let me share with you why this is critical to America’s national security: https://t.co/MoClTKCBCw
– President Biden (@POTUS) October 20, 2023
02:53
Bombs in the Sumy region
Russian forces shelled eight communities along the border of Sumy Oblast, the local military administration said. A wounded Krasnopillia.
00:01
Phone call between Biden and Zelensky
Joe Biden had a phone call with the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky before his speech this evening, “to discuss the United States’ continued commitment to supporting Ukraine in Russia’s brutal war.” “Ukraine is grateful for the vital and enduring support of the United States in its fight for freedom and against Russia Aggression,” Zelensky said after the phone call with Biden. Zelensky said Ukrainians were “very encouraged by the delivery of the Atacms and that soldiers were “putting them to good use on the battlefield.”
During our call, President Biden heard a strong message of U.S. support for Ukraine – until it prevails.
I am grateful to Mr. President, both parties in the U.S. Congress, and the entire American people for their powerful support and leadership.
American leadership… pic.twitter.com/FmsMa5PTKr
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / ????????? ???????????? (@ZelenskyyUa) October 19, 2023