• Washington Post: “A Ukrainian colonel coordinated the sabotage of Nord Stream”
• Lithuania sends Nasams rocket launchers to Kiev. Zelensky thanks.
• Kiev: “The war is at the point of no return.”
• EU: “New sanctions against Moscow soon, discussions are ongoing.”
1 p.m. – “Putin opens up to dialogue with the West if it leads to results”
Putin “never rules out” contacts with Western leaders, but they must be “effective contacts” that lead to a result. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this today after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said yesterday that it was “necessary” to continue talks with the Russian president. “The president – emphasized Peskov, quoted by the Tass agency – never excludes contacts, as he has always said that he is open to various conversations, especially at the summit. But the president was and is always a supporter of results-oriented communication and not of conversations for the sake of conversations.” In an interview with the Heilbronner Stimme, Scholz said that “today, in this situation, it is necessary to talk to Putin.” “I have done it in the past and will do it again in the future,” the Chancellor added, explaining, however, that for the start of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia “the withdrawal of (Russian) troops is necessary and that is “It (Putin)” is obviously not prepared to do anything.”
12.43 p.m. – Kremlin: “We are following the news about Nord Stream, anyone who knows will reveal the names”
Moscow is investigating reports suggesting Ukraine’s involvement in the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipeline in September 2022 and demands that those investigating this “terrorist attack” provide “the names of the perpetrators, the executors, the coordinators and the perpetrators.” reveal. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this today after The Washington Post on Saturday identified retired Ukrainian colonel Roman Chervinsky as the “coordinator” of the attack, emphasizing that he did not act alone. “Ukrainian traces of this terrorist attack are increasingly manifesting themselves in various news reports, in investigations and in the mass media,” Peskov noted, quoted by the Interfax agency. However, the Kremlin spokesman described the hypothesis that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy may not have known anything about the operation as “worrying”. “This applies,” said Peskov, “not only to us, but also to the entire West, because if the Kiev regime is no longer in control of the internal situation, that is worrying and must be kept in mind.”
12:26 p.m. – Africa and the Russian National Guard. What happened to the Wagner militiamen?
(Marta Serafini) What happened to the militia members of Wagner, the most feared and powerful mercenary force in the world? According to British intelligence, many of them joined the Russian National Guard Rosgvardia after the death of their leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, who was killed in an attack along with his deputy Uktin.
Here is the full article.
12.13 p.m. – Ukraine, 4 young refugee tennis players will train in Turin
In Turin, the city that currently hosts the eight best tennis players in the world on the occasion of the ATP Finals, tennis is also celebrated in another way, with four young Ukrainian tennis players staying in the city for ten months with their mothers so that they can continue their higher education, which was interrupted by the war Continue training. They are Mariia Sidelnyk (2008), Polina Kuznietsova, Veronika Pavlenko and Anna-Adelina Nykyforuk (2009). The project, supported by the I-Tennis Foundation for Ukrainian Children, was presented today in the Piedmont region. The eight Ukrainian refugees, four girls and four mothers will be fully accommodated. The athletes, who will continue to study on an ad hoc correspondence course, will train at the Circolo della Stampa Sporting under the supervision of Gipo Arbino, coach of Lorenzo Sonego and Ivan Ljubicic, world number 3 in 2006 and last coach of Roger Federer. “This,” Ljubicic said to the eight Ukrainian women sitting in the front row wearing the foundation’s uniform, “is a fantastic project based in a country, Italy, and a city, Turin, that are really welcoming and gave me a lot.” changed my life by allowing me to leave my war-torn homeland of Serbia at the age of 13 and become a champion. Your story reminds me very much of mine – he added – I also found refuge here thirty years ago after living in a refugee camp in Croatia for six months. And since then I have never given up. I look forward to contributing to your growth. So I didn’t have my parents with me, you have your mothers nearby. You will have a great moment of your life with them. “History,” said Chiara Caucino, councilor for children in the Piedmont region, “has taught us how sport can be a motor for cohesion, solidarity and peace.” The fact that these girls are here to share their talent and their dreams in such a tragic moment for their country is a great source of hope.” Among the testimonials of the project present in the region are also the Italian champions Lorenzo Sonego (47 ATP) and Elisabetta Cocciaretto (35 WTA).
11:09 a.m. – Kiev: “24 Russian attacks in Donetsk repelled in 24 hours”
The Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 24 Russian attacks in the Marinka sector of Donetsk Oblast in the last 24 hours. The General Staff announced this in its morning update on Facebook, Ukinform reported. “In the Marinka direction, our defenders repelled 24 attacks by the invaders in the Maryinka and Novomykhailivka areas of the Donetsk region,” the report said.
According to the General Staff, 69 combat missions were registered on the last day. The Russian occupation forces launched seven rocket attacks and 34 air strikes and carried out 59 multiple rocket launcher attacks on Ukrainian troop positions and populated areas. Damage to residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure was recorded and civilian casualties were reported. There were rocket attacks on civilian facilities in the city of Kharkiv.
11:08 a.m. – Kremlin: “Putin-Erdogan telephone conversation not on the agenda now”
A telephone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is not currently on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s agenda, but such contacts could be arranged “within a few hours,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today, quoted by Ria Novosti. A source from Erdogan’s office told the Russian agency that the Turkish leader would resume “telephone diplomacy” with world leaders this week on issues related to the Gaza Strip and a conversation with Putin was not ruled out. “No, such a conversation is not yet on the president’s agenda,” Peskov commented. “But high-level talks between us and the Turkish side are taking place literally within a few hours, so no problems are expected on this issue.” And the agenda of such talks is always broad, this is due to the diverse developments in our bilateral relations Peskov told reporters.
8:55 a.m. – Tass: “Russian forces gain positions on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River.” Then the agency is withdrawn
Mystery surrounding the regrouping of Russian troops east of the Dnipro River. The Russian news agency Tass initially rejected the report that Putin’s soldiers had gained positions on the Eastern Front, only to later retract the news.
8:32 a.m. – Putin’s trip to Kazakhstan is over: The country’s (new) role as the “backyard of the Russians”
FROM OUR REPORTER
KYIV – Vladimir Putin’s trip to Kazakhstan has ended. The Russian leader was greeted at dawn on the tarmac of Astana Airport by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The talks will focus on trade relations, which are becoming closer due to sanctions imposed on Russia elsewhere, as well as new agreements on energy, customs and labor issues.
But the visit – Putin’s third trip abroad since the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him – came just days after French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed him to the country. Therefore, it is a mistake to define Kazakhstan as the Russians’ backyard.
In recent months, Western leaders have made numerous trips to Central Asia to express their interest in a region they had neglected for years. However, unlike many countries that were considered close to Russia before the invasion of Ukraine, Kazakhstan was able to maintain a strong and independent foreign policy, with Tokayev publicly distancing himself from accepting Russia’s idea of violent border change.
Tokayev also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in 2023, who thanked the Kazakh president for humanitarian aid to the country. Positions that are also noticeable through a funny detail. Tokayev’s opening speech was delivered in Kazakh, a surprise for the Russian delegation, which for decades had been accustomed to being received in Russian, the country’s official language. Therefore, the scene in which delegates searched for and put on headsets for simultaneous translation was seen by some observers as the new reality of Russian-Kazakh relations – a reality in which Kazakhstan is in charge.
08:00 – Zelensky: “Prepare for attacks on infrastructure in winter”
Ukraine must “prepare” for Russian attacks on infrastructure this winter, President Volodymyr Zelensky warned: “We must prepare for the possibility that the enemy will increase the number of drone or missile attacks on our infrastructure,” he said in his daily speech.
“All our attention must be focused on defense (…) on everything Ukraine can do to help our people get through the winter,” he added. Ukraine has received key air defense systems from its Western allies, including the US-made Patriots.
“Unfortunately, (the air shield) does not yet fully protect the entire area. We are working to further improve it,” Zelensky added.