Today
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
10:22
A first foreign trip for Putin
According to a statement from the authorities, the Russian president is expected in Kyrgyzstan in mid-October. “At the invitation of the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin will pay an official visit to the country on October 12,” the official Kyrgyzstan Kabar news agency said, citing an official of the presidential administration of allied with this state deal with Moscow.
It will be Vladimir Putin’s first visit abroad since the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against him.
10:20
FIRST ESTIMATE
According to internal calculations in Brussels, after joining the European Union, Ukraine would receive $186 billion within seven years, making “many” existing member states net contributors for the first time.
The model, the first presented in Brussels on the possible accession of nine new member states and seen by the Financial Times, will be applied to an enlarged union that includes Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and six Western Balkan states. The total financial amount of this supplement
256.8 billion euros. The consequences for the current member states would be, among other things, a reduction in agricultural subsidies by around a fifth.
09:55
WILL UKRAINE JOIN THE EU BY 2030?
The President of the European Council spoke out in favor of Ukraine joining by 2030. In an interview with the German daily Der Spiegel, Charles Michel said he had called on the EU to speed up “the decision-making processes”. “Ukraine can be part of the EU in 2030 if both sides do their homework,” he said, emphasizing that neither Ukraine nor any other candidate country will receive special benefits.
09:27
JOURNALIST SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS IN PRISON
Journalist Marina Ovsiannikova, known for challenging Vladimir Putin on state television, was sentenced in absentia to eight and a half years in prison for criticizing the army in a separate case, a Russian court announced on Wednesday.
The journalist, who fled Russia a year ago, was charged with “spreading false information” about the Russian armed forces and was already fined for similar offenses in August 2022. According to the Ria Novosti agency, this time she was convicted for demonstrating last year alone with a sign against the Russian offensive in Ukraine.
08:41
LIFE SIZE TEST IN RUSSIA
Russia will test its emergency systems throughout its territory. For the first time since 2020, the country’s sirens will sound at 10:43 a.m. local time, interrupting television broadcasts to warn people of impending danger.
The test is part of a new initiative that will require authorities to conduct these tests twice a year starting September 1, Portal reports. And coincidentally, it comes on the same day that the United States will conduct a large-scale test of its warning systems via cell phones and American television and radio stations.
08:34
UPDATE ON THE SITUATION
It’s 8:30 a.m., a chance to look back at the highlights of the last 24 hours.
International
Published today at 7:55am.
07:49
MOSCOW ROCK UKRAINIAN TRIALS
Russia says it shot down 31 Ukrainian drones on its territory and repelled an attempted landing by Kiev on the annexed Crimean peninsula. “Air defense systems operating over the territory of Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk regions intercepted and destroyed 31 Ukrainian drones,” the ministry said on Telegram, without mentioning possible injuries or damage.
Regarding the attempted landing on the peninsula illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014, the ministry said that “the actions of an aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces frustrated the attempt of a landing group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to enter the territory of Crimea.” Him According to reports, these soldiers were on board a “fast military boat and three jet skis” on their way to Cape Tarkhankout in the northwest of the peninsula.
07:12
EUROPE ADDICTED TO RUSSIAN GAS
Despite the war in Ukraine, the European Union (EU) has increased its purchases of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG). By investing in port terminals, Europeans increased their purchases of LNG by 70% last year, transported by ship and more than 40% coming from the United States. Imports of Russian LNG have also skyrocketed, particularly through TotalEnergies, which has invested heavily in Siberia – gas is not subject to any sanctions or restrictions. Reliant on fossil fuels and nervous as winter approaches, Europeans can find alternative suppliers, but that will take time in a tight market.
07:10
What is the future of American aid?
As “time runs against us,” the White House continues to put pressure on the national political scene. At a press conference on Tuesday, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby spoke of the need to support Ukraine’s armed forces as winter approaches. He estimated that American aid could last “several months” unless Congress voted for new funding.
The Pentagon agreed, while also calling on Congress to ensure continued American aid. The US Congress, consisting of the Senate, which currently has a Democratic majority, and the House of Representatives, has about a month and a half to pass an annual budget that would include a new amount to fund military and humanitarian support for Ukraine.
07:07
Biden wants to calm things down internationally
The American president is trying to convince the United States’ allies of the sustainability of American support for Ukraine, which depends on the outcome of budget discussions, which are chaotic to say the least. During a conference call, he assured that he remained “optimistic about the continued support of the bipartisan (American) parties and both chambers” of the US Congress in Kiev, according to John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council.
A French diplomatic source said that “the call was made very quickly,” adding that Catherine Colonna had “reaffirmed the firmness of France’s commitment to the Ukrainians.” “That was the general tone of the exchange,” this source said.
07:03
WELCOME
Hello and welcome to this live stream dedicated to news about the war in Ukraine. Current information on the conflict can be found here.