New Foreign Secretary David Cameron meets Zelensky
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Vladimir Putin spoke at a virtual G20 summit today, repeating the propaganda line that Russia remains open to peace talks in Ukraine and calling the “special military operation” a “tragedy” despite ordering the invasion.
“Yes, of course military actions are always a tragedy,” Putin said. “And of course we should think about how we can stop this tragedy. By the way, Russia has never rejected peace talks with Ukraine.”
The Russian leader said the invasion was necessary to overcome what he called a “coup.”
During his short speech, which lasted about 17 minutes, it seemed as if only a handful of countries tuned in to hear his speech, including Spain, Singapore, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Korea and host India. According to a report by Bloomberg, China and the US declined to participate.
Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian troops faced “difficult” defensive operations on parts of the Eastern Front as bitter winter cold sets in. Images from the front line in Donbass and Kiev show that it has already started to snow.
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Russia has never given up on peace negotiations with Ukraine, says Putin
Vladimir Putin said Russia never gave up on peace negotiations with Ukraine.
“The situation in Ukraine can only be shocking, but the coup in Ukraine and the extermination of civilians there and in Palestine are not shocking,” he said, according to state media.
Tom Watling22. November 2023 1:28 p.m
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Putin pictured speaking at a virtual G20 summit
Vladimir Putin was pictured addressing the virtual G20 summit.
It appears that only a handful of countries tuned in to hear his speech, including India, Spain, Indonesia and Korea.
Vladimir Putin speaks at a virtual G20 summit
(tass)
Tom Watling22. November 2023 1:25 p.m
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Estonia accuses Russia of helping migrants to the border
Estonia’s interior minister on Wednesday accused Russia of being involved in a “hybrid attack operation” to bring migrants to the border with the aim of undermining security and unsettling the Baltic state’s population.
A total of 75 migrants, mostly from Somalia and Syria, have attempted to enter Estonia from Russia via the Narva border crossing since Thursday, Estonian public broadcaster ERR reported. No one has applied for asylum and all have been rejected, the Interior Ministry said.
Estonia has made preparations to close border crossings if “migration pressure from Russia escalates” and to deal with migrants if they try to enter outside official border crossings, Interior Minister Lauri Laanemets told Portal through a spokesman.
“Unfortunately, there are many signs that Russian border officials and possibly other authorities are involved,” the minister said.
“Frankly, (the) ongoing migratory pressure on Europe’s eastern border is a hybrid offensive operation,” he added.
Russian officials were not immediately available for comment.
Estonia’s neighbor Finland said on Tuesday that Russian authorities were likely directly involved in a sudden surge of more than 500 asylum seekers, mostly from Yemen, Somalia, Syria and Iraq, arriving from Russia over the past two weeks.
On Monday, the Kremlin denied that Russia was deliberately pushing illegal migrants toward the Finnish border and said Russian border guards were carrying out their duties in accordance with the rules.
Migrants look at a Finnish customs officer’s dog at the international border crossing with Russia earlier this week
(AP)
Tom Watling22. November 2023 9:00 p.m
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Ten years later, war-weary Ukraine reflects on the events that began its collision course with Russia
It happens every year in November when the cold hits Kiev. The change in the weather makes Dmytro Riznychenko think back again and again and is overwhelmed by his emotions.
“It really started here,” Riznychenko said as he recently walked through Independence Square in central Kiev, reflecting on the uprising that sparked a decade of momentous change for Ukraine and ultimately led to the current war with Russia.
“Ten years of war and fighting,” the 41-year-old psychologist continued tiredly and reluctantly. “And it seems like the blood has just started to flow, really. I regret nothing. But, God, it’s just so tiring.”
Tom Watling22. November 2023 8:00 p.m
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Ukraine may not be able to meet its future grain needs amid incessant Russian attacks, the UN says
“If the attacks on food infrastructure and the blockage of maritime export routes continue, this will have a dramatic impact on agricultural production prospects in the coming years and, in the worst case, result in wheat production being unable to meet domestic and export demand ,” Matthew Hollingworth, WFP Ukraine director, said on Tuesday.
Tom Watling22. November 2023 7:00 p.m
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The German Defense Minister announces further help for Ukraine in the fight against the Russian invasion
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius vowed on Tuesday to continue supporting Ukraine’s efforts to win the war against Russia, pledging further military aid worth 1.3 billion euros ($1.4 billion).
The new support will include additional Iris-T SLM anti-aircraft missile systems as well as anti-tank mines and 155-millimeter artillery shells, the German news agency dpa reported.
“We are talking about 20,000 additional grenades,” Pistorius said at a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov in Kiev, according to dpa.
Tom Watling22. November 2023 6:00 p.m
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Putin could start purchasing ballistic missiles from Iran, the White House warns
Moscow has received hundreds of Shahed drones, which the Russian military has used against Ukraine’s energy facilities and other critical infrastructure.
Tom Watling22. November 2023 5:00 p.m
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Putin scales back attack on strategic Ukrainian city of Avdiivka after heavy Russian losses
Vladimir Putin has scaled back his attack on Avdiivka, said Kiev military officials, who also warned that the attacks had not yet completely stopped.
“Russian occupation forces have reduced the number of ground and air strikes, although they still violate the rules of war by firing on medical teams and evacuation vehicles,” Ukrainian military spokesman Oleksandr Shtupun said.
Tom Watling22. November 2023 4:30 p.m
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The Lithuanian military support package arrives in Ukraine
A Lithuanian military support package has arrived in Ukraine, according to a Defense Ministry statement.
You can read the details of the package below.
Tom Watling22. November 2023 4:03 p.m
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Here are some of the latest photos from Ukraine
Below are some of the latest photos from Ukraine as the first snowfall of winter blankets parts of the country.
A woman walks her dog next to destroyed Russian armored vehicles during the first snowfall of winter in Kiev
(EPA)
Vladimir Putin speaks during a virtual G20 summit hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
(POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
A Ukrainian tank crew member from the 21st Mechanized Brigade sits in a German-made Leopard 2A5 main battle tank near the front line
(AFP via Getty Images)
Tom Watling22. November 2023 3:16 p.m