Italian PM arrives in Ukraine

"Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday on her first visit to
Ukraine.

She will visit Bucha and Irpin and hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the afternoon. She is expected to stress to Zelensky that Italy's support for Kyiv will be unwavering as long as she is in charge." ukrin

Armed Forces of Ukraine repel enemy attacks near 11 settlements in three regions

"Ukraine repelled enemy attacks in the areas of 11 settlements in Kharkiv, Luhansk, and
Donetsk regions." UKRIN

EU Warns China Arming Russia Would Cross ‘Red Line’

"The European Union claims that it has warned Communist China that supplying arms to
Russia would cross a “red line” and have “consequences”." Breitbart

U.N. Nuclear Watchdog Finds Iran Has Enriched Uranium to Near Weapons-Grade

"The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reportedly discovered traces of
uranium enriched to 84 percent purity in Iran, a report claimed, just below the 90-percent threshold needed to construct an atomic bomb." Breitbart

Uruguay president's ex-security boss jailed in passports for Russians scam

"Alejandro Astesiano, former head head of President Luis Lacalle Pou's security detail,
sentenced to more than four years in prison in a scandal involving influence-peddling, criminal association and revealing state secrets. Astesiano was arrested in September, accused of participation in a scheme to falsify documents to allow the issuing of Uruguayan passports to Russians, according to prosecutors." 

BuenosAiresTimes

Japan cordons off beach due to ‘mystery ball’

"A mysterious ball found on a beach in a Japanese city has prompted the police to cordon off the area. They are concerned that the object may be some kind of sea mine, according to local media.

Police cordoned off the area in a 200-meter radius around the object and called the Japanese Self- Defense Forces, asking the military to send someone to inspect it for explosives.

The hunt for mysterious round objects has intensified after the US accused China of flying a “spy balloon” through its airspace earlier this month." RT

Russians shelling Kherson

 "Russian occupying forces are terrorizing the city of Kherson with shelling.." PRAVADA

Russians attack residential building in Kupiansk

"The Russian military have attacked residential buildings in Kharkiv Oblast, injuring one
person in Kupiansk." PRAVADA

Russia Summons U.S. Ambassador Over Washington's Support for Ukraine

"Russia's foreign ministry has summoned U.S. ambassador Lynne Tracy, expressing
complaints over growing support for Ukraine and the investigation of sabotage on the Nord Streams.

They add that "pumping Ukraine with weapons" and sharing information about targets "proves the falsehood of the American side's claims that the United States is not a party to the conflict" and that Russia considers the weapons provided to Ukraine and the service personnel, "including U.S. citizens," its legitimate purposes." PRAVADA

Putin Suspends New START Nuclear Treaty, Puts Missiles On Combat Readiness

"President Vladimir Putin said he is suspending Russia's participation in the New START
nuclear treaty with the United States. "President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday suspended Russian participation in the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty with the United States, warning Washington that Russia had put new ground-based strategic nuclear weapons on combat duty." ZeroHedge

As China's Top Diplomat Visits Russia, Zelensky Warns Military Alliance Would Spark WW3

"Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky has weighed in on the deepening Beijing-Moscow
partnership.

He warned that WW3 is on the horizon if China begins supplying weapons. "For us, it is important that China does not support the Russian Federation in this war," Zelenskiy told German daily newspaper Die Welt. "In fact, I would like it to be on our side. At the moment, however, I don't think it's possible."

"But I do see an opportunity for China to make a pragmatic assessment of what is happening here," he continued. "Because if China allies itself with Russia, there will be a world war, and I do think that China is aware of that." ZH

Blinken Warns China Against Providing Aid To Russia, Says Balloon Surveillance Must "Never Again Occur" As Beijing Slams "Excessive Use Of Force", Offers "No Apology"

"Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned China’s top diplomat on Saturday that the U.S.

will not tolerate violations of its airspace after a Chinese spy balloon flew over North America, but received no apologies from Beijing.

According to Politico, Blinken met with Wang Yi, director of China’s Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in what was the administration’s first face-to-face meeting with the Chinese government since a balloon was discovered earlier this month and subsequently downed by the U.S. military off the coast of South Carolina. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned China’s top diplomat  that the U.S. will not tolerate violations of its airspace after a Chinese spy balloon flew over North America, but received no apologies from Beijing.

Blinken also warned Beijing about “implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia or assistance with systemic sanctions evasion,” as Moscow wages war against Ukraine." ZH

Netherlands' Prime Minister Comments.....

"Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte visited Kyiv for the second time since the full-scale

Russian invasion.

The Netherlands has the informal "status" of a Euroskepticist. They often block decisions on the EU enlargement process and are cautious in security matters.

 

Brief interview with Mark Rutte:

- Crimea is Ukraine. This is confirmed by the EU and the Netherlands in particular. Will you resist if the Ukrainian army begins to liberate Crimea?

- I am not going to tell Volodymyr Zelenskyy what to do. We want Ukraine to win this war. But it should decide itself what tactics to choose - where to start, what to do exactly.

We cannot decide this for Ukraine. You must win. We want to help you. That is why we are already helping by providing significant military assistance." PRAVADA

Ammunition detonated in dugout with military personnel in Russia's Kursk Oblast, causing casualties

"Ammunition detonated in a dugout where conscript soldiers were stationed, resulting in six soldiers dying in Kursk Oblast, Russia." PRAVADA

Zelensky holds talks with Biden.... Biden announces new $500M military aid package for Ukraine

"President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of the United States Joe Biden
held talks in a tête-à-tête format and with delegations. ......The United States will allocate a new $500 million military aid package for Ukraine, which will include missiles for the HIMARS system, Javelin anti-tank missile systems, etc." UKRIN