Stoltenberg Discusses Meetings Prior to War Commencement: Russians Presented Inaccurate Depictions of NATO's Geographical Boundaries
NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg Discusses Last-Ditch Diplomatic Attempts to Deter Russia from Invading Ukraine The outgoing NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, discussed the final diplomatic efforts before the onset of war in February 2022, aimed at preventing Russia from invading Ukraine. In January, the NATO-Russia Council's last meeting, which Stoltenberg chaired, took place. The Russians demanded the withdrawal of all NATO troops from the eastern territories of the alliance, as per Stoltenberg's account in the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung." He voiced his disapproval, stating it was unacceptable, but he believed in dialogue, hence the resumption of talks.
At the meeting, the Russian deputy foreign and defense ministers claimed there were no war plans from their side and that their country was threatened by Ukraine. They presented maps, allegedly to demonstrate Russia's encirclement by NATO, but these maps contained errors, such as failing to mark Denmark as NATO territory. Stoltenberg is unsure whether this was due to poor preparation or intentional. Reflecting on the past, he regrets that NATO and its allies did not take sufficient action earlier to strengthen Ukraine militarily.
10:03 Lithuania Views German Combat Brigade as Backup Germany and Lithuania sign an agreement ensuring that a combat-ready German brigade will be stationed in Lithuania. Military expert Thomas Wiegold explains the background and significance of this agreement in an interview with ntv.
Kim Jong Un Seeks to Enhance Cooperation with Russia North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reportedly plans to boost cooperation with Russia, according to state media, following talks with Russian Security Council chief Sergei Shoigu in North Korea. Both leaders are said to have discussed strengthening cooperation to safeguard their mutual security interests and exchanged views on the regional and international situation. Ukraine, the US, and South Korea have accused North Korea of providing weapons and missiles to Russia for the Ukraine conflict, which North Korea denies as "ludicrous."
Starmer and Biden to Discuss Extended-Range Weapons for Ukraine British Prime Minister Starmer and US President Biden will discuss whether Ukraine can use extended-range Western weapons against Russian targets during their conversation at the UN General Assembly in New York next week. Biden allegedly consents to authorizing Ukraine to use British and French rockets equipped with US technology, although not US-made rockets.
Zelensky on Trump's Alleged Plan: "Campaign Messages are Campaign Messages" US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump frequently declared he could terminate the Ukraine conflict in a day but never presented a comprehensive plan. When questioned about Trump's statement during a CNN interview, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded that, as an election campaign was ongoing, he could not grasp the specifics of Trump's words and their implications. Zelensky emphasized that campaign messages are campaign messages, at times, not very realistic. He also shared that he spoke with Trump 2 months ago, during which Trump expressed his commitment to supporting Ukraine, calling the conversation positive.
ISW: Russia Needs More Troops in Kursk to Oust Ukrainians According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russia is continuing its counterattacks in the Kursk region, despite ISW's belief that this is not a large-scale operation aimed at completely expelling Ukrainians from Kursk. ISW reports that Russian authorities have mainly relied on poorly prepared and equipped conscripts, along with small parts of the regular Russian military and other security forces in the border region. ISW concludes that a successful Russian counteroffensive to recover territory captured by Ukrainian forces in the Kursk Oblast would require additional troops and resources.
Ukraine Targeted by Drone Attacks According to the Ukrainian military, Russia carried out drone attacks on Ukraine throughout the night, launching multiple drone assaults. Ukrainian air alerts were issued throughout the country, including in the Odessa region, where navy forces reported shooting down nine drones. Explosions were reported in Odessa, but no casualties have been reported yet.
06:13 International Peace Initiative Proposed by Mützenich SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich has suggested establishing an international contact group to drive a peace initiative in the Ukraine conflict. "I think it's high time for the Western allies to organize a contact group to initiate a process," he told the "Rheinische Post". "German Chancellor and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agree that now is an appropriate moment to intensify efforts for peace talks, and that Russia should be a part of the next peace summit." When asked about potential members of such a contact group, Mützenich mentioned nations such as China, India, Turkey, and Brazil taking responsibility. "A conviction is growing in these countries that the Russian invasion can become a burden," making the work of a contact group "indeed promising," and potentially playing a significant mediating role.
05:41 EU Exploring New Options for Sanctions Extension Diplomats claim the EU Commission is considering three possibilities for extending sanctions against Russia. Details about potential future sanction scenarios were presented to European diplomats on Friday, according to multiple sources. The focus is on the frozen assets of the Russian central bank that play a crucial role in securing a $50 billion credit line from G7 nations to Ukraine. Those assets have been frozen since the Russian attack on Ukraine.
03:40 Kyiv Buildings Hit by Drone Fragments Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported via the Telegram messaging app that drone fragments struck municipal buildings in the Ukrainian capital. Fragments hit a building in the Kiew district of Obolon north of the city center early in the morning. Klitschko stated that emergency services were on their way to the incident site. Earlier, the mayor mentioned that air defense units were active in the capital.
01:35 Closer Cooperation Promised by Kim Jong Un and Shoigu North Korean leader Kim Jong Un promised Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu more cooperation, as reported by state news agency KCNA. The two men participated in an in-depth discussion about mutual security interests during Shoigu’s trip to Pyongyang, and established a satisfactory consensus on cooperation matters. Shoigu, who served as Russian Defense Minister until May, initiated closer relations between North Korea and Russia during his visit to Pyongyang in July the previous year.
23:36 Zelensky to Present "Victory Plan" to Biden in September Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced meeting with US President Joe Biden in September. "I will present the plan for victory," Zelensky stated during a gathering in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. The plan involves an interdependent system of decisions designed to provide Ukraine with the military strength needed to steer the war towards peace. Zelensky explained, “Winning wars can find just endpoints either by forcing the occupying forces out or through diplomacy,” securing the actual independence of the country. Kyiv relies on US support to maintain a powerful position.
22:59 Russian Attacks Shift Southwards According to Ukrainian military reports, heavy fighting continues in the eastern parts of the country. There were 115 engagements, the General Staff in Kyiv reported in their evening situation report. "The most active clashes occurred today in the direction of Kurachove, besides the enemy was also active in the direction of Lyman and Pokrovsk," they stated. Kurachove is a small town south of Pokrovsk. Russian troops have recently made little territorial progress in Pokrovsk which had been considered the main direction of their attack. Instead, they have expanded their attack focus southwards to seize the mining town of Hirnyk near Kurachove.
22:18 Zelensky: Desired Relief Achieved by Ukrainian Advance in Kursk Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claims that the Ukrainian push into the Russian region of Kursk has brought about the desired success. He states that the enemy has been stopped in the Kharkiv region, and Russian advancement in Donetsk has slowed. While Russia has not made significant gains in their counterattack on Kursk, they have yet to retake ten occupied villages out of a total of 100.
21:46 Zelensky: Western Allies Afraid to Aid Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the West of having "fear" when discussing aid for Ukraine to shoot down Russian missiles. He questioned, "If allies can jointly shoot down missiles and drones in the Middle East, why is there still no similar decision to shoot down Russian missiles and (Iranian) Shaheds in the skies of Ukraine?" Zelensky stated, "They're afraid to even say, 'We're working on it.' And this happens even when missiles and drones are literally heading towards the territory of our neighbors," expressing disappointment in the democratic world.
21:30 Russia has used over 8000 Iranian drones so far According to the Ukrainian government, Russia has launched 8060 Iranian Shahed drones against Ukraine since the war began. No updates have been provided from Iran or Russia as of yet. Ukraine has previously accused the Iranian government of supplying the kamikaze drones to Russia in the fall of 2022.
20:43 USA Holds Back on Approving Long-Range Weapons for Ukraine's Use, Stays Silent During a chat in Washington D.C., British PM Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden exchange words. The crowd is buzzing with anticipation, hoping for any updates on the authorization of long-range weaponry use by Ukraine. As per reports from the British "Guardian," Britain has given the green light for Ukraine to launch attacks with Storm Shadow missiles. Regrettably, no such announcements are expected during today's meeting between these strategic partners. John Kirby, the National Security Council's communications director, reportedly said, "I wouldn't bet on an announcement today about Ukraine deploying long-range weapons inside Russia – not from the U.S., at least." He merely mentions that discussions are ongoing with the U.K., France, and additional allies about the weapons Ukraine might receive. Kirby also chooses to evade a straightforward response on whether the U.S. administration will be revealing any decisions. "I'm not going to dive into a hypothetical conversation about what we might or might not reveal at a specific point in time."
During the NATO-Russia Council's last meeting, chaired by Jens Stoltenberg, the Russians demanded the withdrawal of all NATO troops from the eastern territories of the alliance. Stoltenberg, in his interview with "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung," expressed his disapproval of this demand, stating it was unacceptable, but he believed in dialogue and the resumption of talks. The military expert Thomas Wiegold explained the significance of Germany and Lithuania's agreement to station a combat-ready German brigade in Lithuania as a backup, aiming to enhance Lithuania's military capabilities against potential threats.
