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Russia holds navy drills in Black Sea as tensions with Ukraine grow
The Kremlin has said that the US response to Russia’s demands it says will improve security in Europe have left “little ground for optimism” in resolving tensions over Russia’s potential invasion of Ukraine.
Moscow spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, however added that “there always are prospects for continuing a dialogue, it’s in the interests of both us and the Americans.”
Peskov said the Russian reaction would come soon.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the US announcement could lead to “the start of a serious talk on secondary issues,” but emphasised that “the document contains no positive response on the main issue.”
Kremlin officials will offer proposals to Putin, Lavrov concluded.
The incident comes at a time the tensions between Russia and Ukraine are simmering ahead of what the West says is a push for a potential takeover of more parts of Ukraine.
Russia has deployed tens of thousands of its troops along the border with Ukraine, even as president Vladimir Putin and his administration have underlined that they have no such plans of takeover.
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Key Points Five killed after Ukranian soldier fires at a military factory Ukraine has no “weak points”, will fight back, warns foreign minister Kuleba US citizens advised to leave Ukraine Threat against Ukraine is ‘threat against Europe' Germany sending 5,000 helmets to Ukraine branded ‘a joke' Inside the Ukrainian border city with strong ties to Russia German chancellor warns of 'grave consequences' if Russia invades Invasion of Ukraine would be ‘tragic and futile’, PM warns Putin
Show latest update 1643300186 Deadly attack by soldier fuels conspiracy theories in nervy Ukraine
he shooting at the Makarov Yuzhny Machine-Building Plant in Dnipro was shocking and lethal. A young conscript had suddenly opened fire with his army issue AK-47 rifle, killing five soldiers and injuring five others.
The gunman, 21-year-old Artem Ryabchuk, fled. He was arrested a few hours later. The motives for his actions were not clear, say the authorities. Ukraine’s deputy interior minister, Anton Gerashchenko, announced that investigators would examine how the conscript passed a medical commission allowing him access to weapons.
But there was immediate traffic on social media from people who had apparently seen “proof” that the young man was a Russian agent. Some asserted that this was the first mission in a murder campaign which will follow.
That kind of reaction in the social media is perhaps unsurprising in the current uncertain and volatile scenario, with daily warnings of impending war.
Reporting from Ukraine, our defence and security editor Kim Sengupta has more here:
Deadly attack by soldier fuels conspiracy theories in nervy Ukraine Within hours of the fatal shooting, social media was ablaze with reasons for the attack, reports Kim Sengupta in Kharkiv
Emily Atkinson 27 January 2022 16:16
1643299412 White House to host German chancellor to discuss Russia-Ukraine tensions
US President Joe Biden will hold talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on 7 February, the White House has announced.
Among a number of topics up for discussion between the two leaders is their “shared commitment to both ongoing diplomacy and joint efforts to deter further Russian aggression against Ukraine.”
A press release from Washington added: “Chancellor Scholz’ visit provides an opportunity to affirm the deep and enduring ties between the United States and Germany.
“They will also discuss the importance of continued close cooperation on a range of common challenges, including ending the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing the threat of climate change, and promoting economic prosperity and international security based on our shared democratic values.”
Emily Atkinson 27 January 2022 16:03
1643298739 Ukraine approves of US response to Russia’s demands, says foreign affairs minister
Emily Atkinson 27 January 2022 15:52
1643297851 ‘Little ground for optimism’ in US response to Russian demands, says Kremlin
The Kremlin has said that the US response to Russia’s demands it says will improve security in Europe have left “little ground for optimism” in resolving tensions over Russia’s potential invasion of Ukraine.
Moscow spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, however added that “there always are prospects for continuing a dialogue, it’s in the interests of both us and the Americans.”
Peskov said the Russian reaction would come soon.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the US announcement could lead to “the start of a serious talk on secondary issues,” but emphasised that “the document contains no positive response on the main issue.”
Kremlin officials will offer proposals to Putin, Lavrov concluded.
Emily Atkinson 27 January 2022 15:37
1643295949 Ukraine-Russia crisis: Your questions on what is happening answered live by Kim Sengupta
Kim Sengupta, The Independent’s World Affairs Editor, covered the last Ukraine conflict and is reporting from there now.
He will be answering your questions live from Ukraine in our latest ‘Ask Me Anything’ event at 1.30pm UK time on Friday 28 January.
All you have to do is register to submit your question in the comments section under the article below:
Your chance to ask our man in Ukraine anything as tensions with Russia rise Kim Sengupta, The Independent’s World Affairs Editor will be answering your questions live from Ukraine in our latest ‘Ask Me Anything’ event
Emily Atkinson 27 January 2022 15:05
1643295010 NATO-Russia missile crisis ‘unavoidable’ if no agreement reached, says Kremlin official
A missile crisis between NATO and Russia is “unavoidable” if no agreement is reached to ensure neither deploys short or intermediate-range (INF) nuclear missiles.
According to the TASS news agency, foreign ministry official Vladimir Ermakov said: “We continue to insist it is a priority to reach a principled understanding that the problems in this area must be urgently addressed. Otherwise, new ‘missile crises’ are unavoidable.
“We insist NATO’s ‘joint nuclear missions’ must immediately be stopped, all the American nuclear arms returned to the United States, and the infrastructure that allows it to ensure a rapid deployment liquidated,”
Emily Atkinson 27 January 2022 14:50
1643293510 ‘Nothing will be off the table, including Nord Stream 2’, says US German ambassador
Emily Atkinson 27 January 2022 14:25
1643292351 US and Germany could target key Russian pipeline if it invades Ukraine
A US spokesman has said the Nord Stream 2 pipeline “will not move forward” if Russia were to attack Ukraine.
The contentious energy project running under the Baltic Sea is designed to double the flow of gas direct from Russia to Germany.
Speaking to NPR, Ned Price said: “I want to be very clear: if Russia invades Ukraine one way or another, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward,” he said, but added that he was “not going to get into the specifics” of how it would be stopped.
Germany’s foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, later told the German parliament they are working alongside NATO allies to devise “a strong package of sanctions” covering aspects “including Nord Stream.”
Emily Atkinson 27 January 2022 14:05
1643290621 His biggest fight yet: Ukraine-Russia crisis pushes Vitali Klitschko centre stage
The mayor of Kiev, the former world heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko, knows a thing or two about fighting.
But even he is daunted by a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine, the possibility of which has loomed large since Moscow massed tens of thousands of troops near the territory.
The 45-year-old, who turned to politics full-time after his retirement from boxing in 2013, has become a central voice in the crisis, which currently shows no signs of abating.
Rory Sullivan reports:
His biggest fight yet: Ukraine-Russia crisis pushes ？Vitali Klitschko centre stag The Kiev mayor, a former world boxing champion, tells Germany to give Ukraine more support
Emily Atkinson 27 January 2022 13:37
1643289115 Watch: Russia holds navy drills in Black Sea as tensions with Ukraine grow
A fleet of 20 Russian warships have departed from their naval bases for drills in the Black Sea, as tensions continue to mount between Moscow and Ukraine, writes Shweta Sharma.
“The training exercise was aimed at practising the crews’ operations in the event of simultaneous threats both from the air and from the sea,” the Russian defence ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
The large-scale naval group, comprising frigates, patrol ships, missile ships, landing ships, anti-submarine ships, and minesweepers, left from their naval bases in Sevastopol and Novorossiysk for drills in the waters of the Black Sea, situated at the southeastern extremity of Europe.
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Russia holds navy drills in Black Sea as tensions with Ukraine grow
Read more here.
Emily Atkinson 27 January 2022 13:11
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