Russian president Vladimir Putin
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Russian president Vladimir Putin
(Sputnik)
Satellite images by a private US company show details of military deployment at the Belarus border with Ukraine ahead of joint drills by Moscow and Minsk.
The satellite images from US-based Maxar Technologies showed that military units armed with missiles, multiple rocket launchers and attack aircrafts had been deployed to Belarus at three locations close to the border with Ukraine.
The joint drill between Russia and Belarus called Union Resolve 2022 will be held between 10 to 20 February.
Meanwhile Russia is almost ready to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, US officials have claimed.
They said Russia has assembled 70 per cent of the military power it needs for an invasion and could launch one within days.
Russia is reported to have more than 100,000 troops on Ukraine’s borders, but denies planning an attack.
The US officials did not provide any evidence for their assessment, saying the information came from confidential intelligence reports.
Jake Sullivan, president Joe Biden’s national security advisor, said the US and Nato are preparing for an invasion at any moment.
Russian officials have roundly rejected the claims, while a senior Russian diplomat characterised the latest US warnings as alarmist and highly unlikely.
Key Points Russia ‘70 per cent ready’ to invade Ukraine this month, US officials claim Hundreds of US troops land in Poland Macron: Deal to avoid war within reach White House: Diplomatic route still open ‘Madness and scaremongering continues’: Russia denies US claims Liz Truss accuses Russia of trying to ‘subvert and threaten Ukraine' German leader’s stance on Russia looms over first visit to US US: Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline ‘will not move forward' if Russia invades Ukraine
Show latest update 1644212133 Australia urges its citizens to leave Ukraine
Australian prime minister Scott Morrison Scott has urged Australians still in Ukraine to leave now as Russian troops continue to mass at the border with Ukraine.
“We hold out real concerns about where this will ultimately lead to,” Mr Morrison told reporters in Canberra on Monday.
The Australian government in recent weeks has sought to contact all Australians in Ukraine, many of them dual citizens, and urged them to leave.
“We reinforce that message. The travel advisories are very clear,” Mr Morrison said.
“The vast majority of those Australians who live in Ukraine, their lives are in the Ukraine. Many of them have dual citizenships. Their families are there or in neighbouring countries, particularly in Poland.”
“They’ll be looking to their own arrangements, as we understand it.”
Mr Morrison added that, “any breach of Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty is not a mark of peace; it is a mark of those who would seek to take sovereignty from others for whom it should reside with.”
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra in December 2021
(AAP)
Sravasti Dasgupta 7 February 2022 05:35
1644211241 US intelligence assessments ‘scaremongering’, Russian official says
First Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations Dmitry Polyanskiy has hit out at US military assessments on the impact of any potential Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“Madness and scaremongering continues..what if we would say that US could seize London in a week and cause 300K civilian deaths?” he said in a tweet.
“All this based on our intelligence sources that we won’t disclose. Would it feel right for Americans and Britts?It’s as wrong for Russians and Ukrainians,” the ambassador tweeted.
His tweet came in response to a story that had cited recent assessments by the Biden administration that as many as 50,000 civilians would be killed and 5 million displaced in the event of a large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Sravasti Dasgupta 7 February 2022 05:20
1644208493 Biden, Macron phone call to discuss Ukraine
Amid heightened tensions, US president Joe Biden spoke to French president Emmanuel Macron over the phone on Sunday.
In a press release, the White House said, “The leaders discussed ongoing diplomatic and deterrence efforts in response to Russia’s continued military build-up on Ukraine’s borders, and affirmed their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
“They agreed their teams will remain in touch and continue consulting with our Allies and partners, including Ukraine,” the statement added.
This is the second conversation between the two leaders in a week over Ukraine.
Prior to this the two last spoke on Wednesday.
(FILE) French President Emmanuel Macron (R) and US President Joe Biden (L) meet in Rome on October 29, 2021
(AFP via Getty Images)
Sravasti Dasgupta 7 February 2022 04:34
1644206997 Satellite images show troops buildup at Ukraine Belarus border
Satellite images by a private US company show details of military deployment at the Belarus border with Ukraine ahead of joint drills by Moscow and Minsk, reported Reuters.
The joint drill between Russia and Belarus called Union Resolve 2022 will be held between 10 to 20 February.
The satellite images from US-based Maxar Technologies showed that military units armed with missiles, multiple rocket launchers and attack aircrafts had been deployed to Belarus at three locations close to the border with Ukraine.
15 Su-25 ground attack aircrafts and S-400 air defense system at Luninets airfield, as well as SS26 Iskander missiles and multiple rocket launchers near Yelsk-have also been identified through satellite images.
Maxar Technologies said that the satellite images had been collected within 50 km from the Ukrainian border. Last week Nato said that Russia’s deployment in the area is its largest since the cold war.
Sravasti Dasgupta 7 February 2022 04:09
1644184012 Fears over freeports being used to launder dirty money
Boris Johnson has been urged to crackdown on a loophole which could allow post-Brexit freeports being used to launder dirty money, as peers move to stop illicit finance from Russia and elsewhere.
Eight English ports are to be granted tax breaks by the government in a bid to generate more trade after the UK’s exit from the EU.
The Liberal Democrats are attempting to amend the government’s tax bill to stop freeports extending the “London laundromat” across the country.
Although the governing bodies bidding to establish a freeport currently have to set up a register of beneficial ownership, it doesn’t have to be made public – raising fears that “Kremlin-linked oligarchs” and kleptocrats from elsewhere could exploit the ports.
Adam Forrest has the story below.
Peers move to stop ‘dirty money’ being laundered through freeports Exclusive: Lib Dems want public register to stop freeports becoming ‘hotbeds’ for illicit finance
Laurie Churchman 6 February 2022 21:46
1644181559 White House: Diplomatic route still open
Earlier today, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said a diplomatic route was still open as tensions mount on the Ukraine border.
“We are in the window,” he told the “Fox News Sunday” program. “Any day now, Russia could take military action against Ukraine, or it could be a couple of weeks from now, or Russia could choose to take the diplomatic path instead.”
Laurie Churchman 6 February 2022 21:05
1644179974 Macron: It is legitimate for Russia to raise its own security concerns
French President Emmanuel Macron has said it is legitimate for Russia to raise its own security concerns – as tensions mount on the Ukraine border.
Vladimir Putin says Russia’s opposition to the expansion of the Western military alliance Nato in Ukraine is being ignored.
Mr Macron has called for a “new balance” to protect European countries “while respecting Russia”.
But he told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper Ukraine’s sovereignty was not up for discussion.
Laurie Churchman 6 February 2022 20:39
1644178197 Macron: Deal to avoid war within reach
French President Emmanuel Macron says he believes a deal to avoid war in Ukraine is within reach.
He said: “We must protect our European brothers by proposing a new balance capable of preserving their sovereignty and peace.”
“This must be done while respecting Russia and understanding the contemporary traumas of this great people and great nation.”
Mr Macron told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper he thought he could prevent conflict breaking out when he speaks to Vladimir Putin in Moscow this week.
Laurie Churchman 6 February 2022 20:09
1644176859 Ukraine: ‘Do not believe the apocalyptic predictions'
Ukraine’s foreign minister has played down “apocalyptic predictions” of an imminent Russian invasion.
Dmytro Kuleba said Ukraine was prepared and had international support.
“Do not believe the apocalyptic predictions. Different capitals have different scenarios, but Ukraine is ready for any development,” he wrote on Twitter.
“Today, Ukraine has a strong army, unprecedented international support and the faith of Ukrainians in their country. It is the enemy who should fear us.”
Laurie Churchman 6 February 2022 19:47
1644175516 Labour: Conservative party must pay back donations linked to Russia
Labour says the conservative party must pay back donations linked to Russia and tackle “dirty money” in Britain.
In a joint letter from shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves and shadow foreign secretary David Lammy, the party said: “London is the destination of choice for the world’s kleptocrats.”
The pair said: “This is not simply a matter of targeting some individuals or entities through sanctions but about fixing a broken system - Britain’s openness to fraud and money laundering, inadequate regulation of political donations, lax mechanisms of corporate governance, and weakness to foreign interference.”
Laurie Churchman 6 February 2022 19:25
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