London February 26 2023: With Russia’s invasion into its second year, NATO’s largest European members — the UK, France and Germany — are floating a defense pact with Ukraine as a way to prod Kyiv toward peace talks with Moscow, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing officials with the three nations. Vladimir Putin said NATO arms supplies to Ukraine make the alliance a “participant” in the conflict.
Group of 20 finance chiefs failed to agree on a joint statement after Russia and China balked at wording on the war that G-20 leaders had backed in November. PKN Orlen, Poland’s largest oil company, reported that inflows via from Russia via the Druzhba pipeline had stopped, while saying that customers won’t be affected.
European Union governments backed 10th set of sanctions against Russia on Friday, including new export restrictions on dual-use and advanced technology that contributes to Russia’s war effort.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reportedly laid out a blueprint for ways to give Ukraine broader access to advanced military equipment, and wants the proposal to be discussed at NATO’s July meeting, the newspaper said.
The reported plan “falls far short of the protections Ukraine would receive from NATO and could reflect a desire to press Ukraine to accept a negotiated settlement on unfavorable terms,” said the US-based Institute for the Study of War.
Ukraine’s military staff said Russian troops are reinforcing defense in annexed Crimea, including building fortifications. Russia continues its offensive on Kupyansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Shakhtarske axes in Ukraine’s East, Kremlin forces launched 14 missile and 19 air strikes, 57 strikes from multiple launch rocket systems, with the shelling causing civilian casualties. Two people were killed and seven injured in Kherson oblast in the past day.
