The more weapons the West supplies to Ukraine and the more destructive these weapons are, “the more likely” a scenario of a “nuclear apocalypse” becomes.. This was stated by former Russian President and current Deputy Chairman of the National Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, commenting on the possibility of F-16 jets being delivered to Kiev. An offer that, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, “cannot fundamentally change the situation on the ground” in the conflict in Ukraine. Moscow’s statements come on the day EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell announced that pilot training had started, in what the NATO Secretary General defined as “an important step” that will allow allies to to deliver jets “at a certain point in time” and to send “a” message: we will support Ukraine as much as necessary and Moscow does not intend to wear us down by exploiting the time factor.” But Poland announces that it is not yet has started pilot training, but is ready for it, and the spokesman for the Kiev Air Force learns that in practice the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets in European countries has not yet started , but the training of specialists goes before their launch further.
Now on the ground Moscow’s Defense Ministry announced that “nationalists” who had invaded Russia’s Belgorod region from Ukraine had been “blocked and defeated”. and he added that “more than 70 terrorists were eliminated” and the rest were pushed back into Ukrainian territory.
So far, the first pillar of the ammunition plan proposed by the European Commission has delivered “1,300 rockets and 220,000 artillery ammunition of various calibers” to Ukraine, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said at the end of the Defense Council meeting.
ANSA agency
Ukraine “cannot win” the war against Russia. This was stated by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in an interview with Bloomberg.
In the meantime, the European Commission has given the green light for a new aid tranche of 1.5 billion euros for Ukraine. This is the fourth tranche Brussels has disbursed under the €18 billion macro-financial assistance package to Kiev. “Since the beginning of this year we have disbursed €7.5 billion in macro-financial assistance. These funds make a significant contribution to covering Ukraine’s immediate financial needs. And there will be more help,” stressed EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
ANSA agency
The EU Commission has given the green light for a new aid tranche of 1.5 billion euros for Ukraine. This is the fourth tranche Brussels has disbursed under the €18 billion macro-financial assistance package to Kiev.
ANSA agency
“Despite the wheat deal. Also limited to Odessa and Chornomorsk (ANSA)
Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said on entering the Defense Council that after “Washington gave the green light to train Ukrainian pilots to use F-16s”, it is now possible “to complete the plans we have made with Denmark”. . and other allies,” including Belgium and Britain, “to begin training. This is the first step that needs to be taken”, which will be followed by further talks with the states that have F-16s in service.” Yuriy Sak, adviser to Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, said that “the Netherlands are able “to be the first country” to donate F-16s to Ukraine, reports Politico. The Netherlands currently has 24 F-16s in service that are and will be “operational”. “They will remain in service until mid-2024,” the newspaper quoted a spokesman for the Dutch Ministry of Defense as saying. “Then they are available for another purpose, for example for sale.” Another 18 F-16s, “which are no longer used operationally” and “can also be given a different target”. Twelve of those 18 were originally scheduled to be transferred to a private company, but the transfer has been delayed, the spokesman noted. According to a European official, also quoted by Politico, it is “realistic” to assume delivery could take place by the fall.
ANSA agency
In the province of Belgorod. The Kremlin: “A raid to divert attention” from the defeat in Bakhmut. Ukrainian media, line of cars leaving Belgorod. Prigozhin attacks Russian General Staff again: “Military does not strengthen borders”